Desolate Devouring Art-Chapter 1007 - Seven Spirit Sacredwood

In addition to Lu Yanghui, many others shared doubts about Liu Wuxie. Tang Hu, in particular, kept glaring at Liu Wuxie the entire time.

But since the young master had appointed him directly, no one dared to oppose his decision. Even so, none of them held any goodwill toward Liu Wuxie. No one could understand how someone like Liu Wuxie had suddenly become a disciple of the Renowned Sword Manor without prior notice.

It might have made sense if Liu Wuxie were a renowned expert hired from elsewhere, but his mediocre cultivation level made that hard to believe.

The group advanced and headed straight toward the Divine Sword Platform.

Liu Wuxie blended into the crowd, ignoring the strange looks and hushed whispers around him.

Two hours later, the group finally arrived at the Divine Sword Platform, where a massive crowd had already gathered to witness the long-awaited clash between the two manors.

"Have you all heard? Master Xue, the strongest swordsman in Northern City, might be attending the duel today." The crowd was already abuzz with chatter long before the duel's main participants arrived.

"I heard it too! I never thought I'd have the fortune to see Master Xue in person! It must be a blessing from the heavens!"

Everyone in Northern City recognized Master Xue's immense prestige. As the strongest swordsman, he had earned a title few could ever hope to achieve.

The organizers had erected numerous platforms around the lake to accommodate the swelling crowd. In addition to the regular viewing areas, they had arranged special guest seats for the local clans and dignitaries.

"Look! Isn't that Master Shi?" someone shouted, and excitement surged through the crowd like a wave.

All eyes turned toward the bridge as an elderly man approached the special guest seats, his firm, steady steps commanding attention. Two attendants followed behind him, strutting with unmistakable arrogance.

"I can't believe Master Shi Ling is here! His blacksmithing skills are unmatched, and rumor has it he's forging a sword that could rival the Heavenly Xun Sword!"

The surrounding murmurs reached Liu Wuxie's ears, along with quiet exchanges between clan patriarchs and sect elders.

"Here comes the Renowned Sword Manor!" Miao Jianying led the group onto the Divine Sword Platform, instantly drawing the attention of countless onlookers.

The First Sword Manor had arrived earlier, and their representatives now stood atop the Divine Sword Platform, waiting for the duel to begin.

"These two manors have fought for years. Today, we can finally see which one is stronger. I wonder if the First Sword Manor will be able to seize the Heavenly Xun Sword from the Renowned Sword Manor..."

A typical duel between younger disciples wouldn't have attracted this much attention. But this time, the Heavenly Xun Sword and the Supreme Harmony Sword were on the line.

"Things don't look good for the Renowned Sword Manor," someone muttered.

In recent years, the Renowned Sword Manor had fallen behind in development compared to the First Sword Manor.

The Renowned Sword Manor's party crossed the stone bridge and stepped directly onto the Divine Sword Platform.

The platform was far larger than Liu Wuxie had imagined, spanning ten thousand meters in diameter, large enough to host even battles between Earth Profound Realm experts.

At the center, a massive battle circle painted in red marked the designated duel arena.

Organizers had arranged tables and chairs in tiers around the Divine Sword Platform to give spectators a better view.

Ordinary spectators were restricted to the lake's edge and were unqualified to come near.

The First Sword Manor's disciples stood on the right, while the Renowned Sword Manor took position on the left, drawing a clear line between the two factions.

"Miao Jianying, did you bring the Heavenly Xun Sword?" Yin Xue asked as he stepped forward.

"The duel hasn't even begun. Isn't it a bit early to bring up the Heavenly Xun Sword?" Miao Jianying sneered. Tension climbed as both sides stood ready, yet neither had exchanged a single strike.

"This is the Supreme Harmony Sword of the First Sword Manor. Take a good look!" Yin Xue declared, opening a sword case to reveal the blade inside.

When Yin Xue opened the case, a terrifying burst of sword aura surged across the platform. But as soon as he shut it, the aura vanished.

"What a magnificent sword!" someone shouted as the crowd erupted in awe at the rare chance to witness the Supreme Harmony Sword firsthand.

Yin Xue's bold decision to display the treasure openly shocked everyone, especially with so many experts nearby.

"We've revealed the Supreme Harmony Sword. Isn't it time the Renowned Sword Manor showed theirs?" another man added.

The crowd made their suspicion clear. They feared the Renowned Sword Manor would present a fake Heavenly Xun Sword.

Whispers rippled through the special guest seats. Everyone had heard of the Heavenly Xun Sword, but few had seen it with their own eyes.

Many had never seen it before, unlike the Supreme Harmony Sword, which master smiths had forged only in recent decades.

"That's right! Shouldn't the Renowned Sword Manor also show off the Heavenly Xun Sword?" The crowd began to echo the sentiment, eager to witness the legendary weapon for themselves.

The murmuring crowd boxed the Renowned Sword Manor into a tight spot.

"Manor Lord Yin, the First Sword Manor will surely gain fame after today's battle. When that happens, you must let us examine the Heavenly Xun Sword," a few elders whispered from the special guest seats.

"Of course," replied a middle-aged man with a faint smile. He bore a strong resemblance to Yin Xue; he was none other than Yin Qiong, the master of the First Sword Manor.

He had steadily led First Sword Manor into rapid growth, proving himself a capable leader.

"Hear that? The Renowned Sword Manor doesn't deserve their reputation. They didn't even bring the Heavenly Xun Sword. I bet they never planned to hand it over in the first place!" someone jeered from the crowd.

The First Sword Manor had orchestrated everything from the moment when they revealed the Supreme Harmony Sword, aiming to discredit the Renowned Sword Manor and drag its name through the mud.

"The Heavenly Xun Sword is right here. The real question is whether you have the strength to claim it," a deep voice echoed from the stone bridge.

Miao Feiyu arrived with the senior members of the Renowned Sword Manor. Miao Feichen carried a sword case in his arms, and each step he took revealed the strain on his body.

The crowd stirred the moment the Heavenly Xun Sword was mentioned. Even Master Shi and Master Xue stood up in anticipation. Many experts had shown up uninvited, drawn by the Heavenly Xun Sword.

Yin Qiong's lips curled into a cold smile.

Miao Feiyu guided the senior members of the Renowned Sword Manor to the special guest area, where a section awaited them.

"Manor Lord Miao, it's been a long time," Master Xue greeted warmly. He had shared close ties with the Renowned Sword Manor during the old manor lord's lifetime.

"I pay my respects, Master Xue," Miao Feiyu said, forming a clasping gesture with his remaining arm.

Once everyone took their seats, Miao Feichen sat at the center, flanked by the Renowned Sword Manor's top experts, ready to shield him at a moment's notice.

"Miao Feiyu, since you've brought the Heavenly Xun Sword, shouldn't you let us see it?" Yin Qiong asked, clearly eager to verify its authenticity.

"The Heavenly Xun Sword isn't something to display lightly. If its aura harms someone, the consequences could be severe," Miao Feiyu replied calmly. He had regained his confidence ever since his swordsmithing breakthrough.

The Heavenly Xun Sword had been nurtured for countless years, accumulating an immense sword aura. If anyone opened the case carelessly, the sword's power could easily injure nearby bystanders.

"If you won't show it, how can we be sure it's genuine?" an elder from the First Sword Manor demanded, his tone thick with suspicion.

"He's right—prove it!" the surrounding spectators shouted. They welcomed the chaos. The more intense the conflict, the more thrilling it was to watch.

If a fight between the two manors broke out, some might even seize the chance to steal the two swords.

"No need to verify it. I can vouch that the case holds the Heavenly Xun Sword," a raspy voice echoed from the bridge, snapping everyone's attention toward it.

"It's Steward He—what's he doing here?" The Divine Sword Platform erupted with noise. Even Yin Qiong and Miao Feiyu looked visibly shaken.

Master Xue, Master Shi, and the other sect experts immediately stood up, not daring to show even the slightest hint of disrespect.

The scene stirred Liu Wuxie's curiosity. Who exactly was this steward to command such reverence from everyone present?

"He's the City Lord Mansion's steward, Bei Ming's most trusted aide. I hadn't expected to see him here," whispered a few disciples beside Liu Wuxie.

No one would have imagined this humble old man served as the City Lord's steward. It was a position held only by those the lord completely trusted.

"Greetings, Steward He!" The special guests stepped down from their seats and bowed in unison to pay their respects.

"Please, there's no need for such formality. I'm here today as just another spectator," Steward He said with a wave. He hadn't come on the City Lord's orders. He was simply here out of personal interest.

Once they realized Steward He had come only to observe, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. If the City Lord had chosen to intervene, neither manor would have dared to disobey.

"Steward He, how can you be certain the Heavenly Xun Sword is inside that case?" an elder from the First Sword Manor asked.

Everyone turned curious eyes toward Steward He. Could there be something about the sword case he could recognize just by sight?

"Only this sword case can hold the Heavenly Xun Sword in all of Northern City," Steward He said. "If removed from it, the sword will fly off and leave the city. What Manor Lord Miao said isn't wrong. Opening the case can seriously injure innocent bystanders."

No one dared refute him.

"Steward He, is the case forged from some special material?" Master Xue asked.

"This sword case was forged from Seven Spirit Sacredwood, a material just as rare as the Heavenly Xun Sword itself," Steward He explained. "Only the wood's aura can suppress the sword. If someone opens the case, the sword aura alone can kill even peak Spirit Profound Realm cultivators."

The crowd gasped at the revelation.

Since the case sat here now, it could only mean the Heavenly Xun Sword rested within. Had it not been inside, the sword's aura would have already surged across Northern City.

Seven Spirit Sacredwood appeared only once every ten thousand years, and it couldn't grow in Northern City. That fact alone convinced the crowd the sword was real.

"So that's how it is!" the crowd murmured as realization swept through them.

Mere moments earlier, those who had mocked the Renowned Sword Manor now flushed with shame. They finally understood; Miao Feiyu hadn't refused to show the sword out of arrogance but out of concern for their safety.

"Since Steward He has vouched for it, we can all rest easy. Let's begin the duel!" Yin Qiong said with a forced laugh, trying to ease the tension lingering in the air.

To question Steward He was to doubt the City Lord himself, and Yin Qiong didn't have the nerve to do that.

"Since it's a duel, shouldn't we appoint a judge and witness? Otherwise, the losing side might deny the result," Yin Xue added. The father and son were clearly in sync, shamelessly trying to seize every possible advantage.

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