Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 773 - Referral Letter

The commotion caught everyone's attention, including those wallowing in frustration with their failures.

"What? Someone in the Astral River Realm came to take the test?" Everyone was attracted to the Bridge of Heaven earlier, but no one had noticed Liu Wuxie.

They just realized someone in the Astral River Realm had come to take the academy's recruitment test, which was the biggest joke they had seen.

Liu Xiucheng looked concerned. Although they had Liu Feng's recommendation letter that secured an examination slot for Liu Wuxie, there was nothing they could do if the examiners were determined to refuse Liu Wuxie's participation in the recruitment test.

"This boy is courting death! The Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy has strict rules—all participants must be at least in the Nascent Transformation Realm," many participants mocked, one after another.

Countless cultivators in the Central Plains had reached the Nascent Transformation Realm before the age of twenty-five. If they all participated, the test would likely extend until the following year.

To maintain order and efficiency, the academy had set clear eligibility criteria: participants had to be under twenty-five and have a cultivation level of at least the Nascent Transformation Realm.

When Liu Lin descended from the bridge, a sinister smile rose to his lips. He knew Liu Wuxie would be killed now if he did not act.

The Wang Clan's members were also watching with a smile, eager to see how Liu Wuxie would die.

"This is my referral letter to take part in the examination!" When Liu Wuxie reached the ground, he took out a letter and raised it over his head.

The letter vanished and reappeared in Qu Su's hands.

"Boy, this is the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, and we have strict rules. Even if you have a referral letter, it doesn't change the fact you will die here!" Miao Hanxuan seized the opportunity to eliminate Liu Wuxie. The moment he finished speaking, he sprang into action, determined to end Liu Wuxie on the spot.

"Hold on!" Qu Su called out after taking a look at the letter's contents.

Among the ten examiners, Qu Su was the oldest and strongest. Most importantly, he was an elder from the cavern. This elevated his status far above the other nine examiners.

"Elder Qu, this brat has disregarded the academy's rules and regulations, and he should be killed according to the rules. If every cultivator in the Astral River Realm learns from him, the future recruitment tests will be havoc!" Miao Hanxuan said, suppressing his dissatisfaction.

"Elder Qu, what's wrong?" asked the examiner beside Qu Su. At their cultivation, they had long gotten rid of their worldly emotions, nor did they have any sympathy in their hearts. So he was sure Qu Su wasn't stopping Miao Hanxuan out of sympathy for Liu Wuxie. After all, cultivators in the Astral River Realm were no different from mere ants in their eyes.

"The referral letter is from him!" Qu Su said, handing the letter to the examiner beside him.

The man took the letter over and narrowed his eyes at the sight of the sign-off name with a hint of fear as he passed the letter around to the other examiners.

The letter traveled from left to right before it was returned to Qu Su.

Upon seeing the letter, Miao Hanxuan's eyes flickered with unease, a trace of fear surfacing beneath his terrifyingly grim expression.

"What do you all think?" Qu Su asked, turning to his nine companions, still holding the letter.

Liu Wuxie was also curious, as he had read the letter before. The contents were simple: He should be granted a slot in the recruitment test, but the signature at the bottom bore the name "Feng Zi."

If this letter hadn't come from his uncle's eldest son, Liu Feng, he wouldn't have dared to use it, assuming it was a joke. But now, upon closer examination, it no longer seemed like a laughing matter. The change in the examiners' expressions wasn't directed at Liu Feng but at the mysterious figure, Feng Zi.

If Liu Wuxie didn't have a referral letter, he would have been killed for attempting to take the recruitment test. If not for the fact that he had gotten on Miao Hanxuan's bad side, his life wouldn't be at risk, even if they chose to expel him.

"We'll leave the decision to Elder Qu!" declared the examiners. They didn't want to offend anyone, so they gave the ball back to Qu Su to make the decision. This meant that, regardless of Qu Su's decision, it would have nothing to do with them.

Their response of wanting nothing to do with this matter made Qu Su curse them inwardly, but he maintained a calm expression.

"Since this referral letter comes from Elder Madman, I cannot make the decision alone. Instead, let's put it to a vote. Those in favor of allowing him to partake in the examination, raise your left hand. Those opposed, raise your right hand," Qu Su announced. Having lived for so long, he was no fool and knew exactly how to play his cards.

Liu Wuxie's curiosity about this "Elder Madman" deepened even further.

As soon as Qu Su finished speaking, more than seven examiners raised their left hands. In their view, Liu Wuxie had no chance of passing the four tests and would be eliminated within minutes. More importantly, allowing him to take the test would help them avoid offending Elder Madman.

Qu Su cursed them inwardly as a bunch of sly foxes before raising his own left hand. In the end, only Miao Hanxuan and one other examiner raised their right hands. With the majority vote in favor, Liu Wuxie was granted permission to take the recruitment test.

"Elder Qu, if we allow this, what's to stop others from thinking they can take the test as long as they have a referral letter? Won't the academy become a joke?" Miao Hanxuan protested, unwilling to let the matter go. His words resonated with some of the other examiners.

If they made an exception now, what would prevent other elders from demanding the same privilege in the future? The conversation reached an impasse, as no one wanted to create a precedent that might open the floodgates for similar requests in the years to come.

"Elder Miao, what suggestions do you have?" Qu Su asked, nodding in agreement with Miao Hanxuan.

As the ten examiners conversed privately, their words were inaudible to everyone else. Liu Wuxie stood motionless on the ground, his expression calm and composed.

"That's simple. If he insists on taking the test, he will have to pay a heavy price if he fails, which serves as a warning to others. Even if they manage to obtain a referral letter, they would still have to pay the price if they failed," Miao Hanxuan said. His suggestion received unanimous approval from the other examiners.

"I agree with Elder Miao's suggestion. Failure should mean death for him, which will deter anyone from doing the same in the future," said the third elder on the left, who nodded.

"I have no objections either. Not only does this decision give Elder Madman due respect, but it also allows us to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future," others echoed in agreement, seeing it as a win-win solution.

Qu Su pondered briefly and concluded that this approach was the best action.

But the nine elders didn't know the grudge between Miao Hanxuan and Liu Wuxie. Perhaps they wouldn't have agreed to this solution so quickly if they knew.

"Your situation has been brought to our attention, and we're willing to allow you to take the assessment, but under one condition," Qu Su said, his voice audible to everyone.

"Please state your terms," Liu Wuxie replied with a slight bow, maintaining his composure throughout the process.

The spectators erupted in an uproar, baffled by the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy’s decision to grant Liu Wuxie such an opportunity. Many sects and clans had disciples cultivating within the academy, and they were acquainted with at least one or two elders. Did this mean they could also obtain a referral letter like Liu Wuxie had?

The Wang Clan, in particular, was furious, their outrage manifesting in loud demands for Liu Wuxie's execution.

"If you fail the assessment, you will have to pay the price with your life," Qu Su said, instantly silencing the surrounding uproar.

Even the Wang Clan fell quiet as the risk of death was a deterrent too great for anyone to ignore. After all, the odds of someone in the Astral River Realm making it through the assessment were close to zero.

Though the first few stages had nothing to do with one's cultivation and strength, Liu Wuxie couldn't reach the last stage.

Many who were considering seeking a referral letter for the next recruitment test immediately abandoned the idea after hearing the terms.

"Let me consider it for a minute," Liu Wuxie said, requesting time to carefully weigh his options rather than responding to Qu Su immediately. This was no trivial matter—he wasn’t entirely confident he could pass all four stages. However, leaving now would mean falling into Miao Hanxuan’s trap, something he couldn't accept.

If he returned to the Liu Clan, it would mean starting all over again. It would be slower than joining the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy.

"Very well!" Qu Su agreed, giving Liu Wuxie the time he requested. After all, this was a life-and-death decision, and there would be no turning back.

Time slipped by swiftly, and a minute passed in the blink of an eye. Liu Xiucheng and the others waited anxiously, yet they could not interfere—this was a decision Liu Wuxie had to make on his own.

"I have made my decision. I accept the terms, and I will end my life if I fail," Liu Wuxie declared, lifting his head with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through the sky. A faint radiance, resembling sacred light, began to emanate from his body.

Qu Su was momentarily stunned. He could sense an unyielding spirit that aspired to touch the heavens and a courage that embraced death without hesitation. There was no turning back from this path—Liu Wuxie had resolved to either succeed or perish.

"Have you truly thought it through? You're still young. Missing this test doesn’t mean the end—you can always try again in the next recruitment cycle," Qu Su said, hoping he would reconsider. After all, staking one's life on a gamble was not a decision to be made lightly.

"My decision is final. So, please grant me this opportunity," Liu Wuxie insisted in a firm and unyielding tone.

"He's a madman! Trying to attempt the assessment with his cultivation in the Astral River Realm is sheer lunacy!" Mocking voices echoed from the surroundings, wanting to devour Liu Wuxie whole.

"Let's watch how he dies. I bet he won't even make it halfway across the Bridge of Heaven!" sneered the disciples of prominent clans. They were well aware of the bridge's difficulty, and for Liu Wuxie to attempt it with his cultivation was no different from courting death. @@novelbin@@

"Dashan, you've given birth to a fine son," Liu Xiucheng said, patting Liu Dashan on the shoulder. His eyes were moist.

Regardless of whether Liu Wuxie could succeed, this moment would be etched in everyone's memory, and his story was destined to spread across the Central Plains.

Liu Wuxie's figure flickered, and he ascended to the sky. This time, Miao Hanxuan didn't intervene as Liu Wuxie was as good as dead in his eyes.

Standing on the Bridge of Heaven, Liu Wuxie took a deep breath to prepare himself. At the same time, a powerful radiance descended from the heavens and enveloped him.

"Such intense radiance!" spectators exclaimed. Even Ning Hai hadn't drawn such an intense light when he attempted the bridge.

Liu Wuxie calmed himself and felt like he had entered another world. The surrounding scenery vanished, leaving only a narrow path leading him straight to the heavens.

He moved with steady and unwavering steps. The Heavenly Dao Book unfolded and harmonized with the radiance in the surroundings. He felt no resistance as he walked on the bridge, which deepened his understanding of heaven and earth. Walking on the bridge felt like he was walking among the clouds.

"What's going on? How is he covering so much distance with each step?" exclaimed an elder in the Earth Profound Realm.