Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 734 - What Arrogance

As they strolled, Liu Xing introduced the clan's layout to Liu Wuxie, including the other matters in the clan to take note of. The Liu Clan's disciples were divided into the outer and inner courts.

Those in the Heavenly Dipper Realm and Heavenly Phase Realm belonged to the outer court. They were mostly ordinary people who trained in a place other than here.

As for those who reached the Astral River Realm and Nascent Transformation Realm, they were considered disciples of the inner court, and they would train here.

If a disciple couldn't reach the True Profound Realm by age fifty, they would be presented with two options. The first was to help manage the clan's business and generate resources for the clan. The second was to leave the clan with a small allocation of resources to establish their branch.

Though the Liu Clan was enormous, the competition within was also intense. After all, a mere deacon had reached the True Profound Realm, and they could become the sect master of a force in the Southern Province.

Most disciples who couldn't break into the True Profound Realm would choose to help manage the clan's business. Though some chose to leave and establish their branches, they were swiftly devoured by the other forces.

After all, surviving in the Central Plains was almost impossible without reaching the True Profound Realm. A portion also reached the True Profound Realm and chose to leave the Liu Clan to form their branch, but the odds of their survival were one in a hundred. Even so, most of the major cities in the Central Plains had a branch of the Liu Clan.

The competition within the clan was too intense. The resources would only be allocated to the talented disciples, who needed to showcase their talent to stand out.

They could only remain in the clan to continue cultivating by reaching the True Profound Realm. If they left the clan to manage the businesses, they would receive fewer resources than in the clan.

The martial field was enormous, far surpassing any Liu Wuxie had ever seen. By rough estimation, it spanned at least ten thousand meters in radius. Its oval shape allowed it to accommodate tens of thousands of people at once.

Each year, the clan held its annual gathering, at which the patriarch gave a speech while the disciples showcased their skills. The martial field was bustling with people, and thousands of disciples were training, covered in sweat.

Some practiced staff techniques, some practiced their sword techniques, and others strived to make a breakthrough in cultivation chambers. Elders were present to help guide their cultivation.

In addition to elders, there were instructors tasked with monitoring the disciples. The elders only provided advice on their cultivation but didn't oversee the day-to-day training. If a disciple ran into trouble, they could consult the elders.

The elders wouldn't teach them selflessly, as it required contribution points. The entire clan operated like a large sect.

An instructor was assigned to oversee the training of every ten disciples. Anyone caught slacking faced the cane, a punishment swiftly delivered by the strict instructors.

"Liu Xing, why are you just standing there? Come here and get to training!" an instructor roared not long after Liu Xing arrived.

"Yes!" Liu Xing responded immediately, glancing briefly at Liu Wuxie. He had already shared everything necessary with him along the way.

Since Liu Wuxie was Liu Dashan's son and bore the clan's pendant, he was naturally considered a disciple of the Liu Clan. This meant he was subject to the same rules as any other disciple, regardless of his status, even as the patriarch's grandson. Compliance with the clan's rules was non-negotiable, especially since his father would unlikely allow him to leave the clan.

Liu Xing quickly jogged over, and Liu Yue also kept a smile on her face. With no choice, Liu Wuxie could only follow behind them.

"You must be a new disciple!" The instructor, a burly man in his forties whom Liu Xing had introduced earlier, addressed Liu Wuxie directly. His name was Liu Po, a cultivator at the eighth level of the Nascent Transformation Realm. Renowned for his defensive cultivation technique, Liu Po was practically invincible among others of the same cultivation level. Even instructors in the ninth level of the Nascent Transformation Realm might struggle against him.

"That's right. I'm Liu Wuxie," Liu Wuxie replied, clasping his hands together in a polite greeting despite the dissatisfaction simmering in his heart.

This was the Liu Clan; he didn't want to make things difficult for his father. But if possible, he hoped to be free from the clan's cultivation system. After all, not many people in the clan could guide him in cultivation besides those in the Earth Profound Realm.

He stayed in the clan to use the environment and resources here, not to be subjected to control.

"I didn't ask for your name! You have given an irrelevant answer and will be given one lash for your insolence!" Liu Po swung his cane at Liu Wuxie's face without further ado. The disciples he was responsible for guiding stopped their training and looked at the instructor.

Many disciples cultivating in the distance also stopped what they were doing to look over curiously.

Liu Xing was stunned in place. He didn't know what Liu Wuxie had done wrong to be caned, and reporting his name seemed entirely reasonable. This was no different from trying to punish Liu Wuxie for something he didn't do.

Liu Wuxie's eyes turned cold with faint murderous intent flashing in them. He was here to familiarize himself with the surroundings, not to be lashed by a cane.

The instructor's cane was forged with rattan. While it didn't cause any wounds, it was painful and left a red mark on the body.

All the disciples who trained here had been caned before, including Liu Xing. It was too late for him to say anything, as the cane had already reached Liu Wuxie.

"What an arrogant instructor!" Liu Wuxie's voice was cold. He raised his hand to grab the cane, a scene that shocked many people.

The elders seated in the distance turned to look over, amused yet intrigued. After all, Liu Wuxie’s actions from the previous day had long spread throughout the clan.

Most of the disciples had only heard of Liu Wuxie. At first glance, nothing remarkable about him stood out, and no one could see through him if they didn't practice eye techniques. This was because Liu Wuxie had grasped the profound truth of simplicity, which was why everything about him seemed so ordinary.

Liu Xing stood nearby, anxious for Liu Wuxie. Some had tried to grab the cane in the past, but they had all failed. Even if they succeeded, the instructor would punish them, and it would be painful to grab the cane with their hands.

The cane sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, the force creating a prickling sensation across Liu Wuxie's skin.

The strength of the Central Plains' laws prevented even those in the higher levels of the Nascent Transformation Realm from tearing through space or significantly reducing air resistance. Liu Po's intent was clear—he sought to assert dominance and humiliate Liu Wuxie on his very first day at the martial field.

But just as the cane was half an inch from his head, Liu Wuxie finally moved. The cane came to an abrupt halt, which sent ripples of energy outward, and Liu Wuxie's hand firmly held onto the cane.

"This..." Gasps of disbelief echoed among the surrounding disciples. None could believe Liu Wuxie had stopped the cane mid-swing and without any sign of injury.

Liu Po narrowed his eyes, sensing a faint chill emanating from the point of contact. He didn't know that with his cultivation in the eighth level of the Nascent Transformation Realm, Liu Wuxie could easily kill him with a slap.

"Who the hell is he? He managed to grab Instructor Liu Po's cane!" Several voices murmured in disbelief. Most of the disciples training in the martial field could recognize each other, yet Liu Wuxie was an unfamiliar face to many.

"That's Liu Wuxie, the son of the acting patriarch!" The disciples who recognized Liu Wuxie shared. It didn't take long before Liu Wuxie's news spread throughout the martial field, but most people showed indifference. Only a handful cast friendly glances in his way. Some looked at Liu Wuxie with hostility, and they were those who were aligned with Liu Xiaotian's faction.

"Boy, how dare you disobey the instructor! According to the clan's rules, you must kneel and receive three lashes as punishment!" Liu Po declared as he yanked the cane free from Liu Wuxie's hand, even using the clan's rules to pressure Liu Wuxie.

The clan's rules dictated punishment for the disobedient, but Liu Wuxie couldn't see what he had done wrong.

"I don't want trouble. Get lost to teach your disciples, and don't bother me," Liu Wuxie said, his tone laced with irritation.

"What arrogance?! How dare he defy the instructor blatantly. Let's see how long he'll last!" Many of the Liu Clan's disciples gloated as they looked at Liu Wuxie. They had never seen such an arrogant disciple before.

Even prodigies had to obey the instructors in the martial field, and no one dared to defy the instructor's will. Even if the instructor had done something wrong, they would only complain among themselves and wouldn't humiliate the instructor in front of everyone.

However, if Liu Po allowed Liu Wuxie to leave after a blatant challenge to his authority, his reputation as an instructor would be irreparably damaged.

Liu Xing quickly ran over anxiously.

"Instructor, Wuxie is new here and unfamiliar with the clan's rules. Please give him a chance!" He pleaded as he stood protectively before Liu Wuxie, tugging the latter's sleeve to apologize to the instructor.

As a disciple of the Liu Clan, Liu Xing knew the clan's rules well. The patriarch had no right to interfere, even if today's matter blew up.

"He doesn't know the rules, and you don't either? I'll teach him the consequences today!" Liu Po wore a sinister smile, and the cane in his hand flew at Liu Xing.

No one had expected Liu Xing to receive a cane to try and mediate this matter.

Even Liu Wuxie hadn't expected Liu Po to act against Liu Xing, and the sheer speed of Liu Po's attack left everyone stunned.

Liu Xing was only in the ninth level of the Astral River Realm, and he stood no chance against an assault from someone in the eighth level of the Nascent Transformation Realm.

Liu Wuxie thought Liu Po would target him, but he dragged Liu Xing down.

A cold ray flashed, and the cane in Liu Po's hand broke into two. When Liu Po stared at the severed whip in his hand, his muscles began to tense and bulge in anger as a terrifying shockwave of murderous intent swept out from him.

A short blade had appeared in Liu Wuxie's hand, and he was the one who had severed the cane into two. Such audacity was unprecedented as no one had dared to destroy the instructor's cane in the past, and Liu Wuxie was the first.

Liu Dashan and the others were aware of Liu Wuxie's recent achievements but had little understanding of his personality or approach to handling situations. If they had known, Liu Dashan might have reconsidered sending him there.