Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 462 - Recruitment Offer

The hall master of the Wolf Fang Regiment's Gale Hall personally came to recruit him, and there was no reason for Liu Wuxie to refuse under normal circumstances.

Furthermore, Liu Wuxie had already offended the Qingxiu Clan. If he joined the Wolf Fang Regiment, the Qingxiu Clan wouldn't dare to cause any trouble for him again. Those gathered in the surroundings had already assumed that Liu Wuxie would agree to join the Wolf Fang Regiment.

"Thank you, Hall Master Xing, for your kind offer. But I have no intentions of joining any forces. I'm only in the Blood Sea Abyssal Island for my punishment and will leave in two days. I only want to spend the two months here peacefully," Liu Wuxie said truthfully and didn't hide his identity.

"Don't be in such a hurry to refuse. Since we've invited you to join the Wolf Fang Regiment, you can be assured that we won't mistreat you. You can also feel free to leave after two months," Xing Lian said, having investigated Liu Wuxie's identity through various means before arriving.

After all, many cultivators had come to the Blood Sea Abyssal Island with Liu Wuxie and were clear about his identity. He had violated the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's sect rules and was sent to the Blood Sea Abyssal Island by Deacon Jiang Gongming for a three-month punishment.

"Oh? What position does the Wolf Fang Regiment plan to offer me?" Liu Wuxie asked, intrigued. Given that Xing Lian was personally extending the invitation, it was unlikely that he would be given a minor role.

"Gale Hall's deputy hall master!" Xing Lian announced, causing a collective gasp from those nearby. It was unheard of for someone at the first level of the Heavenly Phase Realm to be offered such a high position, second only to Xing Lian himself. The rapid rise in status was unprecedented within the Wolf Fang Regiment.

"You think too highly of me," Liu Wuxie responded, shaking his head. He knew that the Wolf Fang Regiment and Ding Feng Hall had suffered significant casualties in the recent war and were in desperate need of new recruits to rebuild.

Many smaller forces had merged, and both the Wolf Fang Regiment and Ding Feng Hall were too weakened from the previous battle to challenge them effectively. Newly emerged factions, like the Qingxiu Clan, had taken root in the city, and the larger forces could not easily eradicate them.

After all, those forces could flee if they couldn't win the fight, and they could continue to recruit members after that.

The Wolf Fang Regiment had sent Xing Lian to recruit Liu Wuxie as soon as they heard he had severed Wei Zhong's arm. They were eager to secure his allegiance before Ding Feng Hall could make their move.

"You're worthy of this position with your strength. You can be reassured that I won't interfere with the affairs of the hall, and you will have full authority over it while I enjoy my peace," Xing Liang said. His offer was tempting to everyone present, and no one would refuse it if they were in Liu Wuxie's position.

After all, one could enjoy abundant resources after becoming the deputy hall master. The Wolf Fang Regiment was known for their violence, but they didn’t mistreat their people. The resources they offered were even richer compared to many major sects.

Furthermore, there was no restriction on freedom. Liu Wuxie could leave Blood Sea Abyssal Island freely after his punishment if he acknowledged himself as Gale Hall's deputy hall master.

But if Liu Wuxie joined the Wolf Fang Regiment, how would he explain it when he returned to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion?

"I appreciate your kind offer, but I have no plans of joining any forces now or in the future. I will leave the Blood Sea Abyssal Island once my term ends, and I won't interfere in any matters here," Liu Wuxie said seriously.

Hoping Xing Lian would understand his difficulties, he made it clear he wouldn't join any forces in the Blood Sea Abyssal Island, which meant his reply was the same even if the Ding Feng Hall came to recruit him.

Xing Lian's face turned grim after being rejected by Liu Wuxie because this placed him in an awkward position. After all, no one had dared to defy his will on the Blood Sea Abyssal Island, but Liu Wuxie had openly rejected his offer in front of so many people.

"Liu Wuxie, do you know the consequences of refusing the Wolf Fang Regiment?" Xing Lian's tone dropped with a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

He looked like a wild beast compared to his benevolent appearance earlier. The change was so sudden that it felt unbelievable to everyone.

"You want to kill me?" Liu Wuxie asked, narrowing his eyes. He had made it clear from the start that he wouldn't join any factions or interfere in their affairs, yet they continued to press him.

"That’s not necessary," Xing Lian replied calmly, "but refusing the Wolf Fang Regiment is akin to slapping us in the face. You'll need to keep your distance whenever we’re around. If you cross our path, we’ll consider it a provocation." Xing Lian, a cultivator in the Astral River Realm, wouldn’t lower himself to Liu Wuxie's level.

Acting against him now would only risk pushing Liu Wuxie into the arms of Ding Feng Hall, especially since their arrival seemed imminent.

"Isn't the Wolf Fang Regiment a little too overbearing? I only refused to join, and you're forbidding me from stepping into your territory?" Liu Wuxie was enraged and barely contained his anger. He would've slapped Xing Lian to death with one strike if he had enough strength. Such a despicable person should have died in the Blood Sea Abyssal Island long ago.

"If that's how you see it, so be it. This area is under the Wolf Fang Regiment's control, and you are to move out within two days. Otherwise, we will take it as a provocation to us."

This courtyard previously belonged to the Ding Feng Hall's territory but was later occupied by the Wild Lion Gate. Now, it had fallen into the hands of the Wolf Fang Regiment, while the Ding Feng Hall occupied the territory belonging to the Wild Lion Gate.

Leaving the courtyard would strip Liu Wuxie of the spiritual array's protection, making the next few months perilous. Without enough resources to establish a new array, his situation would become dire.

Liu Wuxie clenched his fists together, his face becoming grim. This was akin to cutting off his path of retreat, forcing him to join the Wolf Fang Regiment.

"Xing Lian, your Wolf Fang Regiment is too overbearing. This young friend has made his position clear, and who will dare to join the Wolf Fang Regiment in the future if you act in this manner?" A middle-aged man suddenly walked over with a few youths behind him. He also gave off a powerful aura that matched Xing Lian and appeared before Liu Wuxie.

"Wei An, is the Ding Feng Hall trying to interfere in our affairs?" Only the Ding Feng Hall and Wolf Fang Regiment were left after the Wild Lion Gate's fall. In terms of overall strength, the Wolf Fang Regiment was superior and was on the verge of unifying the Blood Sea Abyssal Island.

The two major forces would clash because two tigers couldn't share one mountain.

A balance of power between the three had kept each other in check. But it was different now, with the fierce competition after the Wild Lion Gate's fall.

Wei An was a hall master in the Ding Feng Hall with a status similar to that of Xing Lian, and Liu Wuxie also knew of this person's background.

It was rumored that Wei An came from a prominent clan, but he was exiled to the Blood Sea Abyssal Island after he molested a woman in the clan.

"I just can't stand how overbearing your Wolf Fang Regiment is. Forcing someone to join the Wolf Fang Regiment in this manner is beneath your status," Wei An said, clicking his tongue, which made Xing Lian's face grim with anger.

"Hmph, I know what exactly the Ding Feng Hall is up to. You want to recruit him into the Ding Feng Hall," Xing Lian sneered, exposing Wei An's intentions.

Wei An didn't feel embarrassed by having his intentions exposed. In fact, it made things clearer, allowing them to skip unnecessary pleasantries.

"Young man, would you like to join the Ding Feng Hall? Our treatment won't be any less than what the Wolf Fang Regiment offers you," Wei An turned to look at Liu Wuxie.

"Thank you for your invitation, but as I said earlier, I won't join any forces," Liu Wuxie replied in the same tone he used to refuse Xing Lian. This was the same as offending the two major forces, leaving everyone in the surroundings dumbfounded. They even began to wonder if Liu Wuxie had gone insane.

"What is he doing by refusing the Wolf Fang Regiment and Ding Feng Hall? Does he have a death wish?" Even some cultivators in the high levels of the Heavenly Phase Realm were shocked by Liu Wuxie's response.

Anyone else in Liu Wuxie's shoes would've agreed to the invitation because that was the status of a deputy hall master. But Liu Wuxie wasn't swayed and refused even if he was offered the position of a hall master.

Liu Wuxie's goal had remained unchanged since he was transmigrated to the True Martial Continent: to return to the Celestial Realm as soon as possible. The idea of becoming a bandit had never appealed to him.

Wen An's face also became ugly after being rejected by Liu Wuxie.

"Brat, you've got guts. If you're still around after two days, I will personally take your head!" With that, Xing Lian departed with his men, seeing no reason to linger.

The atmosphere became tense, and Wei An turned to look at Liu Wuxie, wanting to know what gave the latter the courage to refuse the two major forces.

"Have you thought it through? Xing Lian is a man of his word, and refusing him means declaring war on the Wolf Fang Regiment. The days ahead will be very tough for you," Wei An spoke sincerely, hoping Liu Wuxie could reconsider his offer.

"Thank you for your kind reminder. But I've made my decision, and I won't change it," Liu Wuxie replied, cupping his fists respectfully toward Wei An. He knew that the Ding Feng Hall, while more rule-abiding than the Wolf Fang Regiment, still adhered to the harsh realities of the Blood Sea Abyssal Island, where rules meant little when survival was at stake.

Though the Ding Feng Hall didn't issue any overt threats after his refusal, their stance was clear—they wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he dared to step into their territory. Such was the brutal reality of life on the Blood Sea Abyssal Island.

"Well, take care of yourself then. You have two days to reconsider, and you can come to the Ding Feng Hall if you change your mind," Wei An said before departing, not wanting to waste any more time.

The people gathered in the surroundings were reluctant to leave and discussed among themselves.

"This brat is finished. The Wolf Fang Regiment is known for holding a grudge, and someone will come to take revenge before the two-day deadline," people whispered, but Liu Wuxie heard them.

"Let's see how he dies!" Many people gloated and hoped to see Liu Wuxie die quickly.

"Why do you think the two forces are trying to recruit him? Because of his strength? You're all wrong!" An old man suddenly spoke in a mysterious tone.

"What were they after then?" Many people were curious because what were the two forces after if not for Liu Wuxie's strength?

"There are plenty of cultivators in the Astral River Realm in the two forces. Do you think they need someone at the first level of the Heavenly Phase Realm? Even if he's strong, can he be stronger than the Astral River Realm cultivators?" The old man sneered and rolled his eyes at everyone, thinking they were too naive.

"I get it now. They're after his soul technique!" Everyone finally came to their senses. The offer was false because their real objective was Liu Wuxie's soul technique.

Liu Wuxie understood that better than anyone, so he refused their offers. After all, regardless of which side he joined, he would become a meat on the chopping board. Since that was the case, he might take a gamble.