Chapter 998 - Divine Heaven Crushing Palm

At Liu Wuxie's current level, low-level Earth Profound Realm cultivators did not threaten him at all. Capturing Elder Black to extract valuable intelligence about the Black Plume Pavilion was ideal.

If the Black Plume Pavilion wanted him dead, he would return the favor by erasing them.

The black-cloaked man Liu Wuxie had encountered at the Heavenly Gate Platform most likely had dual identities. He ranked highly in the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy and the Black Plume Pavilion.

He had likely refrained from acting himself because of the grandmaster's presence.

Some Golden Cauldron Pavilion experts even served as assassins in the Black Plume Pavilion. Many seemed to possess dual identities, and Ruan Ying was no exception.

"Get in touch with Elder Black immediately. Summon Lu Liang, He Hai'an, and Jiang Nan as well. I have something in mind," Liu Wuxie said, dismissing Ruan Ying with a wave.

He planned to start his counterattack with Elder Black, so he summoned the assassins under his control. Moreover, he also had to keep an eye on the Yuan and the Wang Clans.

If not for them, Liu Wuxie wouldn't have fallen into the Heaven-Curtaining Red Luan, and Han Feizi wouldn't have had to sacrifice his lifespan.

The Wang Clan was renowned for its craftsmanship in spiritual talismans, and the Yuan Clan was famed for its mastery of spiritual arrays. With his current strength, a frontal confrontation with the two clans was unrealistic.

Since he couldn't crush them with sheer force, he would destroy their business, severing their source of income and eroding their foundations.

The Liu Clan's alchemy had undergone a revival. Every once in a while, Bi Gongyu would visit the Liu Clan personally to guide them in alchemy.

The Liu Clan had seized a considerable market share in just a few short months.

However, Liu Wuxie only had three months left and had to speed up his advancement. Not only did he need to reach the Heaven Profound Realm, but he also had to eradicate the Black Plume Pavilion and the other hostile forces. Thus, he was under immense pressure.

He planned to remain at the Heavenly Gate Peak for the following days to cultivate, adapt to his cultivation after his breakthrough, and absorb spiritual energy.

Liu Wuxie's cultivation would slow down as his cultivation rose. But with the support of supreme-grade spirit stones, he could make a noticeable difference each day.

Elder Madman had gone into seclusion when Liu Wuxie had left for the Han Clan. This time, he was attempting to break through to the Heaven Profound Realm. He had made a vow not to emerge unless he succeeded.

......

Ruan Ying returned three days later.

"Master, we've arranged a meeting with Elder Black in three days at the Crimson Ridge Mountain Range," Ruan Ying reported.

Elder Black had no clue that the four assassins now served Liu Wuxie.

"Good. Go as planned," Liu Wuxie replied with a nod. He would also visit secretly.

After Ruan Ying left, Liu Wuxie remained seated on the Heavenly Gate Platform to continue his cultivation.

Strangely, no one visited him after his return, giving him unexpected peace. He had very few acquaintances in the academy.

Liu Feng and Liu Xin'er were both in seclusion, as were his three senior brothers.

......

Liu Wuxie left the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy two days later and headed to the Crimson Ridge Mountain Range. He planned to arrive before Elder Black and set up traps in advance.

Even though he possessed the strength to kill cultivators at the Earth Profound Realm, it would be troublesome if they focused on escaping. If Elder Black escaped, the Black Plume Pavilion would be alerted.

If the Black Plume Pavilion discovered that he could convert others into his devotees, it would become unfavorable to him.

The rendezvous point was in a canyon surrounded by mountains.

Known for secrecy, the Black Plume Pavilion had arranged the meeting at night, perfect for avoiding public attention.

Liu Wuxie set up a massive spiritual array in the valley, waiting for his prey to enter. Once he finished his preparations, he concealed himself with a wave of his hand and observed every movement outside.

By mid-afternoon the next day, Lu Liang arrived first. Though masked in black, Liu Wuxie recognized Lu Liang instantly.

Jiang Nan was the second to arrive, followed by He Hai'an and Ruan Ying. The four said nothing to each other and took positions at the four corners, the typical behavior for Black Plume Pavilion's assassins. Most didn't know each other's identities and would avoid interaction even if they did. That was the Black Plume Pavilion's rule.

As dusk settled over the valley, a black-cloaked figure approached in silence. Even before he drew near, Liu Wuxie could feel the oppressive aura radiating from him.

Fortunately, Liu Wuxie's spiritual array remained well hidden. When inactive, the valley looked untouched.

"Greetings, Elder Black!" the four assassins said in unison as the figure arrived.

Elder Black was their direct superior, who issued all their missions.

"Didn't I order you four to kill Liu Wuxie? Why have you summoned me instead?" Elder Black asked with irritation creeping into his voice.

He had ordered them to assassinate Liu Wuxie immediately.

However, a few days ago, Ruan Ying and Lu Liang had requested a meeting, and Elder Black had selected this location.

The four remained silent, and the atmosphere between the five grew bizarre.

Though Elder Black wore a black mask that concealed his appearance, his piercing eyes swept across the four assassins. He finally sensed something amiss in his subordinates' eyes.

He didn't hesitate to retreat, planning to leave the place. The Black Plume Pavilion's members acted cautiously and would leave without hesitation when they detected danger.

"Where do you think you're going?" Liu Wuxie's voice echoed through the valley.

Four light screens emerged from the surroundings and sealed off the entire valley.

Liu Wuxie descended from the sky with the Heretic Blade in his hand. The Golden Flame Strike struck like a golden curtain that locked onto Elder Black.

"Liu Wuxie!" Elder Black uttered. He recognized Liu Wuxie despite the dark surroundings. He was stunned to see Liu Wuxie there, of all places.

"That's right. It's me."

The Golden Flame Strike accelerated, drawing a crimson trail across the night sky.

"You dare show yourself here? Then die!" Elder Black roared.

He struck with his palm, resembling a wind blade that clashed with the Golden Flame Strike.

The Golden Flame Strike shattered with a loud rumble, unleashing a powerful shockwave that surged outward, shaking the valley. The tumbling shockwave swept out and flung the four assassins into the air.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The two were evenly matched in their exchange.

Liu Wuxie had faced opponents at the Earth Profound Realm before. He knew their strength well. Now that he had made his breakthrough to the second-level Spirit Profound Realm, his strength had grown.

"What are you four waiting for? Attack him!" Elder Black shouted.

However, strangely, none of the four assassins made a move.

"Tell me, who issued the Soaring Bloom Order?" Liu Wuxie questioned, advancing toward Elder Black with the Heretic Blade humming in his hand.

Back in the void realm, the Heretic Blade had absorbed a trace of void energy, making it even more attuned to heaven and earth. To achieve unity with heaven and earth, the Heretic Blade had to adapt to every environment, including the void realm.

Elder Black ignored Liu Wuxie and turned his glare to the four assassins. He growled, "You four betrayed the Black Plume Pavilion!"

Such a betrayal by the Black Plume Pavilion's assassins had never happened in the past.

"Don't waste your breath. They will tell you nothing," Liu Wuxie replied, launching another attack with the Heretic Blade.

This time, his attack contained a trace of deathly energy. He had spent time in the void realm, comprehending the Death Dao Art, and had gained some insight into it.

When unleashed, Elder Black felt his vitality eroding from deathly energy, but the effects remained faint and negligible.

If Liu Wuxie could master the Death Dao Art, he could reap a person's lifespan with a single strike.

"Damn it!" Elder Black roared.

He had to report the four assassins' betrayal to the Black Plume Pavilion to guard against possible betrayals from the other assassins.

The Black Plume Pavilion employed a unique training method for its assassins to ensure absolute loyalty. Because of this, no outside force could sway their allegiance.

Moreover, each assassin had a wisp of their primordial spirit extracted and stored in the headquarters. If the assassins ever betrayed the Black Plume Pavilion, the organization could take their lives instantly.

Elder Black shoved his hands out and unleashed a surge of energy that swept outward as a wave.

"Divine Heaven Crushing Palm!" Elder Black roared. He conjured a massive palm and hurled it toward Liu Wuxie like a mountain crushing down.

However, Liu Wuxie stood indifferently and didn't flinch at the incoming attack. He countered with the Golden Flame Strike, using Elder Black as a whetstone to refine his technique.

The clash of the two dao techniques was highly destructive. The sky fractured, with fissures spreading like spiderwebs. The entire valley also shook as if it had been hit by an earthquake, causing stones to tumble down and trees to fall.

"Spatial Dao Art!" Liu Wuxie said, performing his spatial art.

He began to reinforce the space around him, slowing down Elder Black's incoming attack.

Elder Black's eyes flashed with realization. He had severely underestimated Liu Wuxie's combat strength.

Elder Black cursed, "Damn it!"

He poured more force into his strike and shattered the Spatial Dao Art that stood in the way.

Elder Black wasn't at the first level of the Earth Profound Realm but at the second level. His combat strength was also stronger than Yuan Zilong and the others.

The dao techniques collided midair, shifting through countless variations with each strike. Elder Black relied on his bare hands to fight Liu Wuxie.

The two had exchanged hundreds of blows in a few breaths, riddling the valley with craters.

"Liu Wuxie, you can't kill me. Cooperate with the Black Plume Pavilion, and we might spare your life!" Elder Black sneered, trying to persuade Liu Wuxie to join them.

"You talk too much," Liu Wuxie sneered.

His aura surged, doubling in intensity. He executed the Great Five Elemental Palm, conjuring an enormous palm that covered the sky.

The Spatial Dao Art excelled at restricting his enemy but lacked lethality. Nevertheless, the Great Five Elemental Palm conjured a colossal millstone that enveloped the surroundings for tens of thousands of miles.

The moment the colossal palm manifested, Elder Black finally lost his composure. He couldn't figure out why the four assassins had betrayed him.

"Lesser Severance Art!" Elder Black yelled, deploying the dao technique used by Qiu Zhengyi to neutralize the Great Five Elemental Palm.

The Black Plume Pavilion had long spread the Lesser Severance Art throughout its ranks.