Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 729 - Three Days

Chapter 729 - Three Days

The accusation was directed at Liu Wuxie. The main hall was a sacred place of the Liu Clan, and his words offended the deacons and a portion of the grand elders.

"Rules? You people have the cheek to talk to me about rules and have long since trampled on them!" Liu Wuxie sneered, and his words silenced everyone in the room.

If the rules had mattered, today's event wouldn't have taken place, and it was clear these people didn’t respect rules. They only used rules as a pretext, which was nothing more than bluffing themselves.

"Boy, considering you're Liu Dashan's son, I'll give you a chance. Kneel and admit your wrongdoing, or you will face our wrath!" The Third and Fifth Elders stood up. They might as well take it further since they had already abandoned their faces.

Liu Dashan firmly shielded his son. He had made a grave mistake once and wouldn't allow himself to make another. He was determined to protect his son even if it cost him his life today.

"Kneel? Apologize? To you? None of you are qualified as long as the patriarch still lives," Liu Wuxie retorted. He was a junior and had violated the clan's rules by intruding into the main hall. But these people were in no position to question him as it was for the patriarch to decide.

"What a joke! The patriarch is gravely ill, and he could die at any time. We will elect a new patriarch today, and it will be your death then!" The deacon who had spoken earlier sneered. They didn't have the rights, but it would be different when Liu Xiaotian became the new patriarch.

"Who told you the patriarch is gravely ill? The patriarch is well alive, and what are your intentions to curse him to die?" Liu Wuxie turned to look at the deacon who spoke, who faltered under his piercing gaze.

Liu Dashan frowned, his gaze shifting to his younger brother. He wondered if Liu Dayue had neglected to inform Liu Wuxie of the true situation within the clan.

"Enough of your nonsense and stand aside! We'll decide how to deal with you once we decide on the new patriarch!" Everyone felt that Liu Wuxie was spouting nonsense. Everyone knew the patriarch's condition, and it was only a matter of days before he took his last breath.

"Father, do you believe me?" Liu Wuxie asked. He had no choice but to take a bet; they would only suffer if it came to a direct confrontation. He could tell Liu Xiaotian was determined to seize the patriarch's position today, and he had to buy time to turn the tables around.

The situation in the main hall was unfavorable to them. At least seven elders were on Liu Xiaotian's side, and only five elders were on his grandfather's side. If the remaining elders remained neutral, the patriarch's position would surely fall onto Liu Xiaotian.

This was why Liu Wuxie had to act before they could vote.

"I trust you!" Liu Dashan said without hesitation. The fact Liu Wuxie could come to the Central Plains from the Southern Province had proven his talent.

"Give me three days, and I will ensure the patriarch appears before everyone with vigor. If I fail, my father will willingly hand over the patriarchal seal, and we will relinquish our rights as the main lineage to support Liu Xiaotian as the next patriarch," Liu Wuxie said after looking around. His words caused an uproar in the main hall.

Even Liu Dashan and Liu Dayue were stumped in place. Even experts in the Heaven Profound Realm couldn't treat the poison in the patriarch's body, so where did someone in the Astral River Realm like Liu Wuxie get the confidence to make such a declaration?

"Do you think you can stall for time this way? I can tell you I won't even give you an hour, not to mention three days," Liu Xiaotian let out a burst of laughter. He was under the impression Liu Wuxie was trying to buy time.

"Are you afraid?" Liu Wuxie retorted. He had already anticipated Liu Xiaotian's response.

The time was ripe, and no one knew what would happen over the next three days. This was why Liu Xiaotian wouldn't give up on this opportunity to seize the patriarch's position.

But Liu Wuxie's question struck a nerve and left Liu Xiaotian speechless. Everyone's attention also fell on Liu Xiaotian as they waited for his reply.

They began to wonder if Liu Xiaotian was afraid. Why wouldn't he dare to grant Liu Wuxie three days if he wasn't afraid? If he was afraid—how would such a man be worthy of leading the Liu Clan?

There were double meanings in Liu Wuxie's words, which stumped Liu Xiaotian.

"Hmph, don't think I can't see that little scheme of yours. You're trying to buy time, but I won't let you succeed!" Liu Xiaotian was cunning, and how would someone of his caliber fall into Liu Wuxie's trap so easily?

"You're not just afraid—you're guilty. Over the years, haven't you done enough sins to weigh on your conscience? If you don't even dare to accept a request from a junior like me, how can someone like you possibly lead the vast Liu Clan? Someone like you is unworthy of such a great responsibility!" Liu Wuxie countered. His words were logical, which left Liu Xiaotian with no retort.

When he had proposed the deal, Liu Wuxie had already calculated many possible outcomes, and the Liu Clan's disciples were discussing among themselves outside the main hall.

"He's right. What's wrong with giving him three days? Is the second master not agreeing to it because he's afraid?" Doubts began to rise among the crowd, and Liu Xiaotian's authority would plummet even if he could seize the patriarch's position.

Liu Dashan was in shock. He was amazed at his son's foresight; each logical word contained a hidden trap.

"Liu Xiaotian, why are you refusing it? Don't tell me you're terrified!" Liu Dayue questioned, taking this opportunity to fuel the fire. His intentions were clear: branding Liu Xiaotian with the title of a coward and tarnishing his reputation.

Once branded a coward, Liu Xiaotian knew he had already lost the battle to a junior today, regardless of whether he could secure the patriarch's position. Who could have imagined that such a simple statement would carry so much power?

"Xiaotian, since the acting patriarch has already spoken, why not grant them three days?" The grand elders held a neutral position and were indifferent to the short delay.

"Liu Xiaotian, why are you hesitating if you're not afraid?" The Eighteenth Elder stood up; his voice echoed through the main hall. The other grand elders who supported the patriarch spoke out in support of Liu Wuxie.

Whether Liu Wuxie's words were true or not, they wouldn't mind waiting another three days to hope for a miracle.

Liu Wuxie smiled as this was precisely the result he wanted. As long as the grand elders who supported his grandfather backed him up, he was already halfway to victory.

Liu Xiaotian’s expression darkened, twisted with frustration. The disciples' murmurs outside further complicated his position. If he forced the re-election now, it would only solidify the opposition of the grand elders who supported the patriarch.

"Fine, I'll give you three days. But I have two more conditions: if the patriarch doesn't recover after three days, not only will your father have to hand over the patriarchal seal and leave the Liu Clan, but you also have to be beaten to death for violating the clan's rules," Liu Xiaotian declared venomously.

"Agreed," Liu Wuxie replied. He didn't negotiate any further. Anyhow, Liu Xiaotian would leave if they won, and he knew Liu Xiaotian might agree to any terms he added, but it might provoke a desperate reaction from him if he lost. When that happened, it would spell a disaster for the Liu Clan.

Liu Xiaotian had bribed many people throughout the years, and it wouldn't be easy to force him to leave the clan. If they forced him too far, he would only rebel and damage the clan's foundation.

That wasn't what Liu Wuxie wanted to see; his focus was to avert the current crisis.

The conditions were unfavorable for Liu Wuxie and his father: They wouldn't benefit if they won, and he would die if they lost. However, only those with keen insight could understand what Liu Wuxie was trying to do.

He knew it wouldn't be easy to take down someone like Liu Xiaotian, and he had to take it one step at a time. He had to rely on his wits to deal with someone like Liu Xiaotian.

Liu Wuxie had played a flawless strategy of advancing by retreating. He had to stabilize the situation before waiting for the opportunity to strike.

More elders stood up, and those in neutral positions still hoped the patriarch would recover. After all, the patriarch had guided the Liu Clan through the trials. Even the majority of the Liu Clan's disciples supported the patriarch.

Liu Xiaotian had only come this far by promising benefits, and his connection with those he had bribed throughout the years wasn't stable. The alliance built on it could collapse when their benefits could no longer be satisfied.

Watching as the situation slipped out of his control, Liu Xiaotian could only grind his teeth in fury. He was so close to success—only to be ruined by Liu Wuxie.

Anyone intruding on the main hall was a crime punishable by death, but the patriarch was unconscious. This was why they had to re-elect a new patriarch if they wanted to enact the punishment, and this loophole gave Liu Wuxie a chance to maneuver. But Liu Wuxie only had three days, and his fate would be sealed if he couldn't save the patriarch.

The elders and deacons gradually left the main hall, and their discussions deferred to three days later.

When Liu Xiaotian left, he glared at Liu Wuxie, who had ruined his plan.

"Dashan, when did you have such a remarkable son?" The Eighteenth and Fourth Elders came over. These elders had always been loyal to the patriarch and naturally stood with Liu Dashan.

"This is a long story!" Liu Dashan was grateful that the elders had supported them. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him and his son to turn the tables, forcing Liu Xiaotian to yield.

Liu Xiaotian feared the grand elders and dismissed Liu Wuxie's interference. Only he knew the truth: the patriarch's poison was incurable. Even with the Sacred Lotus Leaf, treating the patriarch within three days would be impossible—it could only restore his heartbeat, not fully heal him.

He wouldn't mind waiting three days to take over the patriarch's position.

"It has been over a decade since you two have met, and I believe you have much to discuss. We'll leave you to it," the elders said, leaving the hall and mentioning nothing about the bet with Liu Xiaotian. They knew the patriarch's health couldn't be restored within three days, and they might as well let the father and son savor the three precious days together.

"Wuxie, I'll take you to your mother!" Liu Dashan grabbed Liu Wuxie and dragged him out of the main hall.

......

Meanwhile, Yan Yu sat alone in a quiet courtyard. She knew today was the day Liu Xiaotian would try to remove her husband from his position as the acting patriarch, and her face was etched with worry. Her complexion looked worn, as she hadn't rested well over the past few days.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, she quickly rose to her feet. One of the steps was unmistakably her husband’s, a rhythm she had memorized over years of shared life. But his hurried pace made her heart race with questions and concern.