Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 594 - Lesser Realm

A powerful surge of fury erupted in the lesser realm, alarming all the grand elders.

"Outrageous! How dare he humiliate my disciple in this manner!" Yu Bu emerged from the thatched hut with Qing Mu standing behind him, looking aggrieved.

Among the ten grand elders, Yu Bu was known for his alchemy. As a sect master, he had taken Qing Mu as his disciple. Qing Mu's flattery skills had ensured that he quickly became Yu Bu's favorite student. He also showered Qing Mu with special treatment over the years.

As the former sect master, Yu Bu's rank and status commanded respect; even other grand elders had to be respectful to him—but only out of deference to his former title. After all, the sect had steadily declined during his time as the sect master, and he was regarded as the most unsuccessful leader in the sect's history.

Not only did he fail to stop the sect's declining position, but he also accelerated it instead. When he stepped down, he initially wanted to pass the mantle to his eldest disciple, but the grand elders, six peak masters, and ordinary elders didn't favor it.

After much competition, Mu Tianli rose to the position of sect master. The grand elders had seen his effort throughout the years. Under his leadership, the sect finally saw improvements, proving that he was steering the sect in the right direction.

"It was my incompetence that brought you shame, Master," Qing Mu said with a grievance in his tone. He followed behind Yu Bu with a sly smile hanging on the corner of his lips.

"Does Mu Tianli think he can disregard me just because he has become the sect master? Let me ask him what qualifications he possesses to strip you of your position as the Treasure Pill Peak's chief alchemist!" Yu Bu said, intending to leave the lesser realm to look for Mu Tianli.

The other grand elders walked out of their thatched hut and looked at Yu Bu curiously, wondering what could have happened for him to be so furious.

"Yu Bu, aren't you taking it too far by interfering in the conflict between juniors?" Gao Gu's voice echoed, causing the surrounding space to tremble as he appeared before Yu Bu and Qing Mu.

"Gao Gu, you've arrived at the right time. Your beloved disciple dared to strip my disciple's position as the chief alchemist. Does he have any respect for me, the former sect master? If I don't get a good explanation today, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Yu Bu snapped, his voice thundering through the lesser realm as his aura swept out.

Yu Bu's powerful aura scared the cranes into fleeing. The other grand elders also walked out from their abodes and looked around, unsure of the reason behind the conflict.

"Yu Bu, why don't you ask your beloved disciple what he has done throughout the years?" Gao Gu said, his demeanor unshaken. As grand elders, they had no need to be involved in petty quarrels because it would only diminish their dignity.

"What has he done? Has he betrayed the sect, or colluded with our enemies? He's only guilty of some embezzlement, which is hardly a rarity among the alchemists in the sect," Yu Bu retorted sharply. He was aware of his disciple's greed, but his disciple had always been filial to him.

"It looks like he hasn't been entirely honest with you," Gao Gu commented. He wasn't furious because he knew Yu Bu was used to standing on the high ground in a conversation, relying on his status as the former sect master.

Qing Mu became nervous upon hearing Gao Gu’s comment, and the other grand elders naturally noticed his behavior. They had already noticed Mu Tianli's arrival earlier, and now they turned to look at Gao Gu.

They spent most of their time in seclusion, where each period could last centuries. Thus, they only paid attention to the sect’s affairs if the sect faced a life-and-death threat.

"Since you're too embarrassed to tell the truth, I'll do it on your behalf," Gao Gu said, glancing at Qing Mu while stroking his beard.

Yu Bu turned to look at Qing Mu and noticed that the latter averted his gaze, not daring to make eye contact with him.

"During his time as the chief alchemist in the Treasure Pill Pavilion, not only did he fail to bring glory to the sect's alchemy skills, but he also formed his faction on the peak and suppressed other talented alchemists, creating chaos throughout Treasure Pill Peak. He didn't only stop at embezzling the sect's resources, but his actions led many alchemists to develop inner demons, including himself. The pills refined by these corrupt alchemists contain a demonic trait and have been distributed widely," Gao Gu said. His words made the grand elders exchange glances, stunned by the severity of the accusations.

The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was built on the sect's reputation for alchemy. Even though the Treasure Pill Peak was weaker than the other peaks in martial prowess, everyone knew how important it was to the sect.

If an issue arose in Treasure Pill Peak, it could easily develop into a disaster that would bring the sect down.

The grand elders had lived for thousands of years and naturally understood the severity of the issue described by Gao Gu better than anyone. Compared to the demonic trait in the pills, embezzling some resources from the sect was nothing.

After all, embezzling some resources wouldn't shake the sect's foundation, but the tainted pills could very well destroy it.

As the chief alchemist of the Treasure Pill Peak, Qing Mu couldn't shirk his responsibility in this incident. He was also plagued with an inner demon, so it was understandable for his position to be stripped.

"Master, don't believe in his lies. This is all set up by that brat, and my pills have no issue!" Qing Mu quickly fell to his knees in front of Yu Bu, pushing all the blame to Liu Wuxie.

"Gao Gu, is it really true?" A female grand elder stepped forward. She appeared to be in her thirties, but her actual age was closer to a thousand years old. Her face was terrifyingly grim, reflecting the severity of this incident, not to mention that they were completely unaware of it. Was the sect going to inform them only after its collapse?

"Yes," Gao Gu said, nodding.

The faces of the other grand elders became ugly. They had lived long enough to disdain forming cliques for personal gains. Their very existences were tied to the survival of the sect, and they would, too, perish if the sect collapsed. As they had become one with the sect, they wouldn't allow someone to threaten its foundation.

"And who is this brat you spoke of?" Yu Bu's face darkened, his expression grim. Earlier, when Qing Mu had approached him, he had omitted any mention of a demonic trait in the pills, instead spinning tales of the injustices he had suffered from Mu Tianli’s decision to strip him of his chief alchemist position.

If Gao Gu's accusation were true, even Yu Bu wouldn't have the cheek to defend his disciple. If he did, it would only spark a public outrage in the entire sect, and his name would be tarnished for millennia.

"His name is Liu Wuxie, and he took over the Treasure Pill Peak forcibly. To ensure his strong grasp on the Treasure Pill Peak, he schemed to have me kicked out," Qing Mu replied. He knew what Liu Wuxie had done in Serene Sea City and suspected him of being behind this incident.

"Liu Wuxie?" Many elders exchanged puzzled glances. They rifled through their memories and couldn't recall any alchemist so skilled as to surpass Qing Mu in terms of alchemy.

"Is this Liu Wuxie a true disciple?" asked the female grand elder, her curiosity piqued. For someone to challenge Yu Bu's disciple, indicated he wasn’t an ordinary figure.

"No, he's not!" Qing Mu replied, his face paling. He didn’t dare lie to the grand elders. At the True Profound Realm, they could detect deception with a single glance, and he suspected they had already sent avatars beyond the lesser realm to investigate. News would soon reach them, leaving him no room for falsehoods.

Realizing his miscalculation, Qing Mu silently cursed his own haste. If he and his master had managed to leave the lesser realm earlier, Gao Gu might not have intercepted them, and the other grand elders would likely have stayed uninvolved.

"Is he an elder then?" asked the female elder.

"No, he's not!" Qing Mu remained knelt on the ground as the grand elders swept their gazes through him.

"Since he's not a true disciple nor an elder—then he must be an elite disciple?" the female grand elder asked in a confirming tone as she retracted her gaze from him. Her tone suggested that she already knew the answer.

"Yeah. He joined the sect a year ago and was promoted to an elite disciple a few months back," Qing Mu said, gritting his teeth. He didn't dare to lie to a grand elder.

"How is that possible? How can someone possibly rise from an outer to an elite disciple in just one year?" The other grand elders exclaimed in disbelief. They were considered prodigies during their time, and the journey from an outer to an elite disciple had taken them over two years.

"I recall that the sect has recently managed to produce the Spirit Restoration Pill, and the formula seems to have originated from a junior. Could it be him?" another grand elder asked as he stepped forward. Turns out that Liu Wuxie's deeds of bringing the Spirit Restoration Pill back to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had reached the ears of those in the lesser realm.

"That's him. If not for him, the sect wouldn't have plunged into chaos," Gao Gu said, confirming the speculation now that the timing was right.

"I'm intrigued. I'd very much like to meet this young man!" more elders voiced their interest, eager to leave the lesser realm to meet Liu Wuxie.

"Gao Gu, don't change the subject. Your disciple stripped my disciple's position as the chief alchemist. That decision must be reversed, or don't blame me for what happens next!" Yu Bu raised his voice to interrupt everyone, seeing that the situation had turned against him.

"Your disciple is no longer fit to manage the Treasure Pill Peak. The sect is developing rapidly, and we can't allow anyone to hold it back. I hope you can reconsider," Gao Gu refuted as he stood his ground firmly. The decree had already been issued, and to reverse it meant that Mu Tianli's prestige as the sect master would be affected.

The two stood at odds, each unwilling to yield for their disciples.

"So, do you intend to oppose me to the end?" Yu Bu's face darkened with humiliation. If he couldn't make Gao Gu yield, how would he be able to maintain his standing in the lesser realm?

"I only act for the ultimate good of the sect," Gao Gu responded, his tone calm, but his conviction remained firm.

"For the sect's interest, you want to sacrifice my disciple? Are you disregarding me, the former sect master?! " Yu Bu's voice became grim, and his eyes gleamed angrily.

As the tension rose in the lesser realm, an elder came between them and raised his hands to mediate. "Let's take a step back each. We've lived long enough, and everything can be discussed. I believe we will have news soon."

They had lived a long time to do something as childish as bickering like children as it was beneath their status.

As the elder who had intervened to de-escalate the conflict had anticipated, the grand elders present had indeed sent their avatars beyond the lesser realm to investigate. In less than fifteen minutes, the avatars returned, each identical in appearance to their physical forms.

Now that they knew the truth, they all looked at Qing Mu mockingly.