Desolate Devouring Art-Chapter 879 - Tackling the Root

It was a foolish move to humiliate an elder of the Liu Clan in public, and people stared at Liu Wuxie in shock.

"Liu Wuxie, if you don't give me a proper explanation today, I'll risk this old life of mine to seek justice!" the fifth elder roared, his beard bristling like an enraged lion.

After all, if these accusations were true, leaving the clan would make it impossible for him to show his face again.

"That's right! We won't let you walk away easily, even if it means mutual destruction!" The elders supporting Liu Xiaotian stepped forward, rallying against Liu Wuxie.

They had lacked a reason before, but now they had the perfect excuse to confront Liu Xiucheng openly.

However, Liu Wuxie remained unmoved under the pressure, and a cold smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"A bunch of garbage!" Liu Wuxie spat, his words igniting the fuse.

Even Liu Xiucheng nearly toppled from his chair. His grandson's audacity to insult so many people was staggering. But he was happy deep down, as he had been putting up with them for far too long.

"Kill him!" Over a hundred men surged forward, with the fifth elder leading the charge.

Liu Xiucheng quietly mustered his strength, planning to slaughter them all if they dared harm his grandson. After all, no one who rose to the position of patriarch did so without ruthlessness.

The reason why he had been tolerating these people was due to the lingering sentiment of familial ties. But if they touched his grandson? He wouldn't hesitate to risk his life to wipe them out.

"You people keep discussing splitting from the clan and setting up your own branch. Surely, you've chosen a place and made your preparations. Tell me then, where is this place?" Liu Wuxie countered with a question.

His words stunned the fifth elder and those from Liu Xiaotian's faction.

Upon returning, Liu Xiaotian had claimed he wanted to leave the Liu Clan, but his true goal was to force Liu Xiucheng to relinquish his authority.

The fifth elder and the others had already considered leaving, yet they had turned to Liu Xiucheng, asking if they could negotiate.

Liu Xiaotian had assured them everything had been arranged, so they had brazenly dared confront the patriarch.

Upon hearing Liu Wuxie's words, all eyes turned to Liu Xiaotian, awaiting his response.

A flicker of viciousness flashed in Liu Xiaotian's eyes as Liu Wuxie's unexpected arrival had thrown his plan into chaos.

"You people have overestimated him," Liu Wuxie said, looking at Liu Xiaotian with a mocking smile. He continued, "What will you people do after leaving the clan? Live in the mountain range with him? Or stay at some inn? What will you people eat and drink then? Who will provide you with resources for cultivation, and what about your families?"

He had long seen through Liu Xiaotian—there were no preparations.

Given his grandfather's personality, Liu Xiucheng would have eventually relented to Liu Xiaotian's demands for the sake of the Liu Clan. Liu Xiaotian had been on the verge of success—until Liu Wuxie returned.

However, Liu Wuxie wasn't his grandfather, and he wouldn't put the clan's interest first. He only cared about those close to him and would strike back if his family were humiliated. As for the Liu Clan's fate, he didn't care about it.

Everyone in Liu Xiaotian's faction was strong enough to survive outside, but what about their families? They would need shelter as they didn't have a high cultivation. If such basic amenities couldn't be provided, was leaving the clan truly the right choice?

They had grown accustomed to the comforts of life within the Liu Clan—receiving generous resources each month, living without fear of enemies, and ensuring their descendants had shelter and cultivation support.

Leaving meant starting from scratch.

Liu Wuxie had merely laid the truth bare—Liu Xiaotian had no plan, and that stark realization hit hard.

People who spent too long in a sheltered environment lost their ability to survive in the wild.

"What a joke! Xiaotian has already prepared for our settlement if we split. Since the patriarch isn't willing to agree to our terms, we'll break away from the clan completely!" the fifth elder said, but his tone lacked the ferocity from before. He had also noticed the hint of hesitation in Liu Xiaotian's eyes.

"Be my guest!" Liu Wuxie gestured for them to leave. The Liu Clan didn't want them; they could leave.

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Strangely enough, no one moved as they looked at each other with unease.

On the contrary, the elders behind Liu Xiucheng looked at Liu Wuxie with newfound respect. Liu Wuxie had cornered them into a life-or-death gamble. If Liu Xiaotian truly had a perfect plan and a base prepared, it would only accelerate the Liu Clan's downfall.

This was a risky move that Liu Xiucheng had considered, but he hadn't voiced it aloud.

"Please be reassured, everyone! I have already arranged the place, and you can come with me now if you trust me. I, Liu Xiaotian, swear that you will not be mistreated!" Liu Xiaotian said after taking a deep breath. Liu Wuxie had already ruined his plan, and he knew he couldn't lose these people's support.

He knew everyone had joined him for their own interests, and such relations wouldn't last.

"Why don't you tell them where then? Or do you plan to bring them to join another force?" Liu Wuxie's gaze turned cold, and murderous intent radiated from him.

He was certain—there was a mastermind behind Liu Xiaotian who gave him such confidence.

As soon as Liu Wuxie spoke, the main hall erupted. They wondered if Liu Xiaotian intended to take them to another force. If so, they would become the Liu Clan's traitors.

After all, they would still be a branch of the Liu Clan even if they left, but it would be a betrayal if they joined another force.

"Nonsense!" Liu Xiaotian finally lost his composure.

"You know better than anyone whether I'm speaking nonsense. If anyone still wants to leave with him, go ahead. But if anyone is willing to confess their wrongdoings publicly, the Liu Clan won't mind giving you another chance," Liu Wuxie said, exuding the authority of a true patriarch.

At that moment, it almost felt as if he were the real master of the clan.

Liu Xiucheng stayed silent, and no one dared to object. They knew Liu Wuxie's goal was to sow discord among them, and the Liu Clan could provide them with what Liu Xiaotian couldn't.

The moment Liu Wuxie had entered the main hall, he had noticed the lingering attachment to the clan in their eyes and knew these people didn't truly want to leave.

"Liu Wuxie, you're merely a junior, and what right do you have to speak like that?" A deacon finally stepped forward. He didn't want to leave and had only joined the rebellion under Liu Xiaotian's coercion. Even his tone had softened, not to mention the death of a deacon had instilled pressure on them.

"Wuxie can represent me! Anyone unwilling to leave can write a confession, and I promise not to pursue it. As for those who are willing to leave, go on!" Liu Xiucheng finally spoke and backed Liu Wuxie.

Everyone behind Liu Xiaotian began to look at each other and whispered among themselves. They were already used to the comfortable life there and weren't willing to start from scratch with Liu Xiaotian. Not to mention, they would lose the clan's protection the moment they left.

After all, the Liu Clan had an expert in the Heaven Profound Realm, and someone at the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm couldn't do anything in the Central Plains.

Regret began to spread like wildfire when it took root, shattering their confidence.

No one could rival Liu Wuxie when it came to psychological warfare.

While it seemed that Liu Wuxie had escalated the conflict, he was merely cutting it off at the root by exposing Liu Xiaotian's pitiful tricks. After all, endless tolerance would only fuel Liu Xiaotian's arrogance.

Liu Xiucheng was too soft-hearted to give Liu Xiaotian another chance.

"Liu Liang, have you thought it through? Your wife is pregnant, your son is still young, and your mother is blind. Do you really want them to wander around with you?" The fourth elder spoke out from behind Liu Xiucheng to a deacon behind Liu Xiaotian.

His words struck Liu Liang's heart like a dagger, pain contorting the man's face. Now was the perfect time to play the family card, and Liu Wuxie didn't even need to interfere.

Liu Wuxie barely knew these people, nor did he care about their personal ties.

"And you, Liu Cheng," the fourth elder continued. "You're still young, and the clan just promoted you to deacon. Have you forgotten how the patriarch treated your parents? Without his help, would you have achieved anything? If you leave now, can your conscience bear it?"

His words shattered the fragile unity of Liu Xiaotian's faction.

Liu Liang and Liu Cheng lowered their heads.

"Patriarch, I was wrong! Can you give me another chance?" Liu Liang said. He went down on his knees to admit his mistake. Liu Xiaotian had bewitched him to betray the clan.

"It's enough if you realize your mistake. As long as you truly mean it, I will give you another chance," Liu Xiucheng said, standing up to help Liu Liang to his feet. This was a deliberate display for others to see.

"Liu Cheng, you unfilial son! I disown you—get out of the Liu Clan!" Liu Cheng's parents stormed in right at this moment after learning of their son's betrayal. They came immediately to sever ties with their son.

"Father, I was wrong! I deserve death!" Liu Cheng went down on his knees and began slapping himself.

"Patriarch, please give my son another chance. I'll kneel if I must!" Liu Cheng's father cried and was about to fall to his knees, but Liu Xiucheng stopped him.

"Brother, this is my fault, not your son's fault," Liu Xiucheng said, taking the blame upon himself.

Liu Wuxie turned to his grandfather and gave him a big thumbs-up—they had played it out flawlessly.

With the first person admitting his mistake, more people joined to write a confession.

Liu Xiaotian watched as his faction crumbled before his eyes, sorrow filling his heart. He had never imagined that all his careful planning would be undone by someone he considered an insignificant ant.

"Y-You! Without Xiaotian, would any of you have achieved what you have today?!" the fifth elder roared. Many among them had once benefited from Liu Xiaotian, yet now they had turned against him.