Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 599 - Tenth Level

The spiritual talisman released a dazzling golden brilliance when the first spiritual rune was engraved.

Many people were forced to shut their eyes due to the dazzling brilliance that flashed before them. They couldn’t believe what they saw—Liu Wuxie’s talisman emitting a golden radiance. Compared to Liu Wuxie, Bing Kaifu’s spiritual talisman seemed ordinary.

That was only the first spiritual rune. When the second spiritual rune appeared on the talisman, it began to shine with an even brighter golden radiance. Though it was only a sixth-grade spiritual talisman, the talisman produced by Liu Wuxie could rival that of an eighth-grade spiritual talisman.

“What kind of talisman is that? Why have I never seen it before?” Many people in the crowd were baffled.

Bing Kaifu’s spiritual talisman was a Fire Manipulation Talisman, welding flames to defeat his opponent. However, no one could recognize the spiritual talisman that Liu Wuxie was forging, and the power remained a mystery to everyone.

Then again, once they were done crafting, everyone would know whose spiritual talismans were stronger. The power of spiritual talismans could be categorized into ten levels, and most spiritual talismans on the market were only between the fourth and sixth levels. Reaching the seventh level was enough to stand out from everyone.

As time slowly ticked, Bing Kaifu completed his spiritual talisman, and a complete Fire Manipulation Talisman appeared before everyone, hovering in the air like a fireball.

Perhaps driven by the pressure, Bing Kaifu's Fire Manipulation Talisman was much higher quality than usual. He wiped the sweat from his forehead as forging this Talisman had exhausted most of his true essence.

On the other hand, Liu Wuxie was still crafting his spiritual talisman, but he looked relaxed compared to Bing Kaifu. This comparison alone was enough for everyone to determine who had higher attainment in spiritual runes.

“This is strange... his spiritual talismans seem almost alive!” The talisman paper pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat, leaving onlookers in disbelief that such mastery was possible.

“Something’s off—the alignment of his charm differs from everyone. The spiritual talismans found in the market all have their spiritual runes aligned in rows, but it’s reversed for him,” someone commented.

This was also why the spiritual talismans at Old Century Trading’s stall remained unsold. The techniques used to craft them differed entirely from those on the market.

“He’s just putting on a show. Let’s see how he will make a fool out of himself!” Many people thought that Liu Wuxie was just putting on a show purposefully. After all, his technique was different from everyone else's, and their techniques had been perfected through generations.

Everyone considered Liu Wuxie a clown, who was trying to draw attention to himself. Amid the jeers, Liu Wuxie remained calm and composed. He knew the Lesser Blade Association members were trying to pressure him through the crowd.

When the last spiritual rune fell onto the spiritual talisman, the golden radiance vanished, and an ordinary talisman appeared in Liu Wuxie’s hand. With that, the life-and-death duel with their lives on the line was nearing an end.

“Go test it on the testing pillar!” urged the Lesser Blade Association members, beckoning the two to test the power of their spiritual talismans.

A testing pillar was set up to measure the power of spiritual talismans, with a grading system divided into ten levels. Since both spiritual talismans were sixth-grade, their power likely fell within the fifth or sixth level on the pillar.

“Liu Wuxie, let’s see how you will die!” Bing Kaifu stepped forward and headed to the other end of the street.

As a talisman event was held each month, a testing pillar had already been placed there long ago. Everyone quickly rushed over, and the pillar was ten-odd meters away from where they were.

Bing Kaifu threw his spiritual talisman into the pillar’s opening and controlled it with his will. The pillar gave a loud rumble, and the lights representing the levels lit up one by one. The spiritual talisman reached the sixth level in the blink of an eye before slowing down.

“Sixth level! Impressive!” Tian Lie applauded. The fact that Bing Kaifu could craft a sixth-level spiritual talisman had surpassed most of the spiritual talismans available on the market. Even the spiritual talismans he crafted and his two fellow disciples barely reached the sixth level.

Next was Liu Wuxie’s turn. Apart from the golden brilliance from the start, the spiritual talisman he crafted looked ordinary.

Standing before the testing pillar, Liu Wuxie wasn’t in a hurry to insert his spiritual talisman and looked around at the crowd. An icy smile crept on his lips as he noted the faces of those who were mocking him earlier; he would soon give them a resounding slap on their faces.

He inserted the spiritual talisman into the testing pillar, and it exploded under his control. The explosion was like an earthquake that nearly toppled the testing pillar, causing a tremor in the surroundings.

The levels on the testing pillar began to light up rapidly. It was just on the second level earlier, but it had risen to the seventh level in the blink of an eye, and this scene caught everyone by surprise. But it didn’t stop there and soon reached the ninth level.

“This is impossible! How can his spiritual talismans be so powerful?” The Lesser Blade Association members exclaimed, unable to accept this outcome.

The testing pillar had been here for decades and never once malfunctioned. But today, it felt like knives stabbing into their hearts to watch the grid being lit up on the pillar. A faint sense of humiliation spread across the faces of those who had mocked Liu Wuxie earlier, like a resounding slap that landed on their cheek.

“The tenth grid has lit up!” the crowd gasped. Everyone knew that the spiritual talisman produced by Liu Wuxie most likely held power beyond the tenth level, as the light reverberated with lingering energy.

However, the surprises weren’t over as cracks spread across the testing pillar.

The crowd was shocked. They couldn’t believe a sixth-grade spiritual talisman could damage the testing pillar.

Bing Kaifu stood frozen, his face flushed with humiliation. His spiritual talisman was nothing but trash compared to Liu Wuxie’s.

Ye Dao’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. Even he didn’t expect Liu Wuxie’s spiritual talismans to be so powerful; they had all underestimated him.

Even Grandmaster Hai was still in shock, and his three disciples stared with disbelief. For years, their spiritual talismans had monopolized the market in Treasure City, but Liu Wuxie had crushed everyone present.

If there was no surprise, the spiritual talismans produced by the Heavenly Dao Society would sweep through Treasure City like wildfire, not to mention their prices were fair and were even slightly lower than the ordinary spiritual talismans on the market.

Who wouldn’t want a better spiritual talisman if they had a choice?

“You must’ve cheated! What did you add to your spiritual talisman to create such a spectacle!” Bing Kaifu roared, accusing Liu Wuxie. None of them had seen such an overwhelming power from a spiritual talisman, and they could only assume a foul play by Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie had a reputation for his wits, like how he had killed so many Azure Crimson Gate disciples.

“That’s right, he must’ve cheated!” The other Lesser Blade Association members clamored to condemn Liu Wuxie.

This time, the crowd was silent, and no one mocked him. After all, how could anyone cheat on the spiritual talisman?

“Liu Wuxie, how dare you cheat!” Tian Lie roared. He stood out to support Bing Kaifu.

Even Grandmaster Hai supported Bing Kaifu, which brought smiles to the faces of the Lesser Blade Association.

“Liu Wuxie, surrender and admit defeat! The life and death duel is over!” Bing Kaifu gave Tian Lie a grateful look and was confident that Liu Wuxie would die with Grandmaster Hai present.

Before long, a large crowd began condemning Liu Wuxie, accusing him of cheating at the talisman event and claiming he must be courting death.

However, few remained silent. How could one cheat to reach the tenth level on a spiritual talisman? Even if Liu Wuxie cheated, he managed to produce spiritual talismans at the power of the tenth level, something that only those in the True Profound Realm could produce.

“I’ve finally seen what it means to lie through one’s teeth. You people are shameless,” Liu Wuxie said as a terrifying chill enveloped the entire eastern street. He wouldn’t rest until everyone from the Lesser Blade Association was killed.

“Liu Wuxie, how dare you insult us! Die!” With Ye Dao present, Bing Kaifu became bold and lunged at Liu Wuxie with his sword.

Ye Dao also placed his hand on his blade, ready to intervene when Bing Kaifu was in danger. He had absolute faith in his bladesmanship and was confident no one could avoid his fatal strike.

However, he soon realized that he had overestimated himself. Even if his blade was fast, Liu Wuxie’s blade was ten times faster.

The moment Bing Kaifu moved, the Heretic Blade had already been unsheathed. The blade swung out across Bing Kaifu’s neck, claiming his life in an instant.

This left Ye Dao frozen in place, shocked by Liu Wuxie’s bladesmanship.

“What speed!” gasped someone in the crowd, followed by a series of inhales. No one saw how Liu Wuxie drew his blade.

Bing Kaifu was frozen in place, maintaining an attacking posture. He couldn’t take another step forward with blood dripping down his neck.

“Ye Dao, you want to fight?” Liu Wuxie turned to look at Ye Dao with a hint of mockery hanging on his lips. If Ye Dao dared to move, Liu Wuxie wouldn’t hesitate to strike him down instantly.

After a moment of hesitation, Ye Dao slowly withdrew his hand from his blade. He hadn’t even seen how Liu Wuxie drew his weapon.

Liu Wuxie had long grasped the essence of True Strike, reaching a great mastery in the speed and accuracy of this technique.

“Liu Wuxie, you dare kill someone in front of my master? You’re courting death!” Tian Lie was enraged. The fact that Liu Wuxie dared to kill someone before them was a disregard for them.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? You can’t even be considered garbage in my eyes,” Liu Wuxie insulted, including Grandmaster Hai.

“You’re courting death!” Tian Lie was enraged, wanting to attack Liu Wuxie with his sword.

“Stop!” Grandmaster Hai’s voice echoed. He had seen how Liu Wuxie had attacked earlier, and he would have been heavily injured if caught by surprise. That blade was too powerful and contained tens of thousands of variations. This was also why the most straightforward attack tended to be capable of unleashing the greatest power.