Chapter 976 - Manipulation of Space

Liu Wuxie studied the expression of each cultivator as they entered the city.

He shrugged. "We'll get hostile looks wherever we go."

Indeed, there were too many people in the sacred ground who wanted him dead.

Since the outcome wouldn't change, he might as well find a comfortable place to stay.

Gu Yu nodded in agreement. What Liu Wuxie said made sense. He had already heard from Lu Liang about what had happened in the mysterious sea region, including how cultivators at the Earth Profound Realm had joined the fight for the Thunder Saint Pearl.

People often said the most dangerous place was the safest. Staying in a large city meant no worry about sneak attacks, and anyone who wanted to kill Liu Wuxie would have to do so openly.

If they stayed in the wilderness, they would need to worry about Corpse Devouring Beasts and possible ambushes.

The three made it safely into the city before nightfall. They walked through tattered streets where cultivators trained inside the homes they had taken for themselves.

As the laws in the sacred ground gradually stabilized, the environment became increasingly suitable for cultivation. Even trees had begun sprouting from the earth.

In a few centuries, the sacred ground would likely transform into a thriving paradise for cultivators.

"Master, this place looks nice," Ruan Ying said, pointing to a row of intact and clean houses.

Liu Wuxie nodded, "Good."

He let Ruan Ying arrange everything.

Just then, a voice rang out from behind. A young man rushed over excitedly and grabbed Ruan Ying's shoulder when he arrived.

"Ruan Ying, I finally found you!"

Liu Wuxie examined the newcomer curiously. Though he didn't wear the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy's robes, anyone could tell he was a fellow disciple.

"Senior Brother Yuan, do you need something?" Ruan Ying asked with a frown.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Nothing, really... I've been searching for you ever since we entered the sacred ground. I thought you might have..." Though he trailed off, the meaning was clear. He had feared Ruan Ying had met a tragic end.

Ruan Ying spoke coldly, "Please leave if there's nothing important. We have things to do."

Then, she walked off with Liu Wuxie and Gu Yu.

"Ruan Ying, why are you so cold to me? Don't you know how I feel about you?" the youth called out.

"I've already made it clear—it's impossible for us to be together. Now, get lost!" Ruan Ying snapped.

Liu Wuxie sensed from the youth's tone that he had feelings for Ruan Ying, unaware she served as an assassin for the Black Plume Pavilion. Who knew what he would think if he knew she was an assassin from the Black Plume Pavilion?

"Is it because of him?" The youth pointed at Liu Wuxie. He had noticed how Ruan Ying had been courteous to Liu Wuxie earlier.

Liu Wuxie sighed—trouble found him even when it had nothing to do with him.

Ruan Ying had once served the Black Plume Pavilion as an assassin, but now she followed Liu Wuxie with unwavering devotion. Even so, death would catch up with her sooner or later.

"Watch your mouth! Don't blame me for what happens if you refuse to leave!"

Ruan Ying would not allow anyone to humiliate her master. She drew her sword. She had long since shifted her loyalty—now, she served Liu Wuxie with unwavering devotion.

"Very well! I'll remember this!" The youth glared at Liu Wuxie and radiated murderous intent as he left.

"Master, I'm sorry. This is all my fault," Ruan Ying apologized for dragging Liu Wuxie into this mess.

"What's his name?" Liu Wuxie asked calmly.

Ruan Ying might not have been an unparalleled beauty, but she still turned heads wherever she went. It was no surprise that she had admirers at the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy.

"His name is Yuan Ziping, a disciple of the Yuan Clan, one of the Four Great Clans. He has been chasing after me for years," Ruan Ying explained.

Liu Wuxie nodded, "The Yuan Clan's disciple?" But he didn't pay much attention to it.

Among the Four Great Clans, the Liu Clan was at odds with the Wang Clan. Though there was no conflict with the Liao Clan, he knew Liao Changhong wouldn't let the matter of the four seasonal treasures go. As for the Yuan Clan, he didn't know much about them except that they were famed for their blacksmithing skills.

Once inside, Ruan Ying quickly tidied the place to make it livable for Liu Wuxie. Gu Yu claimed the room on the left, while Ruan Ying settled into the one on the right.

Before stepping inside, Liu Wuxie set up several spiritual arrays around the courtyard.

Having reached the Spirit Profound Realm, he could now set up spiritual arrays with unmatched precision.

Liu Wuxie had accomplished all his goals in the sacred ground by reaching the Spirit Profound Realm.

In just four months, he had risen from the fifth-level True Profound Realm to the Spirit Profound Realm, yet he hadn't had a proper moment to consolidate his cultivation.

News of Liu Wuxie's arrival spread quickly, but no one dared cause trouble.

Everyone knew Liu Wuxie's strength—he could crush even peak Spirit Profound Realm cultivators. So, no one would provoke him unless they had a death wish.

Besides, numbers meant nothing unless someone at the Earth Profound Realm arrived. And so, everyone waited in silence.

With no one disturbing him, Liu Wuxie remained in seclusion to cultivate. He needed time to grasp every breakthrough and make sure no details slipped past him.

At night, the city came alive with movement and whispers. More cultivators poured in after hearing that Liu Wuxie had taken up residence there.

Now that the laws in the sacred ground were slowly being repaired, the Communication Talisman could work again, allowing short-range messaging within hundreds of kilometers.

"Big Brother, help me! I love her—I won't let anyone else touch her!" Yuan Ziping clung to the sleeve of a middle-aged man, pleading like a child.

"Are you sure that person is Liu Wuxie?" the middle-aged man asked, seeking confirmation. He would have to reconsider if it was Liu Wuxie.

"That's right. I recognized him straight away. I only pretended not to recognize him, knowing I was no match for him," Yuan Ziping replied.

He had recognized Liu Wuxie instantly but masked it behind a calm facade. After all, Liu Wuxie's reputation for killing cultivators at the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm was no secret.

As someone at the ninth-level Spirit Profound Realm, Yuan Ziping knew better than to act rashly.

"No rush. Let someone make a move, and your beloved will return to your embrace once he's dead," said the middle-aged man.

He understood that most who had come to the city were after Liu Wuxie.

Yuan Ziping held his tongue after hearing what his elder brother said.

......

Meanwhile, a small-scale battle was underway among a group of people a thousand miles away.

"Liao Changhong, you're despicable! Do you think you can threaten Wuxie by threatening us? What a joke!" Liu Feng roared.

He and Liu Xin'er were ambushed by Liao Changhong's group a few days ago. Not only was he captured, but Liu Xin'er was also made captive.

"Threaten? We're just using you two to negotiate a trade," Liao Changhong replied.

Since leaving the mysterious sea region, he had rallied others to capture Liu Wuxie's allies, hoping to trade them for treasures.

"Wuxie will make you all pay!" Liu Feng snapped.

He couldn't reach Liu Wuxie because Communication Talismans weren't working well, and he was already aware of Liu Wuxie's recent exploits.

He hadn't expected to run into these shameless crooks instead of Liu Wuxie.

"I admit that Liu Wuxie is strong, but that doesn't mean we are afraid of him. Imprison them. We'll enter the city," Liao Changhong ordered.

He had already received news that Liu Wuxie was in a nearby city and planned to head there immediately. If they made their way through the night, reaching the city would only take a day.

......

Meanwhile, a restless crowd lingered outside Liu Wuxie's courtyard. They wandered around, but no one dared to set foot inside.

Liu Wuxie spent two silent days in seclusion, stabilizing his cultivation at the first-level Spirit Profound Realm. Even the divine force flowing out from the second gate had slowed down.

He raised his hands and waved them gently, causing the surrounding space to ripple like mercury.

"My Spatial Dao Art is complete. I can trap even someone at the first-level Earth Profound Realm," Liu Wuxie mused.

The Spatial Dao Art could form a prison, locking everything in place.

When he stepped outside, Ruan Ying was practicing her sword technique in the courtyard.

"Ruan Ying, attack me at full force," Liu Wuxie said.

He had reached a bottleneck with the Great Dragon Aspect Art, and the Great Five Elemental Palm was almost perfected. Only the Spatial Dao Art still had room to grow.

"Yes!" Ruan Ying replied.

She lunged at Liu Wuxie, her blade slicing the air with a piercing sword aura. This was the sword technique that she had learned, and each strike was swift and lethal.

Liu Wuxie didn't move, allowing Ruan Ying's sword to reach him. But when the sword neared him, Ruan Ying halted instinctively to avoid harming him.

"Don't stop. Keep going," Liu Wuxie reassured. He did not attempt to dodge—not because he couldn't, but because he chose not to.

Ruan Ying took a deep breath and resumed her assault, this time with a sharper and more unpredictable trajectory.

The sword reached Liu Wuxie's face in a flash, and a strange scene unfolded as it neared his neck.

Spatial ripples appeared before Liu Wuxie and locked the sword in midair. It wouldn't budge no matter how Ruan Ying tried.

"Go!" Liu Wuxie gently waved his hand, and a powerful force sent Ruan Ying flying back.

When the spatial ripples vanished, Ruan Ying stood up, her face filled with shock.

"Master... what was that?" she whispered in awe.

She had never seen a dao technique so mysterious and unfathomable. It had nullified her every attack.

"It's not a dao technique, just the simple manipulation of space," Liu Wuxie said.

Space could be manipulated in endless ways, and Liu Wuxie had only scratched the surface.