I Am Loaded With Passive Skills

by Stayrr

Outer yard disciple of the Tiansang Spirit Palace, Xu Xiaoshou, had average talent. However, after coming out of his death seclusion, he realized that everything had changed. He had received a Passive System with many strange, miraculous passive skills: He would become stronger with every breath. He would become stronger when he got attacked. He would become stronger when he got m

4. 101

Read I Am Loaded with Passive Skills Chapter 101 - Chapter 101 Killing One's Teacher? online for free - AllNovelFull

Chapter 101: Chapter 101 Killing One's Teacher?

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The compressed fire seed in Xu Xiaoshou's hand disappeared as he dropped the line, and another one, which was even more raging, sparked above his thumb instead.

A strange look appeared in Elder Sang's eyes. The energy contained within that one was like an unbridled stallion. It was so incredibly restless that for a while it looked like it might explode at any moment, making it far more terrifying than the one from before.

Yet, Xu Xiaoshou seemed to have an unusually firm hand on it somehow, which managed to prevent it from actually exploding.

Elder Sang knew that Xu Xiaoshou was a genius, but he didn't know the kid was that much of a genius.

He was so impressive that he'd managed to conjure a compressed fire seed, and, the way the elder saw it, being able to control it to such an extent would be rather insane.

"Seeds on All Five Fingers."

But judging by the name, there had to be more to it than that, no?

Swoop!

While the elder was still mulling this over, yet another spark lit up on Xu Xiaoshou's index finger. The distance between the two flames was but that of the crevice between his two fingers. Being in such close proximity brought the flames near the point of violent explosion.

Xu Xiaoshou quickly turned the heat down, enabling the two flames to quiet down.

The elder was evidently impressed. "Not bad. Go on."

Xu Xiaoshou wiped the sweat off of his brow and erected his middle finger next, causing yet another spark to light.

Fzzz.

There was a magnetic pull between the three seeds, which made them unimaginably far more terrifying. Despite having turned down the heat at the moment, he still struggled a little to keep them in line.

The seeds violently fluctuated, drawing black lines on top of his fingernails.

Elder Sang was intrigued by what he was seeing, and he started to believe that Xu Xiaoshou's "Seeds on All Five Fingers" technique was indeed capable of blasting the library's windows apart.

While there were only three of those things, the effect they had on each other brought their energy level to the point of surpassing most other spiritual techniques. One could only imagine what would happen if one were to throw those into someone else's mouth.

The elder was about to tell his disciple to stop, but he kept his mouth shut after seeing how focused the kid was.

Initially, Xu Xiaoshou had actually thought of just bluffing, but his epiphany had actually turned out to be quite formidable instead.

He'd gotten the inspiration from seeing the two seeds cross and explode earlier, but he hadn't expected their potential damage to be so exponentially increased when pulling at each other at such an infinitely close distance.

"Okay, could try being a little wild," he thought. "The old man is here. Shouldn't be much of a problem.

He took a peek at Elder Sang with his Sense, noting that the old man was quite interested, and immediately made his decision.

He figured that if he were to be able to finish researching this skill, it would become far more powerful than the "Lesser Fireball."

He figured that he'd be able to make it his most powerful technique.

Fourth one!

He focused and conjured yet another seed on his wobbling ring finger.

"Yes!"

He took a good look and found that the compressed seed was noticeably smaller, so much so that its power was far weaker than that of the other three.

What happened?

He was baffled and felt his body become weak. It was only then that he realized that his spiritual source was getting depleted.

"Sh*!" he thought. "I totally forgot about this!"

The next second, he found to his horror that the appearance of this unstable factor had severely wrecked the balance between the previous three.

All four bits of flames on his fingertips rampaged at the same time, shuddering violently and emanating a terrifying aura of destruction.

"F*!"

He immediately shuddered and instinctively made to throw all those things out the window, but he found Elder Sang in his way, very intrigued by them.

All four sparks might as well have been plastered on the old man's face.

Huh?

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

The elder had been having a good time studying the flames, being very impressed by the kid's ideas.

He'd noted this move developed from alchemy was indeed fresh and new, and it had completely absorbed him, causing him to look forward to the kid conjuring the fifth one.

Yet, said kid had instead thrown the four seeds at him without warning.

It wasn't that he was afraid of the flames, but the kid could've warned him first.

"What the h*ll are you doing now?" he thought.

"Are you trying to ambush me?

"Are you trying to kill your teacher?"

Elder Sang immediately leaned backward, causing his hat to flip into the air. The three seeds that were flying higher shot through the hat and out the window.

It took mere seconds for the entire hat to be reduced to nothing.

The remaining one with lower energy, which was flying lower, coincidentally shot into Elder Sang's nostril.

What the…?

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

He was enraged at that moment, but he didn't explode with anger right away.

His life still mattered more, after all.

While the situation was dire, it wasn't unsalvageable.

He too was of the line capable of general Infernal Heavenly Flames, which meant that he would be completely fine, so long as he could internalize that flame.

On the other hand.

Xu Xiaoshou saw that the bit of flames had shot into his master's nostril, and he became all flustered.

"Elder Sang didn't manage to evade them?" he thought. "Sh, that's unexpected. What was that old man doing?

"Was he spacing out?

"Even I didn't dare to space out when I was testing my moves, and here he was actually spacing out instead?"

However, he had no time to mull over any of these thoughts. He took a deep breath before the seed was able to get too deep inside his nostril.

"So long as I'm quick enough," he thought, "The seed won't…

"D*mn, what's that smell!?

"It stinks!

"Urrgghh."

He barfed, and saw the elder's body shudder all of a sudden, and a stifled rumble was heard from the elder's stomach.

It blew?

Both of them looked at each other, and there was only silence between them.

Xu Xiaoshou saw the old man's cheeks puff up slightly before returning to normal, yet the sound of the old man's tonsils moving was unmistakably clear.

"Sh*!" he thought. "Is he bleeding?"

Xu Xiaoshou was filled with disbelief, unable to process the fact that he had actually managed to hurt the elder.

Elder Sang was shaking all over.

But he wasn't shaking from pain. He was shaking from anger.

He'd thought his level of powers would enable him to instantly internalize the flames, even if it got into his stomach.

Yet, Xu Xiaoshou the devil had actually sucked it out, which had messed up all the spiritual sources in his body so much that they'd gone out of control. While this had only taken place in the span of a second, he had nonetheless missed his window of opportunity to internalize the flames.

If it hadn't been for the fact that he had trained his body as well, the Tiansang Spirit Palace might have actually lost its vice dean from then on out.

"Are you hurt?" Xu Xiaoshou was in shock.

Elder Sang took a deep breath to stop his body from shaking and suppressed his rage.

There was nothing else he could do.

He had to suppress it.

Masters who'd almost ended up being killed by their disciples during their first meeting were virtually unheard of, after all. Exploding with rage would only mean that he was of inferior quality as a master.

He quietly turned around and took out a new hat from his ring before slowly putting it on.

"Nonsense. Stop running your mouth."

A breeze blew in from outside the window as soon as the elder spoke, and Xu Xiaoshou was able to smell blood.

The scene was incredibly awkward, and Xu Xiaoshou wasn't bold enough to blow his master's cover. He deemed it wise to just let the wound heal itself.

Better a person in pain than two persons in pain. Opening up the wound like that would probably get him in trouble…

Hehe. Xu Xiaoshou forced a grin, trying to make the atmosphere less awkward.

Hehe. Elder Sang then grinned in response, seemingly trying to save face.

The air was silent, which made the atmosphere…

Even more awkward.

The corners of Xu Xiaoshou's eyelids twitched, yet he was still unable to say anything.

While it was usually easy for him to badmouth other people in their faces, he was still unable to muster the gall to do so with the elder.

Yeah, at times when he subconsciously got in way over his head, scenes like this would happen…

"What was that?" Elder Sang didn't turn around.

Xu Xiaoshou was restless, and he wondered if the old man was aware of the Breathing Technique.

"Some kind of technique," he answered ambiguously.

"Oh, technique, huh…" Elder Sang was quiet again.

Xu Xiaoshou almost burst out laughing, noting that the old man was trying to make the atmosphere less awkward as well, which meant that the old man wasn't actually interested in his Breathing Technique. Xu Xiaoshou then probed, "So, should I start to extract the essence?"

"Yeah, extracts…"

"…" Xu Xiaoshou didn't know what else to say.

Elder Sang finally came to his senses and no longer stood with his back facing his disciple. He turned around and added, "Forget extraction for now. There's yet another important thing I need to tell you."

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Chapter 102: My Sights Set Not on Tiansang but on the Five Regions

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Xu Xiaoshou felt rather uneasy.

"So, am I gonna get it right now?" he thought.

Elder Sang glowered at him, exasperated. "That technique was decent, and you could look into it, but if you want to keep it under control, I'm afraid that you'll have to wait until after you've broken through into the Innate Level."

He then looked Xu Xiaoshou up and down, and disgust appeared in his eyes. "Your level is just too low."

Xu Xiaoshou was relieved. "It's fine if you diss me, so long as you don't beat me up or kill me," he thought.

"I'd say that I'm rather quick at making breakthroughs," he said.

However, he was still feeling rather vexed. While his level was indeed low, his progress was not.

It'd only been about half a month since he'd emerged out of isolation, yet he'd already made breakthroughs from level three all the way up to level nine.

Furthermore, he'd achieved such a rate of progress while trying his very, very best to suppress it. If it weren't for his concern of being at unstable levels, he would have gotten much, much higher.

The days before him were long. He had no need to rush.

He was a firm believer that "haste makes waste," and deemed it imperative to first lay a strong foundation by mastering the basics at the 10 levels of Spiritual Cultivation level. He wasn't into being all bangs and flashes with no substance.

Elder Sang was completely oblivious to what was going on inside Xu Xiaoshou's head. All he saw was that Xu Xiaoshou was only at Spiritual Cultivation level nine, and thought the kid's level still too low.

He deemed that the kid had to fight for resources with those from the Inner Yard, so the kid had to at least get to the Innate Level. Otherwise, the kid would just run into obstacles after obstacles.

"I managed to get you a slot to enter the 'Tianxuan Gate' when I went out earlier. Head over there three days from now. The density of spiritual energy there will be enough to allow you to break into Innate Level."

"Tianxuan Gate?" Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled.

Elder Sang nodded and continued, "It's a secret realm belonging only to the Tiansang Spirit Palace, and it only opens once every year. Ten new candidates from the Inner Yard and the Inner Yard Thirty-three are given access to the place.

"This is the first resource that disciples from the Outer Yard who've joined the Inner Yard get. It is of utmost importance.

"As the champion of the Wind and Cloud Contest, you naturally would've been given a slot if you'd been allowed to join the Inner Yard…"

The elder then snickered and continued, shaking his head as he went. "But you were set up."

"I was set up?" Xu Xiaoshou was surprised.

This was rather different from what he'd heard from Elder Qiao. Wasn't he not allowed into the Inner Yard because his training hadn't yet reached Innate Level?

"Indeed." Elder Sang clapped himself on the head and went on.

"They told others out there that you weren't admitted because your level didn't make the cut, which was the truth. Yet, if one were to look at this more closely, they'd realize that your Innate Level physique could've made up for that.

"However, there were simply too many joining the Inner Yard this year. Four, remember? If you'd been added to the list, that would've taken away five candidacy slots for entering the Tianxuan Gate.

"There are more than 10 among those who were newly made one of the 33. You can imagine just how tough the competition would've been.

"As such, the Council of Elders could only slap a label of 'your level not cutting it' on you to strip you of the chance of joining the Inner Yard, so as to free up one slot for the Tianxuan Gate event."

Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fists, feeling very vexed.

This was definitely more than just stripping him of an opportunity and a slot. If they'd done this to someone other than himself, such a decision could have probably ruined their lives.

The world of spiritual cultivation was not one where people fought for a distant future but for what was right before their eyes.

Being left in the dust one year could take an untold amount of time just to catch up again.

Elder Sang snickered and casually continued, "No need to be angry or vexed. Things like this don't usually happen to the Tiansang Spirit Palace. You're considered lucky to have run into such affairs."

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

"Lucky?" he thought. "Am I supposed to like bow in gratitude or something?"

Elder Sang's tone turned solemn as he added, "But, once you get outside of the spirit palace, you'll find that this is basically how the world at large works.

"Before you've become sufficiently powerful and get recognized, all of your hard work will look like sh* to those on top.

"The world isn't a nice place. All living things suffer for it. The ones on top don't play nice, and the people suffer for it.

"No one will pity you just because you've worked hard. Pawns will be pawns. The length of your life is preordained, and your success and failures depend on the favor of the gods up there.

"When you're just a pawn, you're considered lucky just to be of use. It's completely normal to not get noticed."

Elder Sang held Xu Xiaoshou's clenched fist and squeezed it, and the young man's fist immediately loosened.

"Many geniuses out there are arrogant enough to think that they've broken through the so-called cage throughout the ages, lauding that they've finally achieved freedom and chanting things like 'my fate is in my hands'…

"Yet, years or over a dozen years later, the world remains the same as it was, and those so-called geniuses back then are nowhere to be seen. The wheels of history trod on, and those people were unable to so much as even make their mark."

He then seriously looked the young man in the eye. "I hope you won't be one of such people."

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath, and his gaze fell on the shriveled hands of the elder. He didn't know what to think.

Elder Sang continued emotionally, "My advice remains. Be the best pawn you can be before you've obtained absolute power.

"At the very least, let those people up there think that you're but a pawn.

"Get it?"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded slightly.

"I get what you're saying," he thought, "But why do you have to grip my hands so hard?"

"Let go." He swung his hands rather earnestly.

Elder Sang was irked. "I spent all that energy telling you all this and this is what you're hung up on?" he thought. "Godd*mn. Can you be a little more normal?"

He was so irked that his breathing became a little rushed, and he flung the kid's hands away.

Xu Xiaoshou rubbed his hands, noting that the old man indeed had quite a grip. Was that how Master Level people were like?

Or should he say…

Above Master Level?

He actually took Elder Sang's words to heart.

Similar to how he'd been fed an Infernal Fire Seed by that old man, unable to resist it, he was helpless in the face of the Council of Elders' decision as well.

But then again, should that matter?

"Am I, Xu Xiaoshou, so easily defeated?" he thought. "There's only one thing that matters. What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger!

"The days ahead are long, and if cages are indeed everywhere, just like how that old man put it, I shall break them one by one."

Xu Xiaoshou had said the same thing on the day he and Elder Sang became master and disciple.

He was taking this seriously.

He then paced and thought for quite a while before saying, "I'm actually not that concerned about all that. It's just that I'm making progress with levels a little too quickly. Hell, I just broke through level nine yesterday.

"If I were to get inside that so-called Tianxuan Gate and manage to break into Innate Level, wouldn't that like cause my level to be unstable?"

He voiced his biggest concern, which was something that had been bothering him for a long time, hoping that someone would finally be able to enlighten him on the matter.

Yet, Elder Sang's jaw almost dropped to the floor when he heard what Xu Xiaoshou said.

"You?"

"Unstable foundations?" he thought. "Who are you kidding, man!"

Elder Sang was irked and amused at the same time.

"You're someone at Spiritual Cultivation Level nine who beat the many Innate Levels out there and became a champion. Then you killed someone at Origin Court Level and Voidness Level from the Inner Yard, and now you're telling me you're worried about your foundations?" he thought.

"Can it be that your ambition will only be quenched when you've finally managed to kill several who are at Master Level, eh?"

Elder Sang took a deep breath and answered, "Among the 1800 or so disciples out there from the Outer Yard, you were the one who became champion despite being of Acquired Level. What is this instability you're talking about, then?"

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head. "I'm not comparing myself with them."

Something else was seen in the elder's eyes as he praised, "Losers are indeed not worth being compared to. You and I are quite alike in that sense."

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. "That's not what I meant!" he thought. "Don't go about twisting my words! Who the h*ll is like you here!"

He then recalled the night when the masked figure had taken him. Ye Xiaotian had appeared that day, and they'd had a conversation.

He still remembered that very well.

"Some people were already capable of fighting masters when they first broke through to the Innate Level. Some people, when they first broke into Innate Level, could cut down masters!

"I don't think I have such powers right now," Xu Xiaoshou answered.

Elder Sang rolled his eyes. "You're only at Spiritual Cultivation Level nine! Just what the h*ll are you thinking?"

"I wasn't actually thinking about it, but when that masked guy appeared that night and wanted to catch me, I just had to think about it."

The elder was astonished, not expecting Xu Xiaoshou to actually face such pressures.

"I could protect you."

"You couldn't do that forever," Xu Xiaoshou said calmly.

"You want to be like them?"

"No." Xu Xiaoshou paused and said unyieldingly, "I want to surpass them."

He turned his gaze to outside the window and looked at the sky, which had lost its colors.

"Didn't you say that there are five regions on this continent?"

"What about it?" Elder Sang looked at him.

Xu Xiaoshou stood in the nightly breeze, feeling rather emotional deep down.

"My sight sets are set not on Tiansang but on the five regions."

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Chapter 103: New Place

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Whack!

Elder Sang smacked Xu Xiaoshou right then and there without so much as flinching.

"Five my a*! What nonsense is that!?

"Are you at Innate Level already? Have you been outside the spirit palace? Do you know what it's like out there? You sure know how to talk big!

"I just told you to devote yourself to your training and be serious about serving as a pawn, but you went on to talk big instead. You really think that just because you have something that others don't, you're already better than others, eh?"

The elder then twisted Xu Xiaoshou's ear so hard that tears almost rolled down Xu Xiaoshou's cheeks.

"L-Let go of me!"

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded. The old man was definitely doing this to vent his frustrations from that attack before.

That had to be it!

"It's not every day I get to be in such high spirits," he thought. "Why did it end up like this?

"Aren't masters supposed to encourage their disciples and tell them to be ambitious and dream big?

"So why the h*ll is this guy his student to lay low and be a useful pawn!?

"How could I ever?

"You think that I, Xu Xiaoshou, would be okay with being a nobody for the rest of my life?"

"I'm sorry," he said. "Let me go already."

However, he immediately submitted. After all, he was still under Elder Sang's tutelage and had to follow his rules.

Elder Sang sternly told him off. "From here on out, keep such words to yourself. Don't say them to anyone else."

"I only said it once…" Xu Xiaoshou grimaced. His ear was hurting so bad that his eyes were squinted as he pointed at his ear. "Let go."

Elder Sang finally let go and clapped him on the shoulder. "Even once is enough to get you killed. Keep that in mind."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded furiously.

"Back to the case of the Tianxuan Gate. What you said made some sense. Foundations are important.

"Well then, after you get through the gate, keep walking as far as you can and find the 'Black Cliff.' That place should enable you to solidify your foundations. As for the process…

A familiar chuckle was heard from the old man. "It might be quite painful."

Xu Xiaoshou shuddered. "What is that 'Black Cliff' thing?"

"The Tianxuan Gate is a lesser secret realm, and there are a lot of places for training there. Black Cliff is one of those places.

"Water from the falls over there is extremely heavy and contains terrifying sword aura, making it just right for you. The question then is if you can endure the process.

"But then again, it's not like you need to head there and nowhere else. You could still just find somewhere, anywhere, to train once you get inside the Tianxuan Gate." Elder Sang was apparently saying this to rile Xu Xiaoshou up.

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stunned. If this was someplace that intimidated even that old fart, then he wasn't so sure about it himself. "I'll think about it."

Elder Sang rolled his eyes. "Heh, all that big talk about setting your sights on the five regions, and you're already getting scared?" he thought to himself.

The elder flicked his hand and conjured an intricate jade scroll, then handed it over to Xu Xiaoshou. "If you're heading to the Black Cliff, you should be able to train what's in this thing.

"But then again, the most important thing to do after getting in there is to make a breakthrough into the Innate Level. Don't ever forget that. I won't be able to get you any resources after you come out otherwise."

Xu Xiaoshou carefully took the jade scroll, not so sure about training whatever was in it.

That Infernal Heavenly Flames alone had already brought him so much pain, and he wondered what the old fart would make him train this time.

However, he was completely stunned when he put the jade scroll to his forehead.

"10 Sections of the Finger Sword?

"And a complete version?"

Shocked, he looked at the elder. "Where did you get this?"

It was the broken piece he'd found back in the library that had piqued his interest like nothing else. If it hadn't been for Elder Sang appearing after he'd found it, he would've been training in that set of techniques instead.

But then again, a broken piece being returned to its original complete version was still quite surreal.

He nonetheless very well knew the value of the 10 Sections of the Finger Sword. If nothing else, the part about infusing one's being with sword will alone was something most couldn't have thought of.

Which meant no one could've restored this thing to its original complete version if it was originally only a broken piece…

Unless they'd managed to find the creator…

"Wait," he thought. "This jade scroll looks so new. Does that mean Elder Sang knows who the person who created it?"

The elder went on to smack the kid again, and he seemed to have gotten addicted to doing so.

"That's none of your concern. Just train well and hone your skills in alchemy. I'll be happy just as long as you don't get yourself in any more trouble."

"Sure."

Xu Xiaoshou put the jade scroll away and took a look at the overturned massive tub. "So, umm, I'll get to alchemy now?

"I might be able to get the extracts with just a few more tries."

He was very confident in what he said, as extracting the essences was but a matter of keeping the flames under control.

After acquiring "Cooking Expert," most of his obstacles had been removed from his path. The only thing left to do was simply to get familiar with the process.

Elder Sang's mouth twitched instead, and he answered, "We'll leave that aside for now. Get yourself your own place, then we'll talk about refinement."

"No, I'm about to succeed."

Xu Xiaoshou then looked at the sky. It was dusk, and nightfall was around the corner.

He'd only need one more night to work at it and would definitely succeed, so he wasn't about to just give up.

Yet, the elder wasn't about to let him have his way.

"Go and do it somewhere else then."

"Why?" Xu Xiaoshou was exasperated. He then looked at that massive red pearl above him and said, "This place is cool enough."

The elder was silent.

"Why?" he thought. "Are you really asking me why?

"I sure as h*ll can't figure out how you're capable of such a level of destruction at Spiritual Cultivation Level nine, but I have to admit, Xiao Qixiu really has good eyes.

"You're really a walking menace!

"I just left this place for a bit and you managed to almost blow the library up working on compressing the flames. If you were to really get to refinement…

"Boy, I couldn't imagine."

Although he thought this, he wasn't about to voice his thoughts aloud. He wasn't going to just let the kid have his way.

"Get your own new place in the Inner Yard and do your thing at your own place. Come to me after you've finished extracting the essences."

His words caught Xu Xiaoshou's attention. He was perceptive enough to catch the keyword. "Inner Yard?"

"Indeed."

"But then again, you're not yet an official disciple of the Inner Yard, so you won't be getting an Inner Yard Disciple Token Pass. That means you'll have a problem getting a place…

"Hmm, go to my place, then," Elder Sang said.

He looked on his table for his token.

"Hmm? Why is it gone? I remember putting it on the table…"

Xu Xiaoshou then awkwardly pulled a reddish-black token out of his ring. He'd thrown the token inside along the way earlier.

"Umm, is this it?" he asked.

Elder Sang turned around and asked in surprise, "Why is that thing with you?"

"It was blown to the ground, didn't you see…" Xu Xiaoshou brushed over the matter and changed the subject. "By the way, is it okay for me to use it? Aren't you abusing your authority?"

Elder Sang was amused. "So what if I am?

"I'm the vice dean of the Tiansang Spirit Palace. Is anyone going to stop me from letting my disciple train in the Inner Yard?

"If I were to be particular about it, a personal disciple of an elder is of a status a lot higher than the Inner Yard ones.

"Furthermore, I've already gotten you a slot to get inside the Tianxuan Gate. So, are you going to be particular about me abusing my authority?"

"Well, that makes sense…" Xu Xiaoshou scratched his head, stunned by the magnanimity the old man was displaying.

"Matters like these aren't even worth mentioning in the eyes of those in power, I guess," he thought to himself.

"Well… I'll at least need a cauldron for alchemy. This one here seems nice enough. Could I use this one?" He then walked over to the three-legged bathtub.

"In your dreams!"

The elder immediately appeared before the tub and put it away before taking out a considerably smaller tub from his ring.

"Take this one instead."

"The grade?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, his face glum.

"Eighth-grade."

"What about that huge tub?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"You know of the famed swords, right? Some cauldrons need no grade classifications," he snickered.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

"Go*amnit!" he thought.

"I would've taken that tub with three legs if I'd known it was so awesome…

"I guess one really can't judge a cauldron by its looks."

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Chapter 104: Ten Signatures

The setting sun lit up in the western sky, making the clouds look like passing dragons.

When Xu Xiaoshou walked out of the library, he was startled by the emptiness stretching out before him.

"What happened?" he thought.

"Why is all the grass gone already?

"Did someone come here to mow the lawn or something?

"Boy, some work they did!"

After taking his time to make sense of the directions, he went deeper into the Inner Yard instead of going out into the Outer Yard.

He'd very reluctantly chosen to make the trip to the library, but due to the rules between him and that old man, choosing not to make said trip would've brought about dire consequences.

However, none of the trouble he'd anticipated had come to be. Elder Sang had actually become a lot more easygoing, so much so that he hadn't minded the blood he'd spilled. Xu Xiaoshou never would've dared to imagine that possible.

"I guess that's the difference between outsiders and those you consider your own…"

He was feeling rather puzzled, but he was sure of one thing—Elder Sang had definitely become a lot nicer after they became master and disciple.

"Well, I should say that he treats me entirely different now," he thought.

"People are really weird creatures…"

Xu Xiaoshou mulled this over for a bit before he stopped thinking about it altogether.

It was a good thing that the elder would never go about torturing him. As such, he could do away with the thought of escaping the spirit palace for the time being.

As for what would happen in the future…

"Well, I'll think about it when the time comes," he thought.

"At least from the looks of things now, that old fart sure has a brilliant personality. And, if I'm being honest about it, he really goes to the extreme.

"Whether he's being uncaring toward others or protecting his own, he really seems to go all in.

"He almost ended up getting me killed when we hardly knew each other, but now that we've become master and disciple…"

He touched the ring for a bit.

36 seventh-grade Origin Court Pills, a complete version of the 10 Sections of the Finger Sword, a slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate, and a ring full of herbs.

He'd never dreamed he would get so much just from risking his neck to see that old man.

It was the complete opposite of what he'd expected.

"Hmm, there's also that eighth-grade smaller tub." He went about listing what he'd gotten.

While the tub he'd gotten was only about half the size of the massive three-legged one, it was nonetheless large enough to fit four to five people bathing in it. That smaller tub was still several times larger than the other normal-sized cauldrons.

"Eighth-grade eh…"

He then drew his Hiding Pain, noting that the sword was only at Ninth-grade.

"Can't do, man. You gotta keep up with my progress, dude."

He rubbed the black sword for a bit, and it actually shook slightly, seemingly weeping.

"What's going on?" he thought.

"Are you really gonna develop intelligence now?"

He was astonished. This was the first time he'd seen Hiding Pain exhibit such an emotional side other than when it tended to act against its owner.

Yet, when he thought about the Epitaph of City Snow, he sighed right away. Comparisons did indeed come with demerits, after all.

"Ninth-grade shouldn't be able to develop intelligence of any kind, I guess…"

He simply stuffed the sword back into his ring, his face deadpan, then took out the token that he'd gotten from the elder. This token was currently the most important thing in his possession.

With this thing in his hands, he could finally pick his own place like the rest of the Inner Yard disciples.

The concentration of spiritual energy in the Inner Yard was far higher than that in the Outer Yard. He deemed that prolonged exposure to such ambient spiritual energy would enable him to get used to Breathing Technique at Innate Level. Then he could relax and let his body train on his own.

He still had to keep all of his pores shut tight while walking inside the Inner Yard.

If he were to relax his body, he would end up spasming all over despite doing little else other than walking.

"This token couldn't have come at a better time…"

He recalled that dilapidated place of his at the Outer Yard with only a guest room left. With the token pass in his hand, he could finally leave that behind.

And he wouldn't even need to pay for repairs. What a bargain indeed.

"Which place should I pick, eh?" Xu Xiaoshou was feeling rather troubled.

The Inner Yard was just as huge as the Outer Yard. However, there were few people around. The number of disciples inside was less than 10 percent the number of those in the Outer Yard.

As such, theoretically, everyone could get themselves a huge place.

With the exception of those designated training places that were protected by barriers, all the other places were by and large off-limits for training purposes. That much was different from the Outer Yard.

One's comprehension of the celestial ways became clearer after reaching Innate Level. This was because one could no longer train outside someone else's door, as others might come to enlightenment at the same time as oneself. Being in such close proximity meant it was entirely possible for both individuals to interfere with each other, thus nullifying each other's effort.

That was a big deal, as it meant killing each other's chances.

He picked a quiet path and walked as far as it could take him. He would still prefer a compound of his own to be somewhere more secluded.

The guest room back at the Outer Yard was quite a good place, as few ever came to bother him there.

Xu Xiaoshou saw that, despite having walked quite a distance, there was still no one around and couldn't help but be in awe that the Inner Yard really had such few people around.

He'd seen several places so far, but none of them were vacant. All the places he'd passed through had already been claimed by people.

He stopped at the end of the road.

The place was incredibly secluded and fit his requirements very well as far as getting his own place was concerned.

However, the place seemed to have been severed by a huge blade, as it was literally cut in half. Its protective barrier was even shattered.

"Well…" Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded.

"There was an underground fight, I guess."

"While the Inner Yard doesn't forbid members from killing each other, shouldn't they have at least taken it to the ring?

"What's the deal with cutting someone else's place in half?

"I guess that's the Inner Yard for you. Terrifying indeed…"

Seeing this strengthened his resolve to train while laying low all the time, and he immediately walked in the other direction.

"Bad Feng Shui indeed. Definitely not a place for setting up my own place."

He then saw yet another landscape unfold before his eyes, looking like paradise.

His eyes lit up because, before he saw the place, he actually spotted a woman dressed in blue bowing down.

"Great! Finally someone I can ask for directions from. If I'd gone looking for it with just that bit of info the old fart gave me, I probably would've ended up looking for it until dawn."

He felt like he'd finally run into someone normal after being inside the Inner Yard for so long, and that someone was very alluring.

The woman was wearing skimpy clothes that exposed her supple-looking shoulders. She raised her hands high as she stretched herself for a bit, revealing her curves.

Xu Xiaoshou was just about to call out to her when the woman suddenly turned around dismissively. Yet, before she finished turning a head around, she seemed to pause for a bit before turning to look at him, stunned.

"She knows me?"

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled. She looked like she'd seen a familiar face.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

As expected, a surprised voice was heard. It sounded so alluring that he felt like he'd just gotten electrocuted.

He raised his eyebrows and went up to her. "You know me?"

The woman smiled and then chuckled, "Well, who doesn't know the renowned champion of the Wind and Cloud Contest, eh?"

Xu Xiaoshou then felt rather embarrassed. He'd never expected to find fans of his in the Inner Yard. Especially not one who was so good-looking.

"I try to keep a low profile."

The woman looked him up and down with her beautiful eyes, which then flickered with killing intent. "A disciple of the Outer Yard trespassing into the Inner Yard. I could actually act on my own accord and haul you to the enforcers, you know?"

Xu Xiaoshou was rather amused, thinking that fans from the Inner Yard were indeed something else altogether. He wondered just how many people she'd killed.

Even a joke felt like the real deal.

This faint killing intent really was something indeed.

"That's not important." Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand dismissively and asked, "Do you know of any nice places around here? I've been looking for quite a while, but, I guess from being unfamiliar with the places around here, I've had a hard time finding one."

"Oh? You're trying to find a place of your own here?" The woman was amused.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, finding her amusement peculiar. He then added, "Rest assured, I'd definitely return the favor.

"Signatures or whatever. I could give you 10 of that."

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Chapter 105: Signing My Name? More like Signing My Death Warrant!

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Signature?

The woman's smile froze, but then she quickly became amused.

"Oh, I don't need signatures. If anything…"

She seemed to have thought of something and changed the subject. "So you're looking for a place of your own? You're a member of the Inner Yard now?"

"Umm, I guess you could say so…"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know how to explain his situation to her. Because of the agreement he had with Elder Sang, he couldn't just tell her about how he'd become Elder Sang's disciple.

And it'd be absurd to tell her that Outer Yard disciples could look for a place of their own in the Inner Yard.

But then again, the woman in blue didn't pester him further about the matter. She kept grinning and said, "I know of a place that I suppose you'd like."

"Oh?" Xu Xiaoshou's interest was piqued.

"There's a mountain at the back of the Inner Yard that sees very little traffic. That place has a lot of vacant places." The woman pointed in a specific direction. "It's not far. Take a turn up front and keep taking the smaller path. You'll see the place soon enough."

Xu Xiaoshou was elated, yet after pondering it for a bit, he realized that something was off.

"If it's such a good place, why hasn't anyone picked there to settle down? And umm… a lot of vacant places?"

"The Inner Yard is huge, and not everyone is as picky as you are. Some people just walk around and pick any they come across and fancy."

The woman shrugged, showing more of her supple skin. "How they see it, walking any further would probably result in them losing something big for something small. That would be quite a loss."

Xu Xiaoshou thought what she said made sense. If he hadn't run into this woman, he probably would've stopped going any further.

"Thank you."

The woman stared at him, and the corners of her mouth twitched. "Don't mention it."

Xu Xiaoshou felt his skin crawl. Why was she so bold? And were all the women in the Inner Yard this hot?

The look in her eyes was more than just a fan's admiration.

The look seemed to say that she'd set her sights on him and there was nowhere he could run to.

"Well then, I'll be taking my leave to keep looking for my own place." Xu Xiaoshou knew that fans could be terrifying when they got hysterical, so he shirked away, about to leave.

"Didn't you say you'd give me a signature?" the woman then asked, somewhat capricious.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. "The h*ll…" he thought.

"Didn't you tell me you didn't want my signature?

"Hehe, women are indeed fickle."

"Where should I sign, then?" he asked.

Xu Xiaoshou casually turned around and took out a brush from his ring. It was a gift from his first fan.

"I don't have anything with me, so just sign my body." The woman lifted her hand and alluringly turned around like she was dancing, making her look like some blue fairy.

"Your body… where, if I may ask?" Xu Xiaoshou gulped.

"Anywhere you fancy."

Her voice was so alluring that it was starting to make him tingle all over, and he felt like he was going to pass out.

Seduced, Passive Points 1.

"I knew it…" he thought.

"You witch. You're actually trying to seduce me!

"H*ll if I'm gonna just succumb to your wiles!"

He took the brush and inwardly told himself to resist her charms. Then, he said calmly, "On the hand, then. Coincidentally, I signed the hand of my first fan's too."

The woman tilted her head. Her jet-black hair draped over her shoulder as she extended her hand to him.

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath and gently touched it, finding it soft and warm.

"Huh?" he thought.

"What's happening?

"The witch is tickling the palm of my hand?"

Seduced, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou felt like something bad would happen if he stayed around any longer. He immediately lifted his brush and steadied her hand, getting ready to sign.

"Sign my name instead," the woman then said.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. "There're fans actually crazy enough to tell me to sign their name instead?" he thought.

He then recalled not having asked her her name. That was rather rude of him.

"Alright. May I know your name then, miss?"

The woman chuckled as she looked at him, licking the corner of her lips a bit. Her voice sounded mystical.

"Lan Xinzi."

Nightfall came coincidentally, drowning the last bit of dusk colors in the sky. A breeze blew, and the rustling of fallen leaves was heard.

The atmosphere was immediately rendered silent the moment her name fell from her lips.

Xu Xiaoshou felt like a wave had just come crashing down on him.

"Lan Xinzi?" he thought.

"Isn't she one of the Inner Yard Thirty-three that Su Qianqian told me about? One of the three major enemies that I need to look out for in the future?

"Oh sh*!

"What the h*ll is happening?

"How did I run into my enemy when I was only out asking for directions?

"D*mn it. It's not my name she wants. It's my life!"

He felt a torrent of emotions raging inside of him, but he didn't let it reflect on his face.

He recalled how the woman had stiffly turned around and how a killing intent had lingered through their entire conversation.

"Yeah!" he thought.

"How many in the Inner Yard would know me, right?

"How could someone I've never met possibly be a fan of mine? She's definitely seen my picture or something and knows that I'm the one she needs to kill!"

While he had no problem playing the fool when nothing much was happening, when it was his life on the line, his brain would definitely get to work faster than anyone else's given how much he valued his own life.

He didn't pause his brush in midair again. He deftly twirled the brush in his hand and wore a rather ambiguous grin on his face as he brushed his thumb across her hand without being too obvious.

"Lan Xinzi? That's a nice name."

When he was about to sign, he stopped again and looked up with a faint smile. "I just want to check if I got your name right."

"Hehe!" Lan Xinzi chuckled while covering her mouth, seemingly noting that she knew he was flirting.

She noted that the young man before her was indeed a fine one. It was a pity that she couldn't go any further with him.

She nodded slightly, yet inwardly she had her doubts.

"Did he…" she thought.

"Halt for a bit back there?

"So he knows who I am, then.

"Does that mean he's just putting on an act?

"How about I just dispose of him right now.

"Wait, no…

"While he did stop, he did touch me nonetheless, although it wasn't that obvious.

"But then again, that's normal right? I'm Lan Xinzi, one of the Inner Yard Thirty-three. What kind of a man would be able to resist me after touching my hand?

"So that's why he halted? Because he touched my hand?"

Lan Xinzi was hesitating. Whether she killed him or not would come down to her whims.

"If the kid really knows me and dares to play me like this," she thought. "I should just kill him and report the matter later. I could dump his body at the Spiritual Library Division and claim that I acted at my own accord after seeing a disciple of the Outer Yard trespass into the Inner Yard. That could work.

"Well, I would only get punished somewhat for overdoing it at most."

However, she recalled what happened to He Yuxing.

"This kid may have someone backing him," she thought. "If even an assassination attempt could result in something like that, killing him outright would get me into really big trouble.

Should I just let him go?

"I may not get any better excuses from here on out…"

Doubted, Passive Points 1.

Doubted, Passive Points 1.

Doubted, Passive Points 1.

The Information Bar quickly refreshed, and Xu Xiaoshou was rather dazed from the sudden rush of information. He hated having to do psychological warfare, yet he had to go along with it.

"Alright, done."

He finished signing and put away his brush. He slowly let go of her hand, putting a reluctant look on his face.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Lan. This name will be what connected us. I hope to see you in the future."

He put on a hopeful look, then looked up at the sky. "It's getting late. I'd best keep looking, or I won't have a place to settle down tonight."

At first glance, he looked like someone who was feeling the itch deep down yet still wanted to maintain an air of politeness without hinting at anything more than that.

Lan Xinzi lightly touched the name on her palm as she looked at how he was behaving. She was unable to see past his façade.

"Off you go, then. We will meet again." She waved as she saw him off, yet there was yet another line that she kept to herself:

"If you're able to emerge out of that mountain, that is…"

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Chapter 106: Turning Over a New Leaf

A smile immediately blossomed on Lan Xinzi's face as soon as she entered the Spiritual Site.

"Master Zhang, guess who I just encountered."

"Hmm?" Zhang Xinxiong had no home to return to, so he could only stay here temporarily. "Who did you meet?"

"Xu! Xiao! Shou!" Lan Xinzi enunciated each syllable.

"Xu Xiaoshou?" Zhang Xinxiong was surprised. "He's in the Inner Yard now?"

If any Outer Yard disciple trespassed into the Inner Yard, those caught redhanded would be sent to the execution podium, and the Inner Yard 33 would be allowed to execute them in-lieu of the master…

Countless ways of killing Xu Xiaoshou instantly flashed through his mind, but he managed to suppress the thought. After all, He Yuxing's experience was still fresh in everyone's mind.

"Have you dealt with him?" Zhang Xinxiong got up and asked.

He didn't believe that Lan Xinzi would be so reckless as to ignore He Yuxing's end, but he was still scared that she would deal with Xu Xiaoshou recklessly.

"I didn't!" Lan Xinzi glanced at him unhappily as she murmured, "God knows what that boy did to you. Why are you so protective of him…

"Is he prettier than me?"

Zhang Xinxiong was speechless.

"Me protective of him?" he thought. "I'm just scared that you'll mess up my grand scheme!"

Lan Xinzi took the wine cup but couldn't find the wine pot, so she unwillingly put down the cup again.

"Eh. That boy seems to be really close to Xiao Qixiu. He's only an Outer Yard disciple but can already enter the Inner Yard site. This enforcing elder…

"Tsk, what an abuse of power for one's personal agenda!

Zhang Xinxiong lightly knocked his hand against the table and replied, "I've investigated. This boy has nothing to do with Xiao Qixiu, but he's really close to Su Qianqian. I suppose this was Su Qianqian's assistance…

"Hmm, that's wrong. Regardless of how powerful Su Qianqian is, there's no way she could change the rule of the Spirit Palace.

"Who could it be?

"Elder Sang?"

Zhang Xinxiong was shocked by his thoughts, thinking his guess absurd.

It was pretty nice of that unsociable old man to save Xu Xiaoluo that night. How could he think that those two were actually close? He must be having a stroke.

Lan Xinzi, on the other hand, had clearly gone down a different line of thought. She played with her fingers as she said, "Nevermind the Inner Yard site. Xu Xiaoshou was actually trying to go to the Back Mountain. What was he thinking…"

Zhang Xinxiong was puzzled and slowly turned to face her. "Where?"

"The Back Mountain."

Lan Xinzi seemed to recall something, and her jaw dropped in suprise. "Oh my, isn't the Back Mountain Rao Yinyin's turf? Which happens to be a place you've always wanted to go but never succeeded in doing so. What a coincidence!"

Zhang Xinxiong's eyes flared with anger. "Did you persuade him to go?"

"I merely gave him advice out of kindness." Lan Xinzi smiled graciously.

"That boy dared to trespass into the Back Mountain. Rao Yinyin will definitely kick his *ss. We don't have to do anything. Murdering someone with a borrowed knife. Isn't this perfect?

"And if he's really powerful enough to stay on the Back Mountain, then he could develop a relationship with Rao Yinyin over time. This is helping one to realize a dream too."

Lan Xinzi stuck out her tongue, her eyes dancing with stars. "That boy is indeed tall and handsome. He's pretty dreamy…"

Bang!

Zhang Xinxiong slammed his palm against the table, causing wooden debris to scatter into the air.

"You're testing my limits!"

Lan Xinzi retorted pridefully, "This is my table. Who gave you the right to break it!?"

"You…"

"What are you saying? This is my Spiritual Site. Get out if you don't want to stay here!" Lan Xinzi announced loudly. It felt good to say this.

"I…"

Needless to say, Zhang Xinxiong had no choice but to remain silent, as this wasn't his place.

And he actually gave up on fighting back.

He tried to compose himself and sat on the chair again, then grabbed the wine cup…

"D*mn it!" he thought. "This broken place doesn't even have a wine pot!"

He put down the wine cup and said slowly, "Didn't Yuan Tou intend to join my Zhang clan? Did he make it into the Inner Yard thirty-three?"

He'd changed the topic so abruptly that it made Lan Xinzi pause for a moment, then she nodded. "He made it, but why are you bringing him up?"

"Xu Xiaoshou trespassed into the Inner Yard. Yuan Tou, one of the newly appointed Inner Yard thirty-three, will enforce the rule in-lieu of us!"

Lan Xinzi raised an eyebrow. This was a vicious move. It seemed like he wasn't going to allow Xu Xiaoshou and Rao Yinyin a chance to get together.

However, whether Xu Xiaoshou could walk out of the Back Mountain alive was another issue!

Indeed, this dude became totally different because of that little b*tch Rao Yinyin whenever her name was mentioned.

He was only looking out for his own interests, as always.

But…

She'd won this time!

Lan Xinzi's beautiful eyes were full of disdain. "Didn't someone say he wouldn't lay a finger on Xu Xiaoshou unless he stepped outside of the Spirit Palace?"

"He's asking for it. Why can't I capitalize on the opportunity?"

"What makes you think Yuan Tou would do it? He's just become part of the Inner Yard thirty-three and has a bright future ahead of him."

Zhang Xinxiong laughed. "The likes of him are just a bunch of poor fawning dogs. If he doesn't want to do it, there are many more people who would gladly replace him.

"Tell him that if he wants to join the Zhang clan to bring Xu Xiaoshou's skull to me before this time tomorrow as proof of his allegiance!

"If he doesn't want to do it, there are plenty of others who will!

"If he's scared of executing someone…

"As long as he can stay alive for three months, I can fetch him out!"

He was finally going to do it!

Indeed, the only person that could induce this man into action was none other than Rao Yinyin.

Lan Xinzi was propping her face up in her hands, looking like she was worshipping him.

"Master Zhang, you're absolutely impressive!"

"Shut up!"

"Hachoo!"

Xu Xiaoshou pulled his clothes tighter around him.

Although the night had lowered the surrounding temperature, his innate body couldn't be invaded by the cold wind. So, the only possibility was that Lan Xinzi was planning to backstab him again.

However, he was backed by Elder Sang now, so those people shouldn't look for trouble with him so blatantly!

And if they were looking for trouble with him, it'd only been a day since the assassination, so tonight should be absolutely safe.

"Hmm, I better find a Spiritual Site soon and rest well for the night!" he thought.

"After I enter the Tianxuan Gate three days later, I won't need to be scared of anyone anymore.

"Hang in there, Xu Xiaoshou!"

Lan Xinzi hadn't fooled him. After making a turn and continuing down the dirt path, he arrived at an Arcadia.

There was a river by the mountain, and he could faintly hear the sound of a crashing waterfall.

There were numerous Spiritual Sites here, but none of them were occupied.

"Could this be a scam…"

Xu Xiaoshou felt slightly uneasy, but when he thought that assassinations would happen anyway no matter where he stayed, he became more relaxed.

"Not this, not this either…"

He had rejected a few desirable ones only for one reason: the deeper the location of the Spiritual Site, the richer the spiritual energy.

He could feel his cultivation level rising just by standing still.

At the end of the Back Mountain, the crashing waterfall sounded like thunder.

A grand court was beside the waterfall, occupying an area that was at least triple the size of his outer yard. The protecting barrier was even more magnificent and was able to hide the interior decoration.

Xu Xiaoshou held his token and came to the brushwood door, then entered the place with the token.

The gate was wide open, and the moonlight had filled up the entire space.

He looked high-spirited.

Yesterday, he'd been fraught with dangers, but today he'd pushed open the gate of an Inner Yard Spiritual Site.

He strode in with one big leap!

"This step is a small step to turn over a new leaf and also a major step for me, Xu Xiaoshou, on my road to success!"

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Chapter 107: Thoughts for going premium!

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Hmm, we are going premium! (Rubs hands)

I am a cute newbie, a very very cute kind of newbie.

I have signed a contract for this book for sixty-thousand words, testing water for ten-thousand words. Its first recommendation was fantasy, a popular genre.

For those of you who are familiar with the procedures, it is very rare that a book can stand out amongst the fierce competition. For me at least, I have read many books of such genres and there were very few that could outshine the others.

But this book is actually standing out! (Shocked expression)

I have to express my utmost sincere gratitude to Xiadada, my editor. Although he does not talk much, he has been supporting me from the backend and the recommendation trending for this book has never stopped.

From the testing-water stage to going premium, from popular category to strongly recommended on the home page…Thank you so much!

God knows that so much has happened to the books written by my peers. There were books going premium, getting terminated, getting terminated after going premium…

It was truly frightening to watch!

But, this made me feel grateful for everyone even more!

Without your favourite bookmarks, recommendation tickets and reward…

There is no way that this book could make it to premium, let alone maintain its first or second position on the recommendation spot amongst its peers!

Thank you so much once again! (Bow)

About this book, first and foremost, its basic style would not be changed. You can tell this from how Xu Xiaoshou has broken the system pointer at the start of his appearance.

He is destined to be an extraordinary person, someone who is weird and a little silly. He is hotblooded sometimes as well…

It's normal that he would not be appealing to some people.

I know my place and I am satisfied by the fact that he is liked by a small fraction of people. If there is anything I would like to ask for, maybe….let's have more of these people!

My original intention for writing this book was to let everyone has something amusing to read about during their free time. If I am to extend this intention, that is to connect with the readers on a deeper emotional level, as the story progresses…

Whether to laugh, or to ponder, or to remain in silence…

If I could achieve all these, that would be fantastic!

If not, at least you must have laughed over this book, hmm, that is more than enough!

About the supporting characters, their roles were never meant to center around one person, to begin with. Regardless of what is this person called, Xu Xiaoshou or Xu Dagong…

I would decide on his/her personality first, then introduce them with a grand entrance at the right time…As long as they are officially featured in the story, they would be part of the essential characters who could push the progress of the story further. This is what I am trying my best to achieve.

They say the difference between a genius and a maniac is separated by a fine line. So, if my characters are becoming boring, that pretty much means that I have lost my drive!

That's all.

But, I am so excited now!!!

It's my first book and my first time going premium!

I hope that you brothers could support me generously and subscribe to the initial order. This is extremely important as it would affect the subsequent recommendation algorithm. It is not easy to be a newbie writer here and I could only pray with all my might! (Cry)

If you are not feeling it yet, I hope that you could subscribe to the initial order because of the free two hundred and forty thousand words for this new book.

If you could fight alongside me, that would be even better, please stand by me!

We are going premium tomorrow at 12 p.m. sharp, there might be a delay in the system, but I will never be late!

I will lead the charge and you guys remember to follow up, don't let me fight alone…

We will open the path with ten chapters!

Please subscribe to the initial orders!

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Chapter 108: Heaven on earth (1/10)

"Red Magical Poppy, tenth-grade spiritual medicine. It can cause mild hallucinations and tastes bitter and astringent."

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked by the sea of Red Magical Poppy near the door.

"There's a lot of tenth-grade spiritual medicine in this place. Is this the benefit of an Inner Yard Spiritual Site?" he thought to himself.

"Red Magical Poppy free of charge?

"But why this? I could've done with any other spiritual medicine!

"Hallucination…

"Just looking at it is making me feel dizzy!"

He rubbed his temples, then proceeded to walk through the sea of Red Magical Poppy to the main house.

This house also had a master bedroom and a guest room. Just the guest room alone was bigger than the burned down main house of his old compound in the Outer Yard.

There were also countless scenic objects in this house.

There was an array pivot in the main house. As long as he stamped on it with his Inner Yard Disciple Token Pass, he would declare ownership of this spiritual site. Elder Sang had told him this before.

Xu Xiaoshou held the Elder Token Pass and entered the main house.

He was blinded by a plethora of colorful furniture.

It was a delicate room decorated in warm colors with all kinds of living amenities.

There was an unimaginable number of things inside.

A gigantic pink bed, a dressing table, a wine-red cupboard…

"Ugh, why does this feel wrong?" he thought.

There were clothes everywhere in the room. They were all well-tailored and made of a wide-ranging variety of materials, including silk, lace, and smooth cloth…

Xu Xiaoshou became more confused as he looked at all these things.

He picked up a piece of tiny red cloth with two strings attached to either side. He could faintly smell a subtle, alluring fragrance from it.

He sniffed it up close, and a shocked expression came over his face.

"This… this is a pantie!"

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded by the panties of all different cuts and exotic styles that were around the room. This experience had definitely expanded his knowledge of different panties.

"Does that mean someone's staying here?

"Then why was I able to get in if someone's already living here? I wasn't rejected by the protective barrier!"

Xu Xiaoshou was completely dumbfounded.

"Could it be that the original owner of this place was a woman, but she had some kind of accident that caused this house to lose its master's mark, disabling the protective barrier?

"Or could it be that…"

Looking at the Elder Token Pass in his hand, Xu Xiaoshou fell into deep thought.

"It can't be!"

"If that's indeed the case, and there are elders out there that malicious, then the girls in the spirit palace are definitely in great danger…"

Putting this thought aside, Xu Xiaoshou tried looking for the array pivot everywhere in the room, but to no avail, which meant someone really did own this place.

He felt unbelievably awkward at having accidentally barged into a girl's room and even seen all those embarrassing clothes on the ground. If the actual owner ever found out….

She would definitely come after him!

"I'd better get going."

He hunched over, immediately planning to leave, but the backdoor of the house was suddenly pushed open, as if by a huge gust of wind.

The waterfall was raging outside the house. It was obviously the same one he'd heard earlier.

Xu Xiaoshou halted.

A girl's room, a waterfall, next step…

Was she bathing?

"That's too much of a coincidence!"

A look of amusement appeared on Xu Xiaoshou's face. The rational side of his brain was telling him to head to the backdoor and leave, but his body was heading in the opposite direction against his own volition.

"Just one look…

"No! I barged into her room. After all, if the owner's around, I should inform her face to face, lest I get into more trouble later on.

"Hmm, that's right!"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded heavily and, kicking away the panties on the ground, he covered his eyes with his fingers and slowly walked toward the backdoor.

Swoosh!

The waterfall roared like thunder, and there was a steam of hot mist that lingered on the deep hot spring like some divine gas.

He couldn't see anything at all!

Xu Xiaoshou closed his eyes tight, as he knew it would be morally wrong to look at her. If he were to peek through his fingers, it would make the entire situation even more complicated!

Standing at the entrance, he activated his Sense to the fullest.

The hot spring was rippling, instantly attracting Xu Xiaoshou's attention. Following the sound of a few bubbles popping, a beautiful silhouette emerged.

Her jade-like hands were playing with her long silky black hair. With her slender figure dancing slowly in the water, she looked like a fresh lotus. She was so alluring that even a deity would've been seduced by her.

Xu Xiaoshou was deeply mesmerized.

He felt a few water droplets splash on the corner of his mouth, and they tasted kind of salty.

She was so beautiful he got a nosebleed, and Eternal Vitality was running like crazy to make up for the blood loss.

A slightly charming voice called out, "Is sister Su here? Why don't you bathe with me first before you head out?"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly came to his senses.

"No, I can't stay here any longer!" he thought. "If I stay around, regardless of whether she'll let me explain myself, this will definitely spiral into a gigantic mess!"

But before he could turn, a shocked voice came from the hot spring: "Who's that?"

Xu Xiaoshou was paralyzed.

He couldn't help but open his eyes. The hot mist before him was fading, and he saw a womanly figure turn around.

"Please don't!"

His pupils dilated, and he subconsciously stuck out a foot to walk forward.

Hypnotized, Passive Point, 1.

The notification on the information bar woke him up like a pail of cold water.

"Hypnotized?

"An illusion?!"

His foot hung limp in the air. Before his eyes, there was still a woman turning around, but the picture in his brain was of a spiritual sword pushing into his throat.

If he'd walked out recklessly, he definitely would have died!

"But…" he thought. "What the h*ll is going on? Why can I see two different sets of images?

"That's wrong."

What appeared before his very eyes was an illusion, but Sense allowed him to see what was really happening.

"That's right," he thought. "Sense is a passive skill."

This woman obviously didn't possess the weird sealing power Mo Mo had. A mere illusion couldn't stop his passive skills from working!

However, once the woman turned to face him, what emerged before him was a hideous and corrupted face. Although Xu Xiaoshou was mentally prepared, he was still shocked.

"I'm not looking, I'm not looking!" he murmured subconsciously and turned around. "I'm here to talk to the owner of this spiritual site, with no intention to commit any despicable act…"

In his mind, the spiritual sword vibrated and immediately vanished.

A woman in a bathrobe appeared before him.

If he were to advance, he would definitely run into her. If he stopped, then he would be exposed.

Hypnotized, Passive Points, 1.

Xu Xiaoshou steadied his steps and passed through the woman in the bathrobe, shattering the image.

"Heh, a piece of cake!" he thought. "If you can't seal my passive skills or disable my information bar, then your illusion can never fool me."

On the other side, a woman in a bathrobe looked at him, her expression changing from one of agitation to surprise.

"Why isn't my illusion working on this man?" she thought. "Is it because he's really not looking at it?

"That's wrong. My illusion can rope a person in, even if they have their eyes closed."

It was obvious that the illusion had failed to work on him.

However, none of this mattered anymore. As the woman thought over what had happened, her eyes blazed with anger.

Her spiritual sword vibrated and directly shot at Xu Xiaoshou. .

Xu Xiaoshou turned around without putting up a defense.

"Humph, are you trying to force me to stop attacking you?" he thought.

The woman didn't bother going easy on him and went straight for his heart. However, when she saw his face, she was shocked.

"It's you!"

She wanted to slow down her attack, but it was too late. The sword pierced through his clothes, and she could no longer control its movements.

Klank!

A crisp sound was produced as Glow of Sharpness and Recoil deflected the spiritual sword, and Xu Xiaoshou's chest was barely pierced through.

His plan had been to crawl on the ground and moan in pain to gain sympathy first, then take advantage of the opportunity to apologize and leave gracefully…

However, when he got a clear look at the woman's face, his mind was blown.

"It's you?"

Chapter 109: Flirted

Clang!

The sword dropped beside the huge pink bed and immediately rang out.

Both of them looked each other in the eye, both shocked by each other and speechless.

A droplet traced the woman's chiseled features, going down to her collarbone, then farther down to her bosom, her torso, before disappearing when it hit her bathrobe.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but gulp. What a small world.

Wasn't this the girl who'd come to watch his fight with Su Qianqian and then kind of like seduced him in the end?

He probably would've forgotten all about it if it'd been anyone else, but this girl was probably the prettiest girl he'd ever seen in his life, and she'd left such a lasting impression on him that he felt like it was only yesterday that he'd last seen her.

"Brother Xiaoshou…"

"Ptuih! Xu Xiaoshou!?" Rao Yinyin spitted, her face all red.

"Is this guy the Brother Xiaoshou that Su Qianqian's been talking about all this time?" she thought.

"Isn't he a disciple of the Outer Yard?"

"Is he trespassing into the Inner Yard?"

For a brief moment, the thought of taking on the job of the enforcers as one of the Inner Yard 33 flitted in her mind, and she almost made her move.

"Hold on," she thought. "Even if he did trespass into the Inner Yard, why would he cross the entire Inner Yard to come here? Furthermore, he's already so deep in these parts, and he crossed over the main house just to take a peek at me bathing. Is that right?

"Furthermore, if he is that kid, then I can't afford to kill him."

Rao Yinyin was furious, and she walked all the way to the side of the bed and pulled the sword, flicking it hard.

Clang!

The "doubted" line kept refreshing in his Information Bar. He was completely frightened by this scene.

"Is she really gonna kill me just to shut me up now?" he thought.

"I detected your presence as soon as you entered. You've been hit with my illusion, and I must say that your will held up quite well, seeing that you managed to get over it."

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded. What was going on?

She recognized him and yet called him "Sister Su"?

"Wait, hold on," he thought. "She doesn't know that my Sense is capable of breaking her illusion, which means she's trying to save face.

"Man, who's she fooling? H*ll, this is stupid."

There was a strange expression on Xu Xiaoshou's face, yet as soon as the woman turned around, he immediately said, "I saw nothing!"

Huh. But wasn't that the same as saying he had seen something?

"Ptuih, I just saw…" he began. "Umm, well, that's not what I mean. It's just…"

Rao Yinyin went over to her dressing table and fetched a tissue paper and then handed it to him and said, "Wipe the blood off your nose."

This was embarrassing!

"Could it get any more embarrassing than this, huh?"

He took the tissue paper and gave up.

Rao Yinyin then sat on the bed with her legs crossed. She lifted her eyes at him slightly, as if she were judging him.

"Did you come here to find Su Qianqian? Or did you come here to take a peek at me bathing? How did you manage to get inside my place?"

Xu Xiaoshou wiped his nose, and since the situation couldn't possibly get more embarrassing than this, he simply gave up and let loose. He went to pull out a chair and dumped the clothes on it and then sat down on the chair like he owned the place.

"I'm here to find myself a place. It has nothing whatsoever to do with anything that you just said."

"As for how I ended up here, I don't know. I pushed the door open, I stepped inside, and there I was."

He paused for a bit, hesitating. "Didn't you lock the door?"

Rao Yinyin was speechless.

"My clothes are all over the place, and you're asking me if I locked the door?" she thought.

She blushed a little at the thought. She'd never expected that a man would actually trespass into her place.

However, it was too late now to tidy the place up.

She took a look at the token in his hand. "Let me have a look at that thing."

"This?" He held up the token and saw Rao Yinyin nod. He tossed the token to her.

Regardless of how gracious the girl was, he knew he wouldn't be getting off easy all the same and was ready to get punished in some way.

"Lucky for me I'm not rich to begin with," he thought. "So there's little she could get out of me. If push comes to shove, I guess I could pay up with my body."

"A token from an elder?" she asked. "Hold on. This is from the Vice Dean… A token from Elder Sang?"

Rao Yinyin eyed the reddish-black token, surprise written all over her face. "Why would you have a token from Elder Sang?"

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled. Wasn't this token just a normal elder token?

When he'd gone to the Spiritual Library Division to pick his technique, he saw that Xiao Qixiu had one that looked just like this one. He wondered just how she knew that this particular token was from Elder Sang.

Was it the aura or some minute differences between them?

"Well, it's an elder token, and umm, is it to say that this thing allows one to intrude into someone else's place just like that?" Xu Xiaoshou interjected, a touch of surprise in his tone.

The agreement he had with Elder Sang forbade him from telling her his relationship with the elder.

"The usual elder tokens are incapable of doing so. There are only two tokens throughout the entire Tiansang Spirit Palace that would allow one to do so—those in the hands of Ye Xiaotian and Elder Sang."

Rao Yinyin paused, and an alluring look appeared in her eyes. She then continued where she'd left off. "How did this thing end up with you?"

"I picked it up somewhere."

Doubted, Passive Points 1.

"Tell me the truth!" Rao Yinyin glowered at him. "We're not done here just yet. Whether you can make it out of here alive today depends on what you're about to tell me."

"All right." Xu Xiaoshou spread his hands. "Elder Sang is my master."

Doubted, Passive Points 1.

Rao Yinyin immediately rose to her feet and took on an intimidating tone. "The. Truth!"

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled.

"What do you want me to say?" he thought. "I lie, and you doubt me. I tell the truth, and you're unwilling to believe me. What do you want of me then?"

He then closed his eyes in despair. "Don't ask. It's something that I can't tell you about."

Rao Yinyin was speechless.

She held onto the token for quite some time after hearing this, thoughts running through her head.

After a while, a different look appeared in her eyes, and she actually grinned. She lifted her robe a little and then walked up to him with those long legs of hers.

"It doesn't matter that you can't tell me anything. Just the fact that you have this thing means you're close to Elder Sang."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know where to look.

"Okay, what are you trying to do now?" he thought. "I'm barely able to contain myself, you know!"

"Miss, decency please!" he said.

"Decency?" Rao Yinyin frowned and chuckled while covering her mouth. "You're in my room now and that's what you're telling me?"

She then coiled her hand around his neck and blew in his ear, saying seductively, "Promise me one thing. Let this slide today, and I might reward you somehow."

Flirted, Passive Points 1.

Her fragrance lingered in his nose. He'd never been so close to such a stunning-looking girl before both in his past and current life. Furthermore, all she was wearing was but a bathrobe. It was very hard to resist her charm.

"Let go of me!"

Xu Xiaoshou shirked back, and his chin knocked again her forearm, making his skin crawl.

"Get away from me, and don't blow in my ear!"

Rao Yinyin chuckled. And here she was thinking he had guts.

"This is all you've got?" she thought.

Seductive warmth emanated from her lips as she asked, "Are you really sure about that?"

Flirted, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou felt like his blood was boiling over, and he was unable to contain himself. He then lifted…

The woman's arms from around him and jumped up from the chair like he was trying to run.

"What are you up to!?"

He was unable to run far and was simply able to back away to the bed, making it look like both had just shifted positions. "Talk nicely. Keep your hands to yourself."

"Keep my hands to myself?" she thought.

She swept her hair behind her shoulders and then walked over to the bed, a sheepish grin on her face. She extended one of her supple legs, cornering Xu Xiaoshou on the bed.

"I guess I should tell you to keep your legs to yourself too!"

Xu Xiaoshou supported himself off of the bed with his hands, ready to burst into tears.

Couldn't the girl tell that a guy could only contain himself for so long?

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Chapter 110: Catching an Affair in the Act

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"What are you looking at?"

Rao Yinyin, discovering that the kid's gaze was still lingering on her leg, grabbed his chin and turned his head around, a tinge of red covering her face.

Crack!

It felt as if his neck were about to snap. The only thing in his eyes was a touch of annoyance the reflection of a huge piece of ceiling in front of him.

Rao Yinyin blinked, and she went back to being flirty again, saying softly, "I only need a single pill, and then we can call it even."

"Pill?" he thought. "She's asking me for a pill?

"Wait, shouldn't she be asking Elder Sang…"

Xu Xiaoshou then pulled at her hand, giving himself some room to lower his head somewhat, before he was finally able to talk. "What pill?"

"Bodhi Pill." She blinked. "Or maybe… a Sovereign Pill."

Sovereign?

Xu Xiaoshou immediately shuddered. He knew that Sovereign was above Master in terms of rank, which meant she was…

"Are you at the peak of Master level?"

His voice was filled with nothing but utter shock. He was doomed!

"Looks like I'm not going anywhere today, then!" he thought.

"Are you saying only someone at the peak of Master Level could want a Sovereign Pill?" Rao Yinyin rolled her eyes at him, yet she remained just as alluring as before.

"Innate Pill is eighth-grade, Master Pill is sixth-grade, Sovereign Pill is…" Xu Xiaoshou roughly counted inside his head.

"Fourth-grade!

"Are you kidding me!?"

He shook his head so hard that he looked like he was trying to hit something. "Oh, you're not getting a Sovereign one from me. Don't ever, ever think about it!"

"I have Origin Court Pills, though. I could give you 10."

Rao Yinyin was amused at his frustration.

"Why would I want Origin Court Pills?" she thought.

"Sovereign Pill," she repeated.

"This is nowhere near doable." Xu Xiaoshou continued to shake his head and began to bargain. "How about Master Pill, eh? I could like ask for it somehow and see if I could do anything?"

"Oh?" Rao Yinyin raised an eyebrow, a cunning look appearing in her eyes. "So you really can ask for pills, then?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt his heart sank, and he wondered if the girl had been bluffing all along.

"Well, then it can only be a Sovereign Pill." Rao Yinyin started to move her face closer to his, so much so that Xu Xiaoshou was able to feel the warmth of her breath.

"Breaking into Master Level is as easy as breathing to me, so what need would I have for Master Pills, then?

"And your Origin Court Pills…

"Keep those for yourself, Spiritual Cultivation Level nine rookie." The corners of her mouth twitched, and her eyes were full of nothing but ridicule.

Flirted, Passive Points 1.

She pressed a supple finger to his lips when he opened his mouth to say something.

"I'm one to keep my word. So long as you're able to get me a Sovereign Pill, not only will I let what happened today slide, but I'll also reward you."

"What reward are you talking about?" Xu Xiaoshou felt like biting that finger off.

"Didn't you say you were looking for a place of your own here? If you get me the pill, then you can have this place as well as the entire mountain. And then…"

Rao Yinyin turned her gaze away and looked at his hand, which was pressing on her bed. "If you fancy, you could have my stuff too."

Stuff?

Xu Xiaoshou traced her gaze and reflexively lifted his hand, finding to his surprise that he had picked up some red cloth made of silk.

The clothing was small, and it was smooth.

He was utterly shocked, and threw it away right there and then.

"Can't do! No way I could get you such a pill, and I don't need your stuff!" He shut his eyes, ready to meet his doom.

"A fourth-grade medicine… you'd be better off killing me right now!" he thought.

"I don't even know if Elder Sang has anything at fourth grade!

"I have no pill, and what is left is my life!"

Rao Yinyin's expression immediately turned cold when she saw him just dump her things like that, yet when she thought of Su Qianqian, she returned to being flirty again and grabbed at his chin.

"You don't like my reward?" That alluring voice was heard again.

Xu Xiaoshou was extremely frustrated. "What's her deal, man?" he thought. "Why the h*ll did I believe what Lan Xinzi said in the first place and come all the way here?"

Come to think of it, he realized this was a huge trap that had been laid for him, and he'd been dumb enough to think that everywhere was the same if someone were to assassinate him.

"Right, the situation is no longer assassination. Someone is about to kill me right in my face!" he thought.

He struggled and gulped, and felt his mouth become parched.

"I like it."

"Glad you do, then."

Rao Yinyin pressed herself closer to him and pressed on, "So, are you going to give me the pill?"

"Yeah…" he thought. "In your dreams!"

"I, Xu Xiaoshou, would never agree to such an equal treaty!

"I took a peek at you, big deal! Peek at me if you dare, then!

His eyes were filled with anger, yet he didn't dare to voice said anger.

Rao Yinyin was extremely frustrated as well. Did the kid really think she wouldn't do anything?

"You really think you can get out of this without leaving anything behind?" she thought.

"Do you think you're Su Qianqian?"

At that moment, her door creaked, and a girl's grumbling voice was heard saying, "Sister Rao, what's taking you so long? Aren't you done yet?"

"Huh?"

The room became so unbelievably silent that one could have heard a needle drop.

Both Xu Xiaoshou and Rao Yinyin were shocked. Both turned their heads around and saw a face wearing an expression of shock greater than theirs.

As soon as she stepped into the room, Su Qianqian saw that Sister Rao of hers wrapped in a bathrobe, straddling someone on the bed with her long, supple legs.

As for that person whom she was straddling, one could easily tell without looking at the face…

That it was a man.

Sister Rao… and a man?

Bathrobe, on the bed?

Arrgghhh!

She cradled her face in her hands and screamed at the top of her lungs. Her voice was so loud that it shot through the clouds in the sky.

"My goodness, why is Su Qianqian here!" the two of them on the bed thought.

Their thoughts were oddly synchronized at the moment, and both shockingly said the same thing at the same time:

"It's not what you think it is!"

"It's not what you think it is!"

Huh?

Both of them turned to look at each other, a dazed expression on both their faces.

"Don't copy what I said!"

"Don't copy what I said!"

Rao Yinyin was speechless.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

"Sh, nothing is gonna clear our names now," he thought.

Su Qianqian's eyes were filled with doubt as soon as she heard the man's voice.

She undoubtedly knew Rao Yinyin's voice well, yet somehow, the voice of that man, whom she was unable to see clearly, also sounded oddly familiar.

She scanned with her will and immediately slumped to the ground.

Br-Brother Xiaoshou??

Arrggghhhh!

She cradled her head in her hands, her eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Why are Brother Xiaoshou and Sister Rao in the same room?" she thought.

"Didn't we just go our separate ways at noon?

"Shouldn't he be in the Outer Yard?

"Are they… having an affair?"

A million doubts ran through that little mind of hers, including all manner of knowledge that she'd somehow picked up somewhere, sometime. Her eyes were then filled with the intense fire of gossip.

She was still a minor, yet she knew a lot.

She only thought of Xu Xiaoshou as a big brother of hers and had no romantic feelings for him.

At that moment, both that big brother and big sister, both of whom she trusted more than anybody else, had actually gotten together behind her back.

This…

The expression on her face became rather twisted and complicated. A sense of loss from not being trusted, entangled with a curiosity of wanting to know more about some massive secret she'd just stumbled upon… it was a feeling that was difficult for her to place.

She covered her mouth, wanting to say something, yet was unable to say a word.

"Get off me right now. No child should be seeing this!"

Xu Xiaoshou's expression was also extremely complicated, yet he somehow clapped his hand against Rao Yinyin's thigh, like that was how things should be.

The clap was loud and crystal clear.

The smoothness of her leg left him stunned for a while.

"Sh, what have I just done!?" he screamed inwardly.

Rao Yinyin then looked at the red mark on her thigh. "You dare to hit me?" she thought. "You peeked at me and then you hit me?"

She was both angry and embarrassed and felt like all her capacity for reason was about to leave her. Her terrifying training was brought to the fore, and she immediately brought her hand down on him.

That attack definitely turn his head into mush if it were to hit him.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't about to let her have her way. He clapped at the bed while she was still shocked and angry, using the recoil to escape from under her legs.

"Qianqian, help! Your friend is about to kill me!"

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Chapter 111: Yinyin, Yinyin

Crack!

The pink bed shattered into pieces.

Rao Yinyin almost cracked her own teeth, she was gritting her teeth so hard as she turned to glare at the two at the door in fury.

Xu Xiaoshou hid behind Su Qianqian and pushed her in front of him as a human shield.

Su Qianqian was speechless.

"Calm down, Sis. I heard that if a couple has problems between them, the right thing to do is to communicate instead of fighting," she commented, blinking her eyes.

Rao Yinyin was utterly baffled. "What do you mean couple? Where the h*ll did you learn that from?" she thought.

She pointed at the man behind the little girl. "Do you have any idea what he did?"

Su Qianqian then curiously craned her neck to look at him and asked, "What did he do?"

Whack!

Xu Xiaoshou immediately whacked Su Qianqian in the head, causing her head to bobble for a bit.

She looked at him, feeling vexed. "What was that for?"

"A little girl like you has no business asking stuff like that! Who taught you all this nonsense, eh? You get in with some bad crowd?"

Su Qianqian then pointed at Rao Yinyin, a bitter look on her face.

It was Rao Yinyin's turn to be speechless.

"By the way, when did you two get together? Why didn't I know…"

Su Qianqian saw their expressions change and immediately cradled her head.

"Woah, hold it. I at least need to know what happened before I can tell who's right and who's not, right?" She pouted for a bit and acted like a grown-up.

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled and said right away, "I saw that her room looked messy so I thought to tell her off, and now she wants to kill me!"

Rao Yinyin didn't know what to say.

She was so angry her anger shot through the roof and could've flipped the roof off. Yet she saw Xu Xiaoshou sending signals at her with blinks and winks, and she was mouthing something, like he wanted to tell her something.

"What's with the blinking, eh? Can't just tell her that you peeked at me bathing, eh?"

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

"Didn't we agree to keep this between us?" he thought. "Why say it out loud like that?

"I'm telling you that I'm okay with the proposition. Can't you tell what I'm mouthing here?

"Gosh, you're so stupid!"

Seeing that Su Qianqian was all shocked, he knew that he needed to say something to turn the tables. "Didn't you say that what I saw was but an illusion you cast?"

Rao Yinyin was stunned. She had nothing to say in response to that.

"Yeah, that's what I said," she thought. "But since you're unwilling to get me the pill, let's just end this right here, right now then!

"You or me. Only one of us is going to live today!"

She fetched her sword and rushed at him at once.

Xu Xiaoshou saw her rushing at him and noted to himself that explanations were truly utterly useless to women. As such, he simply lifted Su Qianqian and put her right in front of him.

The little girl was baffled and immediately cradled her head. "Don't chop me up!"

Rao Yinyin was extremely flustered, yet there was no way she could get to him. The man grabbed hold of the little girl and circled around and around so many times that he couldn't even tell if Rao Yinyin was about to reverse direction.

For some reason, her illusion was also utterly useless against him.

Rao Yinyin stopped moving. "Put her down!"

"Put your sword down!" Xu Xiaoshou continued holding up his human shield, refusing to back off.

"I'm getting dizzy…"

Su Qianqian's eyes were practically wobbling in their eye sockets. She was jostled around so much that she almost ended up throwing up on the spot. It was thanks to her training with the "Reverse Sword Subduing" that ironically allowed her to hold the urge in.

Clang!

Rao Yinyin threw the sword to the ground, and Xu Xiaoshou breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet, the woman started to perform seals the very next second.

It was then his turn to get flustered.

"Calm down! Don't do anything rash!"

The entire place shuddered, and boundless spiritual energy whirled and coalesced between her hands.

Xu Xiaoshou panicked. "Stop it! I'll get you the pill!"

"What pill?" Rao Yinyin just kept doing what she was doing.

"Sovereign Pill!" Xu Xiaoshou shouted.

Huff…

Spiritual energy dispersed between Rao Yinyin's fingers, and the icy look on her face disappeared to be replaced with a flirty grin. "You gave your word, and I'll definitely keep this in mind."

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled.

"You set me up?" he thought. "All that was just a bluff?"

He felt like he'd just been duped. This woman knew her tricks, her mood changing faster than one could flip through the pages of a book.

Rao Yinyin then walked up to her dressing table and picked up a pearl. "This thing is called the void pearl. It recorded what you just said and everything you did after you got into my room."

"I'll take a look at it when I have the time."

Su-Surveillance?

Xu Xiaoshou's face was ashen, and he rummaged through his memory in fury to recall if he'd done anything he shouldn't have after going inside.

"Hmm, doesn't seem like I did anything bad," he thought. "What a relief!

"Hold on!

"I seemed to have smelled that thing…

"Sh, there goes my squeaky clean reputation, eh?"

He took a deep breath and said, "Hand that thing over and you can have two Sovereign Pills."

Rao Yinyin took note of his expression and knew that the odds were with her. She then stuffed the pearl into her robe through the opening at her chest, then wiggled her finger at him. "Come take it, then!"

Seduced, Passive Points 1.

Seduced, Passive Points 1.

Seduced, Passive Points 1.

The three consecutive messages on his Information Bar baffled him. This was the first time someone had triggered three lines with just a single move.

"D*mn, that woman…" he mused inwardly. "She knows what she's doing!"

"You whats-your-name. My patience really is wearing thin here…" Xu Xiaoshou sighed. "Burning bridges like this will do you no good."

"Whats-your-name, huh… The name is Rao Yinyin. I've got a name too, you know?"

This was indeed his first time hearing her name. He then frowned and asked, "Rao what?"

"Yinyin!"

He cupped a hand behind his ear, pointed his ear at her, and gestured for her to speak louder. "Rao…"

"Are you deaf?" The woman was furious. "Yinyin!"

Pfftt

Su Qianqian couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Oh my goodness, Sister Rao, you're so cute!"

Rao Yinyin realized that she'd been tricked, and her fury shot to the heavens.

"Xu… Xiao… Shou!"

Xu Xiaoshou lifted Su Qianqian up again before Rao Yinyin could lift up her sword. "Woah, keep it down, will you? I'm here, and I'm not deaf!"

"You duped a Sovereign Pill off of me, and that trick back there was just calling it even!" he thought.

He narrowed his eyes and put on a harmless look.

Rao Yinyin changed the subject and berated the little girl. "Su Qianqian, you get over here at once!"

"Why does the brat keep siding with an outsider?" she mused. "So, you've forgotten all about your Sister Rao now that your Brother Xiaoshou has shown up, eh? You've forgotten all I've done for you for the past year?"

The banter between the two had already confused the little girl, and it took her quite a while to realize that Rao Yinyin was addressing her.

Why did they have to get her involved in their fight?

Xu Xiaoshou instinctually tightened his grip on her, not saying anything. "This thing…" he thought.

"Ptuih, the girl is my shield now. I might just end up dead without her in my hands.

"I just played that woman over there. There's no way I'd hand over my trump card!"

Rao Yinyin was irked, and she immediately glowered at Xu Xiaoshou. "We need to head out now. What are you doing by refusing to release her?"

Xu Xiaoshou then put the little girl down, still wondering if he should believe her or not.

Rao Yinyin then took a step forward, and that scared him enough to lift Su Qianqian up again.

Rao Yinyin chuckled, looking pleased with having scored one against him.

"Heh. Rookie."

"Heh. Childish."

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't going to just let her have it.

Su Qianqian kept looking confused while standing between them, having no idea what both her Sister Rao and Brother Xiaoshou were doing.

"Heh, hehehehe…"

She then giggled somehow, and her dumb laughter stopped the two from going at each other any further.

Everyone was speechless for quite a while.

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Chapter 112: Don't Like It? Bear with It!

Council Hall, the Inner Yard.

Ye Xiaotian took a piece of paper in his hand and hovered in midair under the silver moonlight.

Over a dozen young disciples stood before him. They were divided into two groups. One had many, while the other only had four.

"Here is the list of people granted slots to enter Tianxuan Gate. The top four is as everyone expected—disciples who just recently joined the Inner Yard. Mo Mo, Mu Zixi, Zhao Qingteng, and Zhou Tianshen." Ye Xiaotian looked at the four of them.

The four of them nodded, looking excited.

The secret realm of the Tianxuan Gate was the first opportunity given to new disciples by the Inner Yard. It was only opened once a year, and only 10 slots were given every year.

The amount of spirit energy found inside was almost 100 times that in the Outer Yard.

Taking just one breath of it would make one feel like they could reach the heavens.

Furthermore, it was a place where all manner of precious training grounds were found, and everyone could basically find one that suited them.

Ye Xiaotian turned his gaze to the other group, which had more people in it. All of them were the new Inner Yard 33.

"Fifth slot, Lei Lei."

"Ninth slot, Yuan Tou."

Yuan Tou was an extremely stout man with a square face and thick eyebrows. He held his Xuanming Overlord Spear in his hand, creating a frightening presence.

Even though he'd long expected his name to be on the list, he was still nonetheless overjoyed when he finally heard his name read aloud.

"Very well. This was well worth my time coming all the way here to listen to the dean babble," he thought. "Now that that matter's settled, there's only one minor matter to attend to…

"The head of Xu Xiaoshou!"

Ye Xiaotian folded the paper and said, "The 10th slot is taken, and the name shall not be announced here."

"Wait, what?"

Everyone was dumbfounded. In all the previous years, the names of the top 10 had all been read aloud. At the moment, four of the 10 slots had already been taken by the new disciples of the Inner Yard. Given that the rules were such, they could only bear with it.

Yet, they'd found that one of the remaining six slots would not be announced.

"Who is it?" A good number of people in the group asked, yet Ye Xiaotian ignored them all and looked at Zhao Shu instead.

This was a man with an extremely glum face. He had bits of frost at his sideburns and wore a white jade at his waist.

His rank was right behind Yuan Tou's, and, according to conventions, he should've been the one to take the tenth slot.

Ye Xiaotian wanted to make amends, but the voice of an old man was quickly heard. "There are only nine slots to be had for the Inner Yard, and one was given to the Outer Yard."

Everyone turned around to find an old man wearing a conical hat leaning beside an old pagoda tree near the entrance of the hall.

"The vice dean?"

"Elder Sang?"

The man's identity did nothing to quell the group's indignant rage, and someone angrily shouted, "Is there no one else in the Inner Yard? Not only is it a waste to give a slot for the Tianxuan Gate to the Outer Yard, but it's also against the rules, isn't it?"

Elder Sang then calmly retorted, "The rules of the Tianxuan Gate have always pertained to the strong, not trash."

"What the…"

This blatant, uncaring diss ignited the rage of all the disciples present, as this line meant that, other than the chosen nine, everyone else was less worthy than a disciple of the Outer Yard.

Zhao Shu took one step forward. He was obviously suppressing his anger as he asked, "I'd like to know who took my slot."

"Xu Xiaoshou," Elder Sang answered matter-of-factly.

Ye Xiaotian was baffled.

"Godd*mnit," he thought. "Why did you just blurt out the name like that? What was the point of me keeping it a secret before, then?

"Are you trying to make enemies for Xu Xiaoshou here? Isn't he your disciple?

"What the h*ll is wrong with you!?"

Elder Sang ignored all the signals that Ye Xiaotian was sending him from across the crowd.

Xu Xiaoshou was his disciple. He had his own way of teaching the kid and deemed that there was no need for external interference.

"That's all? You've got nothing else to say?" Zhao Shu was shocked by what Elder Sang had said. "Any reason, then?"

"None."

That uncaring, ambiguous tone that the elder had taken further ignited his anger. "I don't agree to this!"

"That so? Bear with it, then."

Elder Sang's tone remained flat and calm. "Until the day your power is great enough to challenge the rules of the Tiansang Spirit Palace, you will learn to bear with such indignity."

Who the h*ll was gonna bear with this?

This was the first time everyone present had seen the vice dean appear to take care of affairs, and, as such, it was also the first time they'd learned how weird the old man could be.

Ye Xiaotian was as benevolent as he could be in comparison.

Zhao Shu was unable to contain his rage anymore and emerged from the crowd with a heavy stomp. The air became cold all of a sudden.

Boom!

Before he was able to do anything else, Ye Xiaotian appeared right before him all of the sudden, flipping him to the ground with a single palm attack.

"Stop it!"

Everyone was baffled.

H*ll, the guy hadn't even attacked yet, and he had the gall to tell the other guy to stop when he'd already made the first move?

By the way… what was going on here?

Elder Sang, the dean, had also changed and knew how to beat up others too.

D*mn, some rare news that was definitely going to make the headlines tomorrow!

Ye Xiaotian saw Zhao Shu get to his feet while fuming, anger blatantly written all over his face. Ye Xiaotian then sighed exasperatedly.

"I'm trying to save you here, kid!" he thought.

"You chicks have only been in the Inner Yard for two to three years on average and have no idea that the last one who burst out like this in front of this old man was crippled so badly that he couldn't have been more crippled.

"Do these people really think I was willingly demoted to the position of vice dean?

"Do these people really think that I was the exception and took the title of vice dean?

"Even someone with a death wish wouldn't have gone about executing it like this. Do you know that even if the Council of Elders were all assembled here, none would've dared to talk to him like you just did?"

Elder Sang was about to say something before Ye Xiaotian interjected right away, "Alright, you're all dismissed. Get out, quick!"

He was afraid that didn't get the situation contained, Elder Sang would end up getting two or three more hot-blooded young ones lying on the ground.

He then took the old man wearing a conical hat to the woods as soon as he was done taking care of the scene.

"The Council of Elders has agreed to let you, vice dean, go out and travel the world. You no longer need to take care of anything here, so why are you here now?

"Are you here to stir up trouble?"

The voices became increasingly more and more indistinguishable until they could no longer be heard.

Zhao Shu was all frustrated. He wasn't about to let the matter slide, no matter who was behind it.

"Xu Xiaoshou."

"Who did this to me?"

Yuan Tou put his spear away and recalled the order from Lan Xinzi. Then, he had an idea.

"Shu, I…"

"Who permitted you to call me by my given name!" Zhao Shu then glowered at Yuan Tou. "I don't remember being on that familiar terms with you."

Yuan Tou grinned awkwardly. "Although I only barely won because you didn't manage to pull off your last move on me, but still…"

"Shut up!"

"Alright, I'll stop talking, then." Yuan Tou spread his hands. "I guess I'll just keep the info of Xu Xiaoshou all to myself."

Zhao Shu was still fuming inside and had nowhere to vent his anger. "Stop beating around the bush!"

Zhou Tianshen had gotten all excited when he heard the name "Xu Xiaoshou" called.

He couldn't have asked for a better road sign! That dude had actually been able to get himself a slot into the Tianxuan Gate despite still being in the Outer Yard. Boy, he really was something!

However, he noticed right away that something was off when he saw the reactions of those around him.

What Elder Sang said had almost made everyone present in the hall Xu Xiaoshou's enemy, and he knew that things were taking a turn for the worse.

He then looked at Zhao Shu, knowing that the man would definitely not let the matter slide after having his slot snatched.

He wasn't all that bright to begin with, yet he could still definitely tell that the man would most likely try to take revenge against Xu Xiaoshou.

"Can't do," he thought. "I have to warn him!"

Zhou Tianshen then casually walked past Yuan Tou and Zhao Shu and managed to hear Yuan Tou egging Zhou Shu on.

"If Xu Xiaoshou were to die three days after the Tianxuan Gate is opened, the slot would be back in your hands again, wouldn't it?"

Zhou Tianshen ran right away.

"Xu Xiaoshou, someone's here to kill you!" he thought.

"I can't deal with these two as I am now, but you definitely won't kick the bucket, because I, Zhou Tianshen, will make sure you're prepared."

He dashed as quickly as he could…

All the way to the Outer Yard.

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Chapter 113: Life-Devouring Wood Physique

While heading back to her own new place, Mu Zixi silently watched as Zhou Tianshen ran for the Outer Yard.

Her only impression of Xu Xiaoshou…

Was hateful. He stunk!

"Hmph, whatever," she thought. "None of my business."

Her pigtails danced about as she hopped her way out of the group. The little girl, who was wearing a pale green dress, looked like a fairy, and she mouthed a song as she took out a pill and bit and chewed it like it was some kind of candy.

A thick fragrance emanated from her mouth and nose, which was inevitable, as none could actually perfectly absorb the power of the pills.

The fauna swayed in her direction, looking like they wanted to touch that mystical power they could only dream of.

"That's a Life Generating Pill indeed." A sigh was heard all of a sudden.

"Who goes there!" Mu Zixi kept her eyes peeled and dusted her hands. Dust was kicking up all around her. All the surrounding fauna was turned to her eyes and ears, allowing her to immediately sense everything in her surroundings.

She then turned to the side.

An old guy and a young guy…

Ptuih, two old guys!

"Dean, vice dean?" She suppressed the urge to make a move, her eyes full of curiosity. "It's getting late. Can I be of service in any way?"

Elder Sang lifted his hat, letting the moon shine on the amicable smile on his face. "What kind of spiritual physique are you?"

Mu Zixi peered further around the fauna, a puzzled look on her face. "What do you mean?"

Elder Sang then appeared right before her and took her wrist. She tried to resist, yet quickly found herself unable to shake free.

"Huh?

"This is weird. When did you become so average? You didn't feel like this at the library."

Elder Sang thought back to when he found her stealing books in the library and she'd been so shocked by his appearance that she'd passed out. Back then, there'd been an extremely massive life force inside her.

However, that wasn't the terrifying thing here. What was more terrifying was how her wood elemental trait had allowed her to consume that lifeforce, allowing her to evolve further.

Throughout all the decades he'd lived, that was the first time he'd met with someone with a spiritual physique.

He'd let her be back then because he'd been worried about Xu Xiaoshou.

However, despite all the information he'd read afterward, he'd been unable to find any information regarding such a physique.

Yet, if a spiritual physique of any kind could keep evolving on its own, then, theoretically speaking, with the right conditions met such a physique would completely possess the potential to become a sacred physique.

Mu Zixi's spiritual physique needed to consume lifeforce, which was why she was munching on a Life Generating Pill.

If her lifeforce wasn't kept at an adequately high level, her wood elemental powers would then gradually engage in autophagy, which would eventually lead to her powers' demise.

"You just consumed a Life Generating Pill, so your body should've seen an exponential spike in your lifeforce, but you ended up suppressing that lifeforce in you instead because you were so tense…

"I'm right, am I not?" Elder Sang chuckled. The massive bags under his eyes made him look frightening under the moonlight. Seeing that Mu Zixi still looked confused, he slowly shook his head. "There's no need to lie to me, because your goal can never be reached."

"I have no idea what physique I actually am, but I know that if I were to not eat this thing, I'd die." Mu Zixi became rather panicked. "If it's lifeforce you're looking for, you can look elsewhere instead!"

"There's a guy whose lifeforce is over 100 times stronger than mine!" she thought.

But she kept this last sentence to herself.

"Oh? You mean Xu Xiaoshou?" Elder Sang said, looking as if he knew everything there was to know.

Mu Zixi was completely flustered. She didn't know what else to do.

"Life-devouring Wood Physique?" Ye Xiaotian later appeared, frowning as he pondered, "Such a physique is rare, and I vaguely remember that there is one such name."

Mu Zixi took hold of her pigtails and backed away several steps. "What are you two up to? I'm not just going to take it lying down."

Ye Xiaotian was stunned and realized that the old fart by his side was actually emanating quite a bit of pressure.

The conversation should've been a casual one, but the presence of the old man was giving it a different feel.

"No need to worry. You're a disciple of the spirit palace, which means you're a junior of ours. No need to overthink things." Ye Xiaotian, who was hovering in the air, patted her head to comfort her.

Elder Sang was about to say something when Ye Xiaotian shot him a look, signaling that he would do the talking.

"So, here's the deal. We have a massive opportunity here for you, but it might result in death. Are you willing to take it?"

Mu Zixi instinctually shook her head, yet she soon stopped herself and pondered this.

"What opportunity?"

Ye Xiaotian shook his head and said nothing.

There was no way he would just blurt it out like that. He'd seen that the juniors needed a bit of challenge, after all.

If one didn't have the courage to face death, then one need not even think of embarking on the true path of spiritual cultivation and go out on one's own adventure out of the spirit palace.

The Inner Yard itself would be enough to kill a person, after all.

Elder Sang frantically rubbed his hands together, figuring that Ye Xiaotian had too much time on his hands because the latter kept wanting to plan everything out in detail.

"Do you think that's how everything in the world works, huh?" he thought.

"If it were me, I'd have gotten it done already!

"Plant the seed first, then give her the story. The opportunity is here for you, and it's up to you to take it or not.

"There're so many geniuses out there. You think we have time to wait for every one of them like that?

"D*mn it, the Tiansang Spirit Palace really is snuffing out the youngsters' road to supremacy. Idleness breeds complacency and death indeed. Only Xiao Qixiu will still be of any use."

Mu Zixi didn't reply right away, and looked at Ye Xiaotian. "Could you give me some time to think about it?"

Elder Sang was just about to say something when Ye Xiaotian immediately interjected,

"You have one day to think about it."

Huff!

Xu Xiaoshou breathed a sigh of relief after walking out of Rao Yinyin's place.

With Su Qianqian standing between them, both of them had mostly just vented their frustrations and didn't end up actually fighting.

When the time came, Su Qianqian had taken Rao Yinyin outside, and he'd left, not daring to stand around for long.

"Well, although that Yinyin witch did say she'd give me the entire mountain if I could get just one Sovereign Pill for her.

"But, the pill…

"Heh, I don't even know if I could actually get one," Xu Xiaoshou sighed.

The mountain back there was huge, and there were many vacant places to be found.

However, Xu Xiaoshou had later learned from Su Qianqian that the entire place had basically been taken up Rao Yinyin alone, as the others were either incapable of finding their way there or wouldn't dare to show up.

That was because all of them would basically be blasted out of the place as soon as they reached there.

Su Qianqian had then learned that her Brother Xiaoshou was about to find a place in the Inner Yard and was naturally so overjoyed that she wouldn't just let him go.

As such, Xu Xiaoshou had been forced to stay around instead.

He'd picked a place that was closer to Su Qianqian's place, which was quite a ways away from Rao Yinyin's.

He came to his new place and opened the door with the token in his hand.

The place was indeed vacant. With the exception of two huge houses, there was hardly anything else—even weeds—to be found around.

"Well, this does look like a house with no one staying in it," he thought.

Quite the opposite, Rao Yinyin's place had looked like a sea of red flowers when he'd entered, immediately looking out of place. How could he have been so stupid to just head inside like that?

D*mn it.

There was the main house and the guest house, as well as a small hill and a pond. He was left with the rest of the huge section of the field to mold to his liking.

He had no time to do so at the moment. He entered the main house, found an array, and put the plaque up before finally considering himself as settled down.

Crack.

He immediately slumped onto the bed. There was no mattress or blankets to be had, only a huge piece of wooden board.

He was utterly exhausted and slowly closed his eyes, figuring to get a good night's sleep.

He abruptly opened his eyes before shaking his head and closing his eyes again.

The scene played again.

"Sh*!

"Looks like I won't be getting any sleep tonight…"

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Chapter 114: Pills, Take It or Leave It

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The moon was hanging high in the sky.

The weather seemed to be getting cooler. The wind was blowing through the woods, and the moonlight looked cold.

Few would choose to lock their doors and head to bed early on such an idyllic night like tonight, where there was wind but no rain. Most would step out into their compounds to admire the view.

A black and a white figure flew to the mountains behind the council hall, looking like they were in a hurry.

"Are you sure Xu Xiaoshou really trespassed into the Inner Yard?" Zhao Shu still couldn't quite believe what Yuan Tou had told him. He zipped past a few leaves on the ground, and a slight layer of ice formed on the ones his feet touched.

Yuan Tou's sleeves were billowing in the air as the winds blew. He glanced at Zhao Shu and added, "Even if he didn't trespass inside, the point is that he's most probably inside the Inner Yard right now. My intel can't possibly be wrong.

"Even if he was summoned to the Inner Yard in secret, his presence has yet to be announced, and both you and I didn't know about it. As such, that counts as trespassing.

"Members of the 33 acted on their own accord and killed the wrong guy… this is the only chance you'll get in the next three days. Are you telling me you're going to let this opportunity pass you by?"

Yuan Tou then chuckled dismissively. "Do you really think he's going to head outside the spirit palace just so you can kill him, eh?"

Zhao Shu was silent as he leapt about in the woods without slowing down for one bit. "Why are you telling me all this? Is there something between you and Xu Xiaoshou?"

"There's nothing between him and I… Do you really think I'd have told you all this if that was the case?" Yuan Tou paused and recalled the message from Lan Xinzi. He then sighed and added, "But I'm not going to kill him."

"You're using me!"

"Indeed." Yuan Tou, surprisingly, didn't deny it. "If I were to do it, he would suffer grave injuries and be sent to the Tribunal at most, and his slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate would still remain, and you… would still stand no chance."

Zhao Shu clenched his fists. He knew that his once-in-a-lifetime chance was at stake. The Tianxuan Gate was something that he'd waited three years to get a shot at, and he couldn't afford to miss the opportunity again.

But then again, even if the excuse for it was righteous, he'd still be killing someone in the Inner Yard…

"Are you sure Xu Xiaoshou has no one backing him?"

"He has none."

"You know that for sure?"

"I know indeed."

Just to put Zhao Shu at ease, Yuan Tou then added, "Don't you think if he did have someone backing him he would've gotten into the Inner Yard after becoming champion instead of still being stuck in the Outer Yard?"

Zhao Shu stopped moving all of a sudden. He focused his killing intent, and the ice beneath his feet spread all over the canopy of the tree he was standing on.

Yuan Tou stopped and doubled back, slightly flustered as to why Zhao Shu had stopped all of a sudden.

"Hey, I thought we had a deal," he thought. "Are you really going to keep your hands to yourself and let me do it? This is the perfect opportunity for you right there, man…"

"Alright, the most I could do is get you someone to lighten your sentence." Yuan Tou tried harder to sound a little bit more sincere.

Zhao Shu ignored what Yuan Tou said and fished out a drawing, turning his gaze to somewhere down below where, not far away, a tall, lanky young man was curiously looking about.

"Is that him?"

Yuan Tou then followed Zhao Shu's line of sight and was rather baffled by what he saw.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Why is he here?"

Xu Xiaoshou had a serious case of insomnia.

He'd taken a cold bath and had still been unable to fall asleep.

He figured that his biological hardwire had gone haywire after burning the midnight oil too many times. While he did look rather exhausted from the outside, he was all vigorous and ready to roll as soon as he closed his eyes.

Yeah, that must be it.

He'd picked his own place and was at considerable ease. As such, he'd gone outside to take a stroll, taking in the scenes around him while plotting out his escape route, figuring that it might come in handy some time in the future.

"There are always people out there wanting to kill me," he thought.

A figure wearing white clothes dropped before him, emanating intense killing intent.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. "Sh, they're here already?

"It's not raining right now, and this place isn't some place like the woods out there in the Outer Yard where no one passes by it. I actually saw several Inner Yard disciples along the way!

"Someone actually dared to come here to do it?"

"So you're Xu Xiaoshou?" Zhao Shu asked icily.

"I'm not."

Doubted, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou innocently blinked his eyes. "My name is Wen Ming, and I'm supposed to be meeting two friends of mine around here…" He then bowed. "Well met, brother."

It was a very well-done ruse. Not only did he deny that he was the person the icy man was seeking, but he even mentioned that his friends were about to show up as a way to deter said icy man. And, to finish it up, he even added the bit of pleasantry in the end.

It would've made the other man look unreasonable if he'd made a move right then and there.

Zhao Shu was momentarily speechless.

If it wasn't for the fact that he had a drawing of the kid and that Yuan Tou was sending him messages telepathically, he would've actually bought what the kid said.

"Shut him up and kill him with a single hit. You won't have many chances after this." Zhao Shu then heard yet another voice say, "The longer you drag this out, the greater the chance for things to go wrong."

If Zhao Shu had yet to see the target, he might have hesitated for a while more, yet he seldom hesitated in anything that he made up his mind to do.

Xu Xiaoshou was about to walk, when he found a layer of ice beneath his feet, which completely glued his feet to the ground.

Ice type?

Zhao Qingteng's powers?

His pupils contracted. He very well remembered that "Formless Great Cold" move from the match. That move had inspired and led to the development of his "All Things are Swords" move.

"You…"

This place wasn't his compound, and there was no barrier to protect him. He could still call for help, yet, as soon as he opened his mouth, his face froze and the ice crackled.

Bone-chilling cold seeped into his body in an instant and began to spread all over him, freezing him inside-out. That other man's powers were far greater than Zhao Qingteng's.

The man hadn't even touched him yet, and no snow was falling. It seemed like the man could actually freeze someone to death with just one look.

Attacked, Passive Points 1.

Attacked, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was inwardly panicking. He was most afraid of these types of people, who got to fighting right away without bothering to say much, as it meant he had chance of duping them.

An ice sculpture was silently finished in mere moments.

Zhao Shu was feeling rather doubtful. This man before him seemed a lot weaker than what Yuan Tou had described.

But then again, this guy was only at Spiritual Cultivation Level nine. How could he stand a chance against one of the Inner Yard Thirty-three?

He took out a short sword and cautiously looked up, not getting near the ice sculpture. He then threw the blade out.

The sword shot out like an arrow and hit the ice.

Clang!

The sword didn't manage to penetrate the ice as he'd expected. A clang was heard, and the short sword was sent flying by a massive force, resulting in the sword shooting back at him.

Zhao Shu lowered his head to evade it. He saw that the ice sculpture seemed to have kicked up massive ripples from the move, which then exploded and sent shards of ice flying everywhere.

"What's going on?" he thought. "My 'Ice-caster' shouldn't have reacted like that. How did he manage to break the ice?" Zhao Shu was shocked.

That spiritual technique at the peak of Innate Level could be immediately cast over thin air without the need for seals or close-contact with its target. He could hit everything within sight, and there was no way for someone to avoid it.

He wondered how was it possible for his technique to be pulverized with just a throw of the sword.

Xu Xiaoshou was burning in roaring Infernal Heavenly Flames. He dispelled the bone-chilling cold completely, enabling him to regain control of his body.

"This is something," he thought.

"This really is something.

"It took only an instant for that guy to freeze me over. D*mn it, I shouldn't have bowed to him in the first place.

"And man, isn't that spiritual technique a little too d*mn terrifying? If it hadn't been for the short sword shaking the ice, which then shook me, and me shaking the ice which then shook the blade, he would have gained complete control over me!"

"You're doing this in the Inner Yard?" Xu Xiaoshou asked coldly.

Zhao Shu stuck two fingers out, and ice patterns appeared beneath his feet. Cold light spread out from the ground and came into being in their surroundings, conjuring a small "Ice Crystal Barrier," which enveloped the two of them.

"You won't be making any noise," Zhao Shu said, his face deadpan.

"Why are you trying to kill me?" Xu Xiaoshou recalled Lan Xinzi. So, she'd sent someone instead of doing it herself. Was she trying to wash her hands clean of this, then?

Zhao Shu shook his head and said nothing.

"How much did she offer you? Whatever the price, I'll pay 10 times the amount."

Zhao Shu was puzzled about the mention of money. He was only doing it for a slot into the Tianxuan Gate, after all.

"100 times!"

"I have a lot of Origin Court Pills. I could give you 10 of them."

"20."

Zhao Shu's expression had turned entirely glum, and the corners of his eye kept twitching.

"I'm here to take your life!" he thought. "What do you think this is? An audition or something?"

"You're going too far." Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath.

"30 pills. Take it or leave it."

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Chapter 115: Let the Bullets Fly

One could only do so much with what one was given.

Xu Xiaoshou felt that he'd met his match. Regardless of how good he was at duping his opponents with words, there was only so much he could do to one who outright refused to talk.

His Sense had a hard time penetrating through the outside of the icy cage that enveloped the two of them, and he figured that the barrier could really isolate any sound made within.

"You are cautious. No wonder you dare to make a move in the Inner Yard."

Xu Xiaoshou was getting ready to strike. After going through Feng Kong and Shao Yi's assassination attempts, he'd erased all fear of the unknown when facing off against those from the Inner Yard, as he'd realized that those people might not actually be as powerful as he thought.

But, they were still definitely anything but ordinary.

Zhao Shu lifted his hand and twirled his fingers about, but he still didn't attack yet.

Xu Xiaoshou thought of employing attrition warfare with Zhao Shu, as the longer he dragged the fight out, the greater his odds of winning, but then he recalled Zhao Qingteng's snowing technique.

"Is this guy lowering the temperature within the barrier?" he thought.

"He's creating his own terrain!"

Xu Xiaoshou shuddered as he came to realize what the other man was doing.

The other man had gone to establish control as soon as he'd made his move, and, after failing, he was still completely at ease and hadn't gotten more extreme with his moves. That combat sense alone made him a lot stronger than most.

"Can't afford to wait."

Xu Xiaoshou narrowed his eyes and shot forward. With his passive skills at work, he threw a good old punch at the other man, without any unnecessary flare.

Zhao Shu actually didn't bother evading his punch, and looked like he was going to take the hit from where he was.

"Works for me, I guess."

Boom!

Xu Xiaoshou's punch landed squarely on Zhao Shu's chest, causing ice shards to explode.

He should have immediately been sent flying, but only his head and the lower half of his body snapped back for a bit before returning to their original position.

Xu Xiaoshou's hand then got stuck.

His fist was glued to the other man's chest.

"Sh*! What the f*k is happening here?" he thought.

He then launched a palm attack with his left stand, stabbing the other man with Sharpness on his hand.

Clang!

Ice shards were sent flying again, and Zhao Shu's chest bent over backward before returning to its original position.

Not a single drop of blood could be seen dripping.

Xu Xiaoshou was completely baffled.

"Are you malt sugar or sticky cards?" He couldn't help but diss the other man. "Why are you so d*mn sticky?"

Zhao Shu flashed a small smile. "Doesn't matter if you're attacking me or not. No one can make a move while under my control."

Xu Xiaoshou was silent for a bit before retorting, "Quit explaining and just admit that you're disgusting."

Zhao Shu was speechless.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

Boom!

Xu Xiaoshou then launched a knee strike at the other man, thinking he'd caught Zhao Shu off-guard. As expected, his knee stuck.

Ice crept up him from their three points of contact, and a bone-chilling cold spread all over him yet again. He put all of his Infernal Spiritual Source to work, yet he was still unable to force the cold out of his body.

"Gosh, this is disgusting!" He'd had enough. This was the most disgusting fight he'd ever fought.

He was completely under the other man's control and was unable to do anything about it.

He wanted very badly to just launch his other leg at the man, but he knew that doing so would only render him completely stuck, and he'd be like meat on a cutting board.

"How should I go about defusing this…" he thought. His eyes flickered about him.

The corners of Zhao Shu's mouth twitched, as if this wasn't the first time he'd seen such a speechless and despairing expression on the face of his enemy.

He would develop a twisted sense of accomplishment whenever such a scene appeared.

"Can't do anything, can you? Like I said, under my control…"

Swoop!

A black sword shot out of Xu Xiaoshou's chest before Zhao Shu could finish his line, immediately piercing his chest up to the hilt.

Hmph! Zhao Shu's sentence was immediately cut short. His eyes widened, and red appeared as blood spilled from his chest.

"What the…" he thought. "Why the h*ll is a sword flying out of his chest?"

He took a closer look and found that there was a space ring in the chest area.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled gleefully. "Well, well, an active skill, I see… Even being so close, you didn't manage to react in time."

Crackle, crackle.

The black sword at his chest was immediately encased in ice, causing Xu Xiaoshou to lose control of it.

A small piece of frozen blood dropped from Zhao Shu's mouth. He pulled the sword out and threw it to the ground, freezing his wound as he shot Xu Xiaoshou a threatening look.

"I have to admit, you do have some tricks. But what good are they?

"Petty tricks that amount to nothing. You scored one with that ambush. Do you really think you can score another?"

Xu Xiaoshou grinned and said nothing. He opened his mouth, and inside was an extremely condensed fire seed. It was trembling violently and was emanating a terrifying, scorching heat.

Both of them were mere feet away from each other.

Zhao Shu was baffled.

"What the f*k is with this as*ole!?" he thought. "He can actually attack with his mouth!?"

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

There was an extremely compressed bit of energy within that was very terrifying. Zhao Shu wasn't confident that he could take the attack with his head. As such, he immediately severed all contact with Xu Xiaoshou and backed off in an instant.

Ptuih! Xu Xiaoshou sprung away and spitted without any hesitation.

The bit of flame tore a black line in the air as it shot at very high speeds. Zhao Shu only managed to somehow evade the attack after doing a backflip midair.

Yet, nonetheless, the bit of flames grazed his face, burning off quite a bit of his eyebrows, his eyelashes, and even the hair off his nose.

Arrgghhh!

He was struck by intense pain, and a huge block of ice immediately materialized on his face, managing to alleviate the pain somehow.

One shouldn't hit the face when fighting someone, and one shouldn't involve innocents while killing someone.

Such an attack had apparently infuriated him. Zhao Shu looked absolutely terrifying by the time the ice disappeared.

"Xu… Xiao… Shou!"

Called, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was already cuddling up at the very back end, almost sticking his back against the other side of the wall of the Ice Crystal Barrier. He simply lifted his chin a bit, signaling for Zhao Shu to look behind him.

"What?"

Zhao Shu scanned with his will, and his pupils immediately dilated.

Instead of immediately penetrating through his Ice Crystal Barrier, the compressed bit of flame violently exploded after flying to the end and coming into contact with the wall of the barrier.

Booom!

A heatwave swept across the place, and, despite the ice walls being three layers thick, the heat melted them in an instant.

The scorching heat washed all over Zhao Shu as it traveled in Xu Xiaoshou's direction.

All that cold that Zhao Shu had put in place in the air for a long time was swept away, replaced by that terrifying heat.

Xu Xiaoshou was sent ramming into the wall by the air pressure, and he sunk into the layers of ice.

Both of them immediately lost mobility.

"Sh*…"

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou realized why his compressed flame had alerted the enforcers and made them barricade the library back then. The explosion was indeed somewhat terrifying.

Zhao Shu, who was still in midair, scorched all over by the heat, reached out his hand as far as he could, trying his best to absolutely contain the explosion. There was no way he could carry on with the assassination if the enforcers were alerted.

The Ice Crystal Barrier was actually forcefully stabilized, preventing it from collapsing from the explosion.

Zhao Shu breathed a sigh of relief and discovered that Xu Xiaoshou had dislodged himself from the ice wall and was now squatting down.

Xu Xiaoshou aimed at his target like how one would with a gun.

A compressed fire seed appeared on the tips of his two fingers.

Zhao Shu was speechless.

"What the f*k!" he thought.

"How did you manage to move again so quickly?

"This is f*king unfair!!"

Doubted, Passive Points 1.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was in glee. This guy was too arrogant.

"Even Elder Sang got a taste of my Lesser Fireball, and you dared to look elsewhere?" he thought.

"You actually thought to maintain the icy wall of yours?

"You're about to die, dude!"

Pew!

Let the bullets fly!

Chapter 116: Drugging Style, Blade-draw!

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The second compressed flame drew a beautiful arc in the air as it fell toward Zhao Shu, who was charging at Xu Xiaoshou.

That was how things were with battles. The smallest of details could decide the outcome.

Xu Xiaoshou's physical body was more resilient than Zhao Shu's, and he was further away from the eye of the storm. As such, he was able to retaliate as soon as he regained control of his body.

That flame was like a reaper's scythe as it shot straight at Zhao Shu's face.

Zhao Shu's body had been thoroughly scorched and mangled by the last explosion. Things would get really dire if he failed to deal with the incoming one.

Zhao Shu forced himself to turn in midair and performed a seal with his hand. Then, he bloated his cheeks with air like a balloon and blew hard.

Breath of the Ice Dragon!

Fuuuuu.

A flash of cold shot forth, a blizzard following it.

The specter of an ice dragon appeared in the air, spreading sparkling bits of ice all over the place like a shockwave, causing the entire place to freeze yet again.

That speeding bit of flame stopped right then and there, unable to move any further, looking like it'd just encountered the hands of a giant.

In addition to this, the layers from the burst of sparkling ice shaved down the flame's energy and actually managed to snuff it out altogether.

"D*mn!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened with disbelief. That man had actually managed to stop his "bullet."

Nope, it was normal that he'd managed to stop it. He was anything but an idiot, after all.

The sparkling bits of ice spread like waves in the ocean. Having his back against the Ice Crystal Barrier meant that Xu Xiaoshou had nowhere to run.

He wondered if he'd be able to survive being swept by that wave.

"Recoil" didn't seem to be working as well.

All four moves of his sword techniques—webbing, sticking, reversing, and drawing—flashed through his mind.

No way. None would be able to deal with a move dishing out such massive, indiscriminate AoE damage.

Lesser Fireball…

Couldn't do. Not enough time. Too close.

In the nick of time, just when frost was starting to cover his face, Xu Xiaoshou managed to come up with an idea. He took out that smaller bathtub that Elder Sang had given him earlier and hid inside it.

Good warriors know when to charge and when to back down.

Boooooooom…

The frosty waves swept over him. He held up one hand to support the top of the bathtub and used his other hand to conjure a compressed fire seed to ward off the cold.

"Holy sh*. This is freezing!"

The cauldron, being made of conductive material, immediately transferred the cold it had taken into his body. It was an extremely frustrating situation.

While the frost couldn't hit him directly, the impact from the frost hitting the bathtub was nothing to sneer at.

This was the first time he'd ever felt pain from his passive skills.

His Recoil was making his hand shake so hard that he felt his hand start to go numb.

Worse still, he couldn't afford to just let go, as doing so would probably end up getting him pummeled underground.

Gagagagagagagaga…

The rush from taking both heat and cold, as well as repeated shocks from Recoil, caused his entire body to shake like crazy and the color of his face to constantly change.

Attacked, Passive Points 1.

Attacked, Passive Points 1.

"It's all thanks to this turtle shell that Elder Sang got me that I'm not dead.

"That's something!"

He figured that he'd guessed right. The cauldrons of the Infernal lineage…

Was indeed meant for fights.

He struggled to keep his mind clear and alert but found doing so increasingly difficult.

"That guy's still not done with his attack?" he thought. "What the h*ll are his lungs made of!?" He gritted his teeth.

The cold seeping through the palm of his hand felt like it was about to freeze his mind over. He was only holding on through sheer willpower alone.

The "Breath of the Ice Dragon" attack kept going for over a dozen breaths and showed no signs of stopping. It felt like his entire body was turning into an ice sculpture. Only the part of his hand that conjured the fire seed still had a fleshy color to it.

Things were so dire that even his Eternal Vitality had been completely suppressed and was only able to regenerate at a very slow rate.

Worse still, this was just indirect cold.

"I'm so done."

He felt as if he was going to pass out soon, and struggled to keep himself awake.

Zhao Shu saw that half of his icy barrier had been filled by the cold ice, as he was no longer able to sense Xu Xiaoshou's vital signs or presence.

No one could survive the onslaught of a spiritual technique nearing Master Level, even if the one taking it had an Innate Level Physique!

Furthermore, in order to amplify the output, he'd even extended the period of the attack by 50 percent. Such a terrifying spiritual technique had almost drained his entire spiritual source reserve.

"There's no way Xu Xiaoshou could survive this!" he thought. "I never thought someone at mere Spiritual Cultivation Level nine would be so difficult…"

Zhao Shu finally had time to take out several pills and focused on healing the scorched flesh all over his body.

An intense pain hit him. He was dumbfounded.

That very instant, a bit of flame ignited within the ice, immediately spreading outward in all directions. Sword will shot to the heavens like an unbridled stallion, breaking the ice as it shot forth.

Flashes that resembled starlight leaked out as the surface of the ice cracked. Zhao Shu couldn't even clearly make out the sword aura before he sensed pain in his left shoulder. Half of his body was cut away, and blood sprayed into the air.

Arrggghhhhh!

He shrieked at the top of his lungs. The sudden attack made him have a mental breakdown.

"Xu Xiaoshou is still alive!?" he thought.

"How did he survive that terrifying wave of attacks!? And, if he is still alive, how is he still able to fight like that?

"Even if he is still very much capable of fighting, how is he able to pinpoint my location so accurately through all those layers of ice?"

A tinge of fear appeared in Zhao Shu's eyes. "That brat…"

Booom!

A rumble came from above him before he was able to mull it over more. After the sword aura tore through the ice, the Ice Crystal Barrier was unable to hold any longer, and cracks spread everywhere before the entire construction exploded.

Swooop!

Yuan Tou, who was anxiously waiting outside, looked on with astonishment as the barrier beneath him shattered and a white beam from a sword shot out.

He was the only one who could clearly see the attack, not because he was all that powerful, but because he was very close to the battlefield.

A shrill, deafening shriek was heard shortly afterwards.

"How is this possible!"

That voice was none other than Zhao Shu's.

"He's one of the Inner Yard 33 and he's actually shrieking from pain fighting someone at mere Spiritual Cultivation Level nine from the Outer Yard?" he thought to himself.

Yuan Tou's eyes widened.

With him keeping watch and with the Icy Crystal Barrier covering the battlefield, their battle hadn't attracted any kind of attention. However, after that deafening shriek, that wouldn't stay the case for long.

What was even more terrifying was how the outcome of the battle had gone completely south.

"What the…"

Xiao Qixiu was probably the only one throughout the entire Tiansang Spirit Palace out of the many who had seen Xu Xiaoshou's battles who'd realized something.

Despite looking like a fool and anything but serious, the kid could seize any opening during a battle, which he would then take full advantage of to win.

Zhao Shu would never know that Xu Xiaoshou had let his own lifeforce be snuffed down to the very last bit without resisting while locking onto Zhao Shu with his Sense the whole time.

He'd done all that just so when Zhao Shu finally lowered his guard, he could immediately suck the fire seed and 10 Spiritual Cultivation Pills, dispel the cold and regain control of his body at the same time, and suppress the rush through intense pain just so he could pull off that one move.

Drugging Style, Blade-draw!

That move had once severed an arm off of Feng Kong back in their match at the Windcloud Competition. At this moment, the move had worked yet again to break through the ice and slice through the air straight at Zhao Shu, slicing off his arm.

Other than Mo Mo, who'd been well-guarded back then, no one else had been able to react in time to his move's incredible speed.

He was the kind of guy who was hard on himself yet harder on his enemies.

He'd suppressed all the pain in his body just to replicate that move he'd pulled off back then, only to find that he was now unable to move his arm.

He looked down and saw that his legs were glued to the ground by the hard ice surrounding him.

The surrounding ice had only been cut open and not melted. Furthermore, it looked like they had a will of their own, as they immediately crept over and immobilized Xu Xiaoshou where he was standing.

"Sh*!

"That control trick again?"

He looked up and saw a ferocious-looking man covered in blood and forcefully freezing half of his body as he performed seals with one hand.

"Go*damnit! Don't you know when to give up?"

Xu Xiaoshou had initially been in high spirits, but as soon as he saw this scene, his face turned ashen.

Report chapter

Chapter 117: I'm Actually That Powerful?

Meanwhile, in some unknown remote woods within the Inner Yard…

"Honey, calm down, okay?"

"I really, really didn't mean to stand you up. There really was a mission back at noon… Oh right. I was out to chase the enemy!"

"N-No, he got away…"

Zhao Xidong awkwardly rubbed his nose awkwardly, cursing that d*mned Xu Xiaoshou for getting him into trouble. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't have been such a big commotion.

He then hugged the pretty woman in front of him.

"See, I'm making amends now. Just look at how beautiful the night is. It's so much better to come out on a date at night than in the afternoon.

"I really, really didn't go looking for another woman. You're the only one in my heart.

"Stop being angry, pretty please?"

He looked at the girl, and his affectionate eyes on that handsome face of his reflected a girl whose anger was slowing dissipating.

"Alright, I swear!"

She pressed a finger to his lips and said in a flirty voice, "Don't!"

Zhao Xidong shook his head, lowered her finger, and looked at her affectionately. "But I want to—"

There was no way he could let this chance pass.

"Hmm, hmm!" The girl propped her chin on her fist, sounding embarrassing and seemingly knowing what he was going to say.

His eyes still on the girl, Zhao Xidong held up three fingers, put on an affectionate expression, and said affectionately, "I, Zhao Xidong, hereby swear that I shall only love my honey Mimi here for the rest of my life. If I be lying, then let me be struck by lightning!"

Boom!

A rumbling was heard in midair, followed by a flash.

Zhao Xidong was baffled.

"This… you…" The girl pointed at him in disbelief. She cradled her hand by her chest as she slowly backed away before covering her face and running.

"Honey, come back! That wasn't lightning. That was sword aura!" Zhao Xidong shouted at the top of his lungs.

Yet the girl ran and didn't look back.

"That was Innate Sword Will!"

Zhao Xidong felt like his heart was about to shatter. He pointed at the sky and shouted, "Su Qianqian, this is the sixth! You shall die a horrible death for getting in the way of my love!"

He then headed out as soon as he finished this, but instead of chasing after the girl, he headed toward the source of that sword aura.

The girl ran for a bit in the woods not far away. Despite having slowed down, there was still no one chasing after her. She seemed to realize something.

"At the end of the day, it's me all alone again…"

The night sky was filled with stars that night, and many couples and minor nobles were going about their business in the Inner Yard.

Xu Xiaoshou's move shot across the night sky, attracting everyone's attention and causing quite a commotion.

There seemed to be people gathering around.

Yuan Tou's eyes darted about. He was feeling rather nervous.

Seeing that the state of affairs wasn't in his favor, he'd planned on interfering and ending Xu Xiaoshou himself. However, after seeing Zhao Shu, who'd just lost an arm, he quickly suppressed the urge and performed a seal.

The seal felt rather familiar…

"The 'Icy Calamity'!?" He was utterly shocked.

That was among the handful of spiritual techniques that had accidentally killed someone in the tournaments to pick the top 33.

Yuan Tou had no idea what had happened within the icy barrier before, but he was rather awed seeing that Zhao Shu had gotten cornered by Xu Xiaoshou.

"Given time, this kid could really become someone. Such a pity…"

Crackle, crackle.

Xu Xiaoshou felt overwhelming disgust again.

"This dude really is as sticky as all h*ll," he thought. "I can't believe how he plays ice-type powers in such a disgusting manner. My moves are all sealed now."

Towering blocks of ice were all around him. As the seal was quickly performed, the blocks became a spherical cage of ice about the height of a person, surrounding Xu Xiaoshou.

Zhao Shu's expression was sinister. "Icy Calamity!" he shouted in a subdued tone.

The cage gradually rose into the air, suspending Xu Xiaoshou in midair, and tens of very pointy ice spears were conjured outside it.

Seeing this, Xu Xiaoshou panicked. The points of the spears were all directed at him. He'd have to be a moron not to know what was going to happen next.

"Let me out!"

That fire seed he'd boldly swallowed so as to cause him pain was now his life-saving straw. The thing was hovering over his energy reserve, warding off the cold outside somewhat.

However, although it was sufficient enough to ward off the cold, it did nothing to stop the frost from slowing his movements.

Despite the seed being something that he'd conjured, if it were to explode by accident, it would still definitely kill him.

"No time. That guy's control powers are just too d*mn disgusting!"

He then clenched his fist and clad himself all over with Sharpness.

"Penetrate!" Zhao Shu shouted. He shot all 36 icy spears, which crisscrossed each other as they poked holes all over Xu Xiaoshou in an instant.

Pffftttttttt…

Yuan Tou felt his skin crawl as he watched the battle and saw blood spray into the air.

It was that very technique that had skewered the target to death during the tournaments to select the 33.

This entire process had happened so quickly that the unlucky target had been unable to even admit defeat, as they were instantly killed.

There was already a crowd gathering around. All of them, who'd initially thought that the fight was but a minor scuffle, were utterly shocked when they saw what just happened.

"Oh sh, wh-wh-whaaa… hey, people, get over here! Something dope just happened!"

"Gosh, going all out indeed. This is really above Su Qianqian's breaking Black Shark with a single slash back in the morning. This fight is a serious one, eh? That guy's got guts."

"Is that one-armed guy Zhao Shu? Goodness, who did he p*ss off to get beaten up like that?"

"Who did he p*ss off? Take a good look, dork. That's 'Icy Calamity.' That dude in the cage is probably already dead and he's just venting his anger on the poor dude."

"Look away, Feifei. A girl shouldn't watch something like this."

"What? No way! This is dope! I'd be f*kin' missing out not watching!"

"Huh??"

"No, umm… I'm saying that I'd be missing out if I didn't watch—"

Attacked, Passive Points 108.

Attacked, Passive Points 108.

Worried, Passive Points 14.

Mourned, Passive Points 6.

Even though he looked like he'd been thoroughly skewered, the ice spears had dealt him far less damage than that done by the "ice dragon spit" he'd just endured.

His Innate Level Physique had afforded him his first layer of defense, reducing over half of the damage from the impact of the spears.

Sharpness had served as his second layer of defense, coating him with a layer of iron skin.

Recoil had served as his third layer of defense, preventing all of the ice spears from immediately skewering him and enabling him to dodge fate and not be killed in one single move.

Eternal Vitality was his fourth layer of defense. It allowed him to continuously recuperate from his injuries.

"I'm actually that powerful?"

Xu Xiaoshou realized that while the bone-chilling cold before had indeed dealt considerable damage to him, those seemingly powerful physical attacks were only able to do little more than scratches to him.

Such attacks were utterly useless against him.

His fifth layer of defense—"High Spirits"—silently worked to regenerate over half of his spiritual source. He then conjured two more compressed fire seeds and melted the ice shaft that had shackled his arm.

He held his crotch and uttered dismissively, "That's all you got?"

Zhao Shu was shaking all over by this point and was unable to do anything else.

He had used up all of his spiritual source.

That Breath of the Ice Dragon, which should've won him the fight, had almost thoroughly drained him. Him being able to cast Icy Calamity after that was in itself a considerable feat.

Yet, his most powerful killing technique had proved utterly useless, and he wondered what was going on.

Was Xu Xiaoshou really someone just with Innate Level Physique?

"Yuan Tou, you've set me up!" he thought.

The power of the ice spears gradually weakened to where they no longer looked like they'd even be able to pierce his skin. Xu Xiaoshou then regained his mobility.

Crackle, crackle.

He stretched his neck a bit, and a beastly look appeared in his eyes. Then, he said in a subdued tone, "My turn!"

Everyone was shocked to see him whip out a massive bathtub taller than a person, which he then set onto the icy cage.

Boom!

Shards of ice flew everywhere with just one strike.

Xu Xiaoshou shot out of his cage.

Zhao Shu gulped frantically, sensing that danger was looming over him. He subconsciously looked at Yuan Tou. While he didn't mouth it, his message was obvious—save me!

Swoop!

Xu Xiaoshou didn't give anyone any time to react, and immediately threw the tub. Zhao Shu immediately turned his head after that and popped a pill into his mouth, wanting to evade it.

Swooop!

A blast of sword aura shot from Zhao Shu's body. It only lasted for an instant, yet it served to hold him in place.

He'd stolen that move from the masked guy, who'd used it to keep the nine elders under control. He'd developed a good understanding of the "people are swords" part of "All Things are Swords," so much so that he'd even used it on Mu Zixi, Mo Mo, and some other people, needing only an extra kick to complete his understanding.

That night, the masked person had enabled him to do just that.

The cauldron hit Zhao Shu and sent him flying. The crowd was astonished and then noted that underneath that tub, there was already a black sword that was traveling backward at high speed.

The sword pierced through Zhao Shu and brought him before Xu Xiaoshou.

Yuan Tou, who'd been watching the fight the whole time, watched this with contracted pupils, and was finally unable to just sit around.

"Stop it!"

"Stop it!"

The second "stop it" came from afar, and from the sound of it, someone was making their way over to them at fast speeds.

Zhao Shu was panicking. He'd already been so badly beaten that he couldn't even care about the pain from the black sword punching through his body. He then yelled in horror, "No killing in the Inner Yard!"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled.

That was his reply, being completely oblivious to the voices from outside the battlefield.

He lifted his hand into the air, and two fire seeds moved to his fingertips, and he carefully mobilized the other one out of his energy reserves.

He was about to burst forth with the most powerful technique in his arsenal at the moment—the Seeds on All Three Fingers.

He shifted to the side to avoid being pierced by Hiding Pain, then immediately made his move. He dispersed all of Sharpness on his right hand and pressed hard on Zhao Shu's chest.

Swooop!

From inertia, the black sword punched through Zhao Shu's abdomen, nailing him to the ground.

Boom!

Under the deliberate control of Xu Xiaoshou, all three fire seeds were embedded into Zhao Shu's chest. Then, with the force from Recoil, he pushed and sent the man flying into the air.

Yuan Tou halted in his tracks on his way to save the man. He was completely shocked, unable to believe that Xu Xiaoshou actually dared to kill someone when there was already an enforcer coming.

Zhao Xidong, still being far away, was unable to actually do anything. He was unable to clearly see the face of the killer and only saw two people covered in blood.

The spectators looked up at the sky, and found Zhao Shu looking increasingly panicked.

Xu Xiaoshou lowered his head and took a deep breath, feeling extremely restless deep down.

He was very much against killing people.

Yet tonight…

He was gonna light up fireworks to mourn the guy who'd tried to kill him!

Boooom!

A deafening explosion was heard in the air, sounding as if even the air itself had been snuffed out.

At that moment, even the Outer Yard disciples who were far away looked up at the night sky and saw an explosion that was every bit comparable to that which had appeared earlier in the afternoon.

Zhou Tianshen stood in a pockmarked compound. He'd been waiting for Xu Xiaoshou for a very long time, as he was planning to tell him as soon as he returned that someone was trying to kill him.

The rumbling in the air caught the attention of that tall, stout man. He held his blade as he looked up and mumbled, "Yet another blast went off. Seems like the third one now…

"Someone is definitely celebrating something in the spirit palace today."

Back in the battlefield in the Inner Yard.

Xu Xiaoshou sorted out his inner turmoil and then looked at his blood-covered body. He frowned, then glanced at Yuan Tou, who was standing nearby.

He had no idea who the other man was, but he knew that the man was definitely of the same gang with the guy he'd turned into "fireworks."

While the man had kept himself well-hidden far away, Xu Xiaoshou's Sense was omnidirectional and, as such, had recorded that man's every move in his mind.

It was thanks to that man keeping watch the whole time that he hadn't chosen to run at the very start of the fight.

'High Spirit" had regenerated quite a bit of his Infernal Spiritual Source as well.

He stared at Yuan Tou and then shot him a condescending look while sounding mysterious and eerie.

"You wanna kill me? You can try."

Report chapter

Chapter 118: He Was the Killer, Not Me!

"Xu… Xu Xiaoshou?"

Zhao Xidong arrived at the scene of the murder and was flabbergasted when he saw the culprit.

When he saw the burst of Innate sword aura while flirting in the woods, he'd initially thought that it was Su Qianqian summoning him with sword aura. He totally didn't expect to find the one responsible to be Xu Xiaoshou instead.

He was shaking all over with fury.

"This guy cost me my date with Mimi in the afternoon. If things had gone how they were supposed to, I should've been able to…" His thoughts trailed off.

"It's bad enough that the kid screwed up my stuff. But why is it that every time something bad happens in the spirit palace, this guy is always present?

"Once last night, once in the afternoon, and one more time right now…

"Can't you stop stirring up trouble for just one day!?"

The crowd around was apparently getting increasingly larger. The fireworks in the night sky had attracted a lot of attention and caused everyone to become extremely frightened.

Zhao Xidong's call almost made everyone's jaw drop to the ground.

"Xu Xiaoshou? He's Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Isn't that guy a disciple of the Outer Yard? Did he come here all the way to the Inner Yard… to kill someone?"

"Boy, he really is something indeed!"

"I'd like to see what's going to happen to him next, hehe…"

If there was a real-time rank of famous people in the Tiansang Spirit Palace, then Xu Xiaoshou would definitely be in top place, and the reason for this was simple—there were a lot of rumors about his strange exploits.

He was the champion who'd been denied entry into the Inner Yard, was suspected of being the focus of that barricade plan for the spirit palace back then, and was also suspected to be the man backing Su Qianqian, and so on.

Everyone looked at the man covered in blood on the battlefield and gulped, as there was yet another line to be added to that list.

"If I'm not mistaken, those fireworks up in the sky were Zhao Shu, right?"

"He was one of the newly appointed Inner Yard Thirty-three, man…"

This was the very first time someone had strong doubts as to if he was fit to become one of the ordinary disciples of the Inner Yard.

Xu Xiaoshou was just someone at Spiritual Cultivation Level nine and a disciple of the Outer Yard, after all.

"Oh gosh, this world is going crazy. I must be dreaming here!"

Whack!

Doubted, Passive Points 22.

"D*mn, what are you hitting me for?"

"Does it hurt? Doesn't appear to be a dream, then…"

"The h*ll??"

Respected, Passive Points 33.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the Passive Points and found that the numbers had already shot over 2000 from just one fight.

The one thing that had contributed the most Passive Points was the high frequency at which the ice spear had attacked him, hardly doing any damage, as he'd earned up to 100 points from that every second.

Due to the workings of his passive skills, his condition had recovered by more than half. Even if he were to keep fighting, he was confident he'd still be able to pull through.

But then again, it soon became clear that it would be impossible to do so, as more and more enforcers were already starting to gather around.

Xu Xiaoshou turned his gaze away from Yuan Tou and looked at Zhao Xidong. He immediately looked rather frustrated.

"Lord judge, you have to help me in this! They're trying to kill me!" Xu Xiaoshou then pointed at Yuan Tou.

Everyone was speechless.

Hold on. Who the h*ell just killed someone here?

The bad guy was now playing the victim?

Doubted, Passive Points 52.

Zhao Xidong was in no mood for joking. Taking lives outside of the arena was a grave offense.

"Say no more. Come with us to the Spiritual Law Division. The Tribunal is waiting for you."

Yuan Tou's face immediately lit up with glee. Xu Xiaoshou would definitely be dead once he got to the Tribunal. Could his mission be considered completed?

But then again, Lan Xinzi had ordered him to take Xu Xiaoshou's head within a day…

He shook his head. Given the powers of that man, there was no way the mission could be accomplished in one day. Giving him a month to prepare would've been more reasonable.

Xu Xiaoshou never thought that Zhao Xidong would become so cold and merciless toward him after just one afternoon without seeing each other.

He took back his snickering look and said seriously, "I was out taking a stroll because I couldn't sleep. A disciple of the Inner Yard just came up trying to kill me. What was I supposed to do? Just roll over?"

"I did shout for you all to stop," Zhao Xidong said sternly.

"No one shall ruin the might and authority of the law enforcers, even that person has a small relationship with Elder Sang," he thought.

Xu Xiaoshou then smirked and said, "You were nowhere to be found when I almost got killed, and you asked me to stop when I'd just turned the tables in my favor?

"That's cute!"

"If it'd been someone else other than me in that predicament, do you think you would've been able to see them? You only would've heard about the death of a disciple of the spirit palace the next day."

Zhao Xidong was silent. He knew very well that what Xu Xiaoshou said could probably be true.

However…

"This is standard procedure. You'll explain yourself to the elder over at the Tribunal."

"Sure." Unexpectedly, Xu Xiaoshou didn't retort back. He simply pointed at Yuan Tou. "But this guy has to come with me."

Yuan Tou was baffled. "What does this have to do with me?" he thought. "Did you see me do anything? I was only watching the fight the whole time!"

Zhao Xidong looked at Yuan Tou and frowned. He seemed to recall something. "Zhang Xinxiong of the Zhang family?"

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled, then he wore a look that seemed to say "I knew it." "Seems like they sent you here, eh?

"Well, well, first there was Feng Kong, Shao Yi, and today… Zhao Shu, was it?

"Why don't you people just take me out on your own, then? Afraid of getting caught? Or are you afraid of me, Xu Xiaoshou?"

Everyone around was silent. Some things were better left unspoken, as there were things that just couldn't see the light of day.

While matters like that would happen time and again in the Inner Yard, it would only happen in the Inner Yard.

Yet, at the moment, some of the veteran 33 were actually sending people to assassinate a disciple of the Outer Yard.

That was indeed something that couldn't see the light of day.

More importantly, the assassination attempts had actually failed.

Which was akin to saying that the Inner Yard disciples paled in comparison to one from the Outer Yard.

Yuan Tou saw how the public opinion was against him and immediately became flustered.

"This has nothing to do with any of that. This was just a personal feud. Xu Xiaoshou took the slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate from Zhao Shu, so he chose to do such a thing out of desperation, yet…"

He was unable to bring himself to finish the sentence, as no one would expect a newly appointed member of the 33 to lose to one such insect.

However, what Yuan Tou said astonished everyone around.

"A slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate?"

"Xu Xiaoshou actually got a slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate? That's why Zhao Shu decided to kill him?"

"D*mn, that really explains it… By the way, how did Xu Xiaoshou manage to get a slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate? Isn't this a little too much? There's so many in the Inner Yard who couldn't get it, so why him?"

"Heh, can you kill Zhao Shu, then?"

"Oh, shut up!"

The list of those who would enter the Tianxuan Gate had only been announced that very night. Few were actually in the know.

But now everyone knew about it.

Xu Xiaoshou was completely stunned. He'd initially thought that it was very easy for Elder Sang to get him a slot.

He'd never expected that getting one such opportunity for himself meant that someone else had to lose theirs.

"That old fart. Why didn't he tell me that?

"Hmm, it's not like him to tell me such things, though."

It took him less than a second to completely process the situation, yet he felt compelled to ask the old fart what happened, nonetheless.

There were still things that were puzzling about the whole case.

If Elder Sang were to do such things again in the future, wouldn't that make enemies for him everywhere, then?

"I still wanna live for a few more years, man!" he thought.

Seeing that Zhao Xidong was about to shift his stance, Xu Xiaoshou immediately added, "Even if Zhao Shu was only here to kill me because of the slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate, this matter still has a lot to do with this guy here." He glanced at Yuan Tou.

"The two of them were here together. One came down to kill me, and the other came to keep watch. Don't think you can fool me."

Zhao Xidong was about to say something before Xu Xiaoshou further added, "Don't bother asking. I don't have proof.

"But I didn't know that Zhao Shu was that weak back then. My first reaction after seeing that someone was trying to kill was to run.

Xu Xiaoshou then pointed at Yuan Tou. "Yet, it was him!"

"He was the one who cut off my escape route. If I'd been able to run back then, Zhao Shu wouldn't have died.

"He was the killer, not me!"

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Chapter 119: I have Urgent Business. I'll Take My Leave, Then.

Xu Xiaoshou's words stunned everyone.

You'd have to completely lack all sense to take what he said at face value.

"What's with the 'If I'd managed to run, Zhao Shu wouldn't have died', eh? Is that something that someone with any sense at all would say?" Zhao Xidong thought, feeling frustrated and exasperated.

He'd known since the group matches that the kid was anything but normal, yet the kid still managed to catch him off-guard all the time.

"Alright, cut the chatter. You two, come with me!"

Yuan Tou started to panic. "I did nothing, man!" he cried inwardly. "What, so now I, a passer-by, has to be punished too just because Xu Xiaoshou said something?"

"Why!?" he asked.

Zhao Xidong gave Yuan Tou a cold look and said icily, "Don't think for a second I didn't know what you people have been scheming. You'd better pray that I don't catch any of you in the act… You won't like what will happen to you if I do.

"By the way, Xu Xiaoshou has a point. Even if you didn't do anything, you were still the first witness to see what happened, and the Spiritual Law Division very much requires your presence."

Yuan Tou was speechless. D*mn you, Xu Xiaoshou!

But then again, he was unable to make a rebuttal to this. Many had seen that he was the first person there when they arrived at the fight.

Even if he were able to weasel himself out of this, anyone with sense would be able to tell that he was lying if he said he'd been attracted by the sword aura like everyone else.

Everyone around looked at Xu Xiaoshou and realized that, despite being the killer, he was actually the victim instead.

Somehow, things felt really weird.

It was a weird feeling about things that one just couldn't place somehow. It felt like a piece of bone was stuck in one's throat, and the feeling was awful.

"Sh*. My brain doesn't feel up to the task right now. Why do I pity Xu Xiaoshou, man? He just killed someone…" Someone voiced their thoughts aloud in the midst of the crowd.

"Stop worrying and just enjoy the show." Some who were familiar with Xu Xiaoshou's antics laughed out loud. "You're worried for Xu Xiaoshou? You really think your brain isn't up to the task? How about you shake it and see, eh?"

"What about it?" That person shook their head.

"You hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"The sound of water swooshing…"

"What the…"

The law enforcers had surrounded the two of them.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Yuan Tou and said, "So he's gonna show up at the Spiritual Law Division, right?"

Zhao Xidong nodded, not knowing why he was asking him this.

"Not only him. You too," he thought. "And if Zhao Shu was still alive, all three of you would've been going together!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Very well…" Xu Xiaoshou then fished out a token and said in a hurry, "Elder Sang needs me for something urgent. Could I show up later instead?"

Zhao Xidong was speechless.

He looked at the reddish-black elder token in Xu Xiaoshou's hand and felt like his eyes were about to fall out and roll onto the ground.

"How do you have something like this? Did you steal it?"

"Steal it?" Xu Xiaoshou chuckled and recalled the old fart's weird personality. He then tsked and replied, "You really think I stole it? If I dumped it on the ground right now, would you dare to pick it up?"

Zhao Xidong was rendered speechless again.

"So you do know stuff like that too, eh?" he thought. "Then how come you have something like that with you?"

He recalled that Xu Xiaoshou had also held that token to tell him off back in the library in the afternoon. It was only when they searched for the four in that hut that he'd learned Elder Sang had simply dropped it at the library back then.

So why had this thing showed up again?

Zhao Xidong didn't believe the kid was daring enough to steal the elder's token, but then again…

If he didn't steal it, then what happened?

Su Qianqian and Xiao Qixiu came to mind.

Xu Xiaoshou and Elder Sang…

Impossible!

He whacked himself hard in the head, wondering what the h*ll had happened to him to make him think such absurd thoughts.

"I'm warning you, Xu Xiaoshou. You'd better put this thing back to where it belongs. You don't know what will happen to you otherwise."

Zhao Xidong then lowered his voice, looking stern. "I'm being very serious."

Warned, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou took note of Zhao Xidong's good intentions, but that was all he was going to do about it.

"Elder Sang himself gave me this thing," he thought. "Why the h*ll should I return it, eh? This is one h*ll of a protective charm, man!

He'd only gone up to Zhao Xidong to let the other man take a look at it. He didn't want anyone else in the crowd to see it, so he quickly took the token back. He'd made that deal with Elder Sang, after all.

"Thank you, but I really am in a hurry.

"Elder Sang really is looking for me."

Xu Xiaoshou sounded very sincere.

Zhao Xidong's eyes turned cold. "I know that you're the victim here," he thought. "But you're also the killer at the same time. You really think you can just walk out of here just like that? In your dreams!

"Stop protesting. You're coming with me."

Xu Xiaoshou then clapped Zhao Xidong on the shoulder and lowered his voice. "Are the rules very strict in the spirit palace, like 'you'll also have to see the person in question if you see their token' kind of thing?"

Zhao Xidong didn't know what Xu Xiaoshou was up to and simply nodded numbly.

"Of course. No one can break the rules laid down by the Spiritual Law Division." He paused and added, "You dared to kill someone, so prepare to face the music."

"Huff, that should do it, then…"

Xu Xiaoshou then retreated several steps backward, keeping a safe distance. He adjusted his expression and shouted, "Back off! I have business to attend to!"

"Huh??"

Not only was Zhao Xidong dumbfounded by Xu Xiaoshou's shout, but Yuan Tou was very startled as well.

All the law enforcers around were shaken, and even the crowd around was shocked to the core by this display of might.

"D*mn. How can this guy be so fierce? He's really taking that attitude after he just killed someone?"

"Oh, this is something. This is my first time seeing someone dare to speak to Enforcer Zhao like that. Does he have a death wish or something!"

"Xu Xiaoshou… I bow to you!"

Revered, Passive Points 63.

Cursed, Passive Points 77. That one was probably from the shock.

Xu Xiaoshou noted that Zhao Xidong was still calm enough not to charge across that safe distance he'd put between them, and felt relieved.

"I can work this out!" he thought. "I should sound fiercer. I should display Elder Sang's might more…"

He put a hand to the corner of his mouth, lowered his tone, and said, "That's what he told me just now. Hold him up any longer, and he might just come for you…"

Zhao Xidong was so furious his eyelids started twitching. "Are you playing tricks on me?"

"I'm so gonna…"

"Get lost!" Xu Xiaoshou shouted again, immediately cutting Zhao Xidong off.

Everyone's heart skipped a beat, their eyes filled with nothing but shock.

He did it again?

Cursed, Passive Points 77.

Xu Xiaoshou lowered his voice, looking rather troubled. "He's at it again… I wasn't the one who said that…"

Zhao Xidong was completely stunned, not believing that Xu Xiaoshou would have the guts to talk to him like this. But he also sure didn't believe that Xu Xiaoshou would dare to make up things from Elder Sang like this either.

"But…

"Why do I get the feeling I'm being played here?" he thought.

"I…" he started.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't wait for him to say more, and cut him off with an expression that seemed to say he needed to pee right away. "I can't stay here any longer. If I do, both you and I are gonna get it. I'd best be off, then."

He briefly flashed the token at Zhao Xidong again before running off, afraid that Zhao Xidong would stand in his way again.

"Take your time looking into that guy. He's got a h*ll of a lot to look into!" He then said, trying to steer attention away from him.

Yuan Tou couldn't help but feel frustrated when he saw Xu Xiaoshou run away just like that.

"What's the meaning of this?" he asked. "The killer gest to run off scot-free and I have to stay around?

"Something is wrong with you!"

The other enforcers were also rather dumbfounded. "Umm, Zhao, this isn't…"

Zhao Xidong saw Xu Xiaoshou disappear from sight and felt like he was going to pass out.

"I go*amn know that isn't the way we do things!" he thought. "But what else could I've done?

"Take him down right where he stood?

"What if the kid was speaking truthfully and Elder Sang showed up? Who would've stood up to the elder then?

"Me?

"F*k you!"

He was so furious that his face was trembling. He kept taking deep breaths to calm himself down and lowered his tone. "This is something that involves the elders. We'll head back and let Boss Xiao take care of it."

He glanced at Yuan Tou, then walked away.

"Take the only witness with us. Get going.

"Don't let him escape."

Yuan Tou was speechless.

He started cursing so hard deep down that he felt like he was about to burst.

"You@#%*…"

Chapter 120: A True Genius

Xu Xiaoshou didn't return to his new place. He went to the library instead.

The token opened the barrier, and he was only able to feel secure after arriving on the third floor.

"Zhang Xinxiong…"

He'd thought those people would've called it quits for a while, yet they hadn't even bothered waiting an entire day before trying again after the assassination attempt last night failed.

As for whether Zhao Shu had indeed come to kill him just to get the slot to the Tianxuan Gate and ended up being used by Yuan Tou, that no longer mattered.

One way or another, he wasn't going to let those who were out to kill him walk away alive.

"It's a pity I can't go back to my own place.

"Looks like I'll be sleeping at the library for the next three days, then."

Xu Xiaoshou was feeling rather exasperated, as, after that fight, he'd basically learned where he stood in terms of power levels.

He knew that while he could probably do away with one of the 33 if he were to go all out, he also knew that things would get very difficult if he had to deal with those veterans.

That man called Zhao Shu had almost killed him with just his control abilities and cold attacks.

Xu Xiaoshou decided to hunker down for once and hide in the library for three days.

He knew that he had to make a breakthrough into Innate Level while being in the Tianxuan Gate.

And he also knew that he probably wouldn't stand a chance if they sent another assassin after him.

Noon the next day.

Elder Sang came to the third floor of the library and was startled to find a man covered in blood lying on the ground. It took him a moment to realize that the man was Xu Xiaoshou. He then went on to kick him up.

"Didn't I tell you to find your own place and get on with alchemy elsewhere?

"What the h*ll are you doing here?"

He was rather startled to find that the kid had blood all over him, feeling rather lucky that the kid had gotten himself blown up rather than the library.

Xu Xiaoshou gradually woke up and immediately became furious when he saw the old man.

"So you snatched a slot to enter the Tianxuan Gate from someone else?" he asked.

Elder Sang immediately realized what had happened to the kid after hearing this. "So, all that blood resulted not from alchemy but from someone trying to kill you, eh?" he thought.

"There's a limited number of slots to enter the Tianxuan Gate. You getting one naturally meant that someone had to lose theirs. It's a given fact, and completely normal.

"This world has a limited number of resources. With every step you take toward further growth from here on out, you'll end up walking over someone, either directly or indirectly. Better get used to it."

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath. The old fart was making so much sense and the words were so deeply rooted in reality that he had no rebuttal.

"So, someone took revenge on you?" Elder Sang then chuckled.

"I'll tell you the truth. When the slots to enter the Tianxuan Gate were announced last night, Ye Xiaotian initially had no intentions of dropping your name.

"But then I figured your involvement would be exposed sooner or later, and it's not like you got the slot through some shady deals or whatever, so I just blurted it out in front of everyone.

"That guy came looking for you?"

Xu Xiaoshou flicked his bloodied clothing and rolled his eyes. "Duh!"

"Well, it's a good thing you didn't end up dead. Keep up the good work. If you get the chance, you could retaliat…"

"He's dead."

Elder Sang's eyebrow twitched. He was somewhat surprised.

The way he saw it, just Xu Xiaoshou escaping unscathed from the ordeal without getting killed was a job well done, but he'd actually managed to kill the assailant?

"Are you sure you killed one of the Inner Yard Thirty-three?"

"Yeah.

"Two came. I killed one."

Elder Sang felt like he had to put more pressure on the kid, as he wouldn't be able to clearly understand this kid's potential if he didn't.

"How do you feel about that?"

"He shouldn't have died…" Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, his face deadpan. "But those out to kill shall expect to get killed. I feel pity for him, but nothing more than that."

The corners of Elder Sang's mouth twitched. This kid had finally become immune to killing people.

"The kid might not show it, but he's learned a lot and changed a lot with me being hard on him," he thought.

"That's not good enough," he said. "You'll have truly grown when you no longer feel pity for him."

Xu Xiaoshou snickered. "But if I no longer pitied him, wouldn't that mean I'd no longer have sentimentality?"

"Sentimentality…" he mused. "That's a word I haven't heard in a long time."

Elder Sang's expression was rather sad as he lifted his hat and rubbed the top of his head hard. He then put the hat back on his head and said, "After you've touched the Great Path, you'll know just how fickle human nature can be."

"Great Path?" Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

"We'll leave that for another day…"

Elder Sang waved his hand dismissively. He didn't want to put too much pressure on the kid just yet. It was a good thing for young people to be passionate, and he knew when to just let the kid develop on his own without him meddling.

But there were times when pressure was necessary. He'd never thought the so-called 33 would be so unbearable. And the spirit palace seemed to have decayed more than he'd expected it to.

He turned his gaze to outside the window, and there was a reminiscing look on his face as he asked, "Do you know what makes a true genius?"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned and answered doubtfully, "Xu Xiaoshou?"

Elder Sang's reminiscing was immediately cut off right then and there. His eyelid started twitching, and veins looked like they were about to pop out of his forehead he was so irked.

"Very well," he said. "Very confident. So, you think you're a genius?"

Xu Xiaoshou recalled his past experiences. He was confident that he would be able to break into Innate Level in less than a month, yet a lot of the others were still stuck at level eight or nine and had been for two to three years.

Even if he didn't compare to those from the spirit palace, his rate of progress had to be exceedingly rare, if not something that only happened once in a lifetime.

Xu Xiaoshou took to becoming a little more polite. "Half a genius, I guess."

"What do you think of Su Qianqian, then?"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. He knew of the legend of the little girl. Breaking into Innate Level at the age of 13, acquiring Innate Sword Will at the age of 14. An exception was made for her and she was given entrance into the Inner Yard after just a little over a month. She was as formidable as they come.

"One-tenth of a genius, then… There's no comparison here." It was quite a blow.

"You once said that you'd set your sights on the five regions. Where do you think Su Qianqian's potential would stand when compared to those from the rest of the five regions?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know how to answer that. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called myself a genius. I apologize."

Elder Sang was rather pleased. He turned around and said, "Her potential would actually still be a cut above the rest when compared to the rest of the continent."

Xu Xiaoshou was relieved that that was the case. He'd been afraid the old fart would say something like "she's a pile of sh," "she's trash," and the likes. That really would've been a blow like no other.

"But then again, just a cut above the rest. There are still many others with the same level of potential." Elder Sang's words were startling.

He then continued, "The best among the geniuses acknowledged by all from the five regions weren't all that far from you. That person was around just 30 years ago."

"Acknowledged by all?"

Xu Xiaoshou was perceptive enough to catch these key words. His eyes were still filled with disbelief. "Acknowledged by all in the continent, you say?" he thought.

"What a joke!"

"Stronger than those others in history then, eh?" he asked.

Elder Sang's lips parted, and he actually nodded. "He was indeed stronger than those others in history.

"The most formidable of geniuses acknowledged by all throughout the five regions, who hailed from the eastern region's Holy Sword Land. He, too, was a swordsman like you.

"He wandered for many years and began his journey on cultivation when he was 18. He managed to shock the world when he first picked up the sword.

"It took mere moments for him to reach Innate Level, and he became sword deity in three years, reaching a height that others dedicate their entires lives to obtain and never reach when he was only 21.

"Go out and look for any swordsman out there. I'd guarantee you 100 percent that there's none who couldn't tell you stories about him."

He took back his sad expression and, noting the shocked look on Xu Xiaoshou's face, he rectified his words. "99 percent."

Xu Xiaoshou was truly shocked. "You call that a genius?" he thought. "That's a frickin' monster, alright!

"Mere moments to reach Innate Level? Became a sword deity in three years?

"Aren't there only seven sword deities throughout the entire continent? How did he manage to do that?"

He glanced at the red interface in his mind, feeling rather shaky. "Just look at that guy, eh?" he told it. "And you call yourself a System?

He suppressed the utter shock he was feeling deep down and asked, "Who is this person?"

"The eighth sword deity, Bazhun'an."

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Read I Am Loaded with Passive Skills Chapter 121 - Cultivating Magic Pills like Cooking Dishes online for free - AllNovelFull

Chapter 121: Cultivating Magic Pills like Cooking Dishes

Mu Zixi recalled what Elder Sang had secretly told her that morning after the master-disciple ceremony: "By the way, you have a secret senior brother."

Secret?

Her master actually had a disciple? She had a senior brother?

"Since my master is so powerful, this senior brother must also be very powerful!" she thought.

"Is the secret senior brother the kind of man who hides in the shadows, who's secretive, calm, and cool and says few words but will come up and touch my head after I've done something wrong and tell me with a magnetic voice, 'Don't worry, I'm here for you?'

"Wow, this is great!"

She'd had rather high expectations for this secret senior brother, but after seeing Xu Xiaoshou, her dreams were shattered.

"Xu Xiaoshou, how could it be you?!"

To her, this guy only fit the "strange man" description in her fantasy, and the rest of the other adjectives could be removed.

"Don't call him Xu Xiaoshou, called him Senior Brother!" Elder Sang suddenly appeared in front of her and struck his knuckles down. The little girl could do nothing but cradle her head in her arms.

"Hi, Senior Brother."

"Cursed, passive point, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. "What?" he asked while cupping a hand behind his ear.

Mu Zixi glared at him and exclaimed, her face white with fury, "Xu Xiaoshou, watch yourself!"

Bang!

Elder Sang struck his knuckles down again, and Mu Zixi said with tears in her eyes, "Hi, Senior Brother!"

"Very good."

Xu Xiaoshou burst into laughter.

He was still surprised that his junior sister was Mu Zixi.

He'd first met this girl on the competition platform, where this violent girl had almost blown him up. She was pretty good with fighting control. If it wasn't for that bad habit of hers, she would have expelled him from the platform.

However, it didn't look like she had an Innate Level physique, so why did Elder Sang take her as a disciple?

Xu Xiaoshou was very curious.

Yet, Elder Sang didn't care so much. He waved his hand and said, "All sit down."

Having said that, Elder Sang took out his large tripod bathtub. Seeing this, Mu Zixi was shocked.

Xu Xiaoshou was amused and came closer to the bathtub and asked, "What does it look like?"

Elder Sang paused for a second but didn't turn his head around, as he was obviously focused on the task at hand for the time being, and he still held a grudge against Xu Xiaoshou for the comment he'd made last time about his Magic Pill Tripod looking like a bathtub!

"This thing," Mu Zixi paused, looking hesitant. "It looks like a Magic Pill Tripod."

Elder Sang was pleased and glared at Xu Xiaoshou. But before he could say anything, the little girl went on to say, a cautious look in her eyes, "But aren't we supposed to cultivate magic pills? What's the point of taking this bathtub out?"

"Poo!" Xu Xiaoshou immediately burst out laughing. "Look, I told you this thing looked like a bathtub, but you didn't believe me, old man.

"If it didn't have three feet…" He trailed off mid-sentence, as the old man was glaring at him with a murderous look in his eyes.

Xu Xiaoshou wryly rubbed the back of his head and turned toward Mu Zixi. "Magic Pill Tripod!" he lectured her. "This is the Magic Pill Tripod! Don't you have any sense?"

Mu Zixi rolled her eyes. "You think I'm stupid?"

Elder Sang's eyelids twitched, and he said crossly, "This is indeed a Magic Pill Tripod!"

"Uh."

The young girl's pretty face seemed full of questions, and she glared back at Xu Xiaoshou.

Cursed, Passive Points 2.

"Okay, enough of this nonsense!" Elder Sang rolled up the sleeves of his robe. "I'll make a load of magic pills first so you can see what you can learn."

The large bathtub was placed underneath a large red bead. No sooner had Elder Sang's hands reached out then the milky white exterior immediately started to warm up, giving off a reddish glow.

"It's turning red?" Mu Zixi said while curiously reaching out her hand.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Elder Sang, who was cultivating the magic pills, and found that the old man obviously had no intentions of explaining this. As the senior brother, he had no choice but to take on this responsibility.

He pointed to a void below the tripod. "See that?"

"What?" Mu Zixi inclined her head and rubbed her eyes, but failed to see anything.

"Air?"

Xu Xiaoshou: "…"

"It's the Infernal Heavens. The old man should have talked to you about it!"

But he suddenly realized something. He had the passive technique Sense, but this little girl did not!

"Try to see it with your spiritual thoughts."

After one's cultivation level broke through to the Origin Court level of the three innate levels, an origin court would be opened up in the brain, giving birth to spiritual thoughts.

Its role was similar to Sense, but one had to actively use it. Any passive effect was probably nothing but a danger warning.

Mu Zixi swept over the area with her spiritual thoughts and saw the invisible Infernal Heavens under the tripod. She was stunned!

"Puff, puff!"

The sudden rise in temperature startled Mu Zixi, and she lowered her head only to see an invisible flame on Xu Xiaoshou's hand as he placed his palm under her face.

He knew how to do it?

She ws about to compliment him to ease the tension between the two of them, but then she heard a mocking voice in her ear say:

"Haha, you can't!"

Xu Xiaoshou cheerfully withdrew his hand and said, "Don't worry. Your senior brother will teach you how later!"

Mu Zixi was so angry that she ground her teeth. "D*mn you, Xu Xiaoshou," she swore inwardly.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was pleased. In the past, he'd been scared while facing Elder Sang alone and didn't dare to joke around, resulting in no increase in his Passive Points.

Now that he had a junior sister, it would be much more fun around here.

Any Passive Point was a point, much like meat was meat, even if it was a mosquito. Though one point wasn't a big deal, they would add up over time!

Elder Sang was very focused while he cultivated the magic pills. He didn't speak, even though he was merely raising the temperature of the tripod.

Xu Xiaoshou had seen him cultivate the magic pills once before and naturally knew this.

Based on the knowledge in his head, he explained with a sense of responsibility as he pointed to the big bathtub, "Look, this process is called heating up.

"The process of cultivating magic pills can't be hurried. It's similar to the principle of cooking. Even if we're not going to add oil, we have to warm the pot up first."

The corners of Elder Sang's mouth twitched. He thought this analogy was rather fit, but it felt a little cheap since he was cultivating none other than magic pills!

Mu Zixi looked suspicious, but seeing that Elder Sang unexpectly didn't refute this, her expression became one of understanding.

"Suspected, passive point, 1."

"Respected, passive point, 1."

"Cursed, passive point, 1."

"Hmm? A curse?" he thought. "That must've come from the old man!"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded satisfactorily. He noticed that Elder Sang had started making other movements. He was throwing a handful of herbs into the tripod after pulling them out from his ring over and over again.

The little girl was surprised by the operation. How could her master cultivate so much with all those herbs?

Xu Xiaoshou, of course, knew what she was thinking. He'd been amazed too when he'd witnessed it the first time.

"No need to doubt; this is the cultivation of magic pills.

"Of course, a novice couldn't do it this way, but the old man is very powerful, and he can multi-task.

"This isn't important!"

Xu Xiaoshou searched his mind for relevant knowledge and named the ingredients as Elder Sang threw them into the bathtub. "Look, that's the silver frost flower. It's cold and bitter but very sweet to eat; and that's the green tree fruit, which is very fragrant and delicious.

"And that's the strange apple seed. In ancient times it was used to feed…

"Ahem!"

"D*mn," he thought. "I almost revealed the secret."

"Anyway," he went on. "Adding up all of these ingredients, it's not difficult to guess what pill this is going to be." There was a peculiar expression on Xu Xiaoshou's face. What pill was it going to be?

"The Origin Court Pill?" He looked at Elder Sang and saw the old man nod in the affirmative.

Xu Xiaoshou was so baffled by his own actions that he didn't notice the line from Mu Zixi change from "Suspected" to "Admired" in the information bar.

"This Mastery of Cooking is rather wonderful," he thought. "I can postulate what magic pill will be cultivated based on the combination of the ingredients and their properties.

"However, my Mastery of Cooking is only at Acquired Level 6, so how could I postulate the magic pill of seventh-grade? Seventh grade is an Innate Magic Pill!

"Perhaps…

"Perhaps the innate magic pills aren't all made up of innate spiritual medicines but a mixture of innate and acquired herbs, which are then cultivated with special techniques and finally condensed into pills?" Xu Xiaoshou ventured.

Elder Sang couldn't help but peek at him and was surprised at how much he'd been able to figure out.

This was a far cry from the first time they met when he'd remarked, "You're making magic pills," and "This is the Magic Pill Tripod!"

Xu Xiaoshou excitedly clenched his fists from being approved. He turned to his junior sister and said, "I told you so!

"Cultivating magic pills is like cooking dishes. One has no need for good ingredients as long as one has good technique and the right supplements. If you have those two things, you can achieve your goal."

He pointed at the large bathtub. "Look at this. A messy stew can also produce a delicious hotpot!"

Elder Sang's hands shook once, and the tripod almost exploded.

"Xu Xiaoshou, shut up!"

Requested, Passive Points 1.

Chapter 122: Chapter 122 Stewing the Ham?

It was impossible for Xu Xiaoshou to shut up.

He lowered his voice as he watched Elder Sang cultivate the magic pills and explained the process to Mu Zixi.

As the "Mastery of Cooking" had been developed, wood, rice, oil, and salt appeared in his mind whenever he saw the magic pill tripod and the flame.

To explain the cultivation of the magic pills with the principle of cooking seemed to be justified.

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked to discover that many things could be swapped out for food as long as a flame was involved. It seemed that many things could be included in the "Mastery of Cooking."

Xu Xiaozhu had somewhat of an epiphany when he remembered the illusionary realm he'd developed the skill in, and wondered if he could use heaven and earth as a furnace to cultivate everything with this passive skill after it was fully developed.

"Look, cultivating the herb is exactly like cooking vegetable dishes," he thought to himself.

"Treating other creatures the same way would be the same as cooking meat dishes.

"Things are, after all, just animals and plants if we think of heaven and earth from the perspective of 'Mastery of Cooking.'

"A fire, a pot, plus meat and vegetables means everything can be eaten.

"Hiss!"

Xu Xiaoshou was startled. He'd previously thought that Master of Cooking was only useful for controlling flames, but, after thinking it over, he wondered if such a technique was actually just as useful as Master of Swordsmanship.

"I've gone down one line of thought, which has limited my thinking," he thought. "What if I could use it as a combat skill? It would probably have some kind of special effects.

"Moreover, the technique might be more effective when unexpected!

"However…

"Using Mastery of Cooking for combat sounds like a weird idea."

Xu Xiaoshou felt troubled. In fact, he thought his current combat technique was a bit off. If he added this technique…

"Well, being off won't matter as long as the technique is effective in combat!" he thought. "I have to go back and carefully think it over!"

By this point, Elder Sang had almost finished the process of extracting the medicinal liquid and Xu Xiaoshou had several hundreds of Passive Points in his mind.

Most of the points were from "suspected," probably because of those "slightly spicy" and "very bitter" remarks.

A few "admired" points were most likely from the fact that his broad knowledge had impressed the two of them.

And he couldn't be selective and ignore the curses. Xu Xiaoshou told himself that his dictionary didn't have these pejorative words in it.

Mu Zixi didn't believe what Xu Xiaoshou said at first. She thought that this guy's descriptions were too odd. It sounded like he'd tasted all of them himself from him describing them as "sweet, sour, bitter and spicy."

Yet, judging by the fact that Elder Sang didn't refute him, she wasn't so sure now.

In the end, the series of nonstop explanations offered by him seemed to have brainwashed her, as she felt what Xu Xiaoshou said made sense.

She wondered if he had been a disciple of Elder Sang for a long time and learned a lot of knowledge from him.

Wiping the saliva from the corners of her mouth, Mu Zixi pointed at the nearly congealed medicinal liquid in the large bathtub and asked, "What is this?"

"The collected essence!"

Xu Xiaoshou's confidence in his own words made Elder Sang feel dizzy, and he almost lost his temper. However, after so many explanations and descriptions from Xu Xiaoshou, even the old man felt a little numb, and, surprisingly enough, he didn't refute what he said.

Xu Xiaoshou drew a circle with his hand in the air. "Have you eaten the ham before? After putting the wine in the pot, stew it over a small fire until it looks dark red. The most important part is the juice. If you don't collect it, the stewed ham will be soulless."

After a pause, he continued, "Cultivating the magic pills is the same."

Mu Zixi kept on nodding her head, her twin ponytails swinging side to side, and she swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva.

A large black ball cracked in the bathtub, and the magic pill finally took shape and rolled down from it.

Elder Sang packed up the magic pill, then tossed a jade scroll to Xu Xiaoshou, saying with a grim expression, "This is the method for condensing the magic pills. You go elsewhere to study it. I'll teach your junior sister to collect the liquid first."

Xu Xiaoshou was startled. Was his master biased?

He had to study on his own while he taught his junior sister?

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay here for three days and nights to study hard!"

Elder Sang felt sick to his stomach. "You stayed here for three days and nights before, and I was afraid you'd blow up the Spiritual Library Division," he thought. Now you want to stay here for three days and nights again? You're going to make me starve to death!"

"No, you can't stay here for one more minute," he said. "Get the h*ll out of here!"

Xu Xiaoshou scowled. "The problem is that I have many enemies outside. I'll stay here for three days as long as I think the spirit site isn't safe!"

"If you can't solve these trivial issues, how can you accomplish anything great in the future?"

Elder Sang put up three of his fingers. "I'll give you three seconds!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Mu Zixi and saw the girl's gloating smile.

"Heh," he thought. "I told this junior sister all those things for nothing!"

Xu Xiaoshou walked out without looking back.

Elder Sang looked at Mu Zixi. After giving her a meeting gift, he proficiently pulled out a ring.

"Hehe, you are quite familiar with the process. Your senior brother also explained quite a bit to you. Although he didn't get everything right, he did correctly describe the basic medicinal properties."

He remembered that he hadn't taught Xu Xiaoshou that much, but the lad had nonetheless learned a lot. It was obvious he must've studied hard on his own.

"As expected, my teaching method is very effective!" he thought.

"You don't have an Innate Level Physique, so this old man will teach you the techniques of a regular magic pill cultivator rather than the method of cultivating pills from the Infernal Lineage. The detailed method is described in the jade scroll contained inside the ring.

"You'll practice the step of refining the medicinal liquid yourself. Your senior brother has done the same."

"This step can only be done with practice. Work on it!"

Having said that, he disappeared, leaving the little girl alone.

"What's going on?" she thought.

"It was dandy earlier, but now I'm alone?

"There's something wrong with that master and disciple!:

At the Spiritual Affairs Division.

The old man wearing a conical hat landed in front of the office of the first affair and took away the array plate from Qiao Qianzhi's hand. Elder Qiao's heart skipped a beat.

"What for?" he asked.

"Giggle, giggle."

Elder Sang covered his stomach with his hands while licking his lips. "Go! Let's go stew a ham!"

Xu Xiaoshou returned to his new spirit site in the inner courtyard.

Since Elder Sang wouldn't allow him to stay in the Spiritual Library Division, he'd had no choice but to come here. There was nothing else he could do but follow the old saying: the soldiers will stop the incoming generals and the dirt will stop the flowing water.

Judging by Zhang Xinxiong's two recent actions, Xu Xiaoshou thought that the possibility of Zhang striking personally very low, as many pairs of eyes would be watching when someone of his level made a move.

Yet, if the veteran thirty-three didn't come in person, the others of lower levels, no matter how many of them came, would be inconsequential.

Moreover…

Xu Xiaoshou thought of his neighbors. Though there were only two of them, they should be counted as among the strongest fighters in the inner courtyard!

It be on him if he was discovered when he went out wandering the streets. However, if someone dared to make trouble for him here, they would face serious consequences.

Well, provided that the two neighbors were at home.

"It shouldn't be a problem," Xu Xiaoshou thought inwardly.

"What Elder Sang said makes sense," he thought. "If I keep on hiding to avoid troubles, I won't achieve anything great in the future, as I'll encounter even more dangerous and more trying situations in comparison."

Xu Xiaoshou took out the magic pill tripod, which still had bloodstains on it from the person he'd smashed.

"Well, I wonder if it will affect the taste of the pills."

Having cleaned it meticulously, he walked out of the main house after some pondering to arrive at a large open space in the courtyard.

There was a little bit of sunshine.

Xu Xiaoshou silently carried the magic pill tripod to the guest room.

A bed, a table, and a bench, and a large open space were found in the room. This place was completely different from the small house in the outer courtyard.

Feeling pleased, he put everything in a corner and set down the magic pill tripod. Then, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good. From now on I'll cultivate the magic pills in the guest room!"

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Chapter 123: Boiling Soup and Cultivating Magic Pills!

It had to be said that the passive techniques of the proficient class were really like a wonder, and knowledge that was forcibly instilled could save a lot of practice time.

It was the same with the "Mastery of Cooking" fire control, the proficiency of which should've been achieved by practice and sweat, but he already had it as if he'd been at it for many years.

Xiaoshou put a compressed fire under the tripod. The invisible flame started to burn, making the herbs in the tripod give out a sizzling sound and turn into ash.

However, a drop of condensed medicinal liquid was successfully left behind!

He was overjoyed. He'd succeeded after only the first trial.

"According to Elder Sang's experience, just extracting a drop of medicinal liquid after refining the several small mountains of herbs inside the ring would be a success."

"How many resources have I… saved?!" he thought.

Xu Xiaoshou was excited.

He tried several more times with various fire temperatures and didn't fail even once!

"A perfect result!"

Xu Xiaoshou wrapped the medicinal liquid with the spiritual source and dragged it into the tripod. Then, he took out the "Method of Magic Pill Condensation" that Elder Sang had given him.

In it, the crude "Infernal Method of Magic Pill Condensation" was recorded. It instructed one to condense the medicinal liquid and then bake it into a pill, like what Xu Xiaoshou had seen Elder Sang do twice before.

No seal, spiritual array, or other accessory techniques of the regular magic pill cultivators were needed, and there was no special skill involved. All one had to do was just one word: baking!

"This is really impressive. This flame…"

In addition to the "Infernal Method of Magic Pill Condensation," there were two other magic pill cultivation recipes inside the scroll for cultivating the Red Gold Pill and the Spiritual Magic Pill, both of which Xu Xiaoshou had taken before.

One of them was the tenth grade, and the other the ninth grade.

Xu Xiaoshou skimmed the instructions on how to cultivate the tenth-grade Red Gold Pills and found that he had the spiritual medicine in his ring that he could use to practice his magic pill cultivation skills.

Refining medicinal liquid was merely a matter of time, so he tried to carry out two tasks at the same time and found it worked.

But when he tried to refine three spiritual medicines at the same time, he found it was a bit overwhelming.

Having barely managed to do three at a time, he decided that there was no need to try to refine four spiritual medicines at a time. Thus, he went on with three medicines at a time.

By now, he'd realized how strong Elder Sang was. He could blend hundreds of pills together and refine them all and separate them into different categories without mistake.

"Well, there's no rush. I'll take my time. I've only just begun…"

He made up his mind. As time went by, all sixty-four types of acquired spiritual medicines needed for the Red Gold Pill were refined.

In total, the medicinal liquid he'd refined collected together was about the size of a fist, which was no match for the medicinal liquid the size of a human head Elder Sang had refined the other day.

Moreover, Elder Sang had refined several magic pills at the same time.

The key to the "Method of Magic Pill Condensation" was to make it in one trial. The magic pills were manufactured with instantly raised temperatures, scorching the surface and condensing the inside!

But it wasn't quite…

"Hiss…"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the empty tripod and found that the medicinal liquid he'd refined with a great deal of effort had all evaporated…

"D*mn it. It's not working. I thought it would be easy to succeed!"

Yet, he didn't feel dejected. He figured it was a process where practice makes perfect, and he felt that he'd already made some sort of shortcut.

"Carry on!"

After the sun set and more than ten attempts, Xu Xiaoshou was able to condense a magic pill the size of a bean.

"I can be considered a half tenth-grade magic pill cultivator now!"

He'd made unexpectedly swift progress, but Xu Xiaoshou was still unsatisfied to some degree.

"Though this thing can be consumed and is somewhat useful, the condensation process wastes too much medicinal liquid," he mused, unable to help falling into deep thought.

"Try a different approach?

"Instead of using the 'Method of Magic Pill Condensation,' I should use… the method 'Mastery of Cooking?'"

Xu Xiaoshou's expression turned peculiar, but not because he thought this approach wouldn't work; on the contrary, his brain felt like it was being poked by a needle as this great lot of ideas suddenly poured out.

Yet, he felt it was a bit odd.

He had a mild toothache at the moment. However, he would regret it if he didn't give the idea a try. Maybe something amazing might happen.

"Just give it a try then," he decided.

The steps to refine the medicinal liquid remained the same. After the process was completed after a great deal of effort, Xu Xiaoshou didn't use the "Method of Magic Pill Condensation." Instead, he chose to use the most reliable approach, which was, according to his thoughts, to maintain the flame at "simmering."

The method of boiling soup used to cultivate magic pills!

"But I don't know if my idea will work…" he thought to himself.

Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat excited. If this approach succeeded, he would make history and could set a new trend of cultivating magic pills in the future.

"Goo, Goo, Goo!"

The medicinal liquid rolled up and down, the thick spiritual mist steamed, and the gas circled around the surface of the tripod.

Though it looked empty above the tripod, it was covered by an array to ensure that the medicinal properties wouldn't be lost, which was why Xu Xiaoshou had dared to adopt the "boiling soup" approach.

The spiritual mist flowed back and then was constantly collected back to the original medicinal liquid. As time passed, the medicinal liquid grew less and less.

"Collect the juice…"

Xu Xiaoshou felt hungry when he saw the gold and red sticky medicinal liquid. Looking out the window, he found that night had arrived, but this pot of soup…

Ahem, this pot of medicinal liquid had been boiling for several hours.

When all the medicinal properties were recovered, the tripod showed a drop of red-golden liquid… No, this could no longer be considered a liquid. It was something in-between a solid and a liquid. Very Q-bomb.

The exciting instant condensation hadn't happened. What had happened was the natural process of "boiling soup."

Xu Xiaoshou pulled out this drop of "red gold liquid" and held it in his palm, thinking that its medicinal properties were much stronger than those of ordinary Red Gold Pills!

Feeling excited, he took out Hiding Pain and stabbed his sword into his palm.

The blood oozed out. Eternal Vitality was acting up. Yet, Xu Xiaoshou waited until after he'd drunk all of the "red gold liquid" before pulling out the black sword.

One breath later.

The lad collapsed to the ground with his elbows by his ribs, his knees touching each other, and his shoulders pushed high while he tilted his head to one side.

"Giggle, giggle…"

The medicinal properties of the red gold liquid turned out to be many times more terrifying than those of the Red Gold pills.

He'd thought his immunity to the medicine was strong, but he couldn't stand this wave of pleasure attacks.

Xu Xiaoshou slowly recovered after several breaths, and he found that the wound on his palm had disappeared and that there was still a large amount of medicinal residual left in his body.

He stabbed his palm with the sword again. The medicine swarmed to the wound, and the wound was repaired instantly without a scar.

"So amazing. A drop of red gold liquid is probably as good as ten Red Gold Pills!"

He had eaten Red Gold Pills, so he well knew the value of red gold liquid more than others.

He seemed to have succeeded after having tried the new approach, and, moreover, he seemed to have exceeded the upper limit of Red Gold Pills!

"This is only the Red Gold Pill. If I can use the 'boiling soup' method to cultivate the spiritual pills and the Origin Court Pill…"

Xu Xiaoshou's mouth opened wide, and his eyes flashed with greed.

"I'm rich. I'm rich!"

He suddenly realized that the "boiling soup" method didn't have the last step of condensing the pills and that the efficacy after the formation of drops was dependent on the amount of the spiritual medicine boiled.

"Thinking about it, it seems that I can cause a qualitative change through a quantitative change.

"For example, if I put in more of the herbs and merely condense a drop of liquid, then the efficacy of this drop must be better than the one I swallowed earlier!

"It's quite possible!

"However, the cultivation of magic pills has developed for so long, as such, someone must have thought of the 'boiling soup' method. Or maybe nobody carried it through?"

Xu Xiaoshou pondered this, doubting that he was the only one who had thought of this method. There must be geniuses out there who've thought similar ideas.

"Could it be that it's not easy to preserve?"

Many thoughts flashed through his mind. In the end, he decided to wait for the completion of the method of "Infernal Pill Condensation" and then ask Elder Sang all of these questions.

"If I try to figure all of this out on my own, I might make mistakes and go astray, which would be a worse result.

"The method of 'Infernal Pill Condensation' is the only one left…"

This was something he must learn. He figured that he had no choice but to learn it no matter what.

"Though I should continue the study of the method of "boiling soup", I can't lose sight of the essence of the magic pill cultivation technique. After all, the outside world only recognizes the magic pills so far.

"If I took a drop of liquid to the outside world, I don't think anyone would want it!"

A look of determination appeared on Xu Xiaoshou's face.

"I'll learn it in three days!"

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Chapter 124: The Tianxuan Gate, Here I Come!

Three days passed like this.

The Tiansang Spirit Palace was crowded with people again. Though the excitement of the "Windcloud Competition" had faded away, the Spirit Palace had started recruiting new disciples from the major cities of Tianshan Prefecture in the past few days.

The introduction of fresh blood made the Outer Yard look more vibrant again.

The only exception was a certain place where it was still rather stale.

This was a private courtyard with potholes all over it. Zhou Tiansen curled up on the wooden bed in the guest room, large black circles around his eyes.

He couldn't understand why Xu Xiaoshou hadn't returned in three days and three nights. This would've been easy to ignore if Xu Xiaoshou had come back for at least one night.

"Where did he go to fool around!"

Looking at the sky, Zhou Tiansen got up from bed. He couldn't sleep well once he had something on his mind, and he wouldn't rest until he finished the task.

But, the Tianxuan Gate was going to open.

"Forget it. Let Xu Xiaoshou take care of himself!" Zhou Tiansen feebly got out of the room by holding onto the door.

The Spiritual Library Division.

Mu Zixi had dust all over her head and face. She hadn't bathed for three days. This would've been unbearable under any other circumstances, but…

"Master said I have to stay here for three days and try my hardest to refine the medicinal liquid.

"But…"

She looked at the vat full of medicinal liquid and pouted her small mouth.

It was obvious that the task wouldn't take three days to complete!

Why couldn't her master have opened the door and let her go out?

"Ah, I need to take a bath."

She propped her chin on her hands while leaning against the windowsill. Suddenly, she seemed to see a figure wearing a conical hat, and she felt extremely excited.

Elder Sang landed on the third floor and looked at the large filled-up bathtub in shock. "You did this?"

Mu Zixi nodded, and, pointing to the medicine bottles on the ground, she said unhappily, "They have also been filled. Master, you should've come over earlier to let me out!"

Elder Sang was amazed at what she'd achieved. This disciple of his had an extraordinary natural talent!

He rubbed the little girl's head and comforted her, saying, "Cultivating magic pills is like creating a work of art. You have to be patient if you want to succeed. But this time you didn't do a bad job. Go now!"

"Not a bad job," muttered Mu Zixi. Yet, she wasn't in a hurry to leave. "Just 'didn't do a bad job?' Is Xu Xiaoshou any better than me?" she asked.

She could tell from the experiences recorded in the jade scroll from Elder Sang that her speed was absolutely unparalleled, so how could it just be "not a bad job"?

Ever since Xu Xiaoshou threw her off the competition platform, she'd dreamed of beating him.

She'd sworn that if she had the chance to do it, she would never be bewildered by his fragrant scent again!

Hearing this, Elder Sang's smile froze. "I was just trying to be nice," he thought. "But this is only the first step to completing the cultivation of magic pills, so how could I praise her more than that?

"Moreover, compared to Xu Xiaozhou…"

"Now that you mention it," he said, "This old man just remembered that he drove him away three days ago and didn't have time to check on his progress yet!"

"But…" Elder Sang looked at the large filled-up three-legged bathtub and nodded confidently. "You seem to be doing much better than him!"

The little girl's twin ponytails seemed to perk up with delight, and her mood seemed to brighten.

"Well, this is only in the way of cultivating magic pills," Elder Sang added.

Mu Zixi looked up. "Is he better than me in any other way?" she asked curiously.

Elder Sang shook his head and didn't reply, his expression a bit gloomy.

"As far as the ability to demolish a house is concerned, your senior brother is a few hundred times better than you!" he thought. "Of course, this isn't a good thing. But, at the same time, it's also one of the reasons why you're here."

"Go on! The Tianxuan Gate is about to open, so do your best!" Elder Sang threw a jade scroll at her.

"What is it?"

"The specific location of each secretive realm inside. Don't show it to anybody else. Use it with your senior brother only!"

The little girl's big eyes lit up. "Thank you, Master!"

Elder Sang looked out the window and saw the young girl bound away. He couldn't help the corners of his mouth from curling upward, and his mood became calmer.

Looking toward the sky, a rare look of bafflement appeared in his eyes, and the old man pressed his conical hat down on his head.

"Time is running out!

"Xu Xiaoshou, how should this old man use you?"

At the Inner courtyard and the entrance to Lan Xinzi's spirit site.

Yuan Tou, dressed in black and holding the Mysterious Overlord Spear, seemed to be waiting for something.

With a creaking noise, the door was pushed open, and Lan Xinzi walked inside, carrying a small blood-colored vial in her hands.

"Are you sure you want this thing? There's no turning back after you take it!"

Yuan Tou took the vial from her, his eyes full of disdain.

"Xu Xiaoshou is very strong, but everyone's fooled by his sheepish appearance. Even if I am currently in my best state, I don't think I'll be able to beat him without the help of this thing."

Lan Xinzi laughed lightly. She didn't think so.

"Good luck."

Yuan Tou nodded and quickly disappeared.

Xu Xiaoshou's new spirit site.

"Boom!"

A gust of air rushed to the sky, and the guest room trembled violently. The wooden window panel that opened to the outside finally gave in and fell to the ground after having managed to hold up for three days.

"I've succeeded!"

Xu Xiaoshou was immensely excited. Seeing one and a half magic pills lying in the small bathtub, he could hardly suppress his joy and laughed out loud.

"Hahaha, I can't believe I've actually done it!"

He picked up the pills and took one. With a slight shudder, he withstood the pill's strong effects, and the process was so familiar it was almost heartbreaking.

A burst of spiritual energy surged in his energy reserve. The medicinal power of the Spiritual Pill would be absorbed in just one week and become part of his body.

The cultivation of the ninth level had continued absorbing the spiritual liquid the past three days and seemed like it was so full that it would soon break through.

"It really works."

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't mull over his cultivation at the moment. He looked at the half spiritual pill left in his hand and almost burst into tears.

For three days, in order to improve the method of "Infernal Magic Pill Condensation" and combine it with his own "boiling soup" method, he'd even used his spiritual source!

In the final step of condensation, he'd added an extra step of physical compression and finally turned the "spiritual liquid" into a solid form!

Xu Xiaoshou laughed loudly and kept stroking the small and seemingly malnourished Spiritual Pill in his hand.

"Though it looks small, this thing means that I'm a ninth-grade pill cultivator already!" he thought. "That's right. Not a tenth-grade, but a ninth-grade pill cultivator!"

As for the study of the tenth-grade Red Gold Pill, he'd nailed it on the first day!

"The 'Mastery of Cooking' is an amazing skill!"

Xu Xiaoshou was overcome with emotion. The "Red Gold Liquid" and "Spiritual Liquid" had actually been developed long ago, and their medicinal properties were several times stronger than the solid form pills.

If not for the need to satisfy the market and solidify the magic pills…

"Forget it. Though the pills condensed into a solid form will lose some medicinal power, the products are, after all, recognized by the public and can be sold.

"Those droplets with stronger medicinal properties will be kept for my own consumption!"

Xu Xiaoshou mused that he'd be able to promote the medicinal soup when he became famous.

"Well, let everyone in the world drink the wonderful medicinal soup, which is my dream!"

He tilted his head up and found the hot sunlight shining on his face through the "skylight," so he hastened to move away.

Well, the guest room didn't originally have a skylight. It'd been created after a great deal of magic pill cultivation.

"Based on the time I've spent here, the Tianxuan Gate will probably be opening soon."

Practioners could easily lose track of time while cultivating. Xu Xiaoshou had spent three days doing the study. Surprisingly, he didn't encounter any assassination attempts during this period, which made him feel astonished.

"Haha. It's impossible for them to come to the Tianxuan Gate to kill me!"

Xu Xiaoshou soon dismissed the idea as a ridiculous one.

After he washed his face and cleaned his teeth, Xu Xiaoshou put on several layers of clothes, even though a hot sun was hanging in the sky.

"Tianxuan Gate, here I come!"

"I heard that the concentration of spiritual energy there is a hundred times more than that in the Outer Yard, right? This little master is ready. I won't be defeated by you!"

He thought about it and wrapped himself in three more layers of coats.

"Come and fight me!"

Chapter 125: Grand Master Qiao

Inner Yard, the entrance to the assembly hall.

Ye Xiaotian floated in the air, trying to make himself a head taller than the people in front of him so that he could speak with more authority.

"The Tianxuan Gate will open in the time it takes to burn one incense stick. It will open for three days. When the time is up, everybody has to get out immediately. Otherwise, nobody will be able to save you if you get lost inside.

"The interdimensional space is full of unknowns and temptations, and it's unstable, after all. Exploring it isn't something you should try to do, and you won't receive any rewards for doing so.

"Cultivate well and don't cause any trouble. Got it?" He looked at Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately felt dejected, thinking that he wasn't very familiar with the dean and didn't deserve such attention…

He wondered if the dean had been possessed by the spirit of Xiao Qixiu.

Mu Zixi came up beside him. She lifted her head to identify the big fat man and found that it really was her senior brother.

"You don't feel hot?" She pulled on Xu Xiaoshou's clothes. It looked like he was wearing seven layers of clothes, but judging by the feel of them in her hand, he was wearing even more layers than that.

"You don't understand…" Xu Xiaoshou shook his head and sighed. After wiping the sweat off his forehead he continued, "You'll feel cold later."

Mu Zixi backed away a few steps. She was afraid that she might be scorched to death if she stayed too close to him.

Despised, Passive Points 1.

"What?" he thought. "How dare you despise your senior brother?"

Xu Xiaoshou was displeased. He curled a finger and said, "Come here."

"What for?"

The little girl was quite obedient. She came over.

Xu Xiaoshou brought his nose close to her and sniffed. He immediately scrunched up his face and covered his nose in disgust. "You smell so bad! Didn't you take a bath?"

Mu Zixi: ? ? ?

"I was locked up by our master!" she thought. "I would've been late if I'd gone back to the spirit site and then came over! And… I washed my face, okay?"

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. Among the people he'd met so far, only two of them, Rao Yinyin and Mu Zixi, were able to continuously contribute to his Passive Points.

The former was from "flirtation" and "seduction," and the latter was due to a series of curses.

Whenever he offended the girl a certain way, Passive Points would flow his way nonstop like a flood. He'd since figured out that the way to push this girl's buttons to get Passive Points was to tell her that she smelled bad!

Xu Xiaoshou pushed Mu Zixi away. "Stay away, you dirty vampire."

Mu Zixi almost exploded with anger, but she was unable to speak with her bulging red cheeks.

"There's nothing I can do," she thought. "I didn't take a bath!"

Cursed, Passive Points, 1, 1, 1, 1.

Zhou Tiansen approached them from behind and cautiously tapped Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder.

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head around, startled. If the guy had any more wrinkles on his face and the two dark circles around his eyes were a little darker, he could've changed his name to Elder Sang.

"What?"

Zhou Tianshen stealthily pointed at Yuan Tou, who was standing with his spear. "Look at him!"

"Yuan Tou? What's wrong?"

"He wants to kill you!"

Seeing the shock on Xu Xiaoshou's face, Zhou Tianshen figured that he hadn't wasted the last three days in vain and that the information was worthwhile.

"For sure, this guy still doesn't know he has another enemy," he thought. "What a silly guy!"

Xu Xiaoshou was truly stunned. This big and tall…

"Did the double g pass?"

Baffled, Zhou Tiansen rubbed the back of his head.

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, speechless. "I've already killed a person," he thought, "And this guy came to make such a play? Why the delay…"

He didn't pay any more mind to the matter and turned his attention to the new information in his head:

Watched, Passive Points 1.

With his Sense, he noticed that the black-clad Yuan Tou was watching him and had been for quite a while. Was this guy planning to do something inside Tianxuan Gate?

"Well, I have to be on my guard and be careful, then!" he thought.

The stick of incense was almost out. Those present were not only the ten people who'd gotten slots to enter the Tianxuan Gate, but also many spectators, including those Inner Yard disciples who'd failed to qualify for the event.

Under the crowd's expectant gaze, Ye Xiaotian looked into the sky and saw a figure fly over from distance.

"Elder Qiao?" Xu Xiaoshou eyes immediately widened.

Wasn't this guy an elder of the Spiritual Affairs Division and a chef of roast goose? Why had such a key figure come to make such a grand appearance?

Qiao Qianzhi greeted the crowd with a smile. Without a word, he pulled out a purple array plate and tapped on the empty space.

"Buzz…"

Endless spiritual energy rolled in, making the old acacia tree outside the assembly hall give off a rustling sound. The Origin Source gathered around, making the place look like a fairyland.

A complicated arcane array pattern spread out from the empty space, and the sky-blue fog dissipated, revealing a huge black gate dozens of meters high inside the array.

The huge gate was engraved with red patterns and looked majestic. Two horns served as the door buckles. They looked like hideous beasts, and each had a golden circle in its open mouth.

The Tianxuan Gate!

Xu Xiaoshou only marveled at it for a moment before coming back to his senses. In comparison, Elder Qiao, who was able to conjure up this huge gate, obviously aroused his interest more.

He patted Mu Zixi's shoulders, but his eyes were still on Elder Qiao. "Spirit array master?"

"Wow!" The little girl grabbed her twin ponytails, a look of awe on her face. "Really? Is Elder Qiao so powerful?"

Xu Xiaoshou: "…."

"That's my questioning tone, junior sister!" he thought. "What the h*ll!"

Seeing the looks of astonishment on the two's faces, Zhou Tiansen wondered, "You don't know? Doesn't Elder Qiao often tinker with the array plate when he scolds people?"

"Hmm? Cursing?"

Speechless, the two turned their heads around at the same time, and six pairs of eyes met.

"I…" Zhou Tiansen reached out a hand. He seemed to have realized something. He lowered his head, clutching his forehead in shame.

"It turns out that… you cursed me only!" he thought. "It's insulting…"

Xu Xiaoshou was a little surprised. He'd known Elder Qiao for such a long time and had only just now found out that the old man was also a spiritual array master.

He'd kept this secret deeply hidden. The saying must be true: people can't be judged based on their appearances.

"Hehehe!"

The Tianxuan Gate's array was stabilized. Elder Qiao grinned and pushed the ancient, huge heavy gate open, revealing a rippling barrier.

"You can go in now!"

Everyone was eager to enter the gate. Xu Xiaoshou walked at the rear of the group. He was still feeling a little incredulous as he looked at Elder Qiao and asked, "Are you really a spiritual array master?"

Qiao Qianzhi raised an eyebrow, but he clasped Xiaoshou's shoulder and said seriously, "Don't think too much of it. This gate can be opened by anyone who has a little strength. And also, I'm not a spiritual array master…"

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled for a moment, wondering if what he said was true.

Elder Qiao sighed and continued, "Spiritual Array Masters are very weak. Are you deliberately trying to insult me?

"I'm a Grand Master!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt his entire body go numb, but before he could figure out what was happening, he found himself thrown into the air.

"D*mn it! Let me do it myself!"

The crowd of onlookers watched with envy as the group entered the land of their dreams.

"So it turns out the Tianxuan Gate looks like this. It's not that great. I thought it would grow out of the earth and shoot straight into the clouds. To be honest… I think it looks rather ugly!"

"Yes, it's true. The palace gate in front of my house is much better looking."

"Go. Get out of here…"

Elder Qiao felt helpless while looking at these envious faces. They looked like the early summer unripe fruits: astringent and numb.

Forget it, no more scolding!

He looked at Ye Xiaotian. "Should we go?"

"Let's go!"

The duo flashed, then disappeared. A few moments later, they arrived in front of a small thatched hut.

"Creak!"

The wooden door was pushed open, and out came the sound of arguing.

"What? You didn't warn Xu Xiaozhou? Didn't I tell you a thousand times?" It was Xiao Qixiu's exasperated voice.

"Hehe, I'm sorry. This old man forgot…"

The two walked into the cramped room with their heads lowered and closed the door behind them. The interior immediately became dim.

Elder Sang stuck his tongue out to lick the sauce on the dark-red ham and casually waved his chopsticks.

"Don't worry. That's the Tianxuan Gate, not the Spiritual Library Division. That rascal won't be able to blow the place up.

"Don't panic. It's not a big deal!"

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Chapter 126: An Instant Breakthrough

It was a white and foggy world with spiritual mist so heavy that one couldn't discern human from beast ten meters in front of them.

Soft snow was drifting down from the heavens, and, upon a closer look, one discovered that the snow had also been formed from spiritual energy.

Whoosh.

The inscription of an array unfurled suddenly while a gust of strong wind swept the spiritual mist away. From the heavens descended a group of men and women.

These people were clearly prepared for this. They were all at the Innate Level and looked fearless as they hovered in midair, but their eyes were full of shock.

"This…"

The spiritual energy here was so rich here that taking just a single breath of it was the same as training diligently and tirelessly for several days!

Mu Zixi's twin ponytails hung weightlessly in the air as she savored the rich spiritual energy.

There were two things that she couldn't resist at all. The first was creatures with an incredibly resilient lifeforce, and the second, an environment that was rich in spiritual energy.

She stretched her arms out and whirled around, the hem of her pale green dress fluttering in the air. She seemed to be on the verge of a breakthrough.

"What the h*ll! Why is the array in the middle of the sky?"

The sound of someone cursing shattered everyone's reverie. Everyone looked down and heard the sound of a loud thud, followed by a yowl of pain.

Clang!

That was the sound of someone's spiritual sword landing on the ground. Someone had obviously tried their best to fly.

He had obviously failed.

Everyone's face twitched. "This must be the first time someone at Spiritual Cultivation Level Nine managed to enter the Tianxuan Gate!" they thought. "He couldn't even fly…"

Ridiculed, Passive Points 8.

Received Concern, Passive Points 2.

Zhou Tianshen, who thought himself one of the few friends that Xu Xiaoshou had, hurried over to take a look at Xu Xiaoshou. He was shocked by the sight that greeted him as soon as he landed on the ground.

Xu Xiaoshou, who had wrapped himself up in his clothes like a dumpling, was lying on the ground, spasming violently.

Endless energies of heaven and earth were surging into his body frenziedly and soon transformed into a spiritual cocoon.

Within the cocoon was Xu Xiaoshou…

His legs barely escaped the fate of being snapped in two. His body would curl inward like a prawn one moment, then straighten, taut as a rod, the next. He looked like an electrocuted maggot as he seized violently on the ground.

"What… the… h*ll…"

Something that was either foam or spiritual energy unceasingly bubbled out of his mouth.

Xu Xiaoshou was in great pain, a pain that one experienced at the height of bliss.

He had activated his Breathing Technique three days prior to entering the Tianxuan Gate and had tried his utmost to acclimatize to the rich spiritual energy in the Inner Yard.

But as soon as he entered the Tianxuan Gate, he'd realized that the Tianxuan Gate was worlds apart from the Inner Yard.

This wasn't a place for humans at all!

He'd piled on thirteen layers of clothes, but that had been utterly useless.

Somebody, save him…

Mu Zixi descended from the sky and landed. She hadn't yet shown Xu Xiaoshou the jade scroll. He was still her senior, and her master had told her to take care of him.

"What's wrong?" The young woman stared curiously at the man spasming violently in the spiritual cocoon.

Zhou Tianshen's look was one of bafflement. He shrugged. "I have no idea. He was like this when I came down. I didn't do anything…"

"I'm… I'm fine!" Xu Xiaoshou stabbed his sharpened fingers into his palm and tried to fight pain with pain. The distraction finally allowed him to speak.

"I have a medical condition. I get seizures when I inhale spiritual energy. But I recover quickly from my seizures…don't worry about me. You guys go ahead!"

He gasped, and the sudden inhalation sent him spasming more violently. Left with no choice, he could only hold his breath and feign composure.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Mu Zixi stepped forward and pulled out a jade scroll. "Master told me to give this to you."

Xu Xiaoshou breathed lightly. "Sure, leave that on the ground and go ahead first!"

He was in a sensitive state right now. No one must touch him. This exact same thing had happened when he'd taken the Red Gold Pill during the Windcloud Competition.

It always hurt the first time, but the pain would pass after some time. He simply had to bear with it.

Mu Zixi didn't do as she was told, though. She grabbed her ponytails, her lips curling upward.

"What's going on?" she thought. "What kind of physiology is this? It's incredible. No wonder the young man caught my master's eye!"

But to become this way whenever he came into contact with spiritual energy? To be made utterly paralyzed?

This didn't seem like Xu Xiaoshou at all. Didn't he enjoy throwing snide remarks at her all the time?

She squatted next to Xu Xiaoshou and pursed her lips. "That won't do. Master said that this is a very important jade scroll and that I must make sure you get it."

"Why don't I stuff it into your clothes?" she asked, reaching out her hand.

"No, it's alright! Stay away!" Her gesture instantly alarmed Xu Xiaoshou. "Hand it to Zhou Tianshen. He can hold onto it for me."

"Hehe!" Mu Zixi giggled cutely, showing her dimples. "You must be joking…"

She pinched his clothes with two fingers. Then, after some thought, released her hold on the topmost layer and touched the innermost layer, which was the same as touching his underwear, and her fingers naturally brushed against Xu Xiaoshou's chest.

Xu Xiaoshou almost exploded on the spot!

He tried his best to hold himself back, gritting his teeth and wrestling control over himself as she touched the topmost layer of his clothes. But when she touched his skin…that was when things spiraled out of control.

"Ah!"

A husky, melodic voice sent Zhou Tianshen and Mu Zixi's hair instantly standing on end. Xu Xiaoshou, who had pushed himself up from the ground with a great deal of effort, collapsed to the ground with a loud thud again, and violent tremors coursed through his body.

His teeth chattered loudly.

Mu Zixi stumbled back in alarm, her cheeks brightly flushed. She'd barely touched him. It was just a light touch, and he…

She whipped her head around and stared at Zhou Tianshen, desperation in her voice as she tried to explain herself. "I didn't do that!"

Zhou Tianshen grunted hoarsely. "I know what you mean."

"Ah…"

Another cry resounded in the air, making their skin crawl. If Xu Xiaoshou had shown restraint before with his earlier cry, he was clearly showing none if it now as he moaned out loud.

The two glanced at Xu Xiaoshou and noticed that he'd stopped shaking and was so still he looked like he was frozen.

A wave of spiritual energy surged from his energy reserve, sending the spiritual mist in the air roiling.

"A breakthrough?" They silently looked at each other.

Mu Zixi was frozen to the spot. Had a single touch caused his breakthrough?

Xu Xiaoshou remained sprawled on the ground.

He really couldn't take it anymore. In order to refine his pills, he'd taken vast quantities of Spirit Cultivation Juice the past three days and had been on the verge of a breakthrough. No one could have withstood that touch.

The spiritual mist that had been swept aside by the force of his breakthrough came flooding back in again. Xu Xiaoshou began spasming again. After his breakthrough, he could clearly discern droplets of spiritual source inside his energy reserve slowly assuming form.

The efficiency of it all…

…was simply incredible!

He bet he would be able to attain a breakthrough to the Innate Stage within half a day!

The Breathing Technique was an incredible skill!

If he could find a way to get rid of the waves of pleasure that came alongside it, it would be the perfect skill!

Another shadow descended from the heavens, then.

"Do you need any help?" Mo Mo strode towards Xu Xiaoshou, her right hand cradling her cauldron.

She'd noticed the symptoms Xu Xiaoshou was exhibiting and believed her sealing power might be of some assistance.

This was the man who had complimented her beauty to her person, after all. She should try to save him if she could.

She'd escaped Xu Xiaoshou's notice while they were outside, but now that they were inside the Tianxuan Gate, he was completely shocked at seeing Mo Mo a second time.

The Voidness Level!

Her cultivation level had reached the Voidness Level!

Xu Xiaoshou had killed a Voidness-level cultivator and attacked an Upper Spiritual Level cultivator. In fact, he suspected he'd been held by someone at the Master Level.

Sense had clearly recorded down the aura exuded by cultivators of varying cultivation levels. Even though the young woman was hiding her true strength incredibly well, Xu Xiaoshou could Sense her true cultivation level with just a single glance.

He remembered that Mo Mo had only just attained the early-stage Origin Court Level during their final match in the Windcloud Competition!

It hadn't taken her much time to jump from the early-stage, through mid-stage, late-stage, and final-stage of the Origin Court Level to the Voidness Level at all!

Was this some kind of joke?

"It's alright. I'm feeling fine now." Xu Xiaoshou stabbed four fingers into his palm, and his eyebrows twitched violently as he snatched the jade scroll from Mu Zixi's fingers.

"Is that so…"

"Well, I'll be off, then!"

Mo Mo gave a gentle smile before turning away and leaving.

Xu Xiaoshou watched her retreating figure and fell into deep contemplation. His Sense was completely drawn to the cauldron cradled against her right arm.

The uneasy energy that resided in her arm had grown more terrifying.

Xu Xiaoshou was seized by panic. He had no idea if his intuition or something else was trying to tell him something, but he could somehow tell that the energy residing in Mo Mo's arm was as powerful as the energy that the masked intruder had exuded.

"What has she got sealed inside that arm…"

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Chapter 127: Why Don't We Have a Fight?

Mo Mo left.

The other folks hovering above his head also left. Few of them were acquainted with Xu Xiaoshou, which meant few were concerned for his wellbeing.

The only person who lingered around was Yuan Tou, who seemed nonchalant, but Xu Xiaoshou had a watchful eye on him.

Watched, Passive Points 1.

This was one of the many notifications that he received, and he was certain that that fellow was the source of these Passive Points.

He had no idea what the man wanted. Hence, he didn't pay him much attention. Instead, Xu Xiaoshou turned to Zhou Tianshen and asked, "Where are you heading?"

Zhou Tianshen brushed his fingers against his Golden Domineering Blade before saying hesitantly, "Anywhere will do. The spiritual energy in the Tianxuan Gate is so rich I can cultivate anywhere. I guess if I'm lucky enough, I'll find the secret realm…"

Xu Xiaoshou knew that Zhou Tianshen's Innate Elemental Power was extremely unique. It was an art form in its own right. Focusing solely on the cultivation of his spiritual energy wasn't the best way to strengthen himself.

Cultivators like him typically had to undergo years of grueling training before they were suddenly struck by an epiphany. They might even break through to the Master Stage with that sudden revelation!

He didn't say a word and instead touched his jade scroll to his forehead, and the information contained inside it immediately appeared inside his head.

It was an extremely detailed map that was marked with the locations of various secret training realms. It must have cost a fortune.

Xu Xiaoshou was a little taken aback. He stared at Mu Zixi. "Is this from Elder Sang?"

"Yup!"

"He's trying to force me to head for the Black Cliff, isn't he…" Xu Xiaoshou muttered to himself.

He knew that the Spirit Palace didn't recommend new Inner Yard disciples who were entering the Tianxuan Gate the first time to seek out secret training realms. Just managing to remain in the Tianxuan Gate for the full three days was considered a good enough job.

The secret training realms had been set up for the new cohort of the Inner Yard Thirty-Three. Training in those secret realms was incredibly tough and was accompanied by the risk of death.

He looked at Zhou Tianshen again. "Hundred Soldiers Field and Slaughter Cape. Pick one."

Zhou Tianshen froze momentarily. Both were names of secret training realms in the Tianxuan Gate. "You know their exact locations?"

Xu Xiaoshou waved the jade scroll in his hand. Zhou Tianshen had a good heart, so Xu Xiaoshou didn't mind sharing the information he had with him. Zhou Tianshen would have to make up his mind and decide for himself, though, if he wanted it or not.

"That star is pointing north." He pointed at the sky. In the Tianxuan Gate, the skies were pure white and had only one lone star.

"Head for northwest to the Hundred Soldiers Field and south for the Slaughter Cape. You can decide for yourself if you want to head for either of those places!"

These were the two locations that best suited Zhou Tianshen's training needs. There was no point in heading elsewhere.

Zhou Tianshen was a little startled, not expecting Xu Xiaoshou to share this information with him so freely.

Such information could've fetched a pretty price outside the Tianxuan Gate.

The Tiansang Spirit Palace coddled their disciples in the Outer Yard, but once they entered the Inner Yard, it was akin to entering a microcosm of the real world.

The Spirit Palace would provide you with resources, but if you wanted information, then you would have to make a fair trade for it.

Alternatively, you could seek out persons who knew such information. For example, you could seek out the last cohort of the Inner Yard Thirty-Three and trade resources for information on the locations of the secret training realms.

"I'll head south, then!" Zhou Tianshen paused for a moment. "Thank you!"

Received Gratitude, Passive Points 1.

"Why are you thanking me? Treat it as repayment for the information that you shared with me outside the Tianxuan Gate!" Xu Xiaoshou said nonchalantly.

Zhou Tianshen wasn't very smart or tactful, but he was a nice guy to hang around with. Xu Xiaoshou didn't have many friends. On account of the information that Zhou Tianshen had delivered to him, albeit a few days late, Xu Xiaoshou was happy to call Zhou Tianshen his friend.

The giant grinned when he heard that. His grandfather was right. A good deed was always rewarded.

"Where are you headed?" he asked Xu Xiaoshou.

"Me?" Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Yuan Tou, who had his legs crossed and was cultivating in midair. He seemed eager to make use of every second that he had. But as a newly appointed member of the Inner Yard Thirty-Three…

Shouldn't he be heading for the secret training realm instead of setting up shop here?

"I think I'll head west!"

The Black Cliff was located in the east. Since Elder Sang had talked so much about it, he should really head there and have a look.

"Alright!"

Zhou Tianshen's eyes shone brightly as he pulled out his sword and declared loudly and proudly, "When you've reached a respectable level in your cultivation, I'll issue a challenge to you again. I'll defeat you!"

His loud booming voice nearly gave Mu Zixi a fright. Her wide eyes flickered between the two young men and almost seemed to sense the slightest ripple of passion course through the air.

Xu Xiaoshou pushed Zhou Tianshen's blade aside with two fingers and patted the young man on the shoulder.

"You're extremely childish, but I like it!"

"Onward, Pikachu!"

He turned to Mu Zixi. "Are you headed for the Senluo Woods?"

The Senluo Woods was the second location that had been specially marked out on the map. From the looks of it, it was a wood element treasure trove. The young lady definitely had her sights set on that place.

Mu Zixi nodded. "That's right. Why do you ask?"

Xu Xiaoshou glared at her. "Well, what are you waiting for, then? Make a move!"

Mu Zixi was silent.

She'd just given him a jade scroll and this was what she got in return?

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

"Fine, I'm going! Why are you yelling at me?" The young woman pouted before whipping her head away from him and marching off in fury. "You think I want to hang out here with you?"

He couldn't believe it. Was she mad because of what he'd just said?

Xu Xiaoshou was tickled. He yelled at her, "Can't you tell I'm worried that you're going to treat me like some amazing blood bag and be overcome by the urge to suck my blood?"

Mu Zixi halted in her tracks. Then, she flew off.

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

"Great. She's gone. Now for the next step…" he mused.

Xu Xiaoshou looked up at the sky. "Hey guys, there's no one here now. Why don't we have a fight?"

Yuan Tou froze when he heard what Xu Xiaoshou said. "A fight right now?" he thought. "Is he joking? The rest haven't gone that far yet. If Xu Xiaoshou dies, I'll be the primary and sole suspect for his murder.

"Three days later, lost in the secret realm, is how he's going to die!

Yuan Tou sniggered and ended his cultivation. All of a sudden, his hairs stood on end, and the heavy shadow of death enveloped him.

His spiritual senses flooded the area. There were two strange objects on the ground. They drew two black lines that intersected with each other.

Boom!

A deafening thunder shook the ground under Yuan Tou's feet, and waves of terrifying heat surged outward. Caught off guard, Yuan Tou was flung into the distance by the force of the explosion. His whole body was blackened like soot and his face as dark as thunder.

Blood came up from his chest and spilled from his lips.

"Are you nuts?" Yuan Tou was dumbstruck. He couldn't believe Xu Xiaoshou was serious and actually dared to attack him here.

"This is the Tianxuan Gate. Fighting isn't allowed here!"

Insulted, Passive Points 1.

Warned, Passive Points 1.

"Fighting isn't allowed?" Two Refined Fire Seeds appeared between his fingers. "If you really believe in those rules, why are you still hanging around instead of searching for a secret training realm?" he scoffed.

He paused for a moment. "Do you think I'm a swan or something? Are you going to eat me?"

"You're crazy!" Yuan Tou's face turned green underneath the layer of soot on his face.

Was Xu Xiaoshou calling him a toad lusting after a swan's flesh?

"Hold on a minute," he thought. "That isn't what's important right now… This guy has to be crazy to get into a fight with me after the rest just left."

Had his breakthrough turned him fearless?

But he was still only at Spiritual Cultivation Level Ten, even after his breakthrough. Why was he so full of himself?

"Control yourself. Control yourself!"

Through his spiritual senses, Yuan Tou could sense someone approaching. He knew that this wasn't the time for him to make a move. He had to take a step back… and not allow this to escalate.

Three days. He only needed to wait three days.

When everyone was gone, he would make sure this punk ended up lost in the secret realm.

Xu Xiaoshou watched as Yuan Tou flew higher into the heavens before leaping onto Hiding Pain. Unfortunately, the speed of his Reverse Sword Subduing left something to be desired. There was no way he could catch up with an Innate Stage cultivator.

"If you're a man, get down here and fight me!"

"Hahah! Look at that stupid idiot who can't fly!" Yuan Tou didn't look back as he flew away.

Xu Xiaoshou landed on the ground and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He'd finally managed to chase that annoying fellow off. After everyone left, his Sense had informed him of the man's intention to attack him.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't at all confident of his chances, and there was no way he was going to let Yuan Tou make the first move. Wouldn't it be fantastic if he could have more time to breakthrough to the Innate Stage before fighting the man?

That was the reason why he'd feigned wanting to fight the man when he actually wanted the opposite. The idiot had fallen for his trick, and he'd earned himself more time.

"He's probably going to try and kill me again three days later," he thought. "Well, after three days go by… it'll be too late by that point!

"What an idiot!"

Xu Xiaoshou caught the figure of Mu Zixi approaching from the distance and was tickled. The young woman still cared for her senior. She was a decent girl, unlike the ingrate Zhou Tianshen, who'd left and hadn't returned.

"Why did you come back?"

Mu Zixi froze momentarily. "Weren't you in a fight?"

"What fight?" With a jerk of his arm, he sent the two Fire Seeds flying into the air. "I was setting off fireworks! Look…"

Boom!

A loud explosion erupted in the sky, and waves of hot air surged outward.

"Isn't that pretty?"

Mu Zixi was silent.

She left without giving him another look. She knew it. She shouldn't have worried about him. Nothing was going to happen to this guy.

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

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Chapter 128: Sword Energy and Sword Will

Xu Xiaoshou headed east.

Because Yuan Tou was listening, he said he was heading westward. The fellow was probably going to hunt him down again. But, with the misinformation he'd just fed him, he might not be able to find him at all in three days.

Tianxuan Gate was a big place, after all.

He hummed a quiet tune, and, as he occasionally pulled his fingertip out of his palm, he could feel himself growing used to the pleasure rippling through his body.

In an attempt to stop relying on pain to distract himself from the pleasure, he yanked his fingertip completely out of his palm.

"Nngh!"

It still felt a little unbearable. Something strange was happening to his body again.

He steeled himself, bore the discomfort, and continued marching forward, no longer inflicting pain on himself.

The Breathing Technique was a passive skill, and, sooner or later, he was going to activate it by entering someplace that was rich with spiritual energy.

This was only the Tianxuan Gate. He was going to leave the Spirit Palace and enter secret realms that were even more powerful than the Tianxuan Gate. Was he going to stop cultivating and becoming stronger because he couldn't overcome the intense pleasure?

No way!

Resistance was futile. You couldn't fight life all the time. Sometimes, you had to learn how to enjoy it.

"Oh, man…this feels great…"

Alone, Xu Xiaoshou started to let loose.

As time passed, he gradually regained the ability to walk normally.

When other people entered the Tianxuan Gate, they would seize the day and either rush to cultivate or rush to locate a secret realm so they could cultivate there.

Xu Xiaoshou was different.

He'd always relied on his passive skills for his cultivation. He could've been lying down on the ground right now in the Tianxuan Gate and still would've been cultivating. In fact, the results he would've achieved from doing so could've surpassed that of those who diligently cultivated without wasting a single second.

He wasn't a complete sloth, though. He pulled out the jade scroll containing 10 Sections of the Finger Sword as he headed toward the Black Cliff.

This was the technique that the legendary prodigy of the five regions and Eighth Sword Deity, Bazhun'an, had created.

Now that he knew its origins, the jade scroll in his hands seemed the more valuable now.

He had no idea how Elder Sang had managed to acquire the complete version of the technique, but he was certain that he must've paid a heavy price for it.

"I didn't get a chance to look at it earlier, but now I can finally take a look!" he thought.

He placed the jade scroll to his forehead and allowed his mind to scan through its contents. Vast volumes of information flooded his mind.

It was as he'd expected. This was a special spiritual technique whose training focused solely on the practitioner's ten fingers. It didn't need a spiritual source. In fact, inherent in the technique were traces of combat strategies that relied heavily on Sword Will.

"What's going on? So the Sword Will doesn't possess the swordsman, then?"

Xu Xiaoshou was slightly baffled. Was this a fusion of Pure Sword Will Combat and Sword Will Possession?

"That isn't completely outside the realm of impossibility…" he thought.

Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he'd just been struck by an epiphany.

There was only one other person besides himself whom he could think of when it came to Pure Sword Will Combat, and that was the masked intruder.

And now that the jade scroll he had also seemed to touch upon Pure Sword Will Combat…he couldn't help but be reminded of what the masked intruder had told him. He'd said that the road that Xu Xiaoshou had chosen led to a dead end.

Had the Eighth Sword Deity chosen this path as well?

Without further thought, Xu Xiaoshou studied the contents of the jade scroll again.

In order to practice 10 Sections of the Finger Sword, one needed extremely strong fingers. He should be able to fulfill that criteria on account of his Innate Level Physique. Should that fail to suffice, he still had Sharpness to make up for it!

This wasn't going to be a problem at all.

The obstacle that had hindered nine out of ten cultivators from learning the technique was easily circumvented, and Xu Xiaoshou moved on to the second step.

The Sword Will was to materialize and take possession.

"What does that mean?

"The Sword Will materializes easily enough, doesn't it? I mean, all those sword energies…"

Xu Xiaoshou grew increasingly alarmed as he continued reading. From the contents of the jade scroll, it was obvious that there was a clear distinction between the Sword Will and sword energy.

After reading the full contents of the jade scroll, Xu Xiaoshou finally realized that he'd been mistaken all along.

His techniques like All Things are Swords, the Blade-draw Technique, and various techniques in which he used the force of his sword energy to overwhelm his foe… were all classified as basic ways of employing sword energy in the jade scroll.

He hadn't been using his Sword Will at all!

This meant that, strictly speaking, that all along he'd been using Pure Sword Energy Combat instead of Pute Sword Will Combat!

"This is fascinating…

"What happens if my will is unable to materialize and take visible shape? How can it be put to good use then?"

Xu Xiaoshou sank into deep thought, and it didn't take him long to remember his Modified Sword Style.

That was the technique he'd stumbled upon in an epiphany the first time he leveled up his Sword Technique Expertise. He'd been fighting Zhou Tianshen then, and the technique had allowed him to deftly deflect the latter's powerful Deity Mountain-Lifting Technique with little effort, winning him the match.

But that particular technique had proven useless in subsequent fights.

It was restricted by too many limitations and didn't have any set moves. He often forgot that he had it in his arsenal and would oftentimes use Blade-draw Technique instead.

Having read the contents of the jade scroll, he now knew that of all the techniques that he possessed, only one counted as a technique that relied on Sword Will.

Because he'd boxed them into a rigid set of moves, the techniques he'd gained through epiphanies had all ended up as lesser moves.

He might have given these abstract revelations visible form, but if he were to continue doing so in this fashion, he would end up straying down the wrong path in the long run.

"True combat with the Sword Will is one that is without form or essence, with neither move nor technique. Ten thousand blades are but one blade and ten thousand techniques undone without a single blade."

Realization dawned on Xu Xiaoshou as he read these words inscribed in the jade scroll.

The magnitude of what "ten thousand blades are but one blade" meant sent his mind instantly reeling, and the line that followed next, "ten thousand techniques undone without a single blade," opened the doors to a whole new universe.

How incredibly well put!

This was something he'd always dreamed of achieving!

He should've known how easy it'd be to stray down the wrong path when stuck figuring things out on one's own.

Hold on a minute…

Why did those words sound so familiar?

He suddenly remembered that the masked intruder had said something similar after fighting him with something that resembled his own style.

"The true Sword Will is not bound by levels and cares not for form or essence. It mirrors that which its foe tries to inflict upon it."

That was the line!

That was what the masked intruder had said after seizing Xiao Qixiu's sword and stabbing him with it.

Xu Xiaoshou's memory had drastically improved since acquiring Sense. All he needed was a brief moment of contemplation to recall something.

He could remember how after every move, the masked intruder had made a point of emphasizing…

Innate Level!

The Innate Level All Things are Swords and the Innate Level I Am the Sword…

The masked intruder had rambled on and on then, and he'd simply thought the old man was trying to show off. But now that he thought it over again, he couldn't help but be taken aback.

"Was he trying to give me pointers?" Xu Xiaoshou stopped in his tracks as realization dawned on him, and he sank into deep thought.

"Who is the masked intruder?

"Could he be the Eighth Sword Deity?

"That's impossible! Elder Sang told me that the Eighth Sword Deity died!

"Hold on a minute. He did mention the death…

"…of a prodigy. Maybe he meant the Eighth Sword Deity is no longer a prodigy.

Xu Xiaoshou's pupils shrank, and Xiao Qixiu suddenly popped into his head.

The man had been stabbed that day but had appeared extremely excited after the battle, which was odd!

Who would be so excited after being stabbed in the chest? Now that he thought about it, that look on his face then…

It was the exact look a fan had when seeing his idol!

Xiao Qixiu… a fan…

"Oh, man!" Xu Xiaoshou shivered.

Even if the masked intruder wasn't the Eighth Sword Deity, Xu Xiaoshou had a feeling that he still had something to do with the latter. He might be the Eighth Sword Deity's disciple or grand disciple.

"Woah!"

What a surprise!

Xu Xiaoshou collected his thoughts and carefully stowed the jade scroll away. If he hadn't read its contents, he wouldn't have realized what a treasure it was!

Thankfully, he had the jade scroll to point him in the right direction. Otherwise, he had a feeling he would've continued down the erroneous path of creating his own techniques.

But the Blade-draw Technique was simply too powerful a technique to give up…

If he were to abandon it, he wouldn't have any powerful techniques to employ in battle in the future!

"I'm painting myself into a corner…"

Xu Xiaoshou was at a loss momentarily, but he quickly shook himself out of it.

He was definitely going to choose the way of the Sword Will, but no one said he couldn't work on creating his own techniques at the same time. There was no inherent conflict between the two.

"I'm a genius!"

Xu Xiaoshou stared at the skies with a bright, burning look in his eyes.

Before reading the contents of the jade scroll, he'd thought the 10 Sections of the Finger Sword a technique that he could do without, but its contents had changed his mind.

The Eighth Sword Deity had deemed the 10 Sections of the Finger Sword his pride, so it must have its merits. Besides, he had gained such a powerful revelation from just one line in the text. If he were to master the technique…

He might gain himself a terrifying combat style!

His next destination: Black Cliff!

His calves tensed. The ground caved slightly under his feet, creating a crater, and the impact sent Xu Xiaoshou flying into the sky.

He landed a few hundred meters away.

Boom.

Another huge crater later, he shot into the sky once more…

Leaping around like that was quicker than Innate Level Flight!

"Hmm?"

"Why does this look so familiar?"

Xu Xiaoshou realized that something wasn't quite right as he continued leaping.

If his skin were a little greener and his body slightly bulkier, wouldn't that make him…

"The Hulk?"

Chapter 129: Black Waterfalls

Xu Xiaoshou leaped tirelessly across the sky.

The Tianxuan Gate was a massive place, and only ten people were allowed to enter at a time. Each person could amass a terrifying amount of resources from a single entry.

Since everyone had gone their separate ways, he hadn't come across a single person since he'd started traveling across the Tianxuan Gate via leaps and bounds.

Silence reigned between heaven and earth. Save the spiritual energy that was constantly rushing into his body, nothing seemed amiss.

It was then that he heard a faint sputtering sound.

His expression changed. Was the Black Cliff nearby?

After another few leaps, Xu Xiaoshou came across what he thought to be the light at the end of the tunnel. He landed firmly on his feet and was promptly blown away by the sight before him.

He felt as if he were standing at the bottom of a vast chasm. When he looked up, all he could see was a black waterfall that rose into the clouds. He couldn't tell where the waterfall started, only that it came pouring down from the heavens.

The waterfall was black, with white wisps of sword energy woven into its streaming waters. It rumbled as it poured, a resounding thunder that resembled the sound of boulders crashing into the earth repeatedly and unceasingly.

"Heavens. I'm going to be swept into the waterfall if I try to pass through it. The sheer pressure of the water's going to kill me!"

Xu Xiaoshou was terrified. He'd seen a small waterfall at Rao Yinyin's residence. But comparing the both was like…

…comparing a sandcastle baked in p*ss to the ancient heavenly courts. They were worlds apart.

He knew it. Elder Sang would never recommend him someplace that was comfortable or easy.

The waterfall cascaded into a huge pond, and in the middle of the pond stood numerous huge rocks that formed a path. It seemed to have been built specifically as a spot for cultivation.

In the distance was a slab of stone. Xu Xiaoshou approached it.

At the top of the slab of stone was the character "ba," and below it a list of names. There were a dozen or so names, and he was familiar with the one at the very end of the list.

"Su Qianqian."

So she'd been here before.

That meant…

His eyes shifted to the top of the stele. The character "ba" probably was a name too!

"Bazhun'an?"

He must be going crazy, jumping to conclusions just because of the character "ba."

There was no way the Eighth Sword Deity had ever been here before, as that would mean he'd once been a disciple of the Spirit Palace. If the Spirit Palace had indeed been graced with such a disciple, then the past deans of the Tiansang Spirit Palace would've been eternally rejoicing in heaven.

Besides, weren't Sword Deities supposed to gain enlightenment and mastery over their Sword Will with a single glance?

Xu Xiaoshou stared at the stele for a very long time, but to no avail. He failed to enter the legendary realm of the mysterious and profound. The Epitaph of City Snow would've been more useful than this!

"Hmm…"

After some thought, he decided that he shall mislead those who came after him. He unsheathed Hiding Pain and craved "no Orochi" behind what would now read as "Yamata."

Perfect!

"Next…should I leave my name?"

Xu Xiaoshou was a civilized man. He didn't have the bad habit of leaving comments like "I was here," but everyone seemed to be doing it…

He left the name "Xu the Beast" at the top of the stele.

"That sounds awesome and fearsome. It fits my character perfectly!" Xu Xiaoshou nodded satisfactorily.

He turned and stared at the black waterfall. The thunderous roar of its waters deafened him and made his eyelids twitch violently.

"So be it. Death is just a step away from the living world anyway. I have to give it a shot!"

His thirteen layers of clothing wouldn't afford him any protection at all, so he stripped himself down to his underpants and stepped on the huge rock in the pond with the awareness that he might not survive the journey.

Through his Sense, he could discern a cultivation platform at the end of the stone path, hidden behind the waterfall. The torrents tirelessly streaming onto the platform had turned the latter smooth and shining.

He steeled himself and plunged through the black waterfall like a leaping salmon.

Smack!

The rushing waters sent him crashing into the cultivation platform as soon as he dove through the waterfall, and he smacked hard into the stone like a dead fish on a hard board.

"What the…" The impact sent blood spewing from his mouth.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes were full of incredulity. He'd heard Elder Sang speak of the extraordinary heaviness that the water from the black waterfall possessed, but he hadn't expected the force of the black waters to penetrate and harm his Innate Level Physique.

That impact of that last blow nearly broke all the bones in his body.

Boom.

Water gushed downwards while the pressure of the waterfall came rushing in from all sides. It squeezed whatever pleasure Xu Xiaoshou had been feeling out of his body and left him with only overwhelming pain.

He struggled and barely managed to activate a barrier with his spiritual source, giving himself a moment's reprieve.

He sighed with relief.

Looking at his own terrible state, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't imagine the fate that would await someone who heedlessly plunged into the waterfall. Wouldn't that unfortunate soul be instantly torn into shreds?

Probably not…

Someone without an Innate Level Physique probably wouldn't do that without taking precautionary measures. They would set up a spiritual source barrier first before attempting to pass through the waterfall.

No one would try to throw themselves through the waterfall like he just did…

How reckless of him!

His spiritual source barrier was being flattened and was gradually caving in. Xu Xiaoshou decided to deactivate it and brave the crushing weight of the waterfall. It would make for good training. It was then that a sudden white sword energy came slashing down at him.

Rip!

His barrier was effortlessly torn apart, and the sword energy landed squarely on his shoulder and tore through his flesh!

Blood spurted everywhere, and Xu Xiaoshou yowled in pain. He felt terrible. Even though he'd been boosted by a number of passive skills, he'd still managed to sustain such a serious injury…

He knew it! This wasn't a place for Acquired-stage spiritual cultivators at all!

Before he could catch his breath, Xu Xiaoshou's Sense informed him of the significant number of white sword energies outside the waterfall that were charging at him. They'd been drawn to him like iron pins to magnets as soon as he'd entered the waterfall.

The sword energies were akin to countless bolts of silver lightning snaking down the heavens while he was the lightning rod that had drawn them to him.

"You must be kidding me!"

Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat, and his scalp prickled with numbness.

He was going to be cleaved into half if a few of those sword energies struck him right at the top of his head.

He tried to clamber to his feet and leap out of the waterfall, but a few sword energies sneaked up on him and hit him. Pain rippled through his body, and the crushing weight of the waterfall sent him sprawling on the platform once again.

In a blink of an eye…

Rip! Rip! Rip! Rip! Rip!

Xu Xiaoshou barely had enough time to curl into himself and shield his head with his arms before thousands of sword energies charged at him. The downward torrent of black waters colored the black pond red with blood.

"Attacked, Passive Points 1."

"Attacked, Passive Points 1."

"Attacked, Passive Points 1."

A dozen notifications instantly filled the Information Bar. One could only imagine the pain that Xu Xiaoshou was going through right now.

"Shit!"

The flurry of attacks made Xu Xiaoshou's face turn pale. He was completely paralyzed and could only rely on Eternal Vitality to heal himself. In spite of that, countless wounds continued to appear on his body.

The wounds weren't healing quickly enough!

Luckily, the cultivation platform was extremely smooth and reflective. Amidst the relentless onslaught, Xu Xiaoshou exploited the aftershocks of the attacks and very slowly and painfully slid off the platform and into the pond, where he was driven further into its watery depths by the fierce cascading waterfall.

He broke the surface of the pond with a gasp.

The sheer joy he felt from escaping from the jaws of death overwhelmed him as he floated, his unmoving body akin to a dead fish drifting on the surface of the pond.

His body was riddled with bleeding gashes!

"That d*mn old geezer! I shouldn't have believed his words. This place is worse than eating that Infernal Fire Seed was!"

After five minutes, his injuries began to gradually heal, and Xu Xiaoshou could finally move his limbs again, albeit barely. He stared fearfully at the black waterfall as he struggled to his feet.

If one wanted to be pedantic about it, he wasn't staring at the waterfall but at the white sword energies that had been able to inflict actual physical injury on him.

What happened?

Why had the sword energies attacked him after he'd entered the waterfall?

Had they been trying to kill him?

Without the sword energies, the crushing weight of the waterfall made this place the perfect place for strengthening his foundations.

But he couldn't simply ignore the sword energies and go ahead with training. That would be equivalent to a slow suicide.

What if he failed to slip out of the waterfall?

He might be diced up into pieces.

"Hah! I'm not suited for this sort of training!"

Xu Xiaoshou grimaced. He enjoyed training passively. Elder Sang was right. His foundations were strong. He didn't have to endure such suffering.

It was then that he checked the red screen inside his head.

His Passive Points had shot from 2500 to 2800 from the brief onslaught…

300 Passive Points!

It hadn't even taken 300 seconds. In fact, it'd only taken a span of a few breaths, with each breath spanning an average of 1.35 seconds…

"What if I were to do this for a day…"

The young man balled his hands into tight fists, and a look of determination flashed in his eyes.

"Hah! I'm not a masochist at all!"

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Chapter 130: The Ordinary Power of Thought

"What great timing!

"Let the storm pour! Bring it on!"

With a look of utter determination on his face, Xu Xiaoshou stood on the smooth surface of the cultivation platform, his hands shielding his head.

His body was covered in bloody gashes. But he remained unmoved. Real men never backed down.

This was already his dozenth attempt. He'd realized that not only did the crushing weight of the waterfall serve as a great way to train his physical body, but every slash from a sword energy also served to bring him a little closer to his next cultivation level. He wasn't going to let such a fine opportunity at cultivation slip through his fingers.

As for the Passive Points that he was accumulating every 1.35 seconds… well, it didn't hurt, but he definitely wasn't doing this for a few miserable Passive Points.

Passive Points: 6666.

Clang.

As he reached the verge of collapse, a tiny bathtub popped out of his chest and violently shook, the force of its vibrations sending him flying from the relentless waterfall. Xu Xiaoshou swiftly shoved the bathtub back into the ring hanging from his neck.

This was the backup plan he'd come up with to save himself, as he couldn't count on the slippery surface of the cultivation platform to slide him back into the pond. That wasn't a bet he was willing to take!

He floated like a dead fish on the surface of the black pond. After a long while, his injuries were finally healed, and he got back on his feet again.

"Well, look at all those Passive Points… Isn't the difficulty level of this training exercise a little overboard?"

He reached into his energy reserve and found that the crushing weight of the black waterfall and the relentless onslaught of sword energies weren't hindering his passive training at all.

His spiritual source sat like a thick heavyweight inside his energy reserve. If it wasn't for him having to expend spiritual energy on his training under the black waterfall, he had a feeling that he would have reached the final stage of Spiritual Cultivation Level Ten by now.

"The Breathing Technique is simply incredible. All you need is an environment with rich spiritual energy. This is like a hack!"

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. He was reaching near invincibility because of a single Fundamental Passive Skill, and he still had another eight Passive Skills…

His arsenal of Passive Skills was beginning to reveal its true capabilities!

He believed that his increasing strength would only serve to further develop the potential of these Passive Skills instead of weakening them.

After all, Passive Skills were typically skills whose strengths were fully revealed in the later stages.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes fell on the black waterfall again. He wasn't in a hurry to get back under the waterfall. Instead, he pulled out the jade scroll containing 10 Sections of the Finger Sword and went through its contents again.

Elder Sang had said that the Black Cliff was the perfect place to practice 10 Sections of the Finger Sword. He hadn't realized why then, but he knew now.

Somehow, the white sword energies that descended from the heavens could cleave through his foundational roots. In addition, if he examined them closely, he could catch a glimpse of fleeting profound wisdom hidden in them before said wisdom faded away.

It might be only a glimpse, but he'd already had countless glimpses flash past him.

This was definitely an excellent place to practice one's Sword Will and swordsmanship, and it explained all the numerous names on that stele: they were all the names of swordsmen.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't going to waste any time on the first step of 10 Sections of the Finger Sword, as he knew that his Innate Level Physique met the requirements. What he needed to do was understand what "the Sword Will was to materialize and take possession" meant.

According to the jade scroll, should one's true Sword Will materialize and assume visible shape, its form wouldn't resemble the plain blade-like appearance of the sword energy. Instead, it would look indistinct and almost indiscernible. It would be there and yet not there.

The jade scroll called it the ordinary power of thought!

That was right. Not psychokinesis, but the ordinary power of thought.

At first, he thought he'd misread the term. But after rereading the line repeatedly, he realized that that was actually what it was called.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled by it all.

Why was it named the ordinary power of thought instead of the normal power of thought?

Secondly, if there existed an ordinary power of thought, did that mean that an extraordinary power of thought existed as well?

Of course, these weren't his primary concerns. At the moment, he couldn't even figure out the concept behind the materialization of this supposed thought that was the Sword Will.

The information in the jade scroll was extremely vague and didn't include a clearly defined and comprehensive definition.

"Perhaps it's ambiguous stuff like this that defies definition that proves to be the most powerful?"

Xu Xiaoshou thoughtfully stroked his chin. He thought of Pure Sword Will Combat and how the jade scroll had explained the form of combat as a mystifying and profound art where the absence of techniques triumphed over the presence of techniques.

That sounded like something that could be done.

"Let's do it then!" he thought.

Xu Xiaoshou pulled on a layer of spiritual source cloak to reduce the damage inflicted by the sword energies and stepped into the waterfall another time.

This time, his aim wasn't to get more Passive Points, but to cultivate.

He had to let the white sword energies hit him so that he could fathom the meaning hidden within them. But he also had to prevent himself from getting severely injured, since that would affect his training.

He needed a protective layer that would weaken the force of the sword energies' attacks.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't possess any defensive spiritual weapons, so he could only fall back on his spiritual source as his protective layer. Fortunately, he had High Spirits. That would keep him going.

After a few attempts, he realized that he could withstand a longer duration under the waterfall.

His Sword Will became infused with the black waterfall and streamed up the dark waters, and the entire Black Cliff seemed to tremble for a brief second.

The next moment, countless white sword energies came slashing downwards in quantities that were tenfold, a dozen-fold more than the previous rounds.

"Shit!"

Xu Xiaoshou reeled back in shock, and he frantically threw himself out of the waterfall.

A loud explosion erupted, and the cultivation platform was turned into dust. Xu Xiaoshou trembled violently with terror.

What just happened?

Did someone have something against him? Why wouldn't anyone let him cultivate in peace?

He stared at the black waterfall that rose into the clouds and began to ponder. "What's up there?"

Why were sword energies and black waters pouring down from the heavens?

They couldn't have appeared out of nowhere. Everything had to come from somewhere…

It struck Xu Xiaoshou then that the sword energies in the black waterfall possessed a wisdom of their own.

"Is it possible that a spirit rests in these grounds?"

Perhaps his wild and thoughtless wielding of his Sword Will had disturbed its rest.

He shook his head violently. He shouldn't be thinking about this right now.

"Again!"

He flew into the black waterfall again. The cultivation platform had been smashed into bits, but there were still a few boulders in the waterfall. He picked one and stood atop it.

He cautiously unleashed his Sword Will, pulling it around his person like a cloak instead of sending it heavenwards.

"I knew it…"

The number of sword energies that fell upon him remained unchanged and didn't increase.

That sparked Xu Xiaoshou's curiosity. Anyone else in his place would have focused their attention on completing their cultivation within three days and getting the h*ll out of this place, but not him. As soon as something caught his interest, he simply had to get to the bottom of it.

Right now, he really wanted to fly up to the top of the Black Cliff and take a good look.

Unfortunately, he couldn't reach those heights…

"I'll focus on 10 Sections of the Finger Sword… and breaking through to the Innate Stage first!" Xu Xiaoshou made up his mind then.

After that, if time allowed for it, he would take a look at what was going on at the top of the Black Cliff. He would possess the ability to do so then.

He pulled his Sword Will in until it became a mere speck on his fingertip. This was so surreal. He couldn't believe that he was attempting to give form to an abstraction that was his will.

Xu Xiaoshou spent a good half of the day attempting to do that to no avail. He had no idea what he was doing at all. He threw himself out of the waterfall so that he could have a break and let his injuries heal at the same time.

"This doesn't seem practical. Will it really work?"

He tried a few more times, but to no avail.

Xu Xiaoshou started to doubt himself. He'd failed even though he'd followed the instructions in the jade scroll exactly. How had the Eighth Sword Deity thought of that step, and how had he succeeded in the first place?

He knew it. There was something wrong with the brains of geniuses…

They didn't think like ordinary men at all!

Xu Xiaoshou didn't charge into the waterfall again. He was a man who thought before he acted. Since the method inscribed in the jade scroll wouldn't work…

He would just have to change the rules!

This wouldn't be his first rodeo.

But something suddenly occurred to him. Why did he have to first release his Sword Will, then resummon it again for the possession to occur?

Wouldn't it be more powerful if it were the other way round?

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Read I Am Loaded with Passive Skills Chapter 131 - Sword Finger of Terror online for free - AllNovelFull

Chapter 131: Sword Finger of Terror

Xu Xiaoshou was completely stunned by this genius idea of his that he'd come up with. He calmed himself down and recalled everything about Sword Technique Expertise.

His Sword Will was derived from this trait, and he thought he might still be able to get something out of Sword Technique Expertise at the moment.

"It's really quite a pity. If only I could level it up more, even just one level further, I bet I'd be able to solve the problem right away."

Sword Technique Expertise brought massive amounts of knowledge every level-up, and every time he reached that stage, he seemed to find the answers he sought for the problems he was facing.

He couldn't absorb that much knowledge from it, but it was still enough, nonetheless.

It was a pity that the Level Two Skill Point column was still grayed out and thus unavailable for purchase, which meant there was no way for him to take advantage of it.

He didn't give up. While he was unable to find the solution despite spending hours working on it, he nonetheless gained some knowledge that he'd lacked before and found points that contradicted his previous ideas.

"Perhaps going at it from the inside-out will carve out a new path.

"Let's get to it."

He leapt into the Black Waterfalls again, but he didn't rush to spread his Sword Will. Instead, he calmed himself and then went on to fully experience the white sword aura that started cutting into him.

The thin, tightly packed sword aura hit him, and one seemed to tilt awkwardly to one side.

There was then a second slash, and a third…

The tightly packed sword aura came down from above Xu Xiaoshou, yet they crisscrossed each other and shot to the sides, unable to even scratch him at all.

He kept his eyes closed the whole time, but found it difficult to suppress his glee.

"That's Sword Will!" he thought happily.

He'd only put a basic understanding of Blade-draw Technique to work, and the sword aura around him had already failed to deal him any damage.

"I knew it…"

"That masked guy was right. No one would dare to use a sword on the one who has truly mastered Sword Will."

"That's because 'your sword would become my sword.'"

He suppressed his glee all the same. Having learned the true might of such will, he realized that "will" might just actually be more powerful than "form" from fixed movements.

He then attempted to make use of his will, spreading it from within to the surface of his body.

The minute distance between muscle and skin seemed to be an almost insurmountable chasm.

He sighed. He'd asked for too much.

He swept the white sword aura away, not allowing the attacks to interfere with him, and continued learning.

The heavy power of the fall's water assaulted him yet again, but because he'd freed himself from the sword aura's interference, he was able to quickly enter a trance-like state.

It seemed like an instant, yet that instant felt infinite.

He saw an illusion of the fleeting white clouds, which was the same scene he'd seen when he'd developed Acquired Sword Will for the first time.

"This is my place."

When the white clouds appeared again, he felt like he was as light as a feather, and despite being weighed down by the heavy waters, he felt like he was in the clouds.

He willed and Hiding Pain shot out with a whoosh.

Vooomm.

The entire Black Cliff trembled violently like a tiger that had been startled, and the burst of anger around him was laid bare for all to see. Boundless sword aura came down on him right away.

Swoop, swoop, swoop.

All of the attacks missed.

He opened his eyes and shot upward.

His surroundings trembled at that moment, with the sky ringing and spirit qi howling like a dragon, shooting for his energy reserve. Sword Will then lethargically emerged like slivers of mist.

White gas was rising like smoke from his body.

He seemed to have glimpsed the Great Path, yet the Great Path had merged into a single, and there was only a black sword before his eyes.

He focused and recovered the image. He saw the furious Black Cliff continue to shoot sword aura at him, yet all of the incoming sword aura attacks were swept effortlessly away by his "white cloud state."

The white mist emanating from his body gradually blurred before disappearing altogether.

His expression became one of glee instead.

"Psychokinesis!"

"Ptuih… Good old psychokinesis. Let's go!"

He shot out of the Black Waterfalls and hovered midair, holding two fingers erect.

"Psychokinesis," he mused.

"It's invisible, but I can undoubtedly sense it."

He merely held up two ordinary fingers, yet a magnificent, terrifying sword aura shot to the air as soon as he waved them, the power of which was every bit comparable to his Blade-draw Technique.

Boom!

The sword aura cut into the Black Waterfalls, and the heavy water was actually immediately cut open, causing the fall to halt in midair and then fall again after a second or two.

Boooooom…

He then proceeded to do so with all 10 of his fingers, cutting upward, and the resulting attack actually reversed the flow of the Black Waterfalls, causing it to shoot upward for quite some time before falling down again.

"Man, this is dope!"

"No wonder you don't need any fixed sword moves. With Sword Will made solid like that, there's really no need to use any moves, as just a single flick of the finger can bring about a blow!"

He felt like he'd made quite the breakthrough in terms of his understanding of the sword. His Innate Sword Will had remained the same, and his level hadn't increased, but something had happened to his understanding of the "way."

He recalled how the masked guy had kept emphasizing "Innate Level" back then, and he wondered if the masked guy really hadn't been lying after all.

True Innate Level meant melding oneself with one's surroundings.

And true finger sword meant that the finger was the sword, and the sword was the finger.

He took Hiding Pain in his hand and swept it through the air, and a blast of sword aura disappeared into the clouds.

He peered into his energy reserves and found that despite having launched so many attacks, he was only somewhat mentally exhausted. His spiritual source had seen no drop in quantity.

Elation, shock, and all manner of complicated emotions rushed over him.

It was only then that he realized that the true path to "pure Sword Will combat" required no use of spiritual source at all.

Before, depleting his spiritual source through his several Blade-draw Technique only meant he'd gone astray. He hadn't at all realized that he'd taken the wrong path.

"I needed not to see the form of what I sought. I needed only to be steeped in it."

He was stunned and put Hiding Pain away. He gazed at his ten fingers.

It was only after having mastered the 10 Sections of the Finger Sword that he'd finally realized that "common psychokinesis" was actually a special state that existed between will and sword aura.

It was formless, yet it was tangible.

The essence of it wasn't in its form but in its expression.

Simply put, it was just like the attacks that he'd thrown earlier…

Sword will existed when his will was still and unmoving, where his 10 fingers were just 10 fingers. As soon as he put his will to work, the sword will was converted to moving thoughts, culminating into psychokinesis, and thus his 10 fingers became swords.

The expression of such "thoughts" was what actually gave rise to "aura" or "qi."

Not only had his previous path confused "will" and "aura," but also it lacked the "thoughts" in-between them. As such, the two had become increasingly irreconcilable, unable to return to the same point of origin.

He flicked his fingers, marveling at it all.

That "ordinary power of thought" could actually be so terrifyingly powerful, eh.

His 10 fingers, when infused with said "average power of thought," were, in a way, already sharper than Hiding Pain.

"The 10 Sections of the Finger Sword really is something indeed."

"But that eighth sword deity is still the more powerful one. Just how imaginative does one have to be to come up with something so terrifying that can be successfully implemented?"

He had to admit his inferiority. He lowered his head, about to land on the ground below.

"Huh?" he thought.

"Land?"

"Oh sh*. I'm hovering midair?"

He was thoroughly shocked. It was only then that he realized that the spiritual energy that had gathered around him was no longer as gentle as before, and that it'd come swarming at him instead.

It looked like moths flying at a fire without a care for their lives.

He seemed to realize something, but this state didn't last for long, and what he'd initially speculated seemed about to come true.

His energy reserve trembled, and his spiritual source seemed about to become solid.

"In-Innate level is coming, then?"

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Chapter 132: Innate Level. Eating Everything Up.

"How should I go about it?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt rather helpless as he started to make a breakthrough into Innate Level.

Someone else might have been able to use some kind of technique, some active measure, to go on about it.

In his case, however, there wasn't even such a technique he could use. He could do nothing but watch as his body went on to make a breakthrough…

"D*mn…"

"Can't do. Have to do something somehow!"

He was the true master of his own body and he had to do something about it.

He looked down at his body. "You really think you can just make a breakthrough just because you feel like it?

"H*ll no!"

He suppressed it, causing his energy reserve to compress for a bit before springing open again and absorbing even more ambient spiritual energy around him.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

"Whatever," he thought. "Things have already come this far. I can no longer do anything to suppress it, and there isn't any actual need to do so, so come on and get it over with, then."

He then took out the Innate Pill, which he'd gotten as a reward for becoming champion.

He'd heard this thing could increase his understanding.

He didn't think he'd need it, yet he still gently sucked it in nonetheless, reducing the pill into a stream of gas as it flowed into his body. This was the only thing he could do for himself.

He didn't like the idea of watching his body make a breakthrough while he just stood by, doing nothing.

As soon as the pill entered his body, he felt his mind grow calmer, stripped of all excess thoughts. He became highly focused to where the only thing that existed was his raging energy reserve.

"It's actually useful?" He shrugged off of his exceedingly focused state and, after thinking for a bit, dived back into his breakthrough, deciding he couldn't afford to waste anything.

The waves of his energy reserve were frighteningly fierce and wild. Then, the waves subsided and charged, like a tsunami was about to hit.

His spiritual source was depleted to nourish his body, and it felt like his entire body was filled. It felt so good he almost felt like moaning.

A blast of golden light descended from above and immediately washed over his energy reserve.

He could hear the sound of mantra chants from all directions, and the Great Path seemed clear before his eyes, but he opened them to find only the void without that true nature of the world he'd hoped to see within his sight.

The raging ambient spiritual energy stagnated, and, the very next second, gobbled up his body like a black hole.

Under the light that shone onto it, rapidly working and sucking in all that thick, viscous spiritual source, an origin emerged from his energy reserve, culminating into a transparent ball of light.

All 10 levels of spiritual cultivation returned to his energy reserve as the ball of golden dragon's light made its way into Innate Level.

A terrifying spiritual force spread out from his energy reserve, and it shook his surroundings, causing a spiritual mist to wash all over the Black Cliff.

He felt as if he'd ascended to some higher heights, and his soul was entirely absorbed into the realm he was in. While he was still unable to make out the Great Path, he felt himself become inextricably linked with it nonetheless.

His being melded with the Great Path.

His moment of enlightenment was over, and he'd gained a lot. His eyes gradually focused, and his consciousness came to the depths of the center of his brow.

"Now that my powers are now at the Innate level, it's the time to open up the Origin Court."

The spiritual source, which had just stabilized in his energy reserve, shot upwards into the center of his brow without stopping.

The place, which had been sealed shut for years, vaguely started to appear now that he'd made a breakthrough into Innate Level, and it wouldn't be around for long. He directed his spiritual source to bang on the gate without a moment's hesitation.

Booom!

His mind rumbled. Said gate swung wide open after that one strike from his spiritual source, which was several times far more raging than others.

He was utterly shocked at how easy it was. "Isn't this a little too much…"

The gate was opened, and the Origin Court appeared.

His vast inner landscape spread right before his eyes, and he was even able to see the very source of his own soul.

The spiritual source rushed into the Origin Court, and his will entangled with it, completing the evolution in an instant.

Spiritual senses.

It was a special ability similar to "Sense," yet somehow different.

At the moment, his Sense allowed him to clearly visualize everything within a 10-meter radius, while spiritual senses could scan everything within a radius of several kilometers.

What was different about them was that only a vague outline materialized in the latter's visualization.

But he was elated all the same, as the two didn't conflict with each other. Both perception abilities could be used at the same time to compliment each other, which was a great thing for him.

While the breakthrough looked like it'd taken a long time to accomplish, the process had actually taken only mere seconds. All the aura around him had broken into Innate Level from Acquired level as well, thoroughly completing his transformation.

However, the spiritual energy that had rushed into his body in a frenzy continued to rush in. He looked very expectant as he looked at his Origin Court, fully focused on it.

He could see a vague humanoid silhouette at the center of the place. That was the source of his soul.

That thing seemed to grow at blitzing speeds as it kept absorbing ambient spiritual energy, and it wasn't long before it took its form.

His Origin Court trembled at that moment as a beam of multicolored light from the source of his soul shot to the sky.

"Innate Elemental Power!" He looked on, his eyes full of anticipation, while clenching his fist. "I wonder what it'll be."

He looked at the scorching red color within the beam and sensed that the red was apparently very thick and matched him extremely well.

"The element of fire?"

He was very excited. "Element of fire and four other colors still around?

"Am I going to get a complete set of the five elements?

"Well, well…

"Looks like I, Xu Xiaoshou, is the diamond-in-the-rough kind of a genius. I actually managed to get all five el…"

But his excitement didn't last for long. A red interface appeared at the top of the beam of light, and a massive mouth seemed to open up, gobbling everything up.

He was baffled.

"What kind of a joke is this!?

"Godd*mn you, spit it all out right now!"

He was very flustered at the moment. "I was looking forward to getting my Innate Elemental Power and it just f*kin' had to eat up everything like that?

"You were nowhere near that active before, yet you just had to come out and steal my thunder like that?

"Oh, you piece of sh* of a system!!"

He was extremely furious and so badly wanted to stop it that he actually thought of destroying the system right away, yet he was unable to do anything.

Despite him mobilizing massive quantities of spiritual sense and blasting it at the red interface, the interface remained unchanged, as if he hadn't even hit it.

"D*mn you…

"You actually canceled out the damage!

After gobbling everything up, the red interface didn't bother saying or doing anything else before leaving without a trace.

At that moment, the source of his soul seemed as if it were struggling to contain something really big. Then it shuddered and fired a beam of white light.

"There's something else?"

He was utterly shocked, wondering if he was indeed… a genius among genius, someone who was able to awaken a two-fold elemental power.

While the beam of white light was a lot thinner, as if it lacked something right from the start, the brimming sword will it carried seemed to have suppressed all those five colors from before.

"This is something."

"Well, well, I, Xu Xiaoshou, is indeed a genius, the likes of which no one has seen before, despite the system's suppression!"

He stood akimbo and laughed out loud, berating the heavens. "Hahaha, you piece of… huh? D*mn, what are you doing? Stop it!!"

The red interface, which had initially receded, also seemed to have been baffled by his super talents, as it started to reconsolidate the next second.

That massive formless mouth opened and gobbled up the light, then disappeared shortly afterward without a trace.

"F*k you!"

He was utterly flabbergasted.

"My two-fold Innate Elemental Powers, all eaten up eh?"

At that moment, deep down, he felt like he'd been utterly betrayed, and his hatred was so intense he felt like he could've brought down the heavens.

Yet, he simply dejectedly dropped from the sky, with his eyes looking completely hollow, as he figured that it would be a pointless exercise. His powers had all been eaten, after all.

But just when he was starting to feel dazed, he saw the source of his soul shudder again…

"I'll be d*mned. There's still more?"

He was elated, yet the source looked like it was only shuddering from anger. It started to become blurry, and nothing more came out of it.

"Got squeezed dry, eh?"

Boundless rage filled his heart, and he saw the source of his soul shoot to the sky, making its way into that red interface.

He was flabbergasted, and he spread his spiritual sense to the limit to try and stop what the source was doing.

"Don't be rash!

"What will I do if you end up being eaten!?" Xu Xiaoshou very much wanted to cry as he saw that very much blurred source of his soul, his heart full of sorrow.

"Remember this."

He directed his spiritual sense at that red interface that had disappeared in the air as he shouted to the top of his lungs, "Remember it, my brother!

"This red interface is the enemy! We shall seek our revenge when we got stronger in the future! We shall rip it to shreds!

"For now, let's calm down…"

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Chapter 133: System Upgraded

Xu Xiaoshou comforted the source of his soul and emerged out of the Origin Court, his face deadpan.

He could curse and yell all he wanted. It wouldn't change anything.

But, he nonetheless noted, that was the first time he'd seen the System do something like that.

"There has to be some reason for it…"

The System usually didn't do anything besides make messages pop up in the information bar.

The rest of what the System did was just that wheel and allowing him to buy skill points in the mall. Hmm, the System could also mess up his rate at drawing prizes.

There was one thing undeniable about the system—it had too little presence. Its presence was so unbelievably low that he'd almost forgotten that it was called the "Passive System," not "Information Bar."

Yet, it did that outrageous thing today…

But, before he could further mull it over, the System, which had gotten full from the "meal," popped up again through the Information Bar.

[Passive System] upgrading. Please do not interfere.

He was stunned by what he read.

Upgrade?

His eyes lit up, and he wondered if the System had repented after eating up his two-fold Innate Elemental Powers and was about to compensate for it by upgrading his success rate at draws.

But his heart soon sank. "No, no, judging by the System's habits… it'll probably lower the success rate of the draws instead.

"No, don't!"

He wanted very badly to get in the way of the System's upgrade, but it didn't give him the chance to do so. As soon as the line appeared, the entire red interface subsided from his mind.

Just when it was about to disappear completely, a line appeared below the Information Bar, catching his attention.

Passive Points: 66666.

The very "lucky" string of numbers caught him off-guard and almost blinded him, figuratively speaking.

Why that many?

He recalled the last time he'd seen such a string of numbers. It had also appeared to be all sixes. Yet, there'd only been four digits then.

There were five digits this time?

He rubbed his eyes and peered at it again, yet the red interface had completely gone.

He was so flustered he immediately took out Hiding Pain and stabbed his hand. He pulled the blade out and the wound healed.

"Good thing the passive skills are still around…"

From the looks of things, the System had truly gone somewhere else for upgrades.

It became clear that there was no point mulling over it, so he ignored the matter entirely after that.

He recalled what he'd last seen—his Passive Points at over 60 thousand—and calculated the time, thinking he'd only been at the Black Waterfalls for about six to seven hours.

He recalled that he'd spent most of those hours getting hit, resting, resting more, then getting hit again.

"I managed to wrack up that many Passive Points through all of that?

"Well… not actually that many. If I were to calculate the number of Passive Points at the rate of 30 to 50 points a second, being at it for six to seven hours would mean… around a million points!"

He jumped at the result of his calculations, but calmed down before long.

"That's just insane!"

He noted that it'd be impossible for him to stay standing in the waterfalls and let the sword aura cut him up the whole time. Generally speaking, even if he were to remain there for just half a minute, he'd end up with cuts all over his body.

He'd spend a good deal of time recuperating, as it took almost half an hour every time.

"But!"

He then chuckled all of a sudden, recalling that inside the Passive System's mall there was a "Level Two Skill Point" that had been around for a long time but was greyed out, thus making it unavailable for purchase.

"That means I could probably buy it after the upgrade, right?" he thought.

He'd wanted that thing very badly for a long time now, and thought of upgrading "Eternal Vitality" after that.

"Hehehe, wouldn't that mean a continuous flow of Passive Points, then?" He giggled sheepishly.

"Yeah…

"Right, the upper limit of passive skills is at 'Innate, Lv.1' before the upgrade. So with the upgrade… 'Master, Lv.1' then?

"Master Level!?

"Holy sh*!" His eyes immediately lit up at the thought.

"'Strengthen' at Innate Level brought me Innate Level Physique. Does that mean that at Master Level it would become the 'Master Physique' that Elder Sang told me about in his story?

"That's a limit the entire continent has a hard time breaking through!

He got extremely excited, thinking that it was alright for the System to gobble up his two-fold Innate Elemental Powers. So long as it was able to upgrade his current powers, he could even give the source of his soul…

"Ptuih! No, not that one!"

Vooom!

His head felt like it'd been pulled, and it hurt, as if his brains had been twisted into a knot. The pain immediately snapped him out of his thoughts.

He peered inside his brain, finding nothing around.

He willed and sent his spiritual sense into the Origin Court, and the red interface suddenly appeared above his source of the soul again.

The Passive System.

"Upgrade completed?" He gauged the system with anticipation, but was stunned the next second.

Well…

Wasn't it going for an upgrade? So why did it look the same as before, like something you could pick out of a street stall? Was this so-called upgrade just a change in location?

His bright eyes darkened. This could be bad news!

He went on to check the Information Bar, which was the only medium the System used to communicate with him.

The Information Bar read:

Congratulations. Upgrade of [Passive System] successful.

New module unlocked: Awakening Pool.

Special Passive Skill acquired: Passive Fist.

Three lines and one filled with bullsh*.

The word "special in the line "special passive skill" immediately caught his attention.

There were only three major types of passive skills that he currently had at his disposal: basic, extension, and expertise.

So, from the looks of it, this was also a type in itself?

"Special passive skill…"

He took a look at the red interface, and a new module actually appeared below. There was only one message:

Passive Fist (upgrade unavailable).

Ehem!

Upgrade unavailable?

"Well, well, isn't this something? A passive skill that helps save me points. This is quite a bargain."

He then scanned with his spiritual sense and immediately acquired detailed information regarding that passive skill.

Passive Fist: Real Damage.

Passive Fist: Charges when attacked, depletes all charged points when unleashed. You can't just stay on the defensive all the time. When one has to take the initiative, one takes it. When patience no longer suffices, there's no need for patience.

Passive Fist (charge points: 0.00%)

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know what to say.

"I get it. All the passive skills I drew before were meant to get me prepared, and now you're just giving me a reason to get myself pummeled, eh?

"What the h*ll is with that 'When patience no longer suffices, there's no need for patience' anyway?

"You stupid System, what the h*ll are you really trying to get me into, man?"

Regardless of what he thought about it, however, he tried to figured what "real damage" meant.

"Real damage like how it is in games? Does it negate defense altogether?

"If that's the case, then this passive skill really is quite formidable."

He clenched his fist and punched the ground.

Boom!

A massive crater resulted.

That was his Innate Level Physique at work.

He took a deep breath and berated, "Passive…

"Why the h*ll does it sound kind of dumb?…

"Whatever… Passive Fist!

"Hah!"

Boom!

A massive crater resulted again.

The resulting crater was hardly different from the one before.

He was flabbergasted.

"Is it because there are no charge points to it? 0.00% charge points, so no amplification in damage potential, then?"

He shook his fist and looked at the Black Waterfalls. The place was capable of hurting him, so it should be able to add to his charge points.

But, instead of heading to the waterfalls right away, he looked at the second line in the Information Bar instead.

New module unlocked: Awakening Pool.

He searched for a bit, but didn't find anything on the red interface. Suddenly, he recalled that red wheel from the mall and immediately went inside the mall.

There was indeed a pitch-black, small pool lying quietly below that red wheel.

"Awakening Pool!"

Chapter 134: Getting Rich Quick!?

Awakening Pool: Performs Awakening to Extended Passive Skill.

The short line of introduction immediately caused Xu Xiaoshou to shudder.

Passive skill…awakened?

He knew just how formidable the passive skills he currently possessed were, and he wondered if the skills would become insanely overpowered if they were further awakened.

But he soon calmed down after noticing the conspicuous word "extended" in the introduction line.

"Only 'extended passive skills' are available for awakening, eh?"

The line didn't mention any other limitations, yet it stressed the word "extended," which apparently meant that "basic" and "expertise" passive skills were already out of the question.

It went without saying that "special passive skills" were also incapable of being awakened, given that that type wasn't even available for level ups.

He turned his gaze from the Awakening Pool and looked at the boxes in the mall instead. There were four items in the boxes.

Level One Skill Point (purchase: 1000 Passive Points)

Level Two Skill Point (purchase: 5000 Passive Points)

Passive Key (purchase: 5000 Passive Points)

Awakening Stone (purchase: 10000 Passive Points)

Being a stingy guy to begin with, the first thing he saw when he checked out the prices was that the price of the Passive Keys had increased by more than five times, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"What a godd*mn rip-off! That thing only cost 1,000 Passive Points before… The price of one thing going up causes the others to go up as well, eh? You actually wanna do it like this?"

The next second, he saw that an Awakening Stone would cost him 10,000 Passive Points and felt as if he'd just taken 10,000 points of damage to his heart. His face turned ashen.

"What the…"

"I went through all that sh*t to get only like 60,000 points, yet I could only do Awakening six times?"

He wouldn't have cared about this if success were guaranteed, but when he recalled the probability of getting something good from the System, he figured that he would end up getting severely ripped off again.

"Hold it for now. Don't do anything rash," he encouraged himself, returning his gaze to the "Level Two Skill Points" that he'd been anticipating for a long time.

When compared to the other d*mned things, at least skill points didn't depend on chance.

Level Two Skill Points cost 5,000 passive points, and he imagined the kind of power that a Master Physique would bring.

But the price was so reasonable that he felt like the System was being a little too generous, and he wondered if something had gone haywire in the System for it to sell it to him at such a bargain.

However, he quickly came to realize that he had nine passive skills, and upgrading just one to Master Level would require 50,000 passive points.

Nine skills…

450,000!

"Holy sh*!" He immediately slumped onto the sands of the Black Lake.

"What kind of a f*ked up System is this? That's a godd*mn slaughter, man!"

He felt like he was the one who'd gone haywire instead for actually thinking that the System would be generous. Had the consecutive breakthroughs rendered him dumb?

With a massive burden of 500,000 passive points, he looked at the Black Waterfalls again, and the rumbling of the water was like music to his ears.

He'd initially felt that he was a man with a strong spine and that Passive Points earned through pain wasn't his way of doing things, yet at that moment…

He launched himself into the falls.

"Come on!" he thought.

"Whip me hard, baby!

"If you can't get me down on the ground today, you should stop calling yourself Black Waterfalls and just call yourself a white one instead."

The howling sword aura immediately stunned him. It was invigorating and caused him to immediately cool down and put up his defenses.

"Woah, woah, hold it right there.

"How about an upgrade to uhh… Eternal Vitality?"

He frowned. He'd initially thought that faster recovery meant he would yield more Passive Points.

But come to think of it, "Strengthen" would be a better choice.

"So long as my physical resilience goes up, the lower the damage the sword aura could inflict on me.

"What I really need to be concerned with right now is that I can't afford to upgrade it all the way to Master Level. If I were to gain a Master Physique and the sword aura could no longer deal me any damage, boy, imagine the losses!

"I have nine passive skills to feed here, man!"

He then traded his points for a "Level Two Skill Point." Even though he could've easily traded for ten with over 60,000 Passive Points at his disposal, he chose to cautiously trade his points and go for one level at a time instead.

"While bulk purchases of skill points are indeed awesome, let's just leave it for some other time in the future."

Strengthen (Innate, Lv.6)

After going beyond level five, a blast of white sword aura, which could've resulted in a huge gash on his shoulder at an earlier level, was reduced to little more than a flesh wound.

It was right at the sweet spot where it could deal him damage and earn him Passive Points, yet was far from able to affect his movements.

"Couple that with 'Eternal Vitality'… boy, that's like earning points unscathed!

"Yippie!"

With his hands behind his back, he stood in the Black Waterfalls and casually walked about inside, feeling completely at ease.

After walking for a bit, he suddenly recalled that being at Innate Level meant he could fly. He quickly connected himself with his surroundings and his body levitated midair in no time.

"Fly."

Being able to fly in the air without having to use Hiding Pain was a dream come true to him.

He was feeling very, very pleased with himself, and there was a happy look on his face as he flew through the air. He found the experience an utter pleasure. He was wracking up points, getting accustomed to Innate Level powers, and familiarizing himself with flight all at the same time.

Furthermore, his training continued without at all stopping.

"My gosh, after getting into Innate Origin Court Level, it really feels like I'm gonna take off in more ways than one!"

He then recalled Yuan Tou.

"Hehe, that dude is beneath my notice now.

"Zhang Xinxiong, was it? You dared to come and try to kill me over and over, eh? I'll give you a taste of what I'm made of when I emerge from the Tianxuan Gate.

"I was called the 'Little Animal Xu.'"

"But from now on, I shall be known as 'Xu the Beast!'"

He felt all his glee and pride were going to his head, and he felt a little pompous. He knew that it was bad for him, yet somehow, he was unable to just quell that restlessness inside him.

His sword will spread out in a burst. Having infuriated the falls meant that the place was enraged enough to assail him with a tightly packed sword aura right away as expected.

Pfftt, pfft, pffft.

Bloody gashes appeared on his body and quickly healed.

He was very pleased with himself. The white sword aura blasts that had tortured him several hours ago was now something he could totally ignore after having undergone just one breakthrough.

Passive Points, which were coming at 30 to 50 points per second, immediately doubled, shooting to over 100 per second.

Furthermore, by this point, he no longer even needed to rest.

"Let's do a few calculations…" He was so excited that his hands were trembling. While his mind was being slashed into mush by the sword aura blasts, he put his fingers up again, his mouth shuddering the whole while.

"Six times six equals 36, an hour has 3600 seconds, considering that I'd earn at least 100 points a second…

"360,000!"

"D*mn, I could feed all of my babies into grown-ups in just two hours!

He became beyond excited and his hands, which he'd kept stuck to his thighs, spread outward, and he shot upward like Iron Man.

"Come on! The one who fails to continue after 2 hours loses!"

The higher he flew, the more enraged the blasts of white sword aura became, and the number just kept rising.

The number rose from 100 points per second to 200 and then 300 points per second.

His smile was so bright his face felt like it was about to split. "Yeah, no point in increasing the number of attacks without adding to the damage."

Pfftt!

But as soon as that thought came to mind, a supersized blast of white aura came at him from out among the others, almost tearing his arm right off of his shoulder.

He was immediately startled.

"Man, stirring up trouble now, are you?"

He immediately became focused. While his spiritual sense couldn't detect that supersized sword aura among all the other tightly packed blasts, his Sense could.

As such…

"Evade! Dodge!"

"Hehe… you missed!"

He flipped about, conserving his strength throughout the whole time as he played around.

The blasts of white sword aura from above became even crazier. He looked at the Information Bar and, seeing the numbers jump like crazy, became concerned that the System would've immediately blown up right now if it hadn't been upgraded earlier.

"Hmm, doesn't seem like it would. It's crude, but it's still the System.

"Come on! Make me rich!"

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Chapter 135: Master Physique

Attacked, Passive Points 1.

Attacked, Passive Points 1.

Passive Points: 100861.

Passive Points: 200404.

Xu Xiaoshou was feeling so good at the moment that one could say he was having a high.

He left only a bit of his spiritual sense in the Information Bar and used the rest of his remaining mental focus on evading supersized attacks from the falls.

It took little more than 15 minutes for his Passive Points to near 200 thousand. As to why the number was only 200 thousand…

The white sword aura blasts came in such a frenzy it was like they were on steroids. They blasted him in a fit of rage, happening at a rate that easily exceeded 500 points per second, and that rate was still climbing.

He would've been in utter glee if only this were the case, but the supersized blasts were coming a lot more frequently as a result, so much so that one came every second.

At times, the blasts came from all directions, and he was completely unable to evade them, resulting in him having to leave the Black Waterfalls to avoid these maximal attacks.

"Keep it up, Xu Xiaoshou!

"Just stay in there for a little while longer. You'll get all the points you'll need."

His eyes were filled with steely determination. Fearsome attacks were incapable of deterring him entirely. If it hadn't been for trying to avoid losing pounds for pennies, he could've simply upgraded "Strengthen" to the fullest, yet doing so would've been irrational.

Pfftt, pfftt!

Two massive gashes were wrought on his body again, and the pain was so intense that he hissed.

Before he left the Black Waterfalls, all the white sword aura coming from above disappeared all of a sudden, which baffled him.

"What's happening? You're done already?

"Come on, man. You gotta keep it up too!"

He was immediately flustered. However, he shuddered all of a sudden, and the spiritual sense in his mind threw up a red alert.

He immediately looked up and saw the top of the Black Waterfalls turn completely white as an enormous white blast of sword aura came down on him.

He was completely frightened and knew that his eyes weren't fooling him when he received confirmation from his Sense.

That wasn't just any white sword aura. This was a white sword aura of a size unlike any other, and it was all over the place.

"What the f*k? You really are doing this, eh?"

There was no time to escape the waterfalls, and he dumped as many of his Passive Points into a single skill as he could in the nick of time.

Strengthen (Master, Lv.1).

"It's truly gotten to Master Level…" He was dumbfounded by what he read on the Information Bar.

Boom!

But he didn't get to be happy for long, as he was brought all the way to the bottom of the Black Lake by that utterly terrifying enormous white sword aura blast, which caused an explosion of water tens of meters tall.

His surroundings were all dark, and he couldn't see anything.

Crack!

He cracked his neck to straighten it, then realized that he'd ended up being lodged deep into the bottom of the lake.

Completely stunned, he rubbed his neck.

"That kind of hurts…" Other than for his neck being slightly crooked from being brought down by that unbelievably terrifying blast of sword aura, he was actually totally unscathed.

"That's the power of Master Physique, eh?"

He then recalled Elder Sang's Infernal Heavens. In the past, he'd never thought much of the frightening might of that torturous spiritual technique, but now he'd come to see things differently after acquiring Master Level.

"That technique is indeed godlike!"

All that pain he'd suffered before was nothing if it meant making a breakthrough and gaining the Master Physique, which was something few across the entire continent could reach.

"Pain for a time, but a resilience that lasts for life. Who wouldn't make that trade, eh?"

With a physical body of such terrifying resilience, he figured that spirit weapons of tenth and ninth grade probably wouldn't be able to do him any damage.

"This is rather definitely insane…"

After dumping his skill points and obtaining Master Physique, he became utterly impressed and had nothing but reverence for those who'd made such breakthroughs and reached such a level through solely their own might.

"Those are true men indeed."

That step from Innate Level Physique to breaking into Master Physique was nothing short of insane.

Given that at such a level he'd emerged totally unscathed from that enormously supersized white blast of sword aura, he could only imagine just how much pain the others had gone through during their pupa stages before emerging as butterflies.

He detected a stench that made him aware that his body had just detoxified itself again.

"A body of Innate Level Physique, something deemed near-perfect, can actually wrack up such a level of stench… boy, this is horrifying."

He then leaped like a monkey and burst forth from the bottom of the lake, shooting up to the skies.

His body was indeed covered in black goo.

After getting into the falls to wash himself for a bit, his entire body practically sparkled right away.

His build was solid and wiry, sparkling with a mystical light, and had a vague fragrance, making the phenomenon very surreal.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, very satisfied.

"Hey, something's not right?

"Why aren't the blasts coming at me?"

He looked up and found that the white sword aura no longer took him as a target. They dropped down without a care, as if the blast before had been the last of it and the falls had completely lost interest in him.

"Oh, come on! I'm not dead yet. Keep it coming!"

He then glanced at the bottom of the Information Bar.

Passive Points: 288666.

"It hasn't even hit 300 thousand yet!

"That's quite a ways away from reaching 400 to 500 thousand points, man!"

Even though he called at the white sword aura and even blasted his sword will in a frenzy, he didn't get a response. It was as if the waterfalls were totally done with him.

He was furious beyond description, and he cursed at the falls for being useless.

But then again, he noted that he wouldn't be getting any more Passive Points without the falls responding to him.

He leapt outside the waterfalls to the ground, feeling rather displeased. But, in general, he was still happy with the results.

While he did lament that the points hadn't yet reached 300 thousand, this was still the first time his points had gotten to such a height, and he was nonetheless happy about that.

If the points were to be converted to draws…

That would be nearly 300 draws!

After doing the calculation, he was completely shocked, and the answer comforted him considerably.

"That's quite a loot. At the start, I didn't intend to exchange my body for Passive Points. That's just so not me. Getting inside the waterfalls was mainly for training… Points and whatnot were beside the point."

He waved his hand dismissively, then seemed to recall something. He checked out his special passive skill.

Passive Fist (charge points: 2.11%).

"What the h*ll?"

All those hits and only 2.11 percent worth of charge points?

He was feeling rather dizzy. The upper limit of the "Passive Fist" was rather terrifying. Even if he were beaten to death, would the points never exceed 10 percent?

He wanted to test the skill's power, but he stopped himself from doing so.

Despite being only at 2.11 percent, he nonetheless believed that the tones of beat-downs he'd taken had definitely accumulated terrifying energy, and he couldn't afford to waste it.

"I should throw just one punch at Zhang Xinxiong's face to see its effects. Boy, that would be fun.

"Let's check out the loot, then."

The Black Waterfalls ignored him altogether, and he was also feeling rather tired. With a smug look on his face, he glanced at the red interface, nearly 300 thousand points in his pocket.

He didn't need to level up all of his Passive Points in one go. There was still a long way to go, and he didn't need to rush.

Prioritizing what to level up with the 300 thousand points would be enough.

"Whatever. Let's reserve 100 thousand for the Awakening Pool. Ten awakenings… hmm. Even if it ends in a failure, I still need to test the new function out.

"Well then, 180 thousand points left…

"'Strengthen' is already full, so that one's out. Eight more to consider, then.

"The three basic passive skills look very promising, but I can't afford to allot them much. Let's first go with 'Eternal Vitality.' This is a godlike skill, after all."

Life and death still mattered the most, so he dumped the points into Eternal Vitality without hesitation.

Eternal Vitality was a passive skill that could save him at critical moments. Having super-high attacks still paled in the face of solid survivability.

Eternal Vitality (Master Lv.1).

Raging lifeforce surged inside him, making his body glow even more mystically. He moaned from the pleasure of it.

"Yep, 50000 points gone…"

The corners of his mouth twitched. He'd gone through all that pain just to have his points all dumped away like they were nothing.

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Chapter 136: Get Strong! Stronger! Even Stronger Than That!

Xu Xiaoshou decided that if he were to allocate 50000 points to "Sword Technique Expertise," it would definitely become something awesome that he could use for a killer move of sorts at key moments.

Yet, he definitely couldn't afford to do that at present. If he were to make a breakthrough into master swordsman level, he would definitely be in a very dangerous situation.

"Su Qianqian is such a genius, and she's yet to reach this level, whereas I just joined the Inner Yard a few days ago and have already reached it. Yeah, I'm still fundamentally an Outer Yard disciple. Becoming a master swordsman is just ridiculous."

"It would catch too much attention.

"Even if I have Elder Sang backing me, I can hardly be considered safe.

"Furthermore, there's just no telling if that old fart is stable. What if he just goes crazy all of a sudden and wants to dissect his disciple—me—instead?

Xu Xiaoshou felt that the likelihood was rather high.

There were 50000 points left, and he wondered where he could put these points.

He thought about it long and hard. The remaining skills all served their own unique purposes, so it was difficult for him to decide at the moment.

"Breathing Techniques?"

With the others being more or less of the same importance, he could only return to his most fundamental passive technique, yet he quickly dismissed the thought.

His training didn't actually have much to do with the level of his Breathing Technique. On the surface, it wasn't hard to tell that the higher the levels of his passive skills, the faster he could level up.

Yet, that wasn't actually how things worked. Cultivation resources were still the key.

While his Breathing Techniques were useful enough for absorbing ambient spiritual energy, he still had to suck in some other things, like Spiritual Cultivation Pills, Spirit Cultivation Juice, Red Gold Pills, Infernal Fire Seeds, and so on.

Regardless if any of those could actually help further his training, there was no doubt that anything that contained a good bit of spiritual energy would have a portion of it converted into his powers when they were absorbed into his body.

As such, despite the level of his Breathing Techniques not being all that high to begin with, he was nonetheless able to make breakthroughs at such a breakneck speed that anyone would've been astonished at his rate of progress.

"Getting from Spirit Cultivation Level three to Innate Level seemed to have taken me less than a month, I guess…"

He was feeling rather sheepish. If someone had pondered this, they would've quickly discovered that something was off with him.

He wasn't the Eighth Sword Deity, and he didn't think for a second that he had what it took to resist all those who bore him ill will.

"Well, if there's no actual need to upgrade…" He took a look at the mall and the passive keys, which had gotten more expensive.

"Have a go, then?"

He decided that his first draw after the System's upgrade would bring him good luck. He recalled the time when he'd first played the wheel and acquired a passive skill with just two to three keys.

"Well, the new System might have increased the chance of getting passive keys, and I could get five passive skills with just 10 keys." He was invigorated.

Passive Points: 238666.

Passive Points: 138666.

He dropped 10 keys into the red wheel and put his hands together. "RNGesus bless me!"

Thank you for your patronage!

You got one key!

Thank you for your patronage!

Thank you for your patronage!

You got one key!

You got one key!

Thank you for your patronage!

Thank you for your patronage!

Extended Passive Skill acquired: Agility

Thank you for your patronage.

He gasped at the result, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"I actually got something?

"Agility!?

"That's like the godlike technique of my dreams!

"Agility… that should mean enhanced movement speed, enhanced reaction time, enhanced movement techniques, and some more such things, right?

"Or is it to say that everything's enhanced?"

He was no longer a novice when came to the System. According to the System's habits, every single passive skill should be able to boost a certain, specific part of something.

Which also meant that the possibility of having everything in said part enhanced was greater.

"Is that to say that this one technique of mine is worth the same as countless movement-type spiritual techniques and others' deliberate combat training?

"RNGesus! This is definitely the blessing of RNGesus!"

He was elated and felt fortunate that he hadn't thoughtlessly put in his points before. That decision had allowed him to gain a super passive skill that could almost rival "Strengthen," and his combat prowess had definitely been considerably boosted.

He then put all "Level One Skill Points" into that newly acquired passive skill.

Agility (Innate, Lv.1).

His mind seemed to have been showered by an elixir of some kind, as it felt refreshed and seemed to work a lot faster.

He shuddered and made another draw with the remaining three keys, but, as expected, he got nothing in return.

Passive Points: 178666.

He finally realized that he shouldn't focus on putting points into skills. The system had just been upgraded, which meant the rate at which new things could be drawn would definitely be somewhat higher.

"The Awakening Pool!"

His eyes lit up as he looked at the Awakening Stones in the mall.

One for 10000 passive points.

"Let's go!"

His Passive Points were deducted accordingly, and an azure stone of irregular shape appeared. Its surface was shimmering, and, after he took a good look at it, he found that the stone was shimmering with all the Extended Passive Skills he'd acquired.

He willed, and only Strengthen remained on its surface.

Given that he'd been able to get this far mostly thanks to Strengthen working so well in battle, he saw fit to focus on that skill first.

He then threw the Awakening Stone into the Awakening Pool, causing splashes.

He subconsciously checked the Information Bar.

Awakening failed!

"Sh*!

"10000 points all for nothing just like that!"

But he restrained himself. He'd be able to at least awaken once in 10 times. If the probability was lower than that, then he'd only be able to afford to try it out one more time when he had one million points to spare.

Another one, then!

Awakening failed!

His eyelids twitched. This System was brutal enough to not even wait a second before giving him another failure.

"Keep going!"

Awakening failed!

Awakening failed!

There was no one below the Black Cliff, yet bubbles suddenly appeared in the lake.

His face was already red, as he'd failed his seventh try at the bottom of the lake.

He'd tried throwing an Awakening Stone in every place he thought might have good Feng Shui to where the only place that remained was the bottom of the Black Lake.

He prayed devoutly for quite some time, then threw an Awakening Stone at the pool yet again.

Awakening failed!

"F*k!"

Having had enough, he viciously threw another stone in his hand into the Awakening Pool, then shot forward out of the lake.

Fresh air shot into his nostrils, and he took the moment to check the Information Bar.

Awakening succeeded!

Strengthen (Awakening: Raging Giant)!

He was very shocked.

Boom, boom, boom!

Over a dozen craters appeared on the ground, and he looked like an ape in some mountain as he beat his chest in utter joy.

"Raging Giant. What's this thing?" His face was all red as he lay in a crater and then bent Hiding Pain into a U-shape.

"Never mind. If a System that's so awful at naming gave the skill a name with such a temper, then the awakening effect must be something decent.

"I wonder if I'll turn into a giant when I get attacked, eh?"

His eyes widened, as he was unable to believe what had popped into his head: Attack on Titan.

"Can't do. But I probably need to order more clothes just in case."

Huff.

He took a deep breath and yet another one. "Sh, calm down already!"

He forcefully calmed himself down and climbed out of the crater.

Passive Points: 88666.

The awakening of that one skill had cost him 90000 passive points, which was within the range he found acceptable.

He wanted to reserve 50000 points for "Sword Technique Expertise," but then he figured he would get frustrated unless he did something with his remaining points.

"Well, since I've decided to take it slow and easy, I'll just leave 10000 points, then, and I can use my knowledge to figure something out and get myself out of a pinch at critical moments."

He took a look at "Agility." Undoubtedly, the passive skill had the potential to rival "Strengthen."

Agility (Master Lv.1)

His body moved and he felt like he was flying, which shocked him.

He looked ahead of him.

Swoop!

The distance of several hundred meters was covered in an instant.

"Holy sh*! This is frickin' teleportation, man!"

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Chapter 137: Brute Force Approach

Black Cliff, Tianxuan Gate.

"Hehehe, hehehe…"

A young man wearing only his underwear was cradling his knees as he sat on a huge rock sticking out of the lake, giggling like an idiot. This had been going on for quite some time.

Truth to be told, Xu Xiaoshou actually no longer knew just how powerful he'd become.

It'd been a painstaking effort for him to kill Zhao Shu and come up to scratch with the new Inner Yard Thirty-three in terms of powers. Yet, making another breakthrough into Innate Level had made him confused yet again.

"Zhang Xinxiong?

"Yeah, big deal."

He no longer even considered that man to be a threat. If the man were to have a big brother or something who was of Master Level, then fighting him might be a problem.

Master Physique…

He didn't want to be arrogant, but he felt that he'd indeed tried his best to underestimate his own powers.

Not only did he have Eternal Vitality at Master level, but the awakened effects of "Raging Giant" still had yet to be triggered.

"Oh, right. There's also Master Level 'Agility.'

"Well, does that mean I can graduate now?"

He immediately shuddered, and didn't allow himself to pursue that thought any further, as his life would be in danger if he did.

Judging by the stories that Elder Sang had told him, the old fart was probably of talents far above his and had possessed Master Physique at a young age, which meant that his powers were…

Unfathomable at present.

"But then again, something is off. I've just made a breakthrough into Innate Level, so why do I already feel that everyone in the world is beneath me? Am I seeing things or something?

"What if I find myself to be nothing more than a paper tiger when it comes time to fight?"

He was in the middle of deep self-doubt. The growth of his powers was a little too terrifying.

"Whatever. Whatever comes, comes."

He sorted out his feelings and checked over his items. There were still about 38000 left, which he decided would serve him well as a trump card.

He would level up his "Sword Techniques Expertise" by five levels in one go if anyone got on his bad side. So long as his mind could still function, his enemy's brain would be the one to get bashed instead.

"Huh?"

After checking everything, he found that he'd actually overlooked something.

Cooking Expert (Acquired, Lv.6)

"Why is there still a passive skill at Acquired Level?"

"Well, 5000 passive points. That's no big deal." He then dumped the necessary points into the skill to level it up.

Cooking Expert (Innate, Lv.1)

A great deal of knowledge surged into his mind, and he felt as if he'd just recognized all manner of Acquired Level herbs and meats.

He seemed to know their medicinal purposes and how they mixed with each other, as well as the effects of the mixes. All of this knowledge made him realize that they were all interconnected.

But what was even more terrifying was that he came to know what meats would work with what type of spiritual medicine to get mystical effects.

It all came to him like an epiphany.

"Umm, am I supposed to like develop pills made of meats, then…" he thought, a puzzled look on his face, as he knew that doing so would be to go off-course.

He thought that perhaps it had something to do with him having opened his Origin Court, as he was able to process all of the knowledge that surged into his mind within mere moments.

"Alright. I'll leave them be for the time being."

He reminded himself that he wasn't inside the Tianxuan Gate, so he couldn't delve into alchemy. And, besides, this was something that would take him considerable time and effort to look into, so he deemed it wise to save it for when he returned home.

"280 thousand points well spent."

He felt a mix of emotions. While the System's upgrade had gobbled up his two-fold Innate Elemental Powers, in general, he hadn't lost for it.

Of course, he mostly had the Black Waterfalls to thank for that.

There was only one thing that he could say about it all—it felt nice.

He stepped inside the falls yet again, and he was already able to completely ignore the weight of the heavy water. He felt nothing being subjected to it.

The white sword auras were utterly incapable of doing him any harm, as they would be instantly deflected, unable to deal him even a single scratch.

He looked up and came back to his previous speculation.

But the Black Cliff couldn't have such sapience. While it was quite possible that the entire mountain was actually sapient, he was more inclined to believe that there was something fully sapient at the top of the cliff.

He couldn't fathom why there would be white sword auras blasting about in the falls otherwise.

It just didn't make sense.

Furthermore…

"Black Cliff. Sounds like a name someone standing on top of the place would come up with."

He looked up and decided that he would call the place something like "Black Moat" instead.

"Hehe, there's definitely something left up there to be found, and that thing might actually be a sword. By the way, isn't there some saying like…

"Treasures are left are for those destined to take them?"

He considered himself to be that destined person and immediately shot upward, moving at blitzing speed. Despite the massive weight of the Black Waterfalls, he moved unhindered.

If this place could no longer be used for earning Passive Points, then he would just pick the place clean of loot before making his way elsewhere, then.

He had all the time in the world to spare, as he'd already completed two of the goals he'd come to the Tianxuan Gate to achieve. The next minor thing he had to do was just earn as much as he could.

"There's the Black Cliff, so who's to say there isn't a White Cliff, or even a Purple Cliff, eh?

"Let's go!"

He shot over a kilometer upwards, a height he hadn't dared to climb to when riding his word to fly. However, given that he could already fly on his own, there was no longer anything to fear.

"So long as I keep my eyes up and don't look down."

By the time he reached the height of over three kilometers, his legs were already wobbling, yet he gritted his teeth and kept climbing.

"So high already, yet the limit is nowhere in sight yet."

The Black Waterfalls seemed to still be rumbling above his head, as if it had no end, but he didn't believe for even a second that there this waterfall didn't have an end to it.

"What? You think this is something like 'the Milky Way descending from the ninth heaven' or something?"

Thump!

As he kept climbing at frightening speeds, he seemed to crash into some formless barrier, and he plummeted from the impact before quickly steadying himself.

"The end is here?" He was more excited than shocked.

When he looked up, he saw that the waterfalls were still falling from above.

He could see a clear rippling effect above him. It was obvious that the formless barrier had materialized when his Master Physique crashed into it.

He went near the barrier at once and touched it. It felt spongy and sticky.

He clenched his fist and threw a punch.

Booom!

He was sent flying yet again, but his Sense allowed him to see the barrier shaking violently, bobbing up and down as it became unstable.

"Well, well, isn't that something? 30 percent power from someone with Master Physique and it just took it like that. Not bad."

He was just about to throw another punch when he saw words start to appear on the barrier after it finished wobbling.

"No admittance."

Boom!

Sparkling bits of light exploded, and he shot right through the shattered barrier and continued his climb.

"Was there something around just now? My eyes are blurry, and I can't see a thing."

After passing through the barrier, there were still only the Black Waterfalls. It truly seemed like that place had no end.

Yet he kept climbing without stopping. "H*ll, you've met your match today. Even if I have to go to the top of the sky, I'll find where this waterfall ends."

He was about seven kilometers away from the ground when he felt that something was wrong.

A barrier was seen in midair again.

"Another one, eh?"

Before he could attack it, the words "no admittance" appeared on the barrier, and he closed his eyes instead.

Boom!

Boom!

70 percent power, 100 percent power… shattered!

He just kept climbing while reeling in shock. What kind of a thing was up there to warrant such a level of protection?

He recalled that those at Master Level were unable to enter the Tianxuan Gate, but the gate's level of protection was so great that it probably rendered the place off-limits to average Master Level ones too.

He'd already climbed up to 10 kilometers upward, yet the anticipated breathing difficulties never occurred, and he ran into the third barrier as anticipated instead.

He took a deep breath and kept up with his speed.

"Let's give it a try."

His next punch was at 120 percent as he put the force of his flight behind it and rammed into the barrier, breaking the speed of sound.

Pfftt!

The recoil caused him to spit blood, and he was sent flying over 100 meters away.

He stopped attacking. His eyes were glittering with excitement.

"There's definitely treasure to be had! Probably a treasure unlike any other given the level of protection around it!"

He wasn't about to give up. Even though he'd put 120 percent behind that punch before, it was still just an ordinary punch.

"You think that I, Xu Xiaoshou, is someone who fights with this? What a joke!

"If an ordinary punch can't do the job, how about the 'ordinary power of thought' then, eh?"

He closed in and touched the barrier, yet he didn't choose to attack the barrier with sword aura.

Such a level of protection only meant that the more powerful the attack, the greater the recoil.

"But if I were to focus everything on a single point…

"10 Sections of the Finger Sword!"

He closed his hand and erected two fingers, then thrust them at the barrier, which actually broke right away with a crack.

He tore the barrier open and immediately leapt inside.

The top of the cliff!

His pupils dilated as he jerked his head to look at the place.

"This is…"

Chapter 138: Spirit Curtain Wheel of the 12 Pearls

Back at the Tiansang Spirit Palace, it was early morning, and the sun was about to rise.

It'd been almost a day since Xu Xiaoshou and the rest entered the Tianxuan Gate.

Zhao Xidong was fast asleep in a dark room at the side of the Council Hall.

As one of the ones prioritized by the spirit palace for cultivating, he'd been given the very important task of guarding the Tianxuan Gate despite his repeated mistakes.

The room was empty, and, save for Zhao Xidong, who was dead asleep in the room, there was only a table and a purple crystal spirit wheel hovering midair.

The wheel was very intricate and beautiful, with dragons and phoenixes carved into it.

12 white jade pearls were hovering on the wheel, and they looked sapient. All of them brought about a curtain of bluish-green light, which made them look rather mystical.

The Spirit Curtain Wheel of the 12 Pearls.

The pearls corresponded to the 12 realm-stabilizing treasures in the Tianxuan Gate.

It'd taken a massive ton of financial and human resources on the part of the Tiansang Spirit Palace to connect with an extradimensional realm with that wheel. As such, the task of guarding it could be considered both a heavy and a light burden, depending on how one looked at it.

Zhao Xidong was tasked to guard the spirit wheel. If nothing went afoul for three days, that would mean everything within the Tianxuan Gate was doing fine.

Yet, if something were to happen with the wheel… the way Zhao Xidong saw it, there was still utterly nothing he could do, as he was outside the Tianxuan Gate and couldn't do anything to salvage anything inside the gate.

The only thing he could do was report the abnormalities to his superiors.

Furthermore, if it hadn't been for Elder Xiao saying there might be a traitor or a mole in their ranks, the higher-ups probably would've sent just about anyone to guard the wheel, as they'd done in past years.

Arrhhh!

Zhao Xidong, who was leaning against the door as he dozed off, was suddenly jolted awake. He'd dreamt that Xu Xiaoshou had made a breakthrough inside the Tianxuan Gate and blew up the entire secret realm.

Thump!

His head slammed against the door, and it hurt so bad that he hissed.

Zhao Xidong wiped the drool off of his mouth and turned around, wiping the drool on the door with the back of his hand as he stood and focused on the Spirit Curtain Wheel of the 12 Pearls.

Everything was fine.

"Huff… seems like I've been overthinking things. Well, it's not like someone like Xu Xiaoshou could end up blowing the entire secret realm, right? It was nothing but a dream, then." He drank from a cup, then sighed.

"What's with this Xu Xiaoshou anyway? He keeps popping up in all my dreams as of late. Man, something is wrong with him.

"That guy really is a living nightmare."

A clear cracking sound reverberated in the room as he put his cup on the table.

Crack!

He was immediately stunned. The sound definitely hadn't come from that cup before his eyes, but from behind him.

He was trembling as he turned around. He then saw that one of the protective barriers on one of the pearls on the wheel had cracked.

The shimmering pearl immediately turned dark.

"Holy sh*!"

He was felt like he was about to go crazy. "What the h*ll!? It actually broke!?"

The protective barrier on that pearl corresponded to the three protective layers guarding the treasure stabilizing the realm. The pearl darkening meant that the treasure had been taken.

"There really is a mole among us?" He was utterly shaken.

He opened the door with a bang and rushed outside, thinking to report the matter to Elder Xiao at once, yet he quickly turned around.

He then carefully carried the wheel with him. The wheel couldn't be chucked into a space ring, as it was connected to an extradimensional realm. The spatial clashes could bring quite the disaster.

"Sh* does happen. The boss really knows stuff indeed."

He left the Council Hall and headed straight for the Spiritual Affairs Division.

Crack!

Yet another pearl's protective barrier shattered as soon as he took flight, causing him to wobble midair and crash to the ground.

"Oh good heavens. What the h*ll is happening inside the Tianxuan Gate? Who's causing all that mess in there!?"

The pearl that had lost its protective barrier flashed briefly, looking like it was about to turn dull, yet it still emanated light somehow.

"Hold on, man."

He anxiously sped up and disappeared from the skyline.

Four men were gathered in a dark, stifling-looking room.

Qiao Qianzhi was so puzzled as to why Elder Sang had taken a liking for braised pork feet all of a sudden that he actually didn't even bother taking a bite of the roasted goose that he used to like so much.

He put down his chopsticks and said in a serious tone, "The Holy Divine Palace has made their statement. The target of the 'Holy Vassal' this time is the 21 Famed Swords. Legend has it that a miracle will happen with all 21 of them collected.

He paused and then continued, "The Holy Divine Palace shouldn't have made such a statement. This case was initially known only to a handful, yet now the entire continent is talking about it.

"I heard that there are some who are faking it. In some places, the sword wielders have switched hands for an untold number of generations already."

Elder Sang didn't bother looking up. "How do you know that the ones faking it are not the ones from the Holy Divine Palace?"

Xiao Qixiu, who was off to the side, was stunned, and put down the roasted goose. "That's impossible. The Holy Divine Palace has been maintaining order across the continent for so long. If they were after the famed swords, they would have long since gathered them in one place."

Elder Sang snickered. "Do you really think it'd be that easy? I'm afraid that even the most powerful force in the entire continent would find it impossible to do something like that without anyone knowing about it.

"The ones in power only gain the most benefits in times of chaos. Do you think the 'Holy Vassal' could've developed so quickly throughout the years otherwise?"

Ye Xiaotian voiced his disagreement. "If we can't even believe in the Holy Divine Palace, then there's no place for the spiritual cultivators across the continent to rely on."

Elder Sang glowered at him and said, somewhat irked, "That's why I said the spirit palace has rendered you all fools throughout the years!

"When the fight for the Great Path is concerned, who would you believe other than yourselves, eh?"

All three of them fell silent. They couldn't refute this.

Qiao Qianzhi chuckled and tried to blow the whole matter over. He waved his hand and said, "Well, no point talking so much about it. The issue has little to do with us, and you, Xiao, I'm afraid you'll have to be more alert, and don't let Qianqian go anywhere."

"Sure." Xiao Qixiu nodded and, deeming it unwise to do anything rash at such a critical time, decided to securely put his token away.

"There's one more thing…" Qiao Qianzhi looked at the three of them. His expression was solemn.

"The 'White Cave' has been up to something as of late. It's rumored that a fabled treasure has appeared there, and now everyone knows it."

"The 'White Cave'… treasure?" Xiao Qixiu only pondered this for a split second before a passionate look appeared in his eyes. He was shocked enough to get on his feet and say, "One of the swords of the Eighth Sword Deity?"

Qiao Qianzhi gestured for him to sit down, but he nonetheless knew why the other man was so shocked.

No swordsman would turn a blind eye to anything left behind by the Eighth Sword Deity. He nodded and answered, "Yes, I'm afraid that the Holy Sword Land of the East will be shaken because of this."

Elder Sang rolled his eyes and said, "You lot have been overthinking things. Rumors are just rumors. Which sacred ground in the world doesn't have rumors about things he left behind, eh? Have any of you actually seen anything?"

Qiao Qianzhi then replied calmly, "But this time, the thing was specifically named the 'Fourth Sword.'"

Elder Sang was rendered speechless for a moment.

"Who spread such rumors?

"The Holy Divine Palace?

Elder Sang was irked. "What is wrong with that d*mned palace, eh? So they're the ones verifying it, then?"

Qiao Qianzhi nodded slowly. "Yes."

All three of them understood why Elder Sang was so ticked off.

That old man before their eyes put his life on the line over 30 years ago and had only brought back the scabbard of the "Fourth Sword." He'd been waiting for the moment when the sword could be properly sheathed again.

That was one of his purposes for returning to the spirit palace to resist the machinations of that masked man after traveling all over the place.

His second purpose was to wait for the day when the "White Cave" was opened again.

Yet, with the news leaking out like that, there was just no telling how many in the world would interfere in the matter.

Elder Sang sullenly took a gulp of wine and looked at Ye Xiaotian. "How about a bet?"

"Hmm?"

"I assume that all of you don't buy that the Holy Divine Palace is up to no good despite their glamorous façade. How about a bet to see if they'll do something this time, then?"

Ye Xiaotian was stunned and asked, "What if the Holy Divine Palace does get up to no good?"

"Nothing." Elder Sang smirked. "I bet those clean, pristine people will definitely come up with some glamorous excuse to get slots to enter the 'White Cave' from the spirit palaces of the 10 prefectures."

Ye Xiaotian raised an eyebrow. "That huge of a bet, eh?" he thought. "Betting on even how the palace will act?"

"The stakes?" he asked.

Elder Sang put his chopsticks down and said in a serious tone, "That regardless of what Xu Xiaoshou manages to get his hands on in the Tianxuan Gate, you'll all turn a blind eye to it."

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Chapter 139: The Spy

"Are you kidding me!?"

Ye Xiaotian slammed his fist against the table, as he knew what Elder Sang's words actually meant. "You told him to go out and find the treasures stabilizing the realm?"

"Stop it, that's ridiculous." Elder Sang gestured for him to calm down and explained, "I was just telling him to train at the Black Waterfalls."

"Are you sure you told him nothing else?" Ye Xiaotian frowned, doubting if he could trust the other elder.

"What else could I have told him? If he can get his hands on anything at all, whatever he gets is fated to be his. If he ends up getting nothing, it'll do him good if he's able to make a breakthrough," Elder Sang casually replied.

After all, it'd be impossible for him to cheat and tell the kid how to undo the seals undoing the treasures.

However, he was very sure that the kid would definitely do something completely unexpected as soon as he got to the Black Cliffs.

"So, you up for it?"

Ye Xiaotian said nothing, but Qiao Qianzhi chuckled instead. "Well, if you're not cheating, old man, I sure don't see how Xu Xiaoshou could get something that not even Qianqian could get her hands on."

Elder Sang shrugged. "We'll see about that."

Ye Xiaotian immediately wanted to say something in rebuttal, but what Qiao Qianzhi said reminded him of something. Instead of refusing outright, he asked instead, "What if you lose?"

"I'm not going to lose."

"Hehe." Ye Xiaotian chuckled coldly, wondering if the old man was about to weasel out of things again.

"Don't believe me, do you? Very well, if I lose, I'll owe you one." Elder Sang then picked up another pork foot.

The other three were stunned hearing that. Ye Xiaotian's interest was piqued and he asked, "What if Xu Xiaoshou ends up getting nothing?"

"The same thing happens." Elder Sang bit on the pork feet, and juices exploded in his mouth.

"Alright, I'm in!" Ye Xiaotian slammed his fist against the table. "The two of us shall serve as witnesses. If this guy dares to weasel of the bet, don't go easy on him."

Qiao Qianzhi nodded with a grin while Xiao Qixiu wore a sour look on his face instead.

He was different from Ye Xiaotian in that he knew just how capable Xu Xiaoshou was in wrecking things. He wondered what would happen to the Tianxuan Gate if that kid actually ended up taking away the treasures.

Elder Sang took a look at him and said, "We do have other things to stabilize the realm. If worse comes to worst, we'll just put something a little inferior in their places. Relax. Won't be much of a problem."

Xiao Qixiu hadn't been all that flustered to begin with, but the line "relax, won't be much of a problem" made him start to panic.

"You said that same thing the last time, and look what happened!" he thought. "The Spiritual Library Division ended up on fire!"

Dum, dum, dum!

Hurried knocks on the door interrupted the private chatter between the four of them.

Qiao Qianzhi went up to open the door and found Zhao Xidong anxiously waiting there.

The spirit wheel in Zhao Xidong's hands immediately caught the attention of all four of them. One of the pearls had already darkened, and another one was in bad shape. It was flickering, struggling to stay lit.

Ye Xiaotian was utterly baffled. He hadn't expected to lose the bet right after agreeing to it.

"What's happening?"

Zhao Xidong was about to reply when Qiao Qianzhi pulled him inside the room and shut the door. "Come in first," he said.

The cramped place got even more cramped with five men inside.

Zhao Xidong gulped and turned his gaze away from the table. "It happened mere moments ago," he started to elaborate. "Yet another got busted when I was on my way over here, but the pearl has yet to be snuffed out."

All four of them: "….."

Seeing that all four of them were speechless, Zhao Xidong became even more anxious, knowing that he might've put it the wrong way.

"I didn't bust anything. The other one just got busted on its own when I was flying here. It happened just over a dozen breaths before the one before."

All four of them were silent yet again.

The treasures stabilizing the realm of Tianxuan Gate were very far away from each other. There was no way someone could have taken down two seals within the period of just a dozen breaths.

Qiao Qianzhi uttered in surprise, "Two spies, then?"

If only one pearl had been busted, that would've been well within the fours' expectations.

The opening of the Tianxuan Gate had been a setup all along. They wanted to see if the spy would blow his or her cover.

But now it seemed like two people were involved.

Xiao Qixiu hesitated for a bit and then asked, "Could it be that one of them is the spy, and the other Xu Xiaoshou?"

Everyone was stunned, as they found this quite possible.

Zhao Xidong couldn't help but ask, "What spy? Where are they from?"

He was indeed very, very curious. His boss, Elder Xiao, had told him before that there was possibly a spy among them, but he hadn't elaborated.

"How is it possible that they know there's a spy in the spirit palace?" he thought to himself. "And how can they be so calm knowing this?"

Qiao Qianzhi looked at the three of them, then, seeing that none of the others were about to stop him, elaborated, "You remember the masked man who attacked that night?

"If it wasn't an inside job, and the masked man had instead chosen to bust through the spirit palace's great array, we would've been alerted at once.

"Yet, despite that, he was still exposed. It didn't take long for him to be discovered by my concealed array just after he got inside the spirit palace."

Qiao Qianzhi sounded very pleased with himself, yet he still sighed in the end. "It's too bad that the insider escaped too quickly and was very light on their feet, leaving no traces behind."

Zhao Xidong immediately realized what was going on and asked, "How do we know for sure that the insider will definitely get inside the Tianxuan Gate?"

"We weren't sure initially, but now we are." Qiao Qianzhi looked at the spirit wheel in Zhao Xidong's hands.

The other three grinned at each other, noting that Qiao Qianzhi hadn't actually told the truth.

The "White Cave" was about to be opened, and the "Holy Vassal" was out to collect all 21 of the famed swords, which included the "Fourth Sword."

While that sword wasn't listed among the 21 famed swords, it was known as one of the "Five Great Divine Instruments of the Continent," and it was far more renowned than the famed swords.

Furthermore, that sword had the title of the "Eighth Sword Deity's former sword," so others would definitely be tempted by its rarity.

It had gotten to the point that it'd even caught Xiao Qixiu's attention.

The scabbard of such an unparalleled mystical weapon was in the Tianxuan Gate itself, which meant that any who got their hands on the scabbard would find that they'd won half the battle.

Zhao Xidong then pondered this and asked, "Couldn't the spy be Xu Xiaoshou, then?"

Xiao Qixiu was irritated by the question and slapped the man's head. It hurt so much that Zhao Xidong almost dropped the wheel.

"Use your brains, d*mn it!

"The spy has definitely been at it for a long time given how well-hidden they are. How long has it been since that kid came to the Outer Yard, eh? We don't even know if he's even seen the great array before!"

Zhao Xidong shirked back. Who could be more like a spy than Xu Xiaoshou?

He found it to be very possible given how that kid had been taking things apart and blowing up places, as well as killing people here and there time and again. In his eyes, those actions were tantamount to trying to wreck the spirit palace.

What else could he be if not a spy?

He recalled what had happened to Zhao Shu and how Xu Xiaoshou had made up the excuse that Elder Sang was looking for him and evaded capture.

Despite having told Elder Xiao of the case, his boss had hardly reacted to it at all.

"How about I ask further?" he thought.

But, when he looked at the four elders, he swallowed the words he'd been about to say and eventually shirked back instead of continuing to stand out.

"Forget it," he thought. "My life is more important. Better not ask."

Elder Sang found the young man before his eyes to be rather intriguing and asked, "Who do you think might be the spy other than Xu Xiaoshou?"

There was no way Xu Xiaoshou could be the spy. As his disciple, Elder Sang had already looked into the kid's background countless times. He couldn't have possibly overlooked anything.

Zhao Xidong mulled over the question, then blurted a name that none of the elders had expected to hear.

"Mo Mo!"

Xiao Qixiu immediately turned glum. He'd just told the young man that the spy had been plotting all this for a long time, which meant the newly-joined Inner Yard disciples could be ruled out. He wondered what was wrong with the young man.

Elder Sang clamped down on Xiao Qixiu's sleeve with his chopsticks just as Xiao Qixiu was about to scold the young man. Elder Sang then asked, "Why do you think so?"

Xiao Qixiu had indeed jumped the gun due to the young man being one of his own men, yet the other three hadn't forgotten for a second that the young man was anything but ordinary.

Zhao Xidong had graduated at the top among the 33. There was no way he could have forgotten what Elder Xiao had just told him.

All four elders looked expectantly at Zhao Xidong, hoping that he'd make himself clear, yet he simply puffed out his chest and said, "Man's intuition!"

All four elders were speechless.

Xiao Qixiu took a deep breath and took the wheel from Zhao Xidong's hands.

"Huh?" Zhao Xidong was baffled.

Whack!

As soon as the wheel was taken out of his hands, he was immediately smacked to the ground, causing the cramped room to shake quite a bit.

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Chapter 140: Chapter 140 Heaven's Vision

Zhao Xidong vowed he would never joke with his boss ever again.

"Did you have to go that bloody far?" he thought. "Who the h*ll just goes about beating up people like that? Cut me some slack, okay?"

He got up and explained, "Actually, I've always thought there was something fishy about her from the first moment I saw her. How do I put this? There's just something about her that just doesn't feel right…

"Hmm, okay, doesn't seem like I'm making much sense." He was flustered and then said all of a sudden, "Well, she looked human…"

Xiao Qixiu's eyebrows twitched like crazy. "Are you saying that… Mo Mo isn't even human?" he thought.

"Do you know what you're talking about here?" Xiao Qixiu's quiet tone belied the anger he was trying to contain.

Zhao Xidong immediately became flustered and said, "No, that's not what I meant. It's, um… well, it's like she looks like common folk because everyone else around her looks like common folk. Get it? That's what I meant."

All four elders were silent. Truth be told, none of them had been in touch much with Mo Mo.

Elder Qiao shook his head. "She's not a spy."

In order to gather intelligence for Xu Xiaoshou, he'd looked into the girl before and found nothing out of place about her.

If there was anything about her that did stand out, then it was her Innate Elemental Power, which was as rare as all possible. In fact, it was so rare that it was like one in a million.

But then again, that was merely a sign that she was a genius, no?

The spirit palace had been around for a long time, and every few years or so, some decent stock would emerge from among the disciples, which was normal.

By this point, Zhao Xidong had run out of things to say. "Well, if it isn't Xu Xiaoshou or Mo Mo, then I couldn't tell you who it is.

"The veterans from the Inner Yard seem to be well-behaved. They've been fellow disciples for so many years, so they're in contact with each other one way or another. Nothing seems to be wrong with any of them."

The elders didn't hold Zhao Xidong's answer against Xu Xiaoshou. They'd only asked out of a whim, after all.

Elder Sang then looked at Ye Xiaotian. "Alright, we've delayed long enough. Use your 'Heaven's Vision,' then."

"Heaven's Vision" was a space-type super ability unique to Ye Xiaotian. It allowed one to view an image at a certain location at a super far distance away.

Yet, Ye Xiaotian didn't agree to it right away. He turned his head to the side and said, "If we were in the same space, using 'Heaven's Vision' would naturally be effortless. But, they're now all in an extradimensional space…

"Do you have any idea how difficult that would be?"

Elder Sang nodded and said, "Just tell us how long you could hold on, then."

"Ten seconds."

"That's your limit?" Elder Sang felt rather doubtful.

"Indeed. 10 seconds is the longest I could get it."

"Hmm… that's short."

Ye Xiaotian was momentarily stunned, and a vein popped out on his forehead as he said, "Old man, do you want me to cut up the space you're currently occupying right now?"

"Hahahahahha…" Qiao Qianzhi burst out laughing, and, wiping his tears away, said, "Alright. Quit it, you two. 10 seconds it is, then."

Ye Xiaotian then asked without looking back, "Are you sure you guys want to look?"

"Duh?" Qiao Qianzhi looked at the spirit wheel on the table. "One of the treasures is already gone. If we delay any longer, we'll lose track of the other one."

Ye Xiaotian smirked. "This is only the first day. Maybe the current situation isn't at its worst yet?"

Everyone was stunned. What he said did make a lot of sense.

Yet… d*mn, he made it sound really scary.

"Oh, don't jinx it!" Qiao Qianzhi was flustered. If anything serious happened to the Tianxuan Gate, he was the one who'd have to take the massive trouble to fix the great array, after all.

Elder Sang knocked his chopsticks against the table as he pondered this. He had to admit that Ye Xiaotian was making a lot of sense.

According to his speculations, Xu Xiaoshou probably wouldn't be able to do much at that point, given that the kid was still too weak… which meant it was indeed possible for two spies to be present in the Tianxuan Gate.

"We can't afford to wait. Let's check it out now. If something happens, all we can do is intervene and send the law enforcers inside."

Ye Xiaotian looked at the others and nodded after seeing that none objected to it.

That was definitely the best they could do at the moment.

"Heaven's Vision!"

He clapped his hands in the air, and countless images immediately flashed before his eyes. He shuddered before long, his forehead breaking out in a sweat.

Swoop!

A screen flickered in that cramped room. Although the image wasn't really clear, they could nonetheless see what was inside.

It was a black gladiatorial arena with reddish-black solidified blood on the ground and eight iron doors at all sides.

The doors were opened, and steel puppets holding blades emerged from within. All of them seemed to emanate killing intent so intense that they almost became solid.

"The Slaughter Ground."

Zhao Xidong was able to tell what place it was, as he was very familiar with it.

A young man with one arm was surrounded by the steel puppets, and he immediately shouted, "Zhou Tianshen? What the h*ll is he doing there?"

A steel puppet emerged, and that one-armed young man dished out a swirling cut with that golden domineering blade in his hand, his killing intent cladding the blade, and he cut the puppet in half from bottom to top right where he stood.

Because of the momentum from the slash, the blade swung right at his own body. If he still had his left arm, he probably would've chopped his left arm off right then and there.

Everyone was shocked, as they all knew that Zhou Tianshen had had both arms intact before.

Judging from the looks of it, they wondered if he'd actually been the one to cut off his own arm.

Elder Sang focused and uttered uncertainly, "Severing Self?"

He suddenly recalled the spiritual technique that the kid had managed to find in some corner of some wall back in the library that day.

"Seems like he really did go about practicing that eerie thing, then."

"Severing Self? What is that?" Zhao Xidong was puzzled. He figured that the name sounded like some spiritual spirit demanding one to self-mutilate.

"You probably know nothing of it. That's something that has to do with some guy back in the previous era. Have you heard of the bigoted one-armed god of blades?"

"No."

"Heh, you know nothing, kid." Elder Sang looked at Ye Xiaotian and said, "Cut it. The kid couldn't be a spy. Next."

Ye Xiaotian struggled as he swiped, changing the image.

"Be quick about it! Just how long do you need to look?"

The glaring weakness of that spiritual technique was that Ye Xiaotian himself was utterly incapable of seeing the image he projected, so it was up to the others watching to give him instructions.

"Next."

Elder Sang knew how hard it was for Ye Xiaotian to hold on, so he no longer went into the details of the images and decided if the image should stay with just a single look.

"Next."

"Stop!"

Ye Xiaotian stopped right away and looked at the four before him, finding that they all had peculiar looks on their faces.

"What?" He was itching with curiosity.

The image showed the "Senluo Woods," which was one of the 12 secret realms. Ancient trees shot to the heavens, and it looked very lush. The thick spiritual energy of life had practically condensed into mist form. It was so thick that one could sense it despite the spatial barrier.

Yet, what had caused peculiar looks to appear on their faces wasn't this but the little girl wearing green clothing hovering above an ancient well.

Raging spiritual energy of life was sucked into her body, making her look like the eye of a hurricane.

The girl's face was all red, and her pigtails were flailing about. She looked like she was drunk, and she kept foaming at the mouth. "Gujigujiguji~"

"Mu Zixi?" Elder Qiao immediately became elated. "Old Man Sang, your two disciples really are something indeed."

Elder Sang's expression turned glum, as he thought the scene was rather embarrassing.

"Other people get drunk on booze, and you get drunk on lifeforce?" he thought. "Xu Xiaoshou is already as much a walking disaster as one can get. You're his little sister-in-training here studying under the same teacher. Can't you just stop embarrassing me already?"

"Next!" he called.

Ye Xiaotian was about to swipe to the next image, but Xiao Qixiu made him stop. "Hold on!

"She's on top of the 'Ancient Well of Life,' you see. She's probably looking for the 'Spirit Mark of Life,' then?"

Elder Sang's rolled his eyes. "Couldn't you see how drunk she got, eh? What else could she even look for? I'd say she's already doing fine not dropping into the well."

Xiao Qixiu added, "You've got a point."

"Hurry up!" Ye Xiaotian rushed them.

"Next."

The image switched.

A girl holding a sword at the top of the black waterfalls…

"Lei Lei?" Everyone was shocked, unable to believe what they were seeing.

The thing that was embedded at the top of the cliff was none other than the "Black Scabbard," which was one of the 12 treasures stabilizing the realm. So… was she the spy, then?

"Hold on, look at the side!" It was only then that Zhao Xidong noticed the top right of the image.

"A foot?"

"Move the image a bit." Everyone was getting anxious. That could probably be the two spies collaborating with each other.

Ye Xiaotian was unable to hold on any longer, and at the very second that he moved the image, the screen shattered into bits of light.

However, even though the image only lasted for a split second, everyone was able to see who that foot belonged to.

It was a young man who was in his underwear with a shocked look on his face.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Everyone looked at Elder Sang. First, there was the girl hovering above an ancient well spitting out lifeforce and getting drunk on it, then there was a young man flying in the sky in his underwear.

"Well, I'll hand it to you, Old Man Sang. You really have an eye… for picking disciples."

Qiao Qianzhi clapped Elder Sang on the shoulder and rubbed whatever dirt he had on his hand off along the way before bursting out laughing.

"Hahahahaha!"

Elder Sang was shaking all over, feeling very p*ssed.

"Why is Xu Xiaoshou at the same place with the spy?" he thought.

"Have I… really miscalculated?"