Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 728 - Old Bastard

The Eighteenth Elder's words cast a heavy silence over the hall, leaving many people in deep thought. Some perceptive people had already detected the current problems in the clan.

The issue wasn't with the patriarch himself but with the internal strife that had fractured the clan. Unity was essential for a clan to stand strong. It was like a tree that appeared flourishing on the outside but was riddled with pests within. Once the tree fell, the consequences would be catastrophic, potentially leading to its complete uprooting.

"Eighteenth Elder, you're spewing nonsense! The clan's downfall is because we lack a strong leader!" The Second Elder stood on his feet.

A nation could crumble but be rebuilt if it had a great leader. Then again, such occurrences were rare.

Both sides made valid points, but neither dared concede even a step. All eyes turned to Liu Dashan, the acting patriarch who held the clan's authority.

If Liu Xiaotian wanted to ascend as the new patriarch, it required Liu Dashan to willingly relinquish the patriarchal seal, ensuring legitimacy in the eyes of the clan. The Second and Fifth Elders exchanged smug glances, their expressions full of disdain as they observed Liu Dashan's predicament.

Once he made his point, Liu Xiaotian returned to his seat. He had said everything needed, and the next would lie with the grand elders. If the majority voted in agreement, the re-election would be in force. Even if Liu Dashan refused to hand over the patriarchal seal, the grand elders would force him to do so.

Thus, he was waiting for Liu Dashan to yield it, as gaining it this way would be more convincing to everyone in the clan.

"Dashan, say something already!" The Eighteenth Elder urged. Though he had higher cultivation than Liu Dashan, he had supported the latter during the past year.

"My stance is simple. I will not hand the patriarchal seal over as long as my father is still alive. If my father passes away, I will return the seal to the Elder Council, and I won't interfere in the election of the new patriarch," Liu Dashan replied. He was determined he wouldn't hand it over as long as his father lived.

After all, it would be unfilial for him to hand over the patriarchal seal without the patriarch's acknowledgment.

"Liu Dashan, don't tell me you're unaware of the patriarch's condition. You can wait, but can the Liu Clan wait?" Liu Xiaotian snapped, calling Liu Dashan directly by his name instead of his title.

"Perhaps you can't wait," Liu Dashan retorted, his cold gaze filled with murderous intent directed at Liu Xiaotian.

"Acting patriarch, there's no need for this. We all respect the patriarch, and seeing his health decline by the day fills us with guilt. I believe the patriarch will support our decision if he's awake," the Third Elder said, trying to convince Liu Dashan with sentiment. After all, the patriarch could barely maintain his consciousness for an entire day, and he was teetering on the brink of death.

"If you truly respect my father, you wouldn't have convened this meeting at such a time," Liu Dashan said righteously, looking at the hypocritical faces with anger seething on his face.

"Liu Dashan, since you're being so stubborn, I can only seize the patriarchal seal from you forcibly," Liu Xiaotian said. He didn't want to wait any longer and finally revealed a sinister expression.

Most elders supported his action, and if he could obtain the patriarchal seal today, the Liu Clan would be under his control.

"If you dare to touch my father, I'll kill you immediately!" A voice echoed from outside the main hall, interrupting all the conversation and drawing everyone's attention.

Liu Wuxie had witnessed everything going on in the main hall through Ghost Eye when he stepped into the Liu Clan. Though his parents had left him when he was young, he still had a rough impression of them. This was why he immediately recognized Liu Dashan as his father.

He had also heard everything his father said, and he strode into the main hall one step ahead of Liu Dayue. He first swept his gaze around before stopping on his father.

Liu Xing remained outside the main hall, and many Liu Clan's disciples gathered outside, craning their necks to glimpse what was happening inside.

Liu Dashan trembled when Liu Wuxie locked eyes with him. Though Liu Wuxie had grown up, he could still recognize his son based on his features.

"Who are you, and how dare you trespass the Liu Clan's main hall!" Liu Xiaotian roared. Liu Wuxie was only in the Astral River Realm, and the weakest in the main hall was Liu Dashan, but even he had reached the Nascent Transformation Realm. Other than him, the weakest deacon was in the True Profound Realm.

Ordinary disciples were forbidden from entering the main hall, so Liu Xing stayed outside. In addition to Liu Wuxie's unfamiliar face, it was punishable by death for an outsider to intrude in the main hall.

Right then, Liu Dayue had followed Liu Wuxie into the main hall and heard bits and pieces of the conversation. His anger was reflected on his face.

"You old bastard, did you threaten my father earlier?" Liu Wuxie nodded at Liu Dashan before turning to Liu Xiaotian. His words left everyone in the main hall stumped, shocked by his boldness to call Liu Xiaotian an old bastard.

"You insolent brat! You dare insult me?! You can die now!" Liu Xiaotian didn't care who Liu Wuxie was, and he was determined to kill the latter for the insult to quench his anger. After all, how would he have the honor to stay in the Liu Clan's higher hierarchy if he didn't respond to the insult?

"Liu Xiaotian, stop it at once! Do you know who he is?" Liu Dayue stepped forward, releasing his aura in the True Profound Realm as he stood before Liu Wuxie. But Liu Xiaotian had reached the Spirit Profound Realm, and Liu Dayue couldn't resist the aura he gave off.

"I don't give a fuck who he is! Since he dares to insult me, he will have to die!" Liu Xiaotian waved his hand toward Liu Wuxie; the aura he gave off caused the entire main hall to tremble.

Liu Dayue couldn't stop Liu Xiaotian, and Liu Dashan suddenly stood up in the critical moment. He roared, "Liu Xiaotian if you dare to make another move, I'll destroy the patriarchal seal. I'll ensure you will never be able to obtain the patriarch's position!"

Liu Xiaotian froze. The destruction of the patriarchal seal meant the collapse of the Liu Clan, and he didn't want that. The patriarchal seal contained the soul imprints of patriarchs from previous generations, representing the soul and spirit of the Liu Clan.

"Liu Dashan, I can consider sparing him if you're willing to hand over the patriarchal seal!" Liu Xiaotian snorted, wanting to force Liu Dashan to hand over the seal.

"Father, don't agree to it!" Liu Wuxie stood his ground fearlessly. He was prepared to ignite his Immortal Emperor's will, even if it meant mutual destruction. Even if he couldn't kill Liu Xiaotian, it shouldn't be an issue for him to injure the latter, though it might cost him his life.

"Father?" Everyone in the main hall was dumbfounded.

"He's Liu Dashan's son? He looks much like younger Liu Dashan," the elders in the main hall began to discuss among themselves, curious about Liu Wuxie's identity. Over the years, they hadn't heard any news about Liu Dashan having a son.

Liu Xiaotian was also stunned as his eyes locked on Liu Wuxie, finally realizing the resemblance between him and Liu Dashan.

"Wuxie, is it really you?" Liu Dashan's voice trembled. It had been over a decade, and he was guilty of leaving his son to fend for himself in Azure Billow City. He would be haunted by sleepless nights, and his wife secretly wept at night.

"Father, I pay you my respect!" Liu Wuxie had already learned the truth along the way. His father had left him behind to protect him and didn't want him dragged into this internal conflict.

At times, Liu Wuxie also felt it wouldn't be so bad to be a mortal, but he carried too many burdens to give up. He had to return to the Fleeting Cloud Celestial Realm for revenge.

"Stand up, my son!" Liu Dashan hurried forward and embraced his son. He wiped his tears and continued, "Your mother will be overjoyed to know you've returned."

He had considered fetching Liu Wuxie back throughout the years, but he couldn't because of the clan's current situation.

"What a heartwarming scene," Liu Xiaotian interrupted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. His hand remained raised mid-air, and though some elders exchanged uneasy glances, none spoke up. Liu Xiaotian sneered and added, "But Liu Dashan, don’t blame me for being ruthless if you continue to refuse handing over the patriarchal seal!"

Liu Dashan felt conflicted, torn between his son and his father.

"Xiaotian, he's just a child. There's no need for you to stoop to his level," the Fourth Elder interjected, his tone conciliatory as he sought to diffuse the tension.

"Hand over the patriarchal seal if you want me to let him go and re-elect a new patriarch," Liu Xiaotian replied coldly, remaining unyielding. To him, this was the perfect opportunity to solidify his position, and the election was merely a formality once he obtained the seal.

"What a joke! The Liu Clan is one of the Four Major Clans, and the election of a patriarch is reduced to such a farce? Not to mention, the current patriarch is still alive. Your actions will only make us a laughingstock!" Liu Wuxie mocked as he looked around before stopping on Liu Xiaotian. He had included the entire Liu Clan in his words.

"This is the Liu Clan, not your playground. Get lost!" a deacon stood up and roared, demanding Liu Wuxie to leave.

"And who the fuck are you to yap around like a wild dog? Is being a dog better than a man?" Liu Wuxie turned to look at that deacon, mocking the latter for being a dog who would only wag his tail for Liu Xiaotian.

There weren't many people in the world who could receive Liu Wuxie's mockery, and those who received it were all at the pinnacle of the Southern Province.

The deacon began to tremble angrily after being called a dog, and he could hear the laughter coming from the surroundings. Everyone knew he was Liu Xiaotian's lackey, but no one dared say it. Yet, Liu Wuxie had spoken it out.

"This is the sacred ground of the clan, and you will be punishable by death if you continue to yap around!" The other elders couldn't stand to watch any longer as Liu Wuxie's words also included them, and the tension in the main hall became heavy.