Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 249 - Seizing

This Golden Python was infinitely close to the True Core Realm. It could make a breakthrough if it consumed the Golden Fruit.

However, the appearance of humans had disrupted the Golden Python. After reaching the True Core Realm, a demonic beast evolved into a spiritual beast.

The difference between demonic beasts and spiritual beasts was their intelligence. Demonic beasts had low intelligence, while spiritual beasts had high intelligence.

Even if the Golden Python hadn’t reached the True Core Realm, it was highly intelligent. The Golden Python opened its jaws and bit down at the few experts charging over.

Since these experts couldn’t find the Golden Fruit, they targeted the Golden Python.

The intense demonic aura stirred excitement among Wu He and the others, as the worth of an adult Golden Python was immeasurable. They unsheathed their weapons without hesitation and engaged the Golden Python in combat.

Humans were proficient in adapting to their surroundings and used their movement techniques against the Golden Python. On the other hand, the body of a demonic beast was massive, and it didn’t fear attacks from humans. The demonic aura swept up a wave of rocks towards Wu He’s group.

The Golden Python swept its tail out, causing all the flowers and grass to vanish in the valley. A youth couldn’t avoid in time and was struck by the tail; his body blew up, and pieces of his flesh flew everywhere. This was a brutal scene, with the youth killed in one exchange.

Liu Wuxie was shocked because he didn’t expect the Golden Python to be so powerful that even ordinary experts in the ninth-level Marrow Cleansing Realm couldn’t contend with it.

The battle continued with Wu He joining hands with five others to attack the Golden Python’s weakness. As for the other group, they retreated to a distance, waiting for both sides to suffer injuries before taking advantage of the situation.

The Golden Python became increasingly furious as it fought. It let out a roar and raised its body upright, unleashing a terrifying lump of liquid at Wu He’s group.

Seizing this opportunity, Liu Wuxie disappeared and charged towards the cave where the Golden Python was.

The Golden Fruit was about to ripen and would fall to the ground if it wasn’t harvested. Its juice would seep into the ground, and this fifth-grade spiritual fruit would be wasted.

The moment Liu Wuxie entered the cave, the Golden Python let out a roar. It quickly lost interest in Wu He’s group and darted into the cave.

“The Golden Fruit must be here!” Wu He cried out. He quickened his pace and dashed into the cave.

The cave was deep, extending about a hundred meters. However, this distance was trivial for Liu Wuxie; he could traverse it in a single breath.

A golden-colored fruit roughly the size of an adult human’s fist appeared before Liu Wuxie. The fruit gave off a dense fragrance, and he could sense his pores opening when he took a deep breath.

The Golden Fruit was on the verge of falling. He didn’t hesitate to pluck it and placed it in the box he had prepared to prevent spiritual energy from leaking.

Wu He was one step late and could only watch as Liu Wuxie plucked the Golden Fruit. Seeing this, he charged at Liu Wuxie with murderous intent. When Liu Wuxie plucked the Golden Fruit, he took the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, unleashing a powerful sword aura toward the latter.

After all, the Golden Fruit was Wu He’s ticket into the True Core Realm, and he had to seize it even at the expense of putting his life at risk.

“You’re courting death!” Liu Wuxie was furious. Before they entered, Wu He had declared that the Golden Fruit would go to the one who obtained it.

“Liu Wuxie, you’re only in the low levels of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and the Golden Fruit is of no use to you. If you’re willing to surrender it, I can offer you a fair trade,” Wu He, who was familiar with Liu Wuxie, proposed. Despite his words, he didn’t slow his sword attack.

The terrifying sword aura tore apart the walls on both sides, and Liu Wuxie had little room to dodge.

“What a joke!” Liu Wuxie mocked. He retrieved the Heretic Blade and executed the Fatality Blade Art. His blade ray unleashed a ripple that shattered Wu He’s sword, causing Wu He’s expression to shift dramatically.

“How is this possible?!” Despite hearing that Liu Wuxie could kill cultivators in the ninth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he didn’t expect Liu Wuxie to be so strong that he couldn’t even resist. This scared Wu He into retreating.

“Too late!” Liu Wuxie unleashed a blade aura that cleaved down, tearing Wu He’s body apart.

A few figures entered the cave and witnessed this scene, but they were frightened to the point they quickly retreated.

After killing Wu He and devouring the energies in his body, Liu Wuxie turned into a meteorite and shot out of the cave. However, when he left the cave, a dense stench of blood wafted towards him.

The Golden Python had managed to break free from the human cultivators, but it was one step too late, as Liu Wuxie had already obtained the Golden Fruit.

Droplets dripped down the Golden Python’s jaws, emitting an unbearable stench.

“Get lost!” Liu Wuxie was still in mid-air, and he had no foothold. He slashed the Heretic Blade diagonally, aimed at the Golden Python’s right eye.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. If someone else were in Liu Wuxie’s position, they would’ve been gobbled up by the Golden Python at such a close distance.

Liu Wuxie’s true essence gushed out of his body and formed into two fireballs behind him, manifesting into a pair of wings, lifting him to the sky.

The Golden Python missed its bite and bit down on the wall instead, its fangs easily piercing through the rocks. Its jaws could tear a human cultivator apart.

The Golden Python, having missed its attack, was seething with rage. The aura of the Golden Fruit had vanished, leading it to conclude that this human must have taken it. In its fury, the Golden Python let out a thunderous roar that made the entire valley quake. The few demonic beasts that had been foraging for food in the vicinity had long since fled.

As for human cultivators, they had all retreated, not daring to get close. Demonic beasts were terrifying because of their bloodline, not their physique. If a demonic beast went into the demonification state, it would be strengthened by severalfold.

The Golden Python was thoroughly enraged as golden scales covered its body, and it began to grow larger. The demonic aura it gave off formed red clouds looming over the valley.

“We must retreat quickly; the Golden Python has lost its rationale!” After demonification, the intelligence of demonic beasts would plummet. Their brains would be filled with murderous intent to kill their opponent.

Liu Wuxie was still in mid-air, relying on his powerful true essence to remain suspended. However, he knew that this wasn’t a long-term solution.

After a layer of scales covered the Golden Python, its defensive ability became stronger, and ordinary weapons wouldn’t even be able to leave any marks on its body.

Close to four hundred acupoints opened as boundless true essence formed into an ocean pouring down from the sky. This shocked everyone gathered in the surroundings. The power Liu Wuxie unleashed was comparable to the pinnacle of the Marrow Cleansing Realm despite being at the fourth level, but how was this even possible?

Liu Wuxie sheathed the Heretic Blade because he knew breaking through the Golden Python’s defenses with his blade would be tough. He raised his right fist and went into the Overlord Fist posture.

Executing a 180-degree turn in mid-air, Liu Wuxie dove headfirst, his fist enveloped in flames and slicing through the air. The sheer force of his punch generated tremendous pressure, bearing down on the Golden Python just as it reared its body upright.

As Liu Wuxie descended, creaking sounds could be heard in the valley. Countless rocks were swept off the ground and shot in all directions like arrows. They were only ten meters apart, and the power accumulated in Liu Wuxie’s punch had reached the limit.

“Overlord Fist!” After reaching the fourth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, the power of the Overlord Fist had become unparalleled, achieving perfection. Then again, the limit would be until he reached the True Core Realm.

Every martial technique had a limit, and the True Core Realm was a dividing line. Cultivators would have to make changes regardless of martial or cultivation techniques.

However, Liu Wuxie was fortunate because the Desolate Devouring Art was comprehensive, and he didn’t have to worry about his current cultivation technique.

The Golden Python couldn’t dodge in time and was struck in the head by Liu Wuxie’s punch. A terrifying shockwave spread out from the point of collision, and the force caused the Golden Python to sink, with blood gushing from its head. Liu Wuxie’s punch created a hole in its head.

The massive body of the Golden Python smashed onto the ground with blood dyeing the valley like a small creek.

Liu Wuxie took this opportunity to attack, drawing the Heretic Blade. He swung his blade at the Golden Python’s eyes, as they were its only weakness.

The attack was fast mainly because Liu Wuxie didn’t want to give the Golden Python time to react. He might be able to kill cultivators in the pinnacle of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but his odds of winning weren’t high facing such a formidable demonic beast.

Liu Wuxie had merely capitalized on his aerial advantage to strike the Golden Python’s skull, inducing a state of disorientation in the beast. However, should the Golden Python regain its senses, it would introduce an element of unpredictability to the outcome of the battle.

With a swing of the Heretic Blade, the Golden Python let out a piercing roar as its body coiled tightly. Blinded and surrounded by darkness, the Golden Python thrashed about wildly.

The Golden Python’s head collided with the wall on the left, causing a shower of rocks and blood. The sight terrified the group of onlookers who were standing at a safe distance, prompting them to flee without a second thought.

“Quick, run! The Golden Python is going berserk. Spread the word that Liu Wuxie has obtained the Golden Fruit! Since we can’t get it, we can’t let him have an easy time!” The ten-odd people fled the valley towards the next location.

The battle in the valley continued with Liu Wuxie dodging. The Golden Python had lost sight and could only catch Liu Wuxie’s scent. It rolled on the ground, attempting to suppress Liu Wuxie.

But Liu Wuxie easily dodged the incoming attacks, relying on the Nine Heavenly Crane Dance. As time passed, the demonic aura released by the Golden Python began to decrease.

Liu Wuxie’s goal was to exhaust the Golden Python and win without a fight.

The stalemate lasted another fifteen minutes, and the Golden Python was already grasping heavily, slowing down significantly. Now that there were many openings, this was an excellent opportunity.

Liu Wuxie thrust with the Heretic Blade, leaving behind a few hundred wounds on the Golden Python with blood gushing out.

An hour later, the Golden Python lay motionless on the ground and barely breathed. It was on the verge of death.

The Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron immediately flew out, releasing an overwhelming devouring force.