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

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Chapter 341: Just Let Me See Your Sword And This Will Be Behind Us

"Were you looking for us?"

Xu Xiaoshou pointed at his nose and met eyes with the three swordsmen who had already walked in front of him.

Gu Qingyi frowned.

He thought, 'Was this rascal….' He was the rascal whom he had bumped into at the door of Plenty Gold Company on that particular day. This was the rascal who did not know his own depth.

He checked Xu Xiaoshou before and had confirmed that he was incapable of sword cognition. Somehow, he had managed to come into contact with ghost beasts too.

From a logical standpoint, he did not want to engage with this man for long.

Somehow, his subconscious had drawn himself to this man, and he had found himself in front of Xu Xiaoshou.

Gu Qingyi hesitated but asked his questions regardless. "Was there anyone else around before you?"

"Anyone?"

Xu Xiaoshou had known their intention before they arrived. In terms of sword cognition, they must have been attracted by his Sword Observation Manual to have congregated there.

However, with that knowledge, these guys had instantly removed Xu Xiaoshou from the list of potential destructors.

This was a rare sight.

"There are many people who have passed by here. Who are you looking for?"

He fixed his gaze on the leader of the three men. However, his Perception had locked on the sword that was held in the man's arm.

The sword was none other than a famed sword.

Back then, he had been in a rush. He had to deal with Jiao Tangtang, which left him little time to observe the man's famed sword.

Now, he was able to inspect the sword in detail. Xu Xiaoshou was blown away by how spectacular the sword of the 21 Famed Swords was.

The sword was an ancient sword with a greyish white body. It was a sword of with a cold nature. Using Perception, Xu Xiaoshou was able to tell the temperature of the sword.

If the grey sheath was removed, it would unveil the true blade of the famed sword. The sight of the sheath alone brought Xu Xiaoshou an unexplainable chill of evil.

He was certain about the feeling. There was no doubt that the feeling was evil. It was indeed a peculiar feeling and one that Xu Xiaoshou could not describe with clarity.

This was all that he could think of as he observed the sword from where he was. The word evil replayed constantly in his mind.

One was able to feel an eerie sense of unease in the deepest part of the heart simply by observing the scabbard of the greyish white and icy ancient sword.

To prevent himself from falling deeper into the spiral of the famed sword, Xu Xiaoshou turned away from it.

"Are you done looking?"

Gu Qingyi stared into Xu Xiaoshou's eyes and waited for him to regain his awareness before he spoke.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

The leader of the three was more powerful than he had initially thought.

No one had caught him in the act of using Perception to spy and pry on other's items or abilities.

The young man before him had senses that were very sharp and sensitive. He had been able to pick up his ability to pry.

"Ha-ha." Xu Xiaoshou was not intimidated by him just yet.

After all, he was a swordsman in training. Seeing a famed sword was akin to a man spotting a beautiful woman. It was hard to avert his gaze from it.

Gu Qingsan, who stood at the back, sighed. He was not carrying a sword with him. "Again?" He walked toward Xu Xiaoshou. "Don't bother hiding. Just draw your sword."

"Draw?" Xu Xiaoshou was surprised. Why?"

"Ha, you fraud. You've been staring so hard. Aren't you planning to steal it?" Gu Qingsan sneered.

"Steal the sword?"

Xu Xiaoshou was amused by their words. He was no thief or a womanizer. He would never do anything like that.

"You must have persecutory delusion illness. When did I say I was taking your sword?"

Gu Qingsan stared at Xu Xiaoshou blankly. After a period of silence, he still did not understand what Xu Xiaoshou meant.

"Second brother, what is this illness he's talking about. What does it mean?"

The second brother bowed his head and furrowed his brow in thought. He was pondering about that just now as well.

After a while, Gu Qinger sighed.

"Eldest brother, what is he talking about? I'm a little slow and did not understand a single thing!"

"Yeah, same here. Please explain eldest brother." Gu Qingsan's eyes were shimmering with expectation.

He had always seen his eldest brother as an individual capable of anything and loved to watch the eldest brother offer explanations in a cool and composed manner.

Gu Qingyi paused dramatically and fell into deep thought. After a moment, his face had darkened.

"You guys!"

He held in his anger as he remembered the presence of an outsider and stop his curses in time.

The two of them had totally gone off on a tangent from what they were there to discuss.

The important part of the man's words was the illness, yet the two were relentlessly hung up on it.

Xu Xiaoshou watched the three fools engage in their talk and fell silent.

He always met competition in the most unexpected way possible.

These people were not exactly the brightest or the fastest when it came to responding and retorting to arguments or coming up with comebacks.

He had almost not reacted in time and gave the two an explanation about the illness.

If he attempted to join in the explanation, he would be roped into talking with these simpletons as well. He would become the fourth fool.

'After all, I'm Xu Xiaoshou,' he thought. 'I am above quarreling with these three fools.'

Stopping his train of thoughts there, Xu Xiaoshou inhaled deeply and turned back into his room. He closed his door with a slam.

Bang!

The room door that lacked barrier protection was destroyed by a push.

Shocked, Xu Xiaoshou turned around and locked eyes with Gu Qingsan. His hands were still stretched out. The door panel was in his hands.

The atmosphere tensed immediately.

Xu Xiaoshou's face fell.

He had tried hard to save the door panel, but who would have thought it would be removed like him just like that?

He was at his limit.

Xu Xiaoshou's expressions twisted as he frowned so hard that his eyebrows were fully straightened. He exhaled heavily.

"Hm?"

'What are you trying to do by pushing open my door?' he thought. 'You are strangers.'

Even if the protective barrier on the door was broken, it was still rude to directly open someone's door in an inn."

Gu Qingsan understood the meaning of Xu Xiaoshou's response. Immediately, his face flushed red.

"Um, I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't think that the door did not have barrier protections…"

Xu Xiaoshou laughed sarcastically. "Not on purpose? So was it with intention then?"

"Right, I did do it with intent– Wait, intention?" Gu Qingsan paused and hurriedly corrected his words. "No, no, not with intention. It was just a…"

"An accident?"

"Yes! An accident?"

"I don't care what you did, we don't even know each other. How dare you tear my door down like this!"

Xu Xiaoshou yelled with rage, "Just because I didn't answer your question and you are the owner of two famed swords and have more in numbers, do you think you can just take my door down and do whatever you want to me?"

"Gulp!"

Gu Qingsan's face froze. Almost as if a cat got his tongue, he stood there with his face red and his ears smoking in embarrassment. He mumbled something under his breath.

He struggled with his words before deciding to give up. Gu Qingsan turned toward his second elder brother.

Gu Qinger inhaled deeply and was about to speak when Xu Xiaoshou stepped up and spoke before he could.

"Explain what?"

"You didn't break this door, right?"

"If you didn't do it, why are you talking? Just because your friend could not answer, do you need to do it for him?"

"Is this a round-robin? Are all of you planning to torture me with your argument?"

Gu Qinger looked at Xu Xiaoshou with disdain. This was only a door panel. The young man's anger seemed severely inappropriate and misplaced.

In fact, he was so angry at Xu Xiaoshou's explosion that he could not swallow his words down and opened his mouth to retaliate.

"Cough, cough."

The sword-bearer sighed deeply. "Our apologies brethren, we entered too abruptly…"

"Abrupt?" Xu Xiaoshou raised his voice and pointed to the door panel in Gu Qingsan's hands.

"Is this an abrupt visit?"

"If I rammed into your room while you were sleeping at night and then said sorry for the sudden visit, would you accept it?"

Gu Qingyi watched his rage rise in silence.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

"Brethren you are not wrong, but…"

"But?" Xu Xiaoshou was amused by his own display of rage. "But what?"

"Of course, I'm not wrong. Out of nowhere, someone knocked my door panel off. Do you think I can just accept this with a few words?"

Gu Qingyi, on the other hand, had suddenly realized what Xu Xiaoshou wanted and spoke immediately. "If brethren would like any reparations, please let us know. We will pay and go, and we promise we will never show up in front of you again."

Gu Qinger and Gu Qingsan were shocked.

It was the first time they had seen their brother, who had always been calm and composed, use such an inferior tone to say those words.

The two were truly disgusted by the man in front of them.

Xu Xiaoshou paused and took the door panel from Gu Qingsan's hands. He threw the door panel on the ground and hit his shoulders lightly.

"Actually, I'm not that selfish. It's just a door panel."

He smiled warmly and said, "You know what they say, only brothers go into the same house."

"Since you are in my house, you are therefore my brothers."

"It was too harsh of me to ask for any reparations."

"As your brother, I feel bad asking anything from you. How about this…"

He turned toward Gu Qingyi with a polite smile. "Just let me see your sword, and this will be behind us."

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Chapter 342: Master Swordsman of The Eight Earthworms

"Huh?"

The three stared at Xu Xiaoshou in disbelief

Were all the theatrics just to look at the famed sword?

Gu Qingyi squinted and suppressed the anger in his heart.

Since it was their party that was at fault, no matter how disrespectful Xu Xiaoshou was, he should not have lost his temper

However, this suggestion was brewing the rage within him.

To him, one's personal sword was akin to one's beloved partner.

If anyone attempted to ask one to give up their beloved partner, especially to someone they had just met on the street, for their partner to be held and touched by the person, they would be furious.

In this case, for the person to remove the sword's sheath and admire the sword with great detail…

How could anyone allow this to happen?

Gu Qingyi held back his anger and replied with a calm voice: "We can repay you in other ways, but this suggestion I'm afraid I have to refuse."

Xu Xiaoshou was confused.

"Can't I just look?"

"I'm not stealing or snatching it, or will I be doing any sword-swallowing technique. Don't worry. Just let me see."

Gu Qingyi remained silent.

Cursed, Passive Points, 1

"Aren't you taking this too far rascal?" Gu Qingsan could not bite back his words and yelled at Xu Xiaoshou.

The personal sword of an ancient swordsman was not something that anyone could simply pick up and look at.

Xu Xiaoshou was naturally shocked by the sudden scolding. His anger instantly returned to him.

"Taking this too far?"

"I was just asking. Is that not okay?"

"You broke my door, and I let it go. All I wanted was to look at the sword as reparations…"

"But you said no?"

"Then, whatever!"

"Leave, get out of here. It's not like I need to look at it…"

Xu Xiaoshou's attitude was fueling the rage within Gu Qingsan. What did he mean by simply looking at the sword?

It was obvious to him that Xu Xiaoshou was insulting the three of him. He moved forward. His body was inches away from Xu Xiaoshou.

"Brethren, no!"

Gu Qinger called out immediately. The eldest was about to stop Gu Qingsan as well. Gu Qingsan stopped in his tracks.

"What? Do you want to fight?"

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. He did not expect an incident about the door panel to escalate into the state that it was right now.

He was more taken aback by the other's anger. All he wanted to do was to look at the sword.

He wondered if he had committed some kind of taboo in the way of the sword. Was he not allowed to look at a sword?

Xu Xiaoshou was confused. When he had asked Su Qianqian to look at her famed sword, he had asked casually as he did. She gave it to him without anyway question. There should not be any taboo about this.

Even if there was a taboo, the other party had torn down his door, and they were in the wrong from the beginning.

Xu Xiaoshou laughed in his mind. In times like this, those were simply insignificant excuses.

Young people often fight over bizarre issues. To stop someone who was about to be engaged in a fight was impossible.

Any confrontation between two parties would not end without an exercise of hostility.

Gu Qingsan was not afraid. He charged toward Xu Xiaoshou.

The eldest disciple could swallow his pride and maintain his composure. However, as the younger disciples, they felt responsible to defend the honor of their brother.

"Fight? You're just at the Innate Stage, do you think you can win?"

Gu Qinger, who was behind Gu Qingsan, had spoken. He had already expected how the fight would go down once he finished his words.

Gu Qingyi remained silent.

Suddenly, it occurred to him that whenever there was an appearance of sword cognition, he could see the image of the unreasonable man before him.

Moreover, Xu Xiaoshou was the only one in the place. Could it be that the sword cognition belonged to him?

The idea may have sounded far-fetched, but he kept his hopes up. He hoped that he could use this fight with the younger disciple to confirm his suspicions.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the two in the back, who did not seem to interfere or hold Gu Qingsan back. He felt angrier than ever.

'These people must think they have the advantage in numbers,' he thought angrily.

"Innate Stage?"

He sneered, "You haven't been beaten by an Innate Stage, have you? Also, is your head made of steel? Why are you so close? Do you want to hit me?"

The words triggered Gu Qingsan once again. He glanced over to the leader, who seemed to not hold him back, and took it as a sign that he was right to stand out.

With this, he felt that he had some support in his actions and replied, "Hit you? Do you think that I don't dare to do it?"

"Oh? Do you dare? Do it! Or are you all talk but no action? What's the point of what you said?" Xu Xiaoshou snorted.

"Ho, you! If I hit you, aren't you afraid that you will crumble on the spot?" Gu Qingsan retorted.

"Ho? What do you mean ho? All that thunder just for a few drops of rain? So, you really just don't dare, huh?"

Gu Qingsan's eyes were red from all the provocation. He replied with rage, "Don't dare? You say I don't dare?"

"Yeah! You don't dare to do it! Do it! Hit me! Do it!"

"I…"

Gu Qingsan could no longer hold back. With a yell, he ran forward and bumped his head into Xu Xiaoshou's forehead.

Boom!

The sudden noise scared the two who were standing at the back.

It was a simple knock on the head and nothing else. they wondered what could have caused the sound.

Before they could pursue the matter, Gu Qingsan, who had just knocked into Xu Xiaoshou's head, bruised immediately and was sent flying.

Suspected, Passive Points 1

He had crashed to the floor. He had an expression of disbelief.

"What happened?"

Gu Qingsan could not believe that he was the one who flew.

With such a close distance, and Xu Xiaoshou not activating his spiritual source, Gu Qingshan should have been the winner.

If it was a battle of physical bodies colliding. He should have had the upper hand in terms of his body, which was sculpted by the grueling training of multiple Sword Wills. He was as sturdy and sharp as the blade of a spiritual sword.

Gu Qingsan was sure that even with his Supreme Sword Body on its own, it was capable of sending an ordinary Spiritual Cultivator into the clouds.

Therefore, he was thoroughly shocked that he was the one who fell.

Upon receiving the flood of suspicion in his notifications, Xu Xiaoshou was so amused that he could have jumped up and down.

'The guy really is a meathead,' he thought.

It was his first time witnessing someone use his physical body to knock him down. He had to be the fool of the century.

His level of foolishness was the equivalent of more than ten Zhou Tianshens.

If Xu Xiaoshou could award him with the title of being the biggest fool of all, he would. There was no one else like him.

Though Xu Xiaoshou was having fun on the inside, he maintained his cold expression to the two who were reluctant to approach him.

"What? The younger one is down, so is it your turn now?"

"It's like I said, right? You're all just taking turns. Now that you have run out of saliva, are you using your bodies?"

"Come, care to continue?"

The two stopped dead in their tracks. They were unsure whether to move or remain where they were standing.

Gu Qingsan, who had been knocked to the floor, was deeply enraged.

"I'm not done yet!"

He roared and straightened his body. The chilling presence he carried exploded in that split second.

Objects in the room began to shake and vibrate at high speed. It was almost as if they were about to take flight into the air.

The spiritual swords of the swordsman, about ten in total with an exception for the two famed swords, had levitated into midair.

All of them congregated from all directions toward Gu Qingsan.

"Master swordsman's Sword Will?"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

Were the fools before him actually at the Master Stage Sword Will?

'This is absurd,' he thought.

Even within the Tiansang Spirit Palace and all of his peers, Su Qianqian was the only master swordsman that he knew of.

It was unbelievable that the person he had viewed as inferior was a master swordsman as well.

Xu Xiaoshou carefully looked over to the two who stood at the side. If the most foolish one of the lot had the potential of a master swordsman, what about those two famed swords…

Xu Xiaoshou felt a sudden drop in his confidence.

However, he was not going to let his lowered confidence get the better of him. He glanced toward the spirit sword that was flying midair and remarked mockingly, "Master swordsman?"

"Others would summon the All Swords to the Master, but you summoned the Eight Earthworms?"

"Retract it immediately. Don't embarrass yourself like this!"

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Chapter 343: The Manor

"You!"

Gu Qingsan was so angry that he wanted to strike again.

"That's enough."

Gu Qingyi stopped them in time.

He could no longer watch from the sidelines.

His original intention was only to test the limits of Xu Xiaoshou's skills. If they were to continue, the inn would not allow that.

Once they drew out their swords in battle, it would be hard to stop.

The two sides were just involved in a verbal quarrel, so it was not necessary to let events develop to this degree.

Moreover, the passive defenses that Xu Xiaoshou had displayed were even more self-explanatory. The fact that it could send Gu Qingsan's Supreme Sword Body flying said plenty.

The person before him was a strong physique cultivator.

His rippling muscles were a dead giveaway. Logically speaking, he could not possibly have anything to do with swordsmen.

Sword cognition?

Naturally, it was even more inconceivable.

"I apologize for disturbing you today. This is a little token from our senior brother. I hope you can forgive us."

As Gu Qingyi spoke, he took out a spatial ring and handed it over.

Xu Xiaoshou did not move. After some thought, he did not refute further and accepted the spatial ring.

"Okay, I forgive you."

"You…"

Gu Qingsan's temper rose again, but his second senior brother hurriedly held him back.

The elder senior had every intention of settling the dispute, so how could he let his junior brother continue to make a scene?

At the outset, he already felt that this fight was very unnecessary.

"Farewell."

Gu Qingyi nodded and left with his two junior brothers.

Xu Xiaoshou touched the spatial ring on his hand and got lost in thought as he stared at their backs.

Based on his original intention, they would not break into a fight today.

He had also not expected this senior brother to behave so politely and was surprised by how he reacted.

His motives were similar to Gu Qingyi's, and he wanted to test the waters to get an idea of their abilities.

He took advantage of them when they were in search of the sword cognition. He intended to test the strength of these three people by making a scene and behaving unreasonably.

Why did these guys with famed swords come, and what were they after? Xu Xiaoshou had an inkling in his heart.

"White Cave?"

He frowned and returned to his room.

As time went by, it seemed that all kinds of news about White Cave were progressively emerging.

He also guessed that Jiao Tangtang and Xin Gugu were also after the White Cave, but their purpose was to search for a ghost beast host body like Mo Mo.

On the other hand, these three swordsmen were clearly after the Fourth Sword.

No matter what they were after, it was clear to him that this was just the beginning.

There was still some time before White Cave was unsealed.

He figured that there would be similar occurrences like this to encounter in the future.

'This gives me a headache…'

Xu Xiaoshou touched his head and laid on his bed in deep thought. He had the opportunity to see his opponents and witness their abilities even before White Cave unsealed itself.

Master swordsmen, famed swords…

'No, I must not let Xin Gugu go!' he secretly promised himself.

Tiansang City, Nantian Street…

This was a prosperous area in the city. The people who lived on this street were rich or of noble lineage. They were all the notable figures in Tiansang City.

At the end of Nantian Street was the famous City Lord Mansion.

Xu Xiaoshou had never seen it before, but the number of black-armored City Guards he had seen along the way had already blown him away.

"The security level is really something." He sighed with a tsk.

Xin Gugu led the way and asked, "Isn't this what you said? Since it must be concealed but also capable of preventing assassinations, it can only be here."

"This place is too close to the City Lord Mansion. If anything goes amiss, the City Guards will be able to arrive in time."

"If a Sovereign Stage attacks, it is likely that someone from the City Lord Mansion will catch them before they can even make a move."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded in satisfaction.

"Only, it costs plenty of spirit crystals…" Xin Gugu looked up and stole a glance at the young man beside him.

"It's nothing."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand generously. Even if he ran out of money, he was not afraid.

As long as Xin Gugu could stay with him, he was happy to let him set the terms.

"Xu Xiaoshou, what exactly did you buy?" Mu Zixi asked curiously from his side.

Along the way, the number of passersby reduced significantly, but the class of these people had improved by more than one grade.

Everyone they met along the way had bulging bellies, and they looked like they were very well-to-do.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled cheerfully without explaining.

"We are here."

Very quickly, the three of them stopped.

Before their eyes was a magnificent small manor, complete with shady and lush spirit trees. One could feel the exquisite charm of this place even before setting foot inside.

"From now on, this will be our new home!"

Xu Xiaoshou's spirited laughter reverberated in the air. He slapped his palm on the girl's head and lifted his other hand, wanting to slap it too.

It quickly occurred to him that Xin Gugu was a Sovereign Stage, and this action would be rather abrupt. He ended up patting Xin Gugu's shoulder lightly.

"Home?"

Mu Zixi's eyes glittered with meaning. Her face darkened as if she was stirred by emotions unbeknownst to others.

She shook her head quickly and asked in surprise, "Xu Xiaoshou, are you crazy? We are only staying here for a few days, and we will have to return to the Spirit Palace soon. You bought a manor?"

"How much did it cost…"

The little girl's lips parted slightly in disbelief.

"What do you know?"

Xu Xiaoshou flicked her forehead. "This is a necessity for cultivation. Every time I cultivate, I must compensate the inn so much. Can any normal person tolerate this?"

The thought of the money he had spent on compensation still pained him.

That event during the day cost him more than 100,000 spirit crystals.

If that occurred each time he was cultivating, would he end up having to pay millions if he stayed in this city for more than ten days?

That amount was enough to buy a small manor.

Xin Gugu ignored the squabbling pair.

He could not help feeling a little emotional. After all, he had completed the transaction of this new home himself. He was eager to launch the protective barrier with the command token in his hand.

As he walked to the gate, the stupor and disbelief that struck him gradually abated.

Although he had completed this transaction himself, the money came from Xu Xiaoshou's pockets.

It would be more appropriate for the owner to complete the opening ceremony by himself.

"Go on!"

Xu Xiaoshou urged him with an encouraging smile.

Half of the reason behind his purchase of this manor was because of Xin Gugu. This guy needed to do the honors and conduct the opening ceremony himself to develop a stronger sense of belonging.

Xin Gugu raised a brow, but he did not object.

As soon as he imprinted the command token, the Array Guarding Barrier flickered and the door opened wide.

The three of them could barely contain their excitement as they stepped into the compounds.

The manor was vast and expansive. It was as different as day and night when contrasted against the crude facilities in the Spirit Palace.

Spiritual flowers and plants filled the courtyard, each of them teeming with spiritual energy. The species in the garden were extraordinary and rare.

Yet, the most eye-catching ones were the sporadic spirit trees. It seemed that the planting orientation of the spirit trees followed a particular array principle, which harnessed plenty of spiritual strength.

Although not as good as the Inner Yard, the concentration of spiritual energy of the heavens and earth here was much stronger than that in the Outer Yard.

In the blink of an eye, the little girl ran out happily. A moment before, she had complained about Xu Xiaoshou squandering his wealth away. In the next second, she fell in love with this stately manor.

Xin Gugu glanced at his surroundings with contentment. Previously, he had only seen the beautiful scenery of the manor in the jade scroll before he bought it without a second thought.

Now that he was here in person, the lush environment indeed met his liking.

"So, this is a home…"

Xu Xiaoshou also had a broad smile on his face, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

He retrieved a gold gilded invitation card and glanced at the date. The event would partake tomorrow night.

"Xin Gugu."

"Hmm?" Xin Gugu turned to look at him.

Xu Xiaoshou waved the invitation card in his hand and asked, "Do you want to enter the City Lord Mansion for fun? If everything goes well, it should be entertaining."

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Chapter 344: The Man Targeted by Xu Xiaoshou

"City Lord Mansion?"

Xin Gugu was taken aback.

These official ruling forces terrified him.

The City Lord Mansion was under the jurisdiction of Divine Hall. If a ghost beast host body like him went there, would he not be walking to his deathbed?

"That's right, we're going to the City Lord Mansion." Xu Xiaoshou had his mind made up. "Not only are we going, but you may have to create a scene too."

"Are you kidding me?"

Xin Gugu looked horrified.

Even if he was courting death, was it necessary to jump around and goad others before his death? Was he afraid that his death would not be tragic enough?

"It's like this…"

Xu Xiaoshou attempted to calm his agitated emotions and said earnestly, "I have an enemy. If he does not die, I will have trouble sleeping and eating."

"You have also seen it yourself. Last time, there was a strong Sovereign Stage cultivator who wanted to kill me, and he was only a killer."

"If the mastermind behind the scenes is not dead, this type of killer will only continue coming after me in the future."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at him and waited for a response.

Now that Xin Gugu was by his side, he wanted to see to what extent he would go for him.

Xin Gugu was silent for a while and asked, "Who is your enemy?"

"The head of the Zhang family, Zhang Taiying."

"How did you get involved with this guy?" Xin Gugu was aghast.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed bleakly and waved his hand. "It's not worth discussing."

Xin Gugu was reticent. If it were Zhang Taiying alone, he had nothing to fear of.

He had reservations about the Zhang family that Zhang Taiying belonged to. As far as he knew, there must be over one Sovereign Stage.

If it were outside the city, it would still be all right. No matter how many strong Sovereign Stage cultivators charged at him, he had nothing to be afraid of.

But this was within the city. He only had to be held back, and his opponent could gather reinforcements quickly.

He would be in the center of the barrage of attacks.

"Can't you do it?" Xu Xiaoshou asked hopefully.

"It's not inconceivable, but mainly…" Xin Gugu considered it and said after a long time. "It's troublesome."

"If there is not an excellent opportunity to kill with one blow, I will certainly not attack."

"But if the commotion provokes those important figures, even I may not escape."

"With you being closely implicated…" Xin Gugu glanced at Xu Xiaoshou. "It is even more futile to flee!"

Xu Xiaoshou smiled optimistically.

Based on what Xin Gugu said, it meant that he could make a move.

In that instance, what was he afraid of?

It did not matter if the opportunity failed to arise, but at least he had to create it.

By just waiting, how could there be a chance to kill the Sovereign Stage?

Did he really think that he was the Child of Destiny and the world revolved around him?

Xu Xiaoshou never thought that he would be the child of destiny. After all, he had been at the mercy of the big bosses in this world for so long.

The child of destiny?

He was more likely to be the child of destiny's grandson.

The kind who had led a tragic life.

"Since you can take action, things would be much easier."

He clapped his hands and said nonchalantly, "You don't have to worry about anything else. All you need to do is attend a banquet dinner with me, and perhaps an opportunity will arise."

"Must I go?" Xin Gugu hesitated.

"Yes!"

Xu Xiaoshou said confidently, "Don't be afraid. You can conceal your breath so well that even I can't feel it. As long as you don't mess around, no one will discover you."

He thought of Mo Mo.

The girl wandered around under the eyelids of Ye Xiaotian and Qiao Qianzhi so many times, but no one had discovered her.

Xin Gugu was at the Sovereign Stage already. As long as he did not behave indiscriminately, there would be no issues at all.

Ghost beast host body… If there was nothing to it, how could it even become a ghost beast host body in the first place?

Xin Gugu hesitated for a while and finally nodded and agreed.

Although he had his concerns, he dared not disobey the scruffy-looking man's words.

Since he had decided to stay with Xu Xiaoshou for a while, he would try to keep him satisfied.

As for being discovered…

To tell the truth, he was just wary of the minuscule possibility.

After all, he remained hidden even under the scrutiny of Yuan Sandao and the other four people that day. He was not afraid of this banquet dinner.

The only possibility left was…

"The banquet wouldn't have any men from the Red Coat or others in attendance, right?" Xin Gugu asked.

"It should be rather unlikely."

Xu Xiaoshou felt that this City Lord Mansion's banquet dinner was not such a huge affair.

He was confident the man would not attend.

The man's presence that day was presumably just to search for him.

As for Red Coat…

Which Red Coat would be so bored to attend a banquet dinner at the City Lord Mansion?

The theme of this banquet was not to catch ghost beasts but to allocate places for the White Cave mission.

From his point of view, the strongest person in this banquet dinner could only be the City Lord.

"That's right."

Xu Xiaoshou thought for a bit and suddenly recalled something. "If I am caught in the bounded domain of a Sovereign Stage, will I be under its control to the extent that I cannot even take out my belongings in the spatial ring?"

Xin Gugu returned to his senses, nodded, and asked, "Yes, but why do you ask this question?"

"So, that's how it is…"

Xu Xiaoshou had a sudden realization.

On the day Red Dog controlled him, his first instinct was to call upon Aje. However, Aje did not react at all.

In other words, unless the other party relinquished control while he was in the Sovereign Stage bounded domain, he would be forcibly separated from his spatial ring.

Therefore, he had to equip himself better before going against the Sovereign Stage in the future. He must have the things he needed ready on hand before the battle.

For the first time, Xu Xiaoshou realized that a spatial ring was not omnipotent. It was this kind of minor oversight that could cause grave consequences.

If Aje could come out on that day, he would have one more combat power. Though his abilities alone were insufficient, he could collaborate with Aje to finish the fight.

"If the spatial ring can be controlled…" Xu Xiaoshou inclined his head as he considered his options. Suddenly, his eyes flashed. "What about Yuan Mansion?"

"Can Yuan Mansion also be forcibly controlled?"

Xin Gugu was taken aback. Though he had heard of Yuan Mansion, he did not have this item. How could Xu Xiaoshou have it?

"If it were Yuan Mansion, it cannot be controlled."

"You must know that the predecessor of this is an extradimensional space. Even if it were the weakest extradimensional space, it still commands the power of the Order of the Great Path in it. That power is far more superior compared to what any ordinary Sovereign Stage can comprehend."

"Unless that Sovereign Stage is an unparalleled prodigy who can defy all the rules of your Yuan Mansion space, he can't possibly control Yuan Mansion."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes flashed suddenly.

'What a shame!'

He had missed out on the greatest treasure he possessed.

He had to abandon the spatial ring and use Yuan Mansion instead.

He slapped Xin Gugu on the shoulder gleefully and said, "That's it. It's all settled now. Go take a good rest!"

Following that, he chose a room at random and entered it.

"How unfathomable."

Xin Gugu frowned and paused for a long time before he picked up his Golden Staff.

There was a flash of excitement in his eyes. Since no one was around, he hurriedly rushed to the private room that belonged to him.

The room was enormous.

The design of this manor was top-notch. It was worthy of its price tag of several million spirit crystals.

Xu Xiaoshou entered the door and opened the protective barrier immediately.

"The quality seems fine."

He nodded to himself with satisfaction. He took out Yuan Mansion from the spatial ring in front of his chest without any problem.

After obtaining this from Elder Qiao, he had only entered it once.

He placed some idle things into it and promptly forgot about its existence.

As for why he did not use Yuan Mansion but continued to use the spatial ring…

He was ashamed to say it, but the value of these two gadgets was about the same. Xu Xiaoshou did not need too much space then, and he did not even know that Sovereign Stage could control spaces.

After all, the spatial ring in front of his chest was the first spatial ring reward he had earned from the group match in the Windcloud Competition. It held great significance to him, so Xu Xiaoshou did not change it.

Now, it would no longer do to keep it.

Report chapter

Chapter 345: Exploding Alchemy Method of the Higher Level

Yuan Mansion had acknowledged the identity of the master.

Xu Xiaoshou felt a telepathic connection as the spiritual senses established.

He mouthed a silent "Enter," and his body had vanished from the room.

Snap.

A stone from Yuan Mansion landed on the floor. It transformed into a spot of light and confined itself in the void.

The surrounding air was full of dense spiritual energy.

The life force of this world was almost the equivalent to the Senluo Woods of the Tianxuan Gate.

It could be due to the underdeveloped opening of the Chaos Space. The density of the life force that had encompassed the space was still in an overwhelming abundance.

Despite there only being a few days between Xu Xiaoshou's last visit to Yuan Mansion, he could not help but feel a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

He looked around his surroundings.

The same plains of nothingness greeted him.

Despite the immense life force that filled the spaces between heaven and earth, no vegetation grew on this land.

A few days ago, this space was only slightly bigger than Xu Xiaoshou's space ring.

Elder Qiao only had a short span of time to work with, thus he had not restored all of the space in Yuan Mansion yet.

One could even go as far as to say that it would be impossible for him to fully restore Yuan Mansion to its former state.

The only possible method was solely to inject Spirit Mark of Life into Yuan Mansion. By depending on its majestic stream of lifeforce to continuously replenish the space, it could slowly move toward its awakening.

"It is bigger than before."

Xu Xiaoshou mumbled as he sat his behind down on the floor.

In his previous visit, the space was equivalent to three of four rooms at best. Now, it had enough space to accommodate a house.

Though the space was still surrounded by a thick veil of chaotic grey mist, his naked eye could observe improvements, which was surprising enough for him.

"Elder Qiao said that one should avoid contact with the chaotic grey mist as much as possible. It can be gently pushed to ensure the Spirit Mark of Life does not clash with the inhabitable space."

Xu Xiaoshou turned to the Spirit Mark of Life that was suspended midair in the habitable space.

The item had been enchanted with an additional array, and it was working tirelessly without a break.

If one could collect the continuous life energy it emitted, simply two or three days' worth of them was capable of turning an ordinary human elderly back into a child.

Yuan Mansion was well-lit despite not having a sun. Therefore, there was no passage of night and day within the space.

The light was brought to the space by the Order of the Great Path that came with the creation of the space and occurred naturally.

When the mark had fully recovered the space, not only would day and night be restored but also the change of seasons would be possible within the world.

All of that was hope for the future. The current muted and premature state of the space was incapable of that.

The barren land his feet were on felt sturdy with every step.

"If it wasn't for the flaws present in the law of the Way of the Heavens here, it could satisfy all of my cultivation needs."

"It's a shame that the space is imperfect. It could only be a temporary shelter for now."

Xu Xiaoshou's train of thoughts stopped, and a lightbulb went off in his head.

"It's flaws aside, the space is big enough now. In the future, I could use it as a testing ground for attacks."

His eyes shined with anticipation. If he could test and practice his moves here, he would not require as much sensing and sentiments.

All he had required was a space for him to freely exercise his power without bringing any trouble in his way.

Yuan Mansion had fully satisfied all of his requirements.

"In that case, all the processes that do not require sense and sentiment could be shifted to Yuan Mansion to be processed, like…"

"Alchemy!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a rush of excitement.

He always had a complicated relationship with alchemy.

Even if he was practicing in a Pill Pagoda, it was not able to withstand the destructive side effects of his alchemy process. Therefore, Yuan Mansion was all the more unable to withstand the effects.

He wondered if he could send the explosions and uncontrollable powers into the chaos when things go south.

The worst-case scenario was to turn the chaos upside down with the explosion.

But that did not matter much due to the nature of the chaos. A few more explosions would not have any damaging impact.

'Atomic form?' Xu Xiaoshou thought.

He laughed immediately after. That was impossible.

Moreover, Xu Xiaoshou had another idea.

'If I were to practice alchemy here, operating 10 cauldrons at once, if it all failed, could I transport them into the real world and toss them at my enemies in the most crucial times?'

His eyes lit up again.

'The idea is pure evil and pure genius,' he thought.

Yuan Mansion was similar to the space ring.

The space was big enough to accommodate a person, even with the flaws indicated in the Order of the Great Path. That only accounted for a small space, and that space was constantly being renewed.

Alchemy would be possible within these spaces.

Xu Xiaoshou decided to attempt his idea.

Pulling out his personal alchemy cauldron immediately, Xu Xiaoshou started a pot of the simplest Red Gold Pill.

The process of extraction for medical substances went by in a flash. Before compressing the pill, he stood up suddenly and chanted something silently. His body immediately disappeared from Yuan Mansion.

"Hum!"

The alchemy cauldron jerked aggressively, but its condition stabilized quickly.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes were shining with excitement as he returned to his room.

His idea was entirely plausible.

He could operate it all on his own in the real world. It was the same as summoning an object from the space ring. He could perfectly operate the small tub within Yuan Mansion.

Even if it took a bit of spiritual sense to maintain the process of the Boiling Soup method, he was able to ensure the elixirs did not lose their medicinal properties.

Moreover, the quality of the elixirs would increase under the backflow of the repeated process of alchemy.

Xu Xiaoshou was aware that to accomplish this, he had to have a good grasp of the time needed for the process.

The elixirs would be turned into dust if they spent long spent in the backflow.

If he were to cook slowly with a light flame, the Boiling Soup method would require close to half a day, and that would be no problem at all.

Xu Xiaoshou knew that the longer it was kept boiling, the bigger the explosion would be when he would attempt to compress the pill.

If he was able to cultivate 10 elixirs at once, and then be at the home of Zhang Taiying…

Excitement filled him again as he thought through his plan. Xu Xiaoshou hurriedly pushed his door open and called for Xin Gugu.

"What do you want?"

Annoyance was written all over Xin Gugu's face. Xu Xiaoshou had disrupted his beauty sleep.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes were beaming with golden light. "Can you help me get a few alchemy cauldrons now? Get those that are thick but easy to cause a cauldron explosion as well."

"Huh?"

Xin Gugu stared at him with large eyes. "What you mean by thick but easy to explode"

He reached out to touch Xu Xiaoshou's head. "Are you feeling unwell again?"

"Oi! Don't interrupt me!"

Xu Xiaoshou smacked Xin Gugu's hand out of the way. He summoned a chestnut from his tub.

"Of course, it doesn't have to strictly be thick and easy to explode. It just needs to be the kind that can withstand the heat of my flames and can easily explode."

He summoned his Infernal Heavenly Flames. The melting heat gave Xin Gugu quite a scare the moment it was summoned.

"An alchemy cauldron to withstand this?" Xin Gugu hesitated. "Are you sure you need an alchemy cauldron?"

His words gave Xu Xiaoshou an epiphany.

"Right, just like you said, it doesn't have to be an alchemy cauldron!"

"An alchemy cauldron is used to increase the success rates of an alchemy pill making. I'm not using it to make pills, so why bother using an alchemy cauldron?"

Xu Xiaoshou added determinedly, "Buy spiritual weapons, the protective spiritual energy ones that have a heat-resistant array. It doesn't have to be of good quality. As long as it can last half a day, it's good!"

There was a sudden feeling of unease in Xin Gugu's heart.

If Xu Xiaoshou was not planning to practice alchemy, why did he require an alchemy cauldron? Xin Gugu was unsure what Xu Xiaoshou's real intentions were.

However, it was understandable for one who had not witnessed the power of Xu Xiaoshou's destructive alchemy to leave the comfort of their personal assumptions.

But he did not pursue the matter further. Instead, he asked, "Sure, how many do you need?"

"Ten for now. I can only operate that many cauldrons of elixirs at once…"

Xu Xiaoshou paused. He felt that he had made a mistake of some kind.

Ten was the limit for him to maintain the success rates of his alchemy attempts. Therefore, he had set ten as the maximum he could go for.

However, his goal at the present was not the success rate of alchemy attempts.

Xu Xiaoshou was aiming for the exploding part of the Exploding Alchemy method.

He waved his hand. "Actually, make that a hundred."

Report chapter

Chapter 346: A Plan for the Sovereigns

Xu Xiaoshou took the time while Xin Gugu was gone to embark on another journey Yuan Mansion.

The alchemy cauldron bubbled beside him while his surroundings remained quiet.

Xu Xiaoshou came to a sudden realization that he could use the space as a private avenue for deep thoughts and analysis.

The biggest current threat for him at the moment was Zhang Taiying.

Although the two had not met in person, he was the first enemy that Xu Xiaoshou was determined to eliminate.

In the past, he was used to taking a passive stance and accepting the various attacks made by the enemy.

His traveling schedule was packed, and it was hard for him to squeeze out any time to stir trouble in the waters of the enemies.

The only exceptions were attempts of assassination. However, Xu Xiaoshou knew he would not be slain easily, so his sense of fight or flight was not too intense.

However, Zhang Taiyin was different.

The man was a walking nightmare.

The grief of losing his child had motivated him to make the first strike. He did it by sending Red Dog.

Red Dog was able to drive Xu Xiaoshou to the edge of his mortality, even when Xu Xiaoshou was in his strongest battle state.

For Xu Xiaoshou, who had marginally tasted what it felt to cross over the threshold of the gates of hell, he did not wish to go any closer to that taste ever again.

He was terrified.

Therefore, Zhang Taiyin had to be eliminated.

Xu Xiaoshou had to actively attack him this time.

However, there was a question of how he would execute this attack. His target was the head of the battle force of the Four Big Families and the head of the Zhang family. Additionally, he was a big name who had an undefeatable status in Tiansang Prefecture. He had to ensure his attack would eliminate Zhang Taiyin in one shot.

This was truly a problem that required deep thought.

If an outsider were to know that a small fry of Origin Court was in the midst of planning an assassination of a Sovereign, they would have a good laugh about it.

However, Xu Xiaoshou was serious and dedicated to coming up with the perfect plan.

First, he was not an ordinary individual of the Innate Stage.

He knew that with the combination of his body in a state of full combat power and the support from various powerful Passive Skills, he would be unstoppable to an ordinary individual of the Master Stage. He did not even have to activate the Double Awakening Skill.

Li Seven had tested this hypothesis for him.

'In other words, in the fundamental state, my combat powers were on par with an ordinary individual of the Master Stage.'

'Judging from the state of Red Dog after I've activated Berserk Giant and Exploding Posture, I doubt an ordinary individual of the Master Stage could withstand an attack like that.'

Nevertheless, these thoughts remained assumptions.

When he met Li Seven, he was only a Heavenly Image State of the Master Stage.

The Master Stage consisted of three states: Heavenly Image, Ying Yang, and Star Worship.

The states increase ascendingly in power.

The potential arrival of strongmen of the Ying Yang State, as well as various attacks that Xu Xiaoshou was not familiar with—such as those that remained unused array wheels in Li Seven's spatial ring—all posed a threat.

Although, Xu Xiaoshou could clinch an underdog victory if he maneuvered and used his abilities well.

Regardless, he would be backed into a corner.

'Hence, Zhang Taiying must be eliminated!'

Xu Xiaoshou returned to his thoughts.

He figured he did not stand much of a chance if the head of the Zhang family remained within his heavily guarded place of residence.

Unfortunately, the banquet at the City Lord Mansion would take place the next night.

Per the agreements within Tiansang Prefecture, Zhang Taiying would be attending the banquet.

'How many men will he bring with him?'

'Will he be accompanied by any Sovereigns?'

Xu Xiaoshou did not have any confidence in his guesses. No matter how detailed his assumptions were, they remained assumptions.

If there were any possibility of the worst-case scenario, he would have placed himself in mortal danger.

'The most important part is how to make Zhang Taiying attend the banquet alone.'

Xu Xiaoshou's lips curled up.

His idea and a plan were born at the moment when Xin Gugu decided to stay by his side.

What if there was an attack by a group of small fries on the Zhang family while the head of the household was away for the banquet in the City Lord Mansion?

If the Zhang family was placed in some life-threatening danger, what would Zhang Taiying choose to do? Would he divert the majority of his energy to the low-risk City Lord Mansion?

Would he leave the excessive energy to protect the Zhang family while attending the banquet on his own?

This was a question that was not easy to answer. Hence, Xu Xiaoshou did not need to think much about it.

'Now, the question is how will I retreat after an attack on the Zhang family?'

He was not entirely awake this morning. Fortunately, Xin Gugu's words had enlightened him about the greatest power and benefit of Yuan Mansion

Xu Xiaoshou was filled with certainty and confidence about his plan.

He would throw tens of alchemy cauldron toward the mansion of the Zhang family and let them explore freely.

If he fled inside the Yuan Mansion after he had finished his part, he doubted anyone would be able to notice his presence.

In the event of an accident, he would immediately call for Xin Gugu and Aje before seeking shelter in the Yuan Mansion. No one would win against the two great Sovereigns.

He could always run away and avoid all the potential skirmishes and fights.

The power of the Sovereigns had enabled them to act recklessly and in an unbridled manner. This was clearly evident with Red Dog and his attacks.

In a city that was as big as Tiansang City, he still charged brazenly in and murdered others.

It was fair to say that Red Dog was executed in the end, but that was due to the sudden appearance of the scruffy-looking man.

If there had been no disruptions, there was a great possibility that Red Dog would have simply left Tiansang City after he had taken out Xu Xiaoshou.

'Maybe escaping is not the best plan right now. This plan still poses many risks.'

Xu Xiaoshou could not afford to be careless.

His opponent was the Zhang family, which was known to be one of the four big names in Tiansang City. Therefore, there would be many elements of surprise when facing them.

Xu Xiaoshou's identity was not hidden, and he did not have the charisma and power to take on Tiansang City on his own.

Thus, he had to consider every aspect of this cautiously and use any hidden loopholes that would be beneficial to him. The ideal result was to eliminate the Zhang family with one hit and escape immediately after.

'So, this question has changed again. If I enter Yuan Mansion, could the Sovereigns track me down through checking the marks of the void I've left behind via the Great Path skill?'

Xu Xiaoshou thought about Ye Xiaotian.

He thought about that day when Lei Shuanxing brought Luo Leilei, broke the transmission jade, and disappeared from his line of sight.

The terrifying white-haired child disciple, for an unexplainable reason, was able to strike a final fatal blow through the fragments of the void onto the two.

If Xu Xiaoshou had not witnessed this scene, he would not have been able to imagine the power of an entity that had reached the Sovereign Stage.

Therefore, he had no choice but to put more effort into the execution of his plan.

'Ye Xioatain had the nature of space attributes. Therefore, all of this is possible. Will this be the same for other more ordinary Sovereigns?'

'Or rather, this assumption could be tested when Xin Gugu gets back!'

Xu Xiaoshou had made up his mind.

There was a fundamental difference between being active and being passive.

Xu Xiaoshou was slothful. If he was not able to sense that there was danger to his life, he would not flinch or be bothered. Even when he knew there were enemies around, he enjoyed going with the flow.

However, if he had to use his brain for problems…

It was like Feng Kong and Shao Yi from the Outer Yard Court, as well as the grey mist figure of the Tianxuan Gate. He would engage in a long-distance seesaw-like battle.

Even if he was leagues apart from his opponent, Xu Xiaoshou was determined to let them know that he was not a floormat that could be walked over.

It was exactly as Cen Qiaofu had shockingly remarked then.

The man was like a lazy porcupine.

He was calm and gentle when he was unbothered. However, at the slightest provocation, he would have left one with a face of blood if one did not have a body of steel.

'No, this is not enough…'

Though Xu Xiaoshou was certain he had the winning cards in this battle, he was unable to relax since it was a Sovereign he was facing.

To ensure his plan was flawless, he sent his spiritual senses into Yuan Mansion and took a glance at the Red Interface he had not inspected in a while.

'Come at me, Zhang Taiying.'

'Let us test what is tougher—your life or my will.'

Report chapter

Chapter 347: Master Swordsman [Bonus Chapter]

Passive Points: 66,888.

It had been a few days since the first lottery.

However, in this short time, Xu Xiaoshou had surprisingly accumulated more than 60,000 Passive Points.

Xu Xiaoshou stared at the auspicious string of numbers and could not help but think about the merciless slashing done by Red Dog before his demise.

The 60,000 points were not accumulated in a glorious way.

Some of them were mere points gained in exchange for the pain Xu Xiaoshou underwent as pieces of his flesh were cut off by Red Dog.

If he had a choice, he would never have traded the pain and shame of his physical body being damaged and injured for those Passive Points.

At least, he should have gotten more like 600,000 Passive Points.

His body shivered. Xu Xiaoshou put an end to his nonsensical thoughts.

The attack from Red Dog had nearly sent him into the pits of hell. If he had not managed to barely scrape by, he would have lost all of his combat powers with that one attack.

To be honest, Xu Xiaoshou was not interested in Passive Points gained through life-and-death battles.

However, since the points had already been given to him, he was certainly not going to reject them.

Clearing his head of these thoughts, Xu Xiaoshou returned his attention to the Red Interface at the very end and made up his mind.

'No lottery this time!'

'My Passive Points are too low. If the powerful items I get don't match up with the skill level, it would be useless anyway.'

'Besides, from previous lottery experiences, the 60,000 Passive Points are at best 10 consecutive draws.'

'By rough estimation, it would not be enough to fill a tooth gap!'

'I'm preparing to take Zhang Taiying on now, so the good materials should be used on the blades!'

After the decision had been made and sealed in his heart, Xu Xiaoshou quickly turned his attention to the panel above him.

He had chosen to give up on the lottery and awakening as they were things that had a great probability of failure. Since he had decided to abandon them, he could only turn to rashly raise his current skill levels.

'Which one should I level up?'

Xu Xiaoshou's gaze locked on the Expertise Passive Skill at the bottom of the screen without much hesitation.

Sword Technique Expertise (Innate Level 3).

The Passive Skill technique was temporarily sidelined by Xu Xiaoshou's combat system.

It was not due to it being weak. Rather, it had been sidelined because it was far too strong.

On the long path Xu Xiaoshou had walked, he had been stubbornly and unreasonable using his foundations in the face of the enemies and reliant on Strengthen.

However, in every table-turning situation, Sword Technique Expertise had carried the burden of the battle before anyway awakening of skills.

He had restrained from leveling up the technique because he felt that his progress was too fast.

The logic behind this was not limited to the cultivation leveling. The realization of Sword Will was the same as well.

What would have taken others 10 years or decades but still failed to realize had only taken Xu Xiaoshou a month. He had progressed from nothing to the level of an Innate Stage of Sword Will.

That was not all there was to it.

To reach the Innate Stage of Sword Will was at best a signal to others that Xu Xiaoshou was a prodigy.

However, if he were to press on and push until he had reached the stage of a master swordsman…

As someone who had always considered the worst possible outcome when it came to deliberation, Xu Xiaoshou was unsure about the consequences of that act.

He was afraid that others would capture him for research purposes and take him apart piece by piece to study him.

However, the time was nigh, and Xu Xiaoshou could not wait any longer.

'Half a month or so should have passed since I had reached the Innate Stage of Sword Will at the Windcloud Competition…'

'Or not?'

'Whatever, let's not sweat the details and say it has been half a month!'

'Half a month to reach the Master Stage of Sword Will from the Innate Stage does not seem too much.'

Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head and scratched it slightly.

He thought about Su Qianqian and wondered how long it had taken the girl to reach her current stage.

'Drop it. Don't think about that,' he thought.

He warned himself that if he had kept these thoughts around, he would be afraid to attempt to reach a higher stage.

'Right, Bazhun'an!'

His confidence in reaching a new stage returned the moment he changed his mindset.

'There are geniuses in this world.'

'There is the legend of the Eighth Sword Deity, who became an Innate in three breathes and a sword deity in three years!'

'Even if I took just half a month from Innate Stage to reach Master Stage of Sword Will, I'm still trash when compared to the deity!'

Xu Xiaoshou nodded convincingly.

'Yes, I'm trash!'

He coaxed himself into a state of relaxation with self-reassurance. While doing so, his hand reached out without hesitation to exchange for Skill Points.

Sword Technique Expertise (Innate Level 3).

Sword Technique Expertise (Innate Level 5).

A huge wave of knowledge surged into his mind. Xu Xiaoshou shook his head slightly.

He dared not to press another time. He had limited himself to two levels at a time to prevent his head from exploding with the surge of knowledge.

After he had carefully read and learned the wave of fundamental sword techniques until he had fully ingested and internalized the knowledge, he reached out and continued the next action.

Sword Technique Expertise (Innate Level 7).

Sword Technique Expertise (Master Level 1).

As the skill level hit the Master Stage, a chilling presence emerged from Xu Xiaoshou's body and exploded all around.

At this moment, every swordsman on Nantian Street felt a pang of anxiety in their hearts. Their personal swords whistled and suddenly broke out of their sheaths.

All of the swordsmen looked up subconsciously.

In the middle of the endless twilight sky, rays of green and gray had replaced the light of the day.

Those who held up their heads to look witnessed a stray white cloud drifting leisurely at the edge of the sky.

The relaxed state was outside of the boundaries and rules of day and night. It pulled the onlookers into an impeccably beautiful fantasy realm.

In another second, the fantasy realm shattered.

Thousands of swords danced in the void. The Great Path called out, "All Swords to the Master!"

The sound of the vibration was so loud that it shook the air.

The sky-splitting screech of the sword boomed through the courtyard. It had pierced through close to half of Tiansang City.

At the same time, many powerful big names in Tiansang City felt their senses tingle.

Whether it was the City Lord Mansion, the Big Families, or groups who had varied strong powers that were either earned or inherited had collectively turned their complete attention to another direction.

All of them had simultaneously turned toward the direction of Xu Xiaoshou's location.

As Xu Xiaoshou awakened from the fantasy realm, he felt a sense of premonition grip his heart.

He had completely forgotten about the screeches of the sword that was produced as one reached the state of the master swordsman. It was a sign to the world that he, Xu Xiaoshou, had attained the stage of master swordsman.

This was certainly not part of his plan.

He had attained master swordsman to assassinate Zhang Taiying. He was at a loss of what to do. Everyone now had complete knowledge that he had attained the Master Stage.

Not willing to wait a single second, he opened the Mansion as he gained just a grain of consciousness and disappeared inside of it with a whoosh.

Clang! Bang! Clang!

The thousands of swords on the street had lost the target of the master they were returning to. The swords rained down onto the streets in a cacophony of clangs and bangs.

All of the people on the street were too stunned for words.

"What happened?"

"It seemed like someone reached the stage of a master swordsman."

"Yeah, the state of will definitely belongs to a master swordsman. We haven't seen this in years, have we?"

"The scene of All Swords to the Master normally appears at the initial attainment as a master swordsman and those who could not contain the state of will. Judging by this…"

"Based on the swords we see, what happened?"

"Could it be that they failed?"

It was not just the people on the street who were confused. Even the well-known strongmen who hoped to visit the newly crowned master swordsman had suddenly lost the direction of the swordsman.

"The presence had completely disappeared."

Back in the Abundant Spiritual Inn…

"Second Elder Brother, who do you think this master swordsman is?" Gu Qingsan asked.

"Elder Brother, I have a hunch that it might be…" Gu Qinger turned to look at the leader of the three.

"No more hunches. Follow me. Let's check it for ourselves!"

Gu Qingyi gripped his sword and waved for the two brother disciples to follow.

The most suspicious individual around was undoubtedly the man who had a Forged Body.

No matter how hard he thought, it was impossible to separate the man from the two occurrences of sword cognition.

Additionally, his sixth sense had supported this hunch.

"Perhaps, the physique cultivator is also a swordsman."

The three rushed toward the room with the door that they had previously broken.

The door had already been repaired, and the barrier had been perfectly fixed up as well.

"Let's go, my little brother!" Gu Qinger nodded toward the door.

However, Gu Qingsan hesitated.

"Elder Brother and Second Elder Brother, I don't think that's a good idea. Since it is someone else's room, shouldn't we knock?"

He had grown afraid of the man.

"No can do!"

Gu Qingsan rejected the idea almost immediately. "That fella is good at hiding. If we knock, he will have the chance to deceive us again. The best way is to have the element of surprise and catch him in his act as we breakthrough!"

"That's true elder brother!" Gu Qinger and Gu Qingsan instantly nodded in agreement.

Gu Qingsan stepped back and allowed for some space between him and the door. He inhaled deeply and straightened a finger.

The fingers made a chilling swish sound as they slashed through.

The room's door had been cut into pieces instantly by the Sword Aura and collapsed with a loud boom.

The three charged into the room together without much thought.

"Are you still hiding you rascal? We already figured you out…"

"Hm?"

The three immediately stared at the two white figures on the bed and fell silent.

Two people?

The number seemed a little off to the three.

The room was dark, and the bed was shaking slightly. The figures of the bodies seemed more white than usual.

Lying on the bed was an unfamiliar man who was quivering with fear. The unfamiliar woman next to him grabbed her body immediately and let out a shrill scream.

"Ah!"

Chapter 348: Void Solidifying Sword Technique

Xu Xiaoshou returned to Yuan Mansion.

After he had leveled up the Sword Technique Expertise, his mind was full of non-stop knowledge washing through his brain like tides of waves.

The knowledge had not only seeped through his soul but also his appreciation for the way of the sword had been elevated to the highest height after the impact of knowledge.

'This is…'

The young man slanted his head. His eyes were full of many realizations of the Great Path, but he also had many more questions and things he could not understand.

The Sword Technique Expertise for those at Master Stage greatly differed from those who were Innate Stage.

Though it seemed to be just one step ahead, the overwhelming emotion of experiencing the thousands of swords returning themselves to him gave Xu Xiaoshou a sense of pride. It proclaimed that he was one of all swords in his heart.

The profound meanings of the way of the sword that was once endless and limitless in his mind had immediately condensed into an easily comprehensible knowledge.

Simultaneously, the parts he could not understand in the Sword Observation Manual had also become clear as day.

Even the Sword Worship Technique he was on the watch for in the fantasy realm had seemingly unraveled itself and appeared before his eyes.

However, he had failed in accomplishing the full actualization process.

It was clear that the Sword Will of the Master Stage was not enough to realize a sword technique that was of that terrifying level.

The particular sword technique had accompanied the Sword Observation Manual in its creation. If those who were master swordsmen were incapable of fully realizing the technique, he would obtain an absolute upper hand if he was able to master it, and he would be able to eliminate any master swordsman in his way.

His eyes lit up. Xu Xiaoshou stared into the void.

As he stared into it, he subconsciously activated the sword observation.

All he had learned before reaching the Master Stage of Sword Will was applicable at this very moment. Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he was seeing the world in a new light, and his Sword Will level was rapidly rising with every second.

Although it may have seemed like a normal glance, he had already experienced the essence of sword observation.

It was clear that sword observation was not for the sword alone. It was to observe all of heaven and the earth as well.

The void seemed to change suddenly with that natural gaze from Xu Xiaoshou.

After a wave of the loud and forceful clattering of swords, the space caved in and abruptly transformed into thousands of Sword of the Space.

The body of the swords was delicate. They had a translucent and iridescent appearance and seemed to flicker between existence and nonexistence. They were between the border of space.

If he had not looked in detail, this wonderous scenery of swords that emerged from the heavens and the earth would have seemed to have manifested from eternal nothingness.

As Xu Xiaoshou moved his eyes around, the environment began to change. A strong gust of wind had stirred up in the world.

Whoosh!

The clear chimes of the swords rang. The thousands of swords merged into one entity. It then followed Xu Xiaoshou's gaze and tilted to the side.

Boom!

The majestic surge of Sword Will congregated at one spot. It had struck into the Chaos Space and pushed it outward, leaving behind a mile-long impact.

The chaotic grey mist moved turbulently in the space. Xu Xiaoshou felt like his heart had swelled up and was beating like a stormy sea.

"Void Solidifying Sword Technique?"

He mumbled under his breath. His words were laced with extreme disbelief.

Almost all of the impeccable techniques of the ancient swordsmen were recorded in the Sword Observation Manual, and Void Solidifying Sword Technique was one of them.

According to the manual, for a sword technique of this caliber, even those who were successful master swordsmen would not have been able to actualize this sword technique.

It seemed to be that the author of the Sword Observation Manual must have been a person of madness. He had held strict form to record all forms of techniques by every swordsman in this world as well as a strict criterion to evaluate them.

"Those who do not actualize the Void Solidifying Sword Technique should not call themselves master swordsmen!"

This was quoted verbatim from the ancient text, and it was the opinion of the author of the Sword Observation Manual.

From the perspective of the average person, All Swords to the Master was the technique that had to be realized by extraordinarily strong Master Stage swordsmen. This was achievable by everyone who had attained the Master Stage Sword Will.

Therefore, for the average person, only those who had a physical sword were able to attain the level of All Swords to the Master.

From the perspective of the author of the Sword Observation Manual, this was not enough.

For a master swordsman to active All Swords to the Master, they needed to have a physical sword at hand. If not, they had to borrow other items, such as leaves or gravel.

It was an undesirable process.

Hence, the author concluded that those who were incapable of the Void Solidifying Sword Technique should not falsely claim themselves to be master swordsmen.

Xu Xiaoshou had to suppress himself to remain calm as he traveled along this train of thought.

He was aware that the author was merely stating his or her own opinions.

In ancient times, the Void Solidifying Sword Technique was something that was out of the leagues of the ancient swordsmen.

This point was evident from Gu Qingsan's actions.

He had displayed the master Sword Will before Xu Xiaoshou, yet he was ridiculed as the Master Swordsman of the Eight Earthworms, a scene that had greatly embarrassed him.

However, Xu Xiaoshou was completely different.

He gazed upon the Sword of the Void before him.

"Order!"

As he called out the order, the 10,000 swords of the Sword of the Void moved on his command. They were under Xu Xiaoshou's control be it to fly, strike, or attack.

All of the swords were able to transform in any state that would realize even the craziest ideas from Xu Xiaoshou.

Instantly, the 10,000 swords paused and proceeded to waltz around Xu Xiaoshou.

"Sword-draw Technique!"

Xu Xiaoshou called out lightly.

The void before him shook with a jerk. White Sword Aura emitted from the body of the sword. It moved with great difficulty within the spaces.

From the never-ending silt, it successfully pulled out the Sword of Space. Within a second, the aura of the 10,000 swords called out in the Chaos Space

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The horrifying wave had almost torn a layer of the earth apart.

The chaotic grey mist had been pushed back by more than 10 miles or so. It took an exceptionally long time for it to slowly return to its original position.

'What incredible power!'

Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fist tightly. His face was filled with excitement.

When he only had Hidden Bitter in the past, any of his attempts to use Sword-draw Technique were limited to one form.

However, as his Sword Will had advanced to the Master Stage, he had not only completed this form and the unshackling of the spiritual source, but he also now had the addition of All Things Are Swords and Void Solidifying Sword Technique to be used at any time.

'Are there 10,000 forms of the Sword-draw Technique?'

'How can anyone stand against something so powerful?'

Xu Xiaoshou thought about how Hidden Bitter could only execute a form of Thousand Leaves Style, Sword-draw Technique, and Black Pattern after it had combined with the Black Scabbard.

The form had already become part of the past.

Xu Xiaoshou was able to pull the technique whenever he desired.

"Ow!"

He felt a sudden sense of anxiety in his heart. Xu Xiaoshou held his head and shook it slightly.

This was when a realization dawned upon him. To execute the form, he still had to burn something within him. However, it was simply transforming the spiritual source into mental strength by consuming the spiritual source.

Even so…

After the continuous strengthening from his Perception, Xu Xiaoshou's mental strength had advanced to become immensely powerful.

All he had to do was grit his teeth and withstand the consumption of his spiritual source. This should pose no problem, even after dozens of attacks.

"Ha-ha!"

Xu Xiaoshou laughed manically. He had his head and could almost picture the scene when Zhang Taiying was eliminated with a single cut of his blade.

Suddenly, he pulled out Hidden Bitter in a maddening manner. He casually summoned the aura of the sword and returned the sword into its sheath determinedly.

Ring… Ring… Ring…

The Sword of the Space shadowed his sword as if it had been guided by a spiritual force. It fell from the sky and transformed into a stream of light. It swam into the sword like a fish and merged itself into the Black Scabbard.

A strong wave of wind came over. It blew through Xu Xiaoshou's black hair and green clothes.

The young man felt the corners of his lips tug upward. He was unable to hold back his emotions.

"Whoa, this sword is too cool!"

"Are my dreams of becoming a swordsman coming true?"

He unsheathed the sword. The shadows of thousands of other swords followed suit.

He shifted his concentration. The Sword of the Space transformed into a dual ray of sword presence, one high and one low, as it struck down from the sky. The sword body was glimmering with light as if the sword soul had possessed it.

"Awakening Effect, Earth-shattering Chop… Wait, this isn't the name. What was it again?"

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Chapter 349: The Night Attack Plan

The night was somewhat chilly.

The fleeting master swordsman conception level in Tiansang City made everyone sigh with frustration.

After all, during the breakthrough, many people received backlash from the sword and died.

This insignificant episode only caused a slight disturbance among the high levels of Tiansang City. It was obviously impossible to stir the crowds with a spectacle of this scale.

In the small manor that was Xu Xiaoshou's new home…

Xin Gugu stood up abruptly in surprise.

After listening to Xu Xiaoshou's plans, he looked as though as he had swallowed explosives.

He was excited and frenzied at the same time.

"Are you crazy to be attacking the Zhang family at night?"

"Is the time tonight?"

Who was the ghost beast host body? This kid must have been the real-life ghost beast.

Was confronting the Zhang family face-to-face in Tiansang City something that Origin Court Stage cultivators could even dream of?

By just thinking about it, was it not blasphemy against the strict order of this land?

An Innate Stage?

Planning a night attack on the Zhang family?

"Heh." Xin Gugu sneered coldly.

Xu Xiaoshou stared at him fixedly. "You are right. Not only will it be tonight, but it is also almost time based on the sky."

"If you have no objections, we can leave now."

"I…" For a moment, Xin Gugu was at a loss for words. "Are you kidding?"

Doubted, Passive Point 1.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded and glanced at him.

"You have also seen Yuan Mansion. There is no problem with it. Even Cutting Path or Higher Void Stage may not be able to grasp the order within."

"At most, they would only feel a sense of strangeness."

"So, what is there to worry about?"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly raised his tone, and he asked uncertainly, "Are you afraid?"

"Afraid?"

Xin Gugu puffed his chest out. There was no doubt he was exasperated now.

"Since when have I ever been afraid?"

"Hehe, that's fine. Let's go."

Xu Xiaoshou spoke and walked away in the next instant, leaving the house first.

"This…"

"Did he just leave?"

Xin Gugu spoke aloud, but he still felt a strong shock.

Was this kid treating critical decisions so casually?

He said he wanted to buy a house and proceeded to buy it. Now, he was saying that he wanted to destroy the Zhang family, but could he destroy it like that?

It would be impossible to destroy.

Could it be just as he said and he only wanted to light up some fireworks and cause them to jump around in a frenzy?

What was the point of this?

'Why would anyone want to do such a thankless thing?'

Xin Gugu frowned, but he thought of that scruffy-looking man and his promise to him. Even if this young man was unruly, he would do his best to protect him.

For the first time, he did not need someone else to clean up his mess. Nonetheless, Xin Gugu felt a strange feeling in his heart at the thought of being responsible for protecting someone.

To be honest, this feeling made him very uneasy.

'I hope everything goes fine.'

He strode forward to keep up with the pace of the young man who had a head start.

"Oh, right!"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly stopped to take Aje from his arms and morphed him casually.

"Get to know this guy here. He is called Aje and is very powerful. You will probably have to work together later."

"As for me, I might just be a wallflower."

Xin Gugu was taken aback.

He looked at what appeared to be a little boy wearing a hat before him. A look of hesitation crossed his face.

'Does this guy have any cultivation level?'

Aje was also judging him at the same time.

It could observe the people around it by following Xu Xiaoshou. Although it had never seen the other in person, this was not the first time it had met Xin Gugu.

"Ma Ma…"

Under the instruction of Xu Xiaoshou, it had stopped its habit of attacking people at random.

Or rather, it had learned that the way to greet others was not to shove their heads into the floor.

"Cough, Ma Ma?

Xin Gugu looked at Xu Xiaoshou with a look of confusion. One could almost see question marks on his face.

What was all of this about?

"It's fine. Just get acquainted."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand casually. He did not expect Xin Gugu to communicate with Aje.

He only intended for them to meet in advance. This was so they would not scare each other when the time came.

If they were mentally prepared, it could only benefit each other when the time came to fight.

"That's all for the time being. For this operation, there will be only the three of us. You just need to follow my orders."

"There's no need to think twice!"

This statement only caused Xin Gugu to panic further.

It was as if the blind were leading the blind. Following this person and his puppet seemed like an absurd idea.

Did this formation look fit to attack the Zhang family, the head of the four giants in Tiansang City?

'Sister, come and save me!'

The sound of footsteps went away, and the shadows faded.

Under the full moon, Mu Zixi was sitting on the roof. She clutched her twin ponytails and watched the two leave. Her hands gradually slipped off.

Perplexity arose from her eyes. The little girl looked up at the moon.

Under the clear night sky, the moonlight reflected on her delicate face and outlined her petite and youthful features.

"It's the second time… It's the second time you watched him leave like this."

"Actually, you have realized that you can't keep up with him anymore."

"Aren't you planning to accept me now?"

A cool-sounding voice rang in her mind. The little girl closed her doe-like eyes instantly, and her elegant nose wrinkled.

"Get lost!"

She admonished softly. The irritating voice finally disappeared without saying anything else.

"Why did things turn out like this?"

The bewilderment in Mu Zixi's eyes grew.

She saw herself trailing far behind Xu Xiaoshou in the morning again, watching him suddenly disappear. When he appeared again, only a bloodied mess remained.

Even if she wanted to come to his rescue, Sovereign Stage cultivators were everywhere. It was difficult for her to make any progress.

Until the battle was over, and that man left, only then did she dare step forward and rescue Xu Xiaoshou with Xin Gugu.

A sense of helplessness reverberated in her heart.

Mu Zixi had always considered herself a prodigy.

She had only been in the Outer Yard for less than a year and was even likened to the gifted Su Qianqian.

Despite her aptitude, she still felt that she could not keep up with Xu Xiaoshou.

Without any warning, his enemy was already at the Sovereign Stage.

"My memories…"

Mu Zixi muttered.

She felt that all of this was as dreamy as her memory.

From the very beginning, the memories she could recall began at the door of Tiansang Spirit Palace. It had skipped over her childhood entirely.

Mu Zixi did not even know how old she was this year.

She had always been in search of her lost memories.

The first time a possibility occurred was at the Tianxuan Gate when she faced the grey mist figure.

It was the first time she felt that the memory sealed in her mind was loosening.

Inexplicably, she called out the words, "Holy Emperor Fengtian."

The second time her memory loosened was a violent affair.

She recalled the appearance of the blind man, the sudden headache, the stare of Ye Xiaotian releasing his control… It had instantly caused a flood of information in her mind.

From that moment on, there would occasionally be a strange and indifferent voice in her mind.

"What nonsense!"

The more the little girl thought about it, the more irritable she got. In the end, she yanked out the roof tiles with her hands and flung them away.

"I don't want to follow Xu Xiaoshou! Why does it keep saying that?"

She was silent for a long time before she softly spoke.

"Hmph, I'm left behind while he goes out to play…"

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Chapter 350: A House Visit

Zhang Mansion…

The great hall, which Zhang Taiying had destroyed in his outburst of anger many days ago, had been newly rebuilt.

Now that it was close to the City Lord Mansion's banquet dinner, Zhang Mansion was even more flurried.

Everyone was trembling in their posts, fearful of the unexpected.

This time, the banquet dinner at the City Lord Mansion would be different from the past. Everyone was aware of it.

This was a strategic move by the family head. The Zhang family could leverage this opportunity to extend its influence beyond Tiansang City if it was successful.

There were no empty seats in the great hall.

The seniors assigned to the remote affairs of the family were transferred back here at the moment.

Everyone was sitting on the edge. It was so quiet that if a needle was dropped in the hall, it could be heard.

It was the eve of the banquet dinner. However, there was another equally pressing matter that weighed heavily on everyone's minds.

"So, during the daytime explosion, the killer from Three Incenses was dispatched, but Xu Xiaoshou was not killed."

Zhang Taiying was sitting at the head seat. He tapped the armrest of his chair with his sole arm and spoke harshly.

"Yes."

At this time, only the head butler dared to step forward and answer.

"Was the killer a Sovereign Stage?"

"That's correct," the head butler replied after some hesitation.

Zhang Taiying struck the armrest of his chair, and it shattered with a bang.

"Do Sovereign Stage's these days grow up eating sh*t? I have not even mentioned how much attention it attracted! In the end, did the assassination of this Innate Stage ant also fail?"

"Is it because I haven't been out for a long time? Or are some of you pulling my leg?"

The seats in the great hall creaked. At this time, no one could sit still.

Each of them opened their mouths slightly, trying to say something. Even if they wanted to say anything, they found that they could not speak at all.

Seriously, an assassination of an Innate Stage by a Sovereign Stage failed and ended with the latter dead.

This matter was unimaginable in the past. No one even dared to imagine this possibility.

Now, such an absurd event was happening before them.

Who could explain it clearly?

The head butler trembled in fright and almost fell to the ground.

"The family head has misunderstood. Everyone present is from the Zhang family. How can they have dubious intentions?"

Zhang Taiying ignored him and continued his interrogation. "I heard that before the Sovereign Stage, there were two Master Stages who attacked. Is there any news from them?"

The head butler froze.

He struggled in his heart for a long time and finally said, "We cannot say. All we know is that one of them was blown up…"

Boom!

Zhang Taiying's remaining armrest on the other side of the chair also exploded.

The brows of the head butler jumped frantically at that sight.

He had served the family head for many years. Although every time the family head had an outburst of anger, it was a waste of money and objects. In the past few days, the occurrences were too frequent.

He had squeezed an armrest to dust with each sentence. Although the family wealth was inexhaustible, the main thing was…

The chair could not be replaced.

Zhang Taiying took a deep breath to calm himself. He knew that he could not devote too much energy to his son's affairs at this juncture.

However, it got on his nerves to be interrupted in this way.

"Raise the prize money! Sovereign Stage… Heh, what a bunch of useless things!"

"I heard this time it was delayed for too long, and the forces from the City Lord Mansion were dispatched."

"Hmph, I don't believe this kid will have such good luck next time!"

He swept his hand, looked at the head butler, and said, "Give me information about that kid. I want the details."

"Does Master want to do it himself?" The head butler was surprised.

Before he could conduct further actions, an old man sitting on the left of the head seat opened his closed eyes.

"The family head has lost his focus on the big picture."

"The top priority is the City Lord Mansion's banquet dinner, which is the expansion plan of the Zhang family. How can the progress for that be delayed because of a personal matter?" The old man sighed wearily.

"Zhang Zhongmou!"

Zhang Taiying narrowed his eyes and coldly asked, "Do you think this situation is still small? An Innate Stage killed a Sovereign Stage in retaliation. There is a lot of peculiarity in this. Are you telling me that this is just an accident?"

"If that kid did not possess special means, I would be the first to not believe it!"

Zhang Zhongmou shook his head and said solemnly, "The family head has misunderstood the meaning of this old man."

"Naturally, I have no intention of preventing the family head from avenging Xinxiong, but there must be a priority and order in everything."

"You are still responsible for the process this time. Let Duoyu follow you to the City Lord Mansion to negotiate the White Cave quota and other matters."

"As for Xu Xiaoshou… Let this old man handle it!"

Everyone in the great hall was shocked when they heard that.

"Chief Elder wants to attack?"

"Is that kid worth it? To be honest, even if there is a shortage of people, there is no need for Chief Elder to do it. After all, Three Incenses has its sights set on the prize money…"

"I think this guy may be a misfortune in disguise. Now is a critical moment, and we need to act swiftly."

"If you let a minor incident affect major events, it will only disgrace us!"

Everyone talked about it animatedly, but it was clear that these guys were only fit to discuss trivial family matters. They did not have much say in dealing with actual operations.

Zhang Zhongmou looked toward the beautiful and alluring woman sitting on the right and asked, "Duoyu, what do you think?"

Zhang Duoyu was an attractive woman with an hourglass figure who looked almost 30 years old. She smiled and glanced at the man at the head seat.

"I do not have any opinion, but Chief Elder presented a good proposition. If you want to head out and enjoy the outside world, perhaps we can change positions."

"I'll deal with that kid while you go to the City Lord Mansion."

Zhang Zhongmou caressed his beard and shook his head. "I'm old! I will leave outside matters to you young folks. This old man will only be responsible for the little family matters."

He looked at Zhang Taiying and did not wait for him to speak. He waved his hand and said, "Let's do it this way. Look, it is late now. This old man is going to bed now. You can talk about the remaining matters."

After saying that, he got up and left.

Zhang Taiying narrowed his eyes as he watched the departing figure.

To tell the truth, he could accept this proposal if it were communicated tactfully.

However, the old man spoke in a commanding tone, which annoyed him tremendously.

The Zhang family had changed hands a long time ago, and the era of the old man had passed.

However, the force of the newcomers was strong. If not for the old man's influence, Zhang Taiying would have already eliminated him.

Whoever interfered with his matters had to die.

He turned his head to look at the head butler. "Give me intelligence."

The head butler was surprised. "This…"

He turned his head and glanced in the direction the old man who was leaving. He thought, 'Didn't they agree that Chief Elder would be responsible?'

Zhang Zhongmou did not look back, so he could only look at Zhang Duoyu again.

"I said give me intelligence!"

Zhang Taiying's pupils narrowed, and an unrelenting pressure exploded in the room.

The head butler was taken aback and hurriedly took out a jade scroll from his spatial ring. "It's here. It's here."

Zhang Taiying snorted coldly. He snatched the jade scroll and rubbed it lightly.

"Xu Xiaoshou…"

"Ha!"

There was a commotion outside the door. Zhang Taiying stopped his movement of touching the jade scroll and frowned at the door.

"What is going on?"

A servant entered from the door and hurriedly said, "Family head, there is a young man at the outer door saying that he wants to see you and that it is an urgent matter."

Zhang Taiying was stunned.

"What kind of urgent matter could take precedence over a family meeting?"

His tone was ice-cold as he shouted, "Where did your judgment go? How many years have you been a doorman? Don't you know the rules?"

"It's not like this…"

The servant knelt in a hurry and said with a trembling voice, "He said… He said that this matter is related to Young Master Zhang…"

"Hmm?"

Everyone in the great hall was startled.

Zhang Taiying finally calmed down. He paused for a long time and waved his hand.

"Let him in."

---

Read I Am Loaded with Passive Skills Chapter 351 - Alchemizing at Zhang's Mansion online for free - AllNovelFull

Chapter 351: Alchemizing at Zhang's Mansion

Da. Da.

Crisp sounds of steps could be heard from the sapphire slate.

Xu Xiaoshou basked in the moonlight as he walked into Zhang Mansion with his hands behind his back, feeling comfortable.

"What do you think? I said earlier that I have a way to enter, right?"

Xin Gugu was completely dazed and speechless.

He did not think that Xu Xiaoshou's late-night attack on the Zhang family would actually be directly walking with a swagger into the mansion.

'Isn't this f*king exposing yourself to the enemy?'

'Even if you changed your appearance… Even if you had Yuan Mansion as your backup, but…'

'But…'

'How could this have worked?'

Xin Gugu was in a daze.

Even though he was someone with big dreams, every time he followed Xu Xiaoshou's steps, he was still stunned and in awe.

He was merely an Innate Stage cultivator. What was his mind made up of to have thought of such a wild and bold plan?

Just thinking about it was fine, but this fella dared to execute it.

Executing it was fine, but he actually succeeded. They really entered Zhang Mansion.

'This is f*cking…'

Xin Gugu remembered that the Zhang family had more than one Sovereign and thought about how the longer the battle was delayed, the more time other Sovereigns would have to arrive and help out.

He panicked.

"How about you? What do you think of this?" He patted Aje's arm.

Aje's head lowered. It stared at Xin Gugu's hand with red-lit eyes under its hat. After a moment, it replied.

"Ma Ma…"

Xin Gugu was speechless.

'F*ck, these two crazy guys!'

Criticized, Passive Points 1.

The head of the guards looked at the weird three-person combination behind him and thought that they were Young Master Zhang's friends from the Spiritual Palace.

"This way please," he politely said.

Even though they might look young, people from Tiansang Spiritual Palace had strong abilities and great potential.

If not for meeting Xu Xiaoshou at that time, Young Master Zhang would have already been doing very well.

The small group reached a corner, but Xu Xiaoshou looked at the other end and stopped in his tracks.

He pointed to the other side and asked, "Where does that direction lead to?"

The guard smiled and said, "That would be the Master's private residence. We are not allowed to go there."

"At this time, they are all in the main hall having a meeting. We should walk this way."

He gestured his hand toward the main hall and stopped speaking.

Evidently, he would not say anymore regarding the Zhang family's privacy.

"The Master's private residence?"

Xu Xiaoshou mumbled but did not take another step. He asked, "I assume that would be where the head of the Zhang family sleeps, right?"

"If that is the case, where does Little Bear sleep?"

The guard was stunned for a moment.

'Little Bear?'

'This…'

'Could it be…'

'Referring to Young Master Zhang?'

A strong sense of violation arose from the bottom of his heart. This intimate way of referring to him made him realize that this man standing before him might have an extraordinarily close relationship with Young Master Zhang.

"It is also that direction." The guard's tone was even more polite now as he continued to explain, "All of the Zhang family's elders have private residences in the eastern wing."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed.

It was too big.

Zhang Mansion was many times bigger than the one that he had.

Even if he had already entered this mansion and walked for almost half a day, he still had not seen the main hall. Now, he was hearing about the various wings of the mansion.

As expected, poverty limited one's imagination.

"If that is the case, that eastern wing should be Zhang Mansion's most precious place, right?" Xu Xiaoshou sighed lightly.

The guard frowned.

Even if he was Young Master Zhang's friend, he did not seem to know the rules.

No one would ask so many questions as a guest. He thought, 'If you want to ask, you should as Young Master Zhang. What good would it do you to ask me, a small guard, so many questions?'

"Naturally."

He gave a perfunctory reply and continued. "This way, please. The Master is still waiting for you."

"It's fine. I don't really want to meet your Master." Xu Xiaoshou suddenly smiled.

"Hmm?"

The guard was stunned.

What kind of a person was this? Did he think that he could go anywhere he liked once he stepped into Zhang Mansion?

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

"Gentlemen, please do not waste any more time," the guard said in a low tone. "Master is still waiting. If this causes things to delay, it will make life difficult for me!"

Xu Xiaoshou smiled while squinting his eyes. He slowly raised his arm.

Since he had already found the best place for the epicenter of the explosion, why would he still need to meet Zhang Taiying?

They would meet sooner or later. There was no rush now.

Moreover, if he were to meet him now, that would be throwing himself at the enemy.

Peng!

With a chop of his hand, the guard fell to the ground.

"Let's go"

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand and was about to start walking toward the eastern wing.

Xin Gugu pointed at the guard on the floor and said, "He is still breathing."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to kill him?"

Xu Xiaoshou paused at his step and said, "There's no need for that. He is just a guard, so there's no need to kill him."

Xin Gugu frowned.

'Are you a good man now?'

'You are already f*cking here to wreck this mansion, now you want to tell me about how pitiful this little guard is.'

When he saw his expression, Xin Gugu instantly guessed that this young man was not adept at taking peoples' lives.

He nodded. "Alright."

With that said, the three of them headed toward the direction of the eastern wing.

Under his Perception, a red light exited the guard's body. It went underground, flew onto Xin Gugu's body, and disappeared…

Without any sound.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes narrowed as he sighed deeply.

Without any further comments, he continued to lead the way.

"Follow me."

"There are arrays here, so be careful."

His Perception's true abilities were very strong.

Even if the eastern wing had complicated spiritual arrays, they could not stop Xu Xiaoshou's pace.

Of course, his current Perception was not at the Master Stage yet, hence, it naturally was hard for him to decipher Master Stage spiritual arrays.

Other than the large array protecting the whole mansion, the spiritual arrays here were basically not of the Master Stage.

After all, this was not the Tiansang Spirit Palace or the City Lord Mansion.

With a few Sovereigns present, the Zhang family's defense would not really require such spiritual arrays.

Xu Xiaoshou arrived in a magnificent courtyard.

Looking at the style and decorations, and comparing it to that of the surroundings, this was the most attention-grabbing courtyard. Thus, it could only be the private residences of Zhang Taiying.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the large spirit pond in front of him. It was filled with pool water that was formed with high-vitality spiritual water.

The spirit fishes that were raised in this pond were all colorful and highly spiritual, jumping easily into the air.

"Tsk tsk, what a waste."

Thinking about how this area would all be gone later, Xu Xiaoshou let out a sigh.

Xin Gugu felt even more worried. He looked at Xu Xiaoshou and asked, "Hey, what are you thinking of doing?"

"Coming to people's courtyard for no reason, are you thinking of hiding inside and having a honeymoon?" He tried to think like Xu Xiaoshou.

"What do you mean honeymoon? With whom? You and Zhang Taiying?" Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes.

He waved his hand and casually said, "Watch closely, I am going to… alchemize!"

"Alchemize?" Xin Gugu was shocked.

After coming so far and spending so much time, did he really want to alchemize there?

"Are you sick?" he growled softly.

"Aye, I'm not sick, but I have medicine."

Xu Xiaoshou laughed in response. He waved his hand and took out 18 boiling alchemy ingredients from his Yuan Mansion.

"The show is about to start!"

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Chapter 352: Lets Move His Spirit Pond

"Is this the alchemy you were talking about?"

Xin Gugu was shocked beyond words.

He eyed the 18 alchemy cauldrons, which bared a strange resemblance to him.

Xin Gugu took a closer look at the big pot and the furnace hood.

He realized these were the low-grade defensive spiritual weapon that he had purchased.

Xu Xiaoshou was using these materials to practice alchemy.

He must have been out of his mind.

"No!"

"You were not planning to practice alchemy, right?"

As nonsensical as Xu Xiaoshou often seemed at times, it suddenly struck Xin Gugu that he was not mad enough to run to the house of his mortal enemy and cook up a few pots of alchemy in their backyard.

Judging from how the dozen of cauldrons looked as if they were on the edge of an explosion…

"Is it possible that you are using them as explosives?"

"Clever!" Xu Xiaoshou snapped his fingers and said with a smile, "You've finally realized."

Xin Gugu was silent.

He was unable to keep up with Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts.

Xin Gugu wondered if this was the cognitive difference between a human and a ghost beast host.

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

"Would these cauldron explosions leave a lot of damage?" Though he finally understood the actions of Xu Xiaoshou, Xin Gugu decided to ask anyway.

In his mind, he doubted the damage that a cauldron explosion would deal, particularly if a cauldron explosion, would even be of any threat to the Zhang Mansion.

He wondered what kind of potential the alchemy practice would have in terms of impact.

However, Xu Xiaoshou ignored Xin Gugu.

He had been preparing these cauldrons of alchemy within the Yuan Mansion for the last few hours just for this particular moment.

All he had to do was to wait for the condensing method of infernal heavens, and he would be able to turn this into the next Pill Pagoda.

A Pill Pagoda explosion would have 18 times the power of a normal cauldron explosion.

He wondered if its explosive power would go beyond that level as well.

However, in this instance, Xu Xiaoshou was not producing the Red Gold Pill or Spiritual Cultivation Pill. He was attempting the Eight Ingredient Innate Pill that he had only recently learned.

To be truthful, he did not have the guarantee that he would successfully execute the alchemy technique for all of these pills.

Fortunately for him, the unstable success rate of the alchemy was coincidentally beneficial for the current situation.

"Be careful."

Xu Xiaoshou looked up at the sky and observed the weather. He used his Perception to watch the crowds that were streaming from afar.

The door guard was certainly not lying when he talked about those lower levels who were denied entry.

Moreover, Xu Xiaoshou had been in the Zhang Mansion for a long while, yet he had not seen or encountered any servants.

"An explosion here would leave a terrifying sound. The Sovereign would move fast and come to this place first."

"Once I explode one of the cauldrons, I have to rush into Yuan Mansion immediately."

As Xu Xiaoshou spoke, he took out a cobblestone from his clothes.

"You guys should head inside first!"

With a wave of his hand, Aje was taken into Yuan Mansion.

However, Xin Gugu was rather reluctant.

It was his mission to protect Xu Xiaoshou, so he could not simply leave Xu Xiaoshou outside alone.

"Don't worry." Xu Xiaoshou explained, "There's no danger in there."

Xin Gugu remained silent.

He was worried about the dangers that would be present outside.

"Really?"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded.

"Are you sure you can evade the spiritual senses of the Sovereign?" Xin Gugu asked for confirmation.

"Are you going in or not?" Xu Xiaoshou was getting annoyed. "If not, I'll leave you out here on your own!"

Xin Gugu was speechless. He held back his anger. With reddened eyes, he entered Yuan Palace without a word.

"Alright, now that everything is in place…"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded affirmatively. He returned to gaze at his 18 beloved cauldron explosives.

Bubbling noises were emerging from the cauldrons.

Before he moved his hand to begin the pill compression in the Zhang Mansion, his gaze was immediately locked on a spirit pond that was at the side.

'This is a shame.'

'I wonder if I could bring this into Yuan Mansion as well?'

Xu Xiaoshou's heart shook.

The spirit pond seemed cherished, and it was definitely not obtained at a cheap price. Even a spirit fish from this pond would fetch a high price in the market.

To blow a pond like this up would truly be a shame in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes.

Yuan Mansion was not equivalent to the spatial ring, so there was a possibility that he could fulfill his personal wish and move the pond into it.

Xu Xiaoshou was someone who acted on his thoughts fast. He walked toward the spiritual pond and covered the larger area with his spiritual senses.

The spirit pond was huge. It was almost the size of half of the current Yuan Mansion.

Even so, Xu Xiaoshou could clearly feel that if he wanted this, and it was not opposed from the other side, he could move the spirit pond into Yuan Mansion with certainty.

The discovery was shocking to him.

He had finally learned that the biggest benefit of Yuan Mansion was its ability to serve as a house mover.

He looked up and gazed at Zhang Mansion, which was filled with magnificence and grandeur.

"Wow."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded his head. His eyes were shining with greed.

'It's too small!'

'Too bad Yuan Mansion is too small!'

'If not, I would definitely move everything in this mansion!'

Xu Xiaoshou thought with worry in his heart. He could not wait any longer and sent the order to Aje.

The scene returned to the interior of Yuan Mansion

Xin Gugu observed the surrounding chaotic grey mist with great curiously. As he reached out to touch the fog, he was met with the sound of burning.

Pfft!

He swung around the fingertip that had been badly burned and walked back to the center point speechlessly.

"So, this is Yuan Mansion!"

Xin Gugu was surprised. Though he had been inside once for an experiment with Xu Xiaoshou, he did not have the opportunity to observe the place in detail.

Now that he was finally able to have a full experience of the place, he realized there were many laws of the Great Path here to be comprehended.

It had also occurred to him that the place shared similarities with the extradimensional space where he formed his ghost beast host body.

It was just smaller in size in comparison.

"Hm?"

Remerging from his thoughts, he noticed the quiet and obedient Aje suddenly raised its fist.

He approached it quickly and asked with gentle urgency, "What's wrong?"

Aje was silent. It slammed its raised fist down into the earth.

Boom!

A wave of crashing sounds echoed through the space. The center ground of Yuan Mansion exploded into a huge chunk of emptiness.

Xin Gugu was caught in the unexpected punch as well and fell into the deep pit.

Xin Gugu was stunned by the mile-tall pit walls that surrounded him.

If he had not interpreted the move incorrectly, Aje had not used any spiritual energy in that punch.

"I'll be damned. That's incredible. Were you a physique cultivator all this time?"

Xin Gugu could not believe his eyes. He climbed up from the deep pit still deep in his disbelief.

"No wonder Xu Xiaoshou said we could be partners. With this punch alone, I recognize the power."

He spoke with utter seriousness, but Aje jumped away silently after the punch and stood by the side of the deep pit.

"Ma Ma…"

It seemed to be mumbling something. Its face seemed to be inviting something.

However, Xin Gugu was at a loss.

He thought, 'Is that all you know how to say? What did it call me for?'

Before he could finish the line of thought, a huge splash of water emerged from the sky like a heavy storm and drenched Xin Gugu from head to toe.

Xin Gugu was more confused than ever.

He did not have time to react as a few spirit fishes fell and hit his face with a slapping sound.

Xin Gugu cursed under his breath, "Damn!"

He looked up in surprise. He witnessed all the colorful and diverse fishes of the spirit pond flap helplessly in a panicked fashion as they fell from the sky. The scene was a true definition of fish out of water. If Xin Gugu had not known what they meant before, he fully understood that metaphor now.

Moreover, the massive amount of fish that fell through the sky would have left his face swollen with the slaps.

Xin Gugu hurriedly flew out of the deep pit.

The deep pit could no longer be labeled as a deep pit. It now resembled something that Xin Gugu had seen on the outside.

"Spirit pond?"

Xin Gugu's face changed in surprise and disbelief. He was shocked that Xu Xiaoshou was able to bring the spirit pond into Yuan Mansion.

"This…"

This was definitely the doing of Xu Xiaoshou.

Regardless, Xin Gugu looked at his clothes, which were drenched by the downpour of pond water. He wanted to cry. He turned to Aje. "You could've given me a heads-up!" He cried and turned away in silence.

"Ma Ma…"

Aje looked at him innocently from the side. The words seemed to speak along the lines of, "I warned you, but you didn't come up." It sighed in resignation.

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Chapter 353: Blow His World Apart

"Got it!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a swell of satisfaction in his heart as he looked toward the empty spirit pond.

The 18 explosive cauldrons in the courtyard were destabilizing more and more with every passing second.

However, the young man felt a change of heart.

'Even if I blow Zhang Mansion apart, what use would it be?'

'They could recover their wealth and assets within half a day or less.'

'But for me, I'll face great difficulty trying to leave after I escape into Yuan Mansion…'

Xu Xiaoshou turned to look around in thought.

He sustained the small flame that was cooking the cauldrons from afar as he walked outward to explore. He made his way toward the corner he previously was in.

'I guess I'm the only one who would walk so far away from my alchemy cauldrons.'

Xu Xiaoshou did not feel a hint of fear in his heart as he mocked his own actions.

If the pills were to explode, he would let them explode. Moreover, under the Boiling Soup method, as long as he did not attempt to condense the pill, it would not explode under normal circumstances.

He stared at the corpse of the guard that was laying on the floor.

Xin Gugu's sneak attack had eliminated the man.

Xu Xiaoshou did not stop him. Even if he wanted to, he was too late. If he had to stop him, he doubted that he would have stopped Xin Gugu.

'People will always change.'

He sighed softly in his heart and sprung into action. He removed the guard's attire and put it on before setting the corpse on fire as a way of sending him off.

"Rest in peace."

After he completed the ceremony, he gave the attire a pat-down.

The presence emitted from his body was the mid-stage of Origin Court, and it did not differ much from the guard.

He recalled the appearance and mannerisms of the door guard in his mind. Xu Xiaoshou altered his appearance slightly and attempted to mimic the door guard by stretching his mouth wide.

Xu Xiaoshou turned back to the eastern court. He felt like a clown gazing at the building of the sick.

"Goodbye."

Stretching his hand out, he pressed the back of his hand with his right hand.

"Activate, condensing method of infernal heavens!"

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Under the veil of the pitch-black night, the thundering sounds of over a dozen explosions were heard in succession and sent the ground shaking madly.

The success of the Red Gold Pill alchemy had shattered the windows of the Pill Pagoda and sent Yun He flying to the ceiling.

For the Spiritual Cultivation Pill, it had exploded close to half of the Pill Pagoda. Its wild and intense flames had almost engulfed the Pill Pagoda into nothingness.

The sheer terror that the explosions were capable of was completely unimaginable. The 18 copies of pills were made from Innate Pill ingredients that Xu Xiaoshou felt pained to use, but it seemed to have paid off.

He had taken the route away from the eastern court and was a distance away from the explosions.

The frightening presence of the explosion suddenly disappeared.

Xu Xiaoshou stood still.

The reason behind this was the presence of his Toughness.

He could withstand the impact, but the ground beneath him was not as strong.

The ground started to crack and split. The pieces of the earth and the snapped trunks of the spirit trees were lifted into the air. Within seconds, the impact had devasted the entire eastern court.

The houses collapsed, and the space was filled with all types of noises.

The air around him was murky and rose up to form a large grey mushroom cloud that completely covered the moonlight.

The world of Zhang Mansion had been blown to bits. Even those on Nantian Street and at the City Lord Mansion, as well as the many other powerful forces, were immediately drawn toward the direction of the explosion.

Inside the Pill Pagoda tower…

Shi Ti was borrowing the guise of the night to repair the seven layers of barrier outside of the wall.

The elder jumped in fright as he overheard the familiar sounds of the explosion.

The nightmare during the daytime had not passed in its entirety. Now, the nightmare had returned before he could even get into bed.

'Zhang family?'

'Ha-ha, looks like it's not just me who has bad luck!'

'It looks like Tiansang City won't be that peaceful for a while! Better fix up these barriers fast!'

City Lord Mansion…

The sounds of the explosions traveled to Fu Xing as well. The sounds slightly alarmed him. However, he dismissed his personal anxieties immediately.

"That should be from the direction of the Zhang family. Did they provoke any strong powers?" Fu Xing whispered to himself.

The lady with an excellent physique next to him turned toward the direction of the explosion as well.

"Young Master Fu, judging from this sound, it does not seem to be purely a battle between Master Stage individuals. There might be a possibility that it is a battle between new Sovereigns."

"Should we go over and take a look?"

Liu Qing was the one who asked. She had already healed from the previous battle with the scruffy-looking man thanks to the power of the City Lord Mansion.

She had full confidence in her abilities if she were to join in a battle again.

"There's no need."

Fu Xing replied with a dismissive wave, "The area of the Zhang family belonged to them alone. Besides, only people of the Zhang family reside there."

"If we went over and it was no big issue but something trivial, they might get upset with us and call us meddlesome."

"If it was a battle that they require assistance in, they would definitely ask so in that case…"

Fu Xing's lips curled upward. He continued with a smile. "Say no more in that case."

Liu Qing nodded but her gaze was fixated on the scene in the distance. Her face showed a hint of worry.

Her female instincts told her that the best method at the moment was to rush to the scene and eliminate the threat before it grew.

Yet, if Young Master Fu had said so and with much logic, she wondered if she truly had overthought the situation.

"This should not be any big problem.

"The rise in the number of people coming into the city lately must be the reason. Some of them could be those with a bad temperament."

She nodded to herself.

"Yeah, that should be the case."

Nantian Street: Small Manor…

"Has it started?"

Mu Zixi pouted her lips and stared at the mushroom cloud in the distance.

Others who chanced upon this view would have interpreted this as a final move in a battle.

With the chorus of explosions, the battle would come to its end and close quietly.

However, being Xu Xiaoshou's junior sister she was the only one who was acutely aware that this usually signaled a beginning.

Jumping off from the roof, she knocked her head slightly.

"Eh, come out and talk!"

The scene shifted to within the great hall of Zhang Mansion.

Peace and tranquility continued to persist within the great hall.

Zhang Xinxiong's friend, who was summoned for interrogation, had been slightly late in his arrival, but it was not something to be alarmed about.

Zhang Mansion was large and incredibly glorious. Its appearance was good enough for anyone who had not traveled the world to stop in their tracks. It was true that even if there was a guide, they would be captivated too.

The terrifying explosion had completely broken the moments of silence amongst the court in the great hall.

"What's happening?"

The people within the hall stood up immediately. All around, everyone had expressions full of shock.

"That sound… Was it an explosion in Zhang Mansion?"

A voice asked in shock, "Could it be that Elder Dai was practicing alchemy and caused a cauldron explosion?"

"Did water get into your head? Cauldrons exploding is a side effect. From of this alone, it is sure that someone launched an attack against us the Zhang family!"

"But who are our enemies?"

The question left every person speechless.

The individual had subtly expressed the thoughts, but the sentiment was felt by all those around him.

What the words actually meant were quite different.

It was rather a question of who among the massive amount of enemies the Zhang family had was behind the attack.

Zhang Taiying furrowed his brows intensely and inhaled deeply.

The issue with Xu Xiaoshou had been a pain in his neck recently. Now, there was someone who dared to attack the Zhang family in these crucial times.

"Death to them!"

Although he knew enemy forces who had plotted to ruin the Zhang family's plans for expansion, to witness an actual explosion attack was anger-provoking. He felt extremely annoyed.

"Slam!"

Zhang Taiying slammed his hand on the table and yelled in fury.

"Who did this? Find them immediately!"

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Chapter 354: Don't Worry About Me, Catch The Attacker First

Upon hearing this, everyone started to stand up in shock. They flew up one by one into the air using their spiritual source.

"Who could this attacker be?"

"The Zhou family? The Zhao family? With such sensitive timing, I guess only those two powerhouses would have the strength and boldness to attack!"

"Same here. Originally, the Su family would have the ability as well. What a pity they encountered that situation."

"Ugh, let's not talk about that. Let's find the attacker first. The fact that he dared to attack the eastern wing directly like this means he should not have run far."

The group of them flew in the sky while having an intense discussion. As soon as the order was made, the entire Zhang Mansion quickly got to work.

Suddenly, an elderly man took out his communication jade device and stopped whatever he was doing.

"Could it be that Xu Xiaoshou has arrived?"

Everyone kept quiet. After a while of silence, laughter could be heard.

"Seventh Elder, let's not go there. He is just a mere Innate Stage cultivator and is probably hiding somewhere by now. If you were in his shoes, would you have dared to come here?"

The seventh elder retorted, "He can kill a Sovereign, can you?"

"Ha-ha, kill a Sovereign? Do you really believe that?" The group of them mocked.

"It was most likely the case that the assassin took too long and got taken down by the City Lord Mansion's people instead. Have you not understood the situation?"

"I really… can't take you!"

The seventh elder was silent. To be honest, he did not believe it either. He just wanted to raise that tiny possibility since everyone was discussing it.

"Or maybe…"

His mind lit up. The seventh elder suddenly remembered that the eastern wing was also protected by arrays.

How could the intruder have passed through the protective barrier and gotten inside without anyone noticing?

After all, with his spiritual senses, he could tell that the protective barrier of the eastern wing had been damaged but only in a small area.

Looking at the explosion, it was most likely to have originated from the inside and spread outward.

Obviously, there was a stowaway.

How had he entered?

The seventh elder suddenly remembered the person they had been waiting for but did not arrive. It was Zhang Xinxiong's friend.

"Maybe, the explosion was caused by Xinxiong's friend."

The group paused again. Someone quickly suspected something and said, "It can't be right. No matter how strong Xinxiong was, he was only a Master. Within the Inner Court of Tiansang Spiritual Palace, which friend of his could be stronger than him?"

"Moreover, even if he or she was stronger, to be able to cause such a huge explosion and damage, who could do it?"

Upon hearing this, the group of elders nodded in agreement at this explanation.

The seventh elder begged to differ.

"No, there was someone stronger than Xinxiong in the Spiritual Palace."

"Who?"

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

The seventh elder naturally asked, "Wasn't it said that that fella used a lightning-quick way and beheaded… Uh, cough, cough."

Everyone went silent. After discussing it for so long, the focus was back to Xu Xiaoshou.

They had already removed the possibility of this fella at first. Now…

"No more discussions!"

Zhang Duoyu appeared above the group and said seriously, "What the seventh elder said made sense. Investigations will start immediately in Zhang Mansion to prevent anyone from entering through a disguise."

"Also, gather all our strength and search from the inside out!"

"He dared to blast my Zhang Mansion. Today, we will not him escape!"

Everyone's heart tightened in resolve and rushed to reply.

"Yes!"

In a corner right outside the eastern wing…

Cries sounding like howling ghosts and wolves could be heard.

Various kinds of voices and cries could be heard in Xu Xiaoshou's mind.

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

'The damage… Was it really so scary?'

He had thought about the kind of damage that the explosion would bring. Since he had never tried using the Innate Pill with 18 exploding cauldrons, he was still shocked by what he saw.

'F*k. Even Master Stage cultivators could not withstand it if they did not know and take precautions beforehand!'

It could be visibly seen that there was a deep trench as if a small nuclear bomb had been set off. The depth and width…

In the whole eastern wing, there was not a single house still standing, not to mention the private residence of Zhang Taiying.

All of them were wrecked by this explosion.

As for the spiritual pond, if he had not moved it, it would have probably been evaporated together with all the fish.

Foosh! Foosh!

Looking at the burning flames all around him, Xu Xiaoshou had no time to think anymore. He had to flee immediately.

There were already many people gathering. If he were to run in the opposite direction from them, he would become an obvious target.

Thinking about this, Xu Xiaoshou immediately rolled onto the ground.

Through rolling, his clothes were all black. His face became unrecognizable as well.

After doing that, he struggled to stand up and shouted weakly, "Help… Help me!"

Upon realizing there was a survivor, the crowd that was rushing over immediately gathered around him.

"How are you feeling?"

A look at this man's guard uniform let them know that he was one of them, so they asked with concern.

Xu Xiaoshou held onto one of their hands violently and said, "Don't worry about me. Catch the attacker first!"

"Attacker? Did you see the attacker? Where!"

A few of them became excited. If they could obtain first-hand information, they would be able to look good in front of the higher-ups.

"He went that direction!"

Xu Xiaoshou randomly pointed in a direction, swallowed his saliva, and said effortfully, "You guys hurry up and call the elders first!"

"He was a black-clothed, masked man. Just with your abilities, you can't all defeat him!"

"Is there any other information?" The few of them were eager.

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head and painfully shut his eyes, sealing off his six senses, and pretending to faint.

Thud!

In the next second, he found himself thrown back onto the ground without any care.

The few of them who had gotten his information immediately ran toward the direction he had pointed.

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised.

'Are they really so brave and fearless?'

'Did they not suspect me at all?'

'Even though I said not to worry about me and to catch the attacker first… Did you guys really not worry at all?'

'F*ck, I'm a casualty!'

Before he could revive and flee, a few horrifying presences could be felt flying over.

They were none other than the group of elders who flew over Xu Xiaoshou's head and rushed toward the direction of those few people who had told them about the information.

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked and immediately laid down more carefully.

There were 13 Masters and one Sovereign.

He quickly counted as the group of them flew over. He was so shocked that his heart almost stopped.

Fortunately, his pretense was still rather successful.

Not far from him were similar casualties and corpses. It seemed that all those cultivators at Master and below who were nearby did not fare well at all under this explosion.

The group of elders followed the direction he had pointed and left without talking to him any further.

Since he was just a mere guard, he did not have the right to be chatting with the elders.

The few of them who had obtained first-hand information from him similarly did not plan to give their intel up as second-hand information.

Xu Xiaoshou was abandoned.

All alone, he was elated.

'Have I deceived all of them?'

Compared to what he had expected, this was many times easier.

With his Innate Stage abilities, it was all too easy for people to neglect his existence.

In no time, Xu Xiaoshou's Perception could see emergency rescuers rushing over.

They were moving bodies one by one and would probably carry him away soon as well.

'I can't lie here anymore. At this point, most of the elders should be busy, and no one would come here…'

Xu Xiaoshou pondered as his eyes lit up.

With his Perception plus the Watched notifications from the system acting as a warning system, he could easily discover if anyone was snooping nearby.

Currently, both of these were not triggered.

It meant that he had successfully deceived the enemies.

Xu Xiaoshou flipped up and brushed the dirt off his body. He looked in the direction where the elders flew from and smiled slyly.

'Zhang Taiying, he-he, watch me empty all your treasures this time!'

Report chapter

Chapter 355: The Vanishing Night Invader

At the moment, Xu Xiaoshou's Innate Stage cultivation had given him the strongest disguise possible.

The top elders and leaders would not spare any attention toward individuals who were beneath the Master Stage.

For the ones in the higher hierarchies, it was hard to believe that an individual of the Innate Stage was capable of pulling off an explosion of that scale.

In fact, few people would have found something like that to be believable.

However, the Innate Stage for those who resided at the bottom levels of the food chain was a stage that represented a powerful being.

The ones in Zhang Mansion often were the leaders of the servants or given a small leadership role in the mansion.

The small rules and restrictions imposed on them often were not perceived as any form of shackles for them.

An example was the door guard who Xu Xiaoshou was pretending to be.

The door guard was slightly panicked. His face bore injuries from the explosion. Black stains covered most of his features.

Luckily, those stains served as a good coverup for his facial features.

Moreover, with the current state of emergency in the mansion to put out the fire and salvage the scene, there was little attention paid to an unremarkable door guard.

"Quick, to the east courtyard! They're short on manpower! Help them with the fire."

Xu Xiaoshou hurriedly gave that order to every servant he ran past. This was the 16th servant he had encountered.

He was unsure where the path would lead. The crowd had slowly reduced itself. Based on the power of the servants he ran into, they were almost past the fourth or fifth stages of Spiritual Cultivation and likely in the eighth or ninth stage.

'I guess it won't be smooth sailing ahead!'

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself.

The number of Spiritual Cultivators within Zhang Mansion was not exceptional. Many of those in the first two levels of Spiritual Cultivation were in the bottom tier. Those who were at Acquired Stage were already considered to be upper-tier individuals in Zhang Mansion.

"East courtyard?"

A voice cautiously questioned him.

The latest man he had given his order to did not seem to be so easy to fool.

The man was a hunky individual who was clad from head to toe in a white ceremonial outfit. He was wearing boxing gloves. He looked like a coach. Eyeing his ability, he could tell the man was in the ninth stage of Spiritual Cultivation.

He was not in a rush. Instead, he stopped to ask, "Who are you? I've never seen you before."

Xu Xiaoshou did stop to answer his question. He had not intended to be bothered by him to begin with. Panting between his words, he pointed to the small path ahead and asked, "Great hall?"

The hunk in the white robe furrowed his brows. Xu Xiaoshou thought, 'He has to know the direction of the great hall, right?'

'This guy…'

The man hesitated. After looking at the panicked face of the other mand, he did not dare to delay him. "Yeah, why?"

"No!"

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hands and swallowed his saliva, which allowed him to take a breath.

"I mean, is the master in the great hall?"

He straightened up and added, "Are you stupid? These are orders from the elder, so react faster!"

'The elder?'

The white-robed man was surprised. His expression became more alert. "He is. He is. The head of the house is in the great hall, but the other elders rushed out to search–"

"Wouldn't I know where the other elders went?"

Xu Xiaoshou cut him off immediately and replied angrily, "I came from the eastern courtyard!"

The man in white robes was silent.

He looked at the soot on Xu Xiaoshou's body. He wondered if he was one of the first people caught in the explosion. It was no wonder why he was in such a rush.

"Is there an emergency?" he asked carefully.

Xu Xiaoshou was amused by his question amidst his fury. "Orders from the elder to the head of the house… Do you dare not listen to them?"

The man in white robes was at a loss for words. His face was turning purple as he hurriedly replied, "Of course, I don't dare."

Xu Xiaoshou pointed in the direction behind him and called out angrily, "If you don't dare, then go to the eastern courtyard and help!"

"Do you think those guys that in the early stages can last very long?"

"For someone in the ninth stage, do you think you're too good? Can you just stay here and waste time?"

"How can you walk around so leisurely while Zhang Mansion is in a state of emergency?"

The series of scoldings left the white-robed man sweating.

He wanted to retaliate, but he sensed the presence of the Innate Stage on the individual and pulled back before rushing off.

"I'll rush over right now!"

The man left at lightning speed after he finished his sentence.

Xu Xiaoshou watched the man take his leave and heaved a sigh of relief.

'There are too many people.'

He had met a few who argued with him, but he had managed to pull all of them away from him with no exceptions.

He was Innate Stage, so these people did not dare to retaliate against him.

After the series of questions, he had a rough idea of Zhang Mansion's layout.

He learned that the great hall was ahead of him, the weaponry was to the north, and the Hidden Scripture Pavilion was south.

'Zhang Taiying is still in the great hall.'

The thought made Xu Xiaoshou hesitate to take another step forward.

His initial plan was to take everything that was in Zhang Mansion's great hall and transport it into Yuan Mansion while no one was around.

If there were any precious and rare objects, he wanted to keep them for himself.

For the useless items, he could simply toss them into Chaos Space.

More importantly, if he shifted the great hall away, it would devastate the reputation of the Zhang family.

However, if Zhang Taiying was still around, this would pose great difficulty.

'Is he still calm after all that happened? Is he not going to look at the ruins in his room?'

'Never mind.'

With a sigh of resignation, Xu Xiaoshou decided to change his goal.

'Hidden Scriptures Pavilion?'

'There are always guards in areas like that!'

Xu Xiaoshou felt slightly afraid of his plan.

Yet, he did not know the other places where they might have kept treasure.

The Hidden Scriptures Pavilion was the most obvious treasure vault. It seemed to him that there was nowhere else to go.

'No, it's go big or go home!'

Xu Xiaoshou looked in the direction that was far ahead of him. He set his sights on it and took off.

In the Zhang family's Hidden Scriptures Pavilion…

The Pavilion was a 12-story pagoda.

On the top floor, an elder sat cross-legged as he levitated in the void.

The essence fragments of the spiritual source from heaven and earth were pulled into the elder's energy center like coils of snakes and dragons.

Zhang Zhongmou was exhaling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. His spiritual sense had covered the entirety of Zhang Mansion.

"Strange."

He spoke below his breath and opened his eyes. His eyes were full of suspicion.

The explosion had awoken him from his half-asleep state. He had immediately filled Zhang Mansion with his spiritual senses.

However, the invader's presence had completely been erased. It was as if he had vanished from humanity.

Although he had immediately dispatched his spiritual senses to the land miles outside of the mansion, he still failed to locate the individual.

Zhang Zhongmou grimly watched the transparent flames that took significant effort for Zhang Duoyu to contain. He put it out with the power laws of the Great Path and fell into deep thought.

The type of flames was slightly familiar to him.

'Elder Sang of Tiansang Spirit Palace?'

Zhang Zhongmou could recall witnessing flames with such strange and aggressive behavior from one of the deans in Tiansang Spirit Palace's early years.

These flames were capable of burning retaliating elders from the dozens of counties and cities alive.

However, the Zhang family and Tiansang Spirit Palace were not enemies. Zhang Zhongmou had never fought with Elder Sang.

Therefore, flames of this type were only a rumor. He had never seen them, so he had no real basis to evaluate them on.

'If it was Elder Sang, why would he attack us Zhang family?'

'There is no conflict between us at all!'

'Has someone tried to frame him?'

'Hm… That's not possible. How could any ordinary person have flames like this?'

As Zhang Zhongmou continued his deep thoughts, he spread his spiritual senses out more and more. He was at the 10-mile radius now, yet he could not detect anything suspicious or even traces of the invader.

He could not spot any changes in the space either.

This meant that the invader did not come with a form of transport and had completely disappeared beneath the eyes of Zhang Zhongmou, who was a Sovereign.

'That's impossible!'

'There must be something I had missed!'

Zhang Zhongmou wondered if he was overthinking the situation.

He surveyed Zhang Mansion once again. This time, a realization struck him.

If his spiritual senses were unable to detect any presence on the outside, it meant that there was a high possibility that the invader was still insider the mansion.

'This…'

The realization shocked Zhang Zhongmou.

He could not imagine that anyone would have the gall to think of doing that.

Not only had the individual caused an explosion of this scale, but he was also able to completely conceal his presence and rendered himself unfindable. He wondered who had the power to be capable of doing that.

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Chapter 356: Small Fry

'It would be impossible for such an individual to exist!'

Zhang Zhongmou immediately denied this ridiculous line of thought.

If they stayed hidden within Zhang Mansion, then they had to be someone who was at a stage far ahead of him. Otherwise, it would not have been possible.

If they had to hide, they would have hidden inside a secret concealed space.

That idea seemed impossible since there was no change in the space at the moment of the explosion. Therefore, he quickly eliminated that possibility.

'If not, the individual is far weaker than me. Did I completely overlook the person?'

Zhang Zhongmou dismissed that thought immediately.

If the individual lacked potential, where would the explosion have emerged from?

Based on the current situation, as well as the unusual circumstances, it seemed to him that the night invader was not someone at the Master Stage. Rather, it was someone who was a Sovereign.

Still deep in thought, he walked forward and turned a corner before coming face to face with a young man who had a panicked expression.

"Hm?"

Zhang Zhongmou stopped in his tracks.

Many people passed by the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion on a normal basis, so he did not usually pay much attention to them.

However, this young man had walked there with a very obvious intention. He was heading directly to the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion.

Zhang Zhongmou squinted his eyes and attempted to confirm his suspicions of this man.

'Mid-stage of Origin Court…'

The more Zhang Zhongmou looked, the more he was suspicious of the individual.

'The clothes he was wearing…'

'Was it our own door guard?'

Watched, Passive Points 1.

Suspected, Passive Points 1

Suspected, Passive Points 1

It was nothing but a turn, but the notification bar in his mind immediately refreshed with multiple updated notices.

For someone who had not been noticed in his journey thus far, Xu Xiaoshou was caught off guard.

He had hoped that things would go the most ideal way for him and that the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion would have no guards. In the event that there were guards, he hoped they would have been pulled toward the explosion.

Though the idea was promising, the cold hard reality always turned it around.

Using his Perception to take a look, he could see an elder man levitating mid-air above the peak of the ancient pagoda.

Xu Xiaoshou's heart almost stopped as he spotted the elder.

'It seems like trouble always finds me in every corner.'

He thought about his current position. The other man had already spotted him and was keeping an eye on him. If he decided to turn back or retreat, he would have confirmed the man's suspicions of him.

Xu Xiaoshou bravely stepped forward.

Pit!

Pat!

His footsteps sounded rushed yet helpless. He felt that he was walking deeper into a depth he could not recover from with every step

'What a tide I am caught in.'

He sighed in his heart, but Xu Xiaoshou did not look up. He forced himself to remain collected as he ran to the entrance to the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion.

"Are you there, senior?"

He called out cautiously like an animal dipping its toes into the water and knocked on the door. "The family head is looking for you! It's an emergency!"

There was no response from the other end.

The area ahead of him was in a state of tranquility. It was as if the ancient pagoda was devoid of any human presence.

Despite the empty and peaceful appearance…

Watched, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou's heart sank.

He could not see anyone with his naked eye, and he did not dare to activate his spiritual senses to observe the upper area of his surroundings.

His Perception had clearly identified that the old man located at the top had an abrupt change in expression after he called out his statement.

Xu Xiaoshou wondered if he had said something wrong.

Perhaps there was a problem or mistake in his sentence that raised the old man's suspicions.

Xu Xiaoshou felt his heart miss the next beat. He had always been instinctively smooth with his words. To avoid addressing the individual the wrong way, he had adopted the neutral term "Senior."

'Hang on!' he thought.

'Senior?'

He realized that the way he had addressed the man was the issue.

His undercover identity was that of a door guard. He should technically know the guardian who was watching over the place.

Therefore, he should not have called the person "Senior." He should have instead addressed the old man by his title in Zhang Mansion.

Something along the lines of "Elder" or perhaps "Guardian" would have been the more appropriate words to use.

'I was careless!'

Xu Xiaoshou shut his eyes.

In the meantime, Zhang Zhongmou stared down at the young man from the top of the pagoda.

It was exactly as Xu Xiaoshou had predicted. The moment the young man had addressed him as "Senior," he knew the young man was an imposter.

Anyone from Zhang Mansion would have addressed him as "Chief Elder" when they encountered him.

If it was a few decades earlier, every person in Zhang Mansion would have addressed him as the "Family Head."

'What Senior…' Zhang Zhongmou thought.

'Ha!'

The imposter had failed terribly in his attempt to draw him out.

Zhang Zhongmou smiled chillingly. He did not move a single muscle as he continued to watch the young man.

From his perspective, the young man could be placed there as bait.

It was hard for an individual with such weak potential as him to be the one responsible for the explosions.

He watched the young man for a prolonged period of time, yet the young man did not make a move to push the doors open and enter into the pavilion.

The young man's behavior frustrated him.

'Could it be that this rascal's goal was not the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion?'

'If not, what is he actually planning to do?'

As he returned to his thoughts, he caught a glimpse of the young man beneath him looking up suddenly.

The glowing moonlight illuminated his face. His fearsome expression and wide smile were on full display for all to see.

'Is he smiling?'

This was Zhang Zhongmou's knee-jerk reaction.

He quickly realized that there was something amiss about the entire situation.

The rascal was an Innate Stage, so it would have been difficult for an individual of that stage to detect his presence.

The wide smile on his fearsome face caused Zhang Zhongmou to connect all the previous bizarre occurrences to the young man below him.

'Is there a possibility that this young man was the criminal behind the explosion?' he thought.

He was able to evade the tracing and tracking by every person in Zhang Mansion, and he almost had fooled Zhang Zhongmou. He must have had the help of…

'Cultivation of The Art of Disguise?'

Zhang Zhongmou felt a chill run down his spine. This was a man who could cause such a huge scene and also disguise and conceal himself naturally in his line of sight.

'How powerful is his real potential?'

Despite being at the peak of the Sovereign Stage, the young man before him had a high chance of being at the Cutting Path Level.

He stopped his thoughts there. Zhang Zhongmou could no longer sit still where he was. He stood up. With a mixture of anger and shock, he confronted the young man.

"Who are you?"

His method was successful.

As he watched his notification bar refresh at a crazy speed after being questioned by Zhang Zhongmou, he knew that his battle tactic had succeeded.

As soon as the old man discovered him and decided to go with the flow as a scheme to continue observing him from the top of the pagoda…

It occurred to Xu Xiaoshou that if he were to follow his original plan, he would have sunk deeply into a passive position.

The best outcome in this situation was to wait until he had crumbled into dust or walk through the entrance and be taken out by the old man in one strike.

Therefore, he decided to add to the old man's scheme and remove himself from his undercover character as the door guard.

He wanted the old man to perceive him as the individual who was responsible for the massive explosion.

However, this was a dangerous plan.

Only under this immense pressure would he be able to work harder and come up with a new scheme. At that time, he would be able to preserve his life right under the old man's eyes.

Xu Xiaoshou was not only unwilling to fight, but this situation was out of his depth.

He could always ask Xin Gugu to come out, but the current state of matters was not favorable.

Zhang Mansion not only had the famed Zhang Taiying, but it also had the old man who was before him as well as the beauty he had bumped into who was headed toward the eastern courtyard.

There were three great Sovereigns.

If he was caught in the act, he would face the consequence of death.

Xu Xiaoshou changed his gears quickly on the spot. He looked up and pulled his lips apart. He delivered a chilling smile.

It all seemed to go according to his plan. The old had thought too much into the situation.

As long as he did not deliver the first strike, he was already halfway to success.

The old man moved about in the air above him. Xu Xiaoshou did not bother to conceal his Innate Stage presence.

In the sky above Xu Xiaoshou, the old man's gaze was changing as well.

His eyes portrayed emotions of fear, a subtle mixture of suspicion, and the look of having many unanswered questions.

Xu Xiaoshou stared directly at Zhang Zhongmou. He tried to steady his heartbeat to the slowest normal pace, and he put up his best fearless face.

He wondered how he should talk to assert dominance against an individual of the Sovereign Stage.

Xu Xiaoshou was panicking internally.

Suddenly, the figure of the masked Saint Servant appeared in his mind.

'Maybe if I…'

Xu Xiaoshou held on for a while longer. He was still hesitant to enter.

He waited for a long while until hints of annoyance could be seen emanating from the old man's eyes. He finally spoke while maintaining his smile.

"I didn't think your eyes were so sharp, small fry. You found me."

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Chapter 357: Big Bragger Xu Has Made His Comeback

"Small fry?"

Zhang Zhongmou's eyes squinted subconsciously.

He was already advanced in age, yet this young was calling him a small fry.

'This rascal…'

'This is really suspicious!'

'Could it be that even this tender and young face was intentionally faked?'

'Looking at the age of his bones, he should be only in his twenties!'

Zhang Zhongmou panicked a little. 'If this guy can even fake his bone age, how strong must he be to be able to fool me?'

'Since when did the Zhang family provoke such a strong enemy?'

'As for whether this guy here is really as ordinary as he looks…'

'What kind of a joke would that be!'

'Which person of the young generation would dare to act like this in front of me?'

'Perhaps he doesn't want to live!'

Zhang Zhongmou suppressed his suspicions, swallowed his saliva, and struggled to reply, "You, who are you?"

Xu Xiaoshou casually strolled in the air.

If it was before, he would have felt a little worried about acting like someone else.

Even though he had a low level of cultivation, having witnessed the masked man's strength, he understood that there were people in this world who did not cultivate their spiritual source.

Coincidentally, his way of the sword, including sword cognition, seemed to be able to copy that of the masked man.

He remained silent again for a dozen breaths and spoke while mimicking the masked man's voice and tone.

"Who am I?"

"Heh, I will give you three chances to guess."

Xu Xiaoshou smiled. "If you cannot get it right, then I will take something from within your Hidden Scriptures Pavilion."

This contemptuous tone caused Zhang Zhongmou's anger to rise.

He really wanted to attack. Once he thought about what had happened to the Su Family, Zhang Zhongmou calmly restricted his impulse.

In these sensitive times, he knew that Tiansang City was highly unstable.

Some strong existences might have had weird and strange behaviors.

If his slight irrationality were to cause the downfall of the Zhang family, Zhang Zhongmou would be the first one to not be able to forgive himself.

Thinking about this, Zhang Zhongmou took a deep breath.

"I have thought hard. I really do not have any grievances or problems with you."

"Why did you first blast the eastern wing of Zhang Mansion, and then now try to come after our treasure in the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion?"

Xu Xiaoshou did not respond to him.

When he was talking, how could he let someone else take the lead?

He looked over casually and said, "You have three chances. Are you ready to start guessing?"

Zhang Zhongmou paused for a moment. The flames of anger in his eyes started to burn again.

This guy was asking for a beating.

Did he really think that the three big Sovereigns of Zhang Mansion were so easily bullied?

"I have never met you before, so how would I know?" he replied coldly.

"Never met before?"

Xu Xiaoshou let out a laugh and decided to play along. "If that is the case, do you really not know my reason for coming?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhongmou paused.

Could it be that the Zhang family had unknowingly offended someone, and he was now here for payback?

His expressions tightened as he said solemnly, "I do not know all the trivial matters of the family. Please get straight to the point."

Xu Xiaoshou opened his mouth. Coupled with his scarred face, he looked frightening.

"Trivial matter?"

"It seems like the Zhang Family is all high and almighty. Is a Sovereign assassin also considered a trivial matter?"

Lightning flashed across Zhang Zhongmou's mind. He instantly understood.

'It's him!'

He had always found the fact that Xu Xiaoshou could manage to kill a Sovereign Stage assassin to be weird.

As expected, there were bodyguards around this guy.

Now, since the assassin did not complete the job, his bodyguards had come.

In just a short while, Zhang Zhongmou's forehead was dripping with sweat.

This was a person who could kill a Sovereign.

He was someone who could escape under the eyes of the City Lord Mansion even after killing a Sovereign.

He was also someone who could escape in the day only to intrude at night to directly cause the entire eastern wing to explode.

Even though Zhang Zhongmou was a Sovereign, would he be this guy's match even if he was at his best state?

It was widely known that once someone entered the Sovereign Stage, they were not like ordinary cultivators who could be killed whenever and however.

Under the same stage of cultivation, the battles could last for a dozen days without any winner or loser, as well as possibly no deaths.

The fact that this guy could kill a Sovereign Stage assassin from The Three Incense meant that his abilities were definitely top class.

At this point, Zhang Zhongmou had already forgotten why this strong cultivator had to disguise himself as a door guard to enter.

He was filled with anxiety and almost ready to ask for help.

"Do you want to call for help?"

Xu Xiaoshou called him out just in time.

This tone of suspicion almost caused Zhang Zhongmou's heart to jump out of his throat.

"No, no such thing. Those are such… heavy words." Zhang Zhongmou's lips were dry.

He restrained his impulsive hand.

Even if he called for help, he was suddenly unsure whether they would be able to defeat this strange guy in front of him.

On the other hand, Xu Xiaoshou could not remain calm anymore.

Seeing that the old man was overly anxious shocked him as well.

How much did this guy overthink?

His original intention was to just act like the masked man to scare him.

Who would have thought that this old man would be frightened to this extent?

'Could it be that he is faking as well?'

Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat.

He suddenly realized that because of the difference in cultivation levels between them, even if this old man were to secretly call for help, he would not even know it.

"Are you lying to me?"

He said coldly, replacing the smile on his face with a serious look.

Zhang Zhongmou panicked a little.

He really did not move at all, so how would he have called for help?

This enemy was someone who could kill a Sovereign and seemed to be of the Cutting Path Level. Even if there were three sovereigns here, wouldn't the result still be the same?

At most, there would only be a delay of two more seconds.

"Mister…"

"Don't mister me!"

Xu Xiaoshou was annoyed and cut him off. No matter whether this old man called for help or not, he could not wait anymore.

If he waited any longer, and he would be exposed.

If he were to really leave just like that, wouldn't that just prove that he was indeed just a fake?

Earlier, he still said that he wanted to take one item from the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion. If he were to flee due to the other party's suspicious actions…

Even if he wanted to die, this was not the way.

He bit down on his teeth. Without speaking any further, he waved his hand and grabbed his Yuan Mansion.

Light flashed as a short boy wearing a straw hat appeared.

"Ma Ma…"

The soft call caused Zhang Zhongmou to pause.

'Another fella with no cultivation?'

He glanced at the young man in front of him.

To be honest, an Innate Stage cultivator, in his eyes, was no different from this guy who just appeared with no cultivation at all.

Moreover, their age…

The idea that had been abandoned earlier by him was instantly revived.

Were these two young men faking it?

Zhang Zhongmou was instantly furious. If this young man had been faking it all along, then he would be ashamed for the rest of his life.

A top-class Sovereign cultivator being afraid of an Innate Stage cultivator…

'If word of this gets out… How can this f*cking get out?'

"Attack!"

Xu Xiaoshou did not care at all and immediately gave the order to kill.

He did not know whether this old man secretly called for help or not, but under the current circumstances, the only way to take control was to get the first advantage.

"Do you still dare to attack?"

Zhang Zhongmou had already realized something was amiss.

He gritted his teeth, and his eyes were red. He suddenly saw that the boy wearing the straw hat had disappeared.

'This speed…'

'This fella wasn't faking it. Is he really a Sovereign?'

Zhang Zhongmou was terrified.

The world that he had built in his mind had been overthrown again, causing him to feel as if he had lost his ability to think properly.

'Is this f*cking true or not?'

'These two guys… What exactly is their background?'

With no time to think, he felt a breeze at the back of his head in the next second.

Zhang Zhongmou had barely turned around and put both his hands in front of him as a defense.

Peng!

One punch.

Aje stayed in the same spot while Zhang Zhongmou's hands were fractured. He flew away like a cannonball due to the impact.

Blood spurted as he flew. Zhang Zhongmou could not even feel the pain anymore. He was stunned.

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

Chapter 358: Aje and His Crazy Attacks

Blood splattered like a flower onto his forehead.

Zhang Zhongmou stopped himself from flying.

He looked at his fractured forearm and suddenly doubted his Sovereign Stage cultivation a little.

'Have I become too old? Is it because I have not battled for quite a while so my cultivation and body have both deteriorated?'

His arm dangled downward with no energy.

Zhang Zhongmou suddenly realized something.

'No!'

'That is not the case!'

'It's that the straw hat boy's attack power was is too terrifying!'

'What stage of muscle strength must he possess to be able to infiltrate a Sovereign's spiritual source, which was enhanced with cultivation, as well as the Zhang family's Ancestral Bear Bloodline's body, to crush the bones with just one hit?'

'On top of that, regarding the blow from earlier, the other party did not use any spiritual source at all!'

At this moment, Zhang Zhongmou was really panicked.

A single punch might not have meant much.

If they were to really battle, he had the confidence to take him down completely.

After all, that one punch was not totally indefensible.

Most of his spiritual technique's prowess could suppress it.

The problem now was that this straw-hat boy seemed to be a powerful person.

He appeared to have a Sovereign Physique.

'Where did this f*cking guy come from?'

It was already very difficult for cultivators to achieve Sovereign Stage cultivation. For him to achieve a Sovereign Stage Physique…

'That is also not the main point!'

Zhang Zhongmou shook himself awake to stop himself from thinking any further.

He knew that the scary part of the problem was not due to that.

It was whether this young man who had punched him was really so strong and did not fake his abilities.

Then, the real powerful person…

Sss!

With the sound of wind in his ear, Zhang Zhongmou regained control of his flying body. He could not help but stare at the young man wearing the guard's uniform.

'That fella is the real horrifying presence!'

He was panicking deep inside and felt a disturbance coming from the back of his head.

After having experienced it once, Zhang Zhongmou knew that the young man wearing the straw hat had made a move again.

If not for preparations beforehand, even Sovereigns would be injured by his horrifying speed.

Zhang Zhongmou already had the experience of dealing with this.

He flipped his body in the air. With a move of his fingers, he called out a purple shield from his ring.

Boom!

Aje's punch, which was aimed at the back of Zhang Zhongmou's head, landed on the huge purple shield.

There was a vibration as the array patterns on the shield activated. A black source of sucking energy swallowed the force of Aje's punch.

The purple shield shook and expanded a little. As if it had a full meal, it let out a loud burp.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at this from the back with shock.

This shield was at least a Master Stage defense spiritual weapon.

Moreover, looking at its strange ability to swallow attacks, it might even be possible that it was a Sovereign Stage weapon.

Envy flashed across his eyes. If he were to possess such a weapon, it would definitely save his life during emergencies.

After successfully blocking that attack, Zhang Zhongmou rejoiced a little.

As a Sovereign Stage cultivator, as well as possessing the Ancestral Bear Bloodline and successfully awakening the Ancestral Bear Spirit…

His favorite tactic when engaging in battle was that of close-distance combat.

But now…

'Close-distance combat?'

'Close f*cking combat!'

So what if he had the Ancestral Bear Spirit? He was still in essence a Spirit Cultivator. How could he use his spiritual cultivational skills to engage in close combat with a Physique Cultivator?

Zhang Zhongmou took advantage of the breathing space to instantly pull back, increasing the distance between them.

Other than close combat, his far-distance battling skills were similarly strong. They might have even been stronger if he engaged the power from the Way of the Heavens.

Using his spiritual senses, he wanted to keep his Tianyuan Mist Mountain.

This defense spiritual weapon was made using an entire spiritual mountain that had good defensive abilities.

Under such an intense and strong attack, it was not damaged at all. A simple swallow and burp neutralized the attack.

Zhang Zhongmou moved his hand and realized that his Tianyuan Mist Mountain could not be retrieved.

'What is going on?'

Zhang Zhongmou paused and tried to use his spiritual senses again, but all he could feel was a sense of powerlessness coming from the Tianyuan Mist Mountain.

"Ma Ma…"

A call was heard. Zhang Zhongmou's scalp was numb as he turned to look.

He saw Aje's head was tilted, and the straw hat was slanted.

Aje was holding the purple shield in its hand, looking at it curiously with shiny red eyes.

'What kind of a toy is this? How can it suppress my attack without being damaged?'

'Even Ma Ma's head had something red coming out of it after my attack!'

'No, it can't be…'

Zhang Zhongmou saw Aje raising its fist with its mouth agape and pupils rapidly contracting.

The next second…

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Furious yet fast explosive sounds could be heard resonating.

It was as if the death bells and drums had been mercilessly struck, and this drummer was someone who had an element of craziness in him.

Aje's punches were so quick that they looked like afterimages. The red in its eyes shone brightly as if it had found something fun to play with.

After receiving the blows, the purple shield was not totally unresponsive.

It was just that its reaction was very minimal.

With every punch that landed on it, it still would uncontrollably expand a little.

Even if it was only a little, there was still a change.

Though the change was small, after accumulating many of them…

Aje understood this principle as it saw that the purple shield in front expand rapidly like a balloon. It became even more excited and started to hit it with even more power.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Zhang Zhongmou was stunned.

This was his Tianyuan Mist Mountain, which he had spent countless years and needed three spirit array masters to barely forge it.

This high-level weapon was priceless to him.

How could he let it be mistreated this way?

"Hey there, stop what you are doing!"

"You must not mess around with it!"

The surroundings were silent for half a second.

"Ma Ma?"

Aje stopped its attacks and lifted its head to look at Zhang Zhongmou.

At this time, the old man was no longer of any interest to Aje.

Tianyuan Mist Mountain only had time to rest for half a second, which was not even enough time to contract, before loud booming sounds could be heard again.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

It could be seen with the naked eye that this purple shield was rapidly turning red.

It was as if a balloon was blown to its maximum capacity and would explode the very next second.

"I…"

Zhang Zhongmou's entire face turned green.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was totally shocked by Aje's attack power.

When he was being attacked by Red Dog at that time, Aje was imprisoned. If he could have let it out…

Just based on this mad dog's equivalent attack speed and power…

Aje could have blocked Red Dog's crazily strong final attack.

'I was so wrong!'

At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou was extremely sorry for ever having doubts Aje's combat abilities.

Aje was not given a chance to showcase its power and strength in the past as it had always finished enemies off within seconds.

By looking at how Aje attacked enemies in the past, Xu Xiaoshou could understand Aje's lower limits, but what about that of its upper limits?

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Chapter 359: Two Sovereign Stage Physiques

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

Zhang Zhongmou suddenly looked at Xu Xiaoshou. He realized that the key to the final problem still had to be discussed with this person.

"Your Excellency, I really don't want to start a fight with you. I also have no intention of calling reinforcements…"

It had indeed crossed his mind to retaliate. However, after seeing how powerful Aje was, he no longer doubted Xu Xiaoshou's combat power.

This person must be Cutting Path.

Otherwise, it would be impossible that a guy could cultivate a Sovereign Stage Physique at such a tender age.

The one who was trapped in an inferior situation had to be humble.

Zhang Zhongmou gravely said, "Instruct your subordinate to return the Tianyuan Mist Mountain to me, and you may leave now. I can assume that nothing happened."

"This includes the explosion just now," he added.

Xu Xiaoshou raised his brows.

Realizing the might of Aje's combat power enhanced his confidence.

If Aje alone could stop the old man, what about Xin Gugu, who was in Yuan Mansion? He had claimed he could hold off any number of Sovereign Stages.

"Tianyuan Mist Mountain?" Xu Xiaoshou curled the corners of his mouth. "Is that its name?"

"That's right!"

Zhang Zhongmou nodded. It pained his heart to look at the red and swollen purple shield.

He could feel that his heart was dripping blood even with a fleeting glance.

"Alright."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded solemnly. "Aje, stop!"

The rumbling sound in the void suddenly stopped. Aje turned around apprehensively and called out, "Ma Ma…"

"Show me that shield."

Xu Xiaoshou crooked his finger.

With a swish, Aje tossed the shield without a second thought. It fell cleanly into Xu Xiaoshou's hands.

Zhang Zhongmou's heart stirred at this moment. Now that Tianyuan Mist Mountain was out of Aje's control, he might be able to summon it back.

He activated his spiritual senses.

The purple shield once again communicated a thought of its helpless pain. In this thought, its weakness was far more grievous compared to earlier.

Zhang Zhongmou's heart sank with a thump.

Was he unable to get it back?

He fixed his eyes on Xu Xiaoshou, who was giving the purple shield the once over nonchalantly. He suddenly wondered how a guy who could train a Sovereign Stage Physique could be a simple character.

Was this the true face of this kid?

Was this a person who seemed to have only Innate Stage cultivation level, but, in fact, possessed a Sovereign Stage body?

Zhang Zhongmou was overwhelmed with shock in his heart.

The entire continent was aware of how difficult it was to cultivate a Sovereign Stage Physique. Tonight at Zhang Mansion, had two of them appeared?

'What kind of person is Xu Xiaoshou?'

He felt himself going a little crazy.

While he was still recovering from the shock, Zhang Zhongmou discovered that his contact with the divine senses of Tianyuan Mist Mountain had suddenly disappeared.

'Hmm?'

He snapped out of his stupor just in time to see a faint flash of light on Xu Xiaoshou's hand.

Was Tianyuan Mist Mountain seized?

Zhang Zhongmou was speechless.

Suspected, Passive Point 1.

Cursed, Passive Point 1

"Your Excellency, this is…"

Zhang Zhongmou stretched out his hand and stammered, "Didn't we agree that you would return it to me?"

Xu Xiaoshou stored the purple shield in Yuan Mansion and flung the sleeves of his robes.

"When did I say that I would give it to you?"

"I was just taking a look, that's all!"

As he raised his chin, Xu Xiaoshou said, "Since you dared to secretly summon reinforcements, it's not unreasonable for me to take an item from you."

Pfft… Cough, cough!

Zhang Zhongmou almost spitted out a mouthful of blood. He was flustered and coughed violently in the void.

He clutched his chest and tried to calm down his breathing. He was fuming at the mouth. His spiritual source rose and was on the verge of explosion. However, he still maintained an appeasing tone.

"This old man did not summon anyone!"

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Two figures flew from the sky.

One was a massive one-armed man, and the other a beautiful woman.

It was two Sovereign Stages.

Xu Xiaoshou retracted his gaze and smiled cheekily. "So, was this what you said when you claimed that you did not summon backup?"

Zhang Zhongmou was shocked.

When he turned his head, he saw two figures appearing behind him.

How could the people of Zhang Mansion not hear the ear-splitting rumbles there?

The commotion was so loud that the only way one would totally miss the attack of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion was if they were deaf.

Naturally, Zhang Duoyu and Zhang Taiying had to come to support.

"You both…"

When the old man saw people heading over, he did not feel any joy in his heart. On the contrary, he was chilled to the bone. Towering despair crushed his heart.

They should not have come.

'Even I am not sure that I can take down these two guys… Uh, run! How can you come here seeking death?'

Zhang Duoyu was somewhat surprised to see the disheveled appearance of Chief Elder.

How did these two young guys cause Chief Elder to…

Be beaten up like this?

Two Sovereign Stages?

Zhang Taiying was also astounded. He never hid his dislike toward Zhang Zhongmou, but he recognized the old man's capabilities.

First, he was well-accomplished at the peak of the Sovereign Stage. He had also accumulated a lifetime of rare treasures. As long as it was not Cutting Path, who could gain the upper hand over this old man and beat him up?

Now that he looked at this situation…

Had Zhang Zhongmou been suppressed?

"Who are you?"

He demanded in a buzzing voice. His gaze flickered over Xu Xiaoshou and fell on Aje.

The extra one was just an Innate Stage and was of no concern to him.

However, this little boy in a straw hat had no breath or sense of life. He was strange and unnatural.

"Are we going on about this again?"

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. When he looked over, he instantly recognized the man, who had similar facial features to Zhang Xinxiong.

It went without saying that this must have been the mastermind behind his assassination, Zhang Taiying.

"It does not matter who I am. You only need to know that tonight, the Zhang family will be in a difficult position," he said softly.

Even when facing three Sovereign Stages, Xu Xiaoshou was not afraid.

Zhang Taiying retracted his gaze and glanced at the young man. A frown spread across his face.

'This junior…'

'How did he dare speak like this in front of three major Sovereign Stages?'

"Be careful!"

Zhang Zhongmou suggested helpfully, "Don't underestimate this person. Though he looks young, he probably has hidden talents."

"Oh?"

Zhang Duoyu was a little surprised.

She could not tell what was different about this young man.

He was just an ordinary Innate Stage, so what secret talents could he possess?

Zhang Zhongmou took a deep breath and slowly said, "He seized my Tianyuan Mist Mountain!"

Hiss!

Zhang Duoyu's face changed after hearing that.

The defensive spiritual weapon of the Sovereign Stage was seized by an Innate Stage.

How was that possible?

Zhang Taiying was bewildered too.

However, the two who had just arrived had an immediate realization.

Perhaps this was not an Innate Stage but a boss who could still maintain in front of these two Sovereign Stages.

It was disguised cultivation level.

'This…'

Suspected, Passive Points 2.

Zhang Zhongmou sighed lightly. He shook his head and said, "You are both wrong."

"This guy… I guess it's like what you see. He's an Innate Stage."

"Huh?" Zhang Duoyu was surprised. "Then why…"

Zhang Zhongmou continued, "But he has a Sovereign Stage Physique!"

There was a bang. Both Zhang Taiying and Zhang Duoyu's heads were buzzing. They only felt that they went blank for a moment.

Zhang Zhongmou observed their reaction, and despair flooded his heart.

Did they think that this was over?

No, things were not that simple.

He closed his eyes and desperately spoke.

"Not only him, but the kid beside him is also Sovereign Stage Physique!"

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Chapter 360: The Secret Ancestral Skill of The Zhang Family: The Art of Being Beaten Up

"Huh?"

Zhang Taiying and Zhang Duoyu were entirely befuddled.

Sovereign Stage Physique?

What on earth was going on? How could the guys who attacked tonight be so scary?

"Are you kidding?"

Zhang Taiying looked at the old man and still could not believe it.

Zhang Zhongmou smiled wryly. Did he need to joke about such important matters?

"I do not believe it!"

Zhang Taiying slowly shook his head. Sovereign Stage Physiques were very rare. Even if one appeared, it would be shocking news, let alone two in a row.

How could such a character go against Zhang Mansion for no reason?

The Zhang family only took up a corner of Tiansang Prefecture. How could it be possible to provoke this kind of existence?

As he thought of this, Zhang Taiying's face was cloudy. He said sternly, "Insignificant junior dressing up as God and playing the devil!"

As soon as his voice fell, the pressure of the heavens and earth blanketed over.

The void was slightly sunken. Under Zhang Taiying's pressure, it collapsed abruptly.

"No!"

Zhang Zhongmou hurriedly stopped him.

However, Zhang Taiying did not believe that Zhang Zhongmou's claims were true. He did not heed his advice and hold back his attack. On the contrary, his momentum continued to increase. Like a giant hammer, he suddenly blasted toward Xu Xiaoshou.

It was fortunate that Xu Xiaoshou was paying attention to these people at that time. But Zhang Taiying, who had attacked as he spoke, really surprised him.

This was the kind of person he feared most.

He did not use his brain to filter false information but liked to verify it himself.

Such an act would completely nullify the efforts of others.

As the surging force rained down on him, Xu Xiaoshou violently shook as if struck by lightning and almost fell on the spot.

However, he had the existence of Toughness to fall back on. No matter how powerful this aggressive attack was, it did not cause him to move a step.

Secretly clenching his teeth and persisting, Xu Xiaoshou knew that at this time, he could not reveal himself yet.

Otherwise, all his previous efforts would have been wasted.

He assumed a relaxed appearance and acted like the shaking of his body had impeded the surging energy directed at him. He faintly spoke.

"Your energy is not bad."

"Unfortunately, your strength is lacking."

Zhang Taiying's face changed. 'This guy…'

'If his cultivation level were truly Innate Stage, he would certainly not be able to cope with the pressure of this wave.'

'But he did endure it.'

'Could it be that Zhang Zhongmou was speaking the truth?'

He subconsciously wanted to increase the pressure, but Xu Xiaoshou would not give him this opportunity.

After speaking, the young man sneered coldly and asked, "Did you really think that only a few of you could call for support?"

After saying that, Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, and a light appeared before their eyes.

Xin Gugu, who was swimming in the spiritual pond, was summoned out. He fell before the people with a dazed expression on his face.

His upper torso was bare, and his rippling muscles were dripping with water droplets. Question marks were almost apparent on his chiseled face.

"Huh?"

"What's the situation?"

Xin Gugu looked at Xu Xiaoshou. In the next instant, he felt the Sovereign Stage pressure in the air. He immediately focused his eyes and waved his hand.

Boom!

An explosion sounded in the void. Both sides were shocked that they had to retreat.

"Sovereign Stage?"

With this, Zhang Taiying's heart hung in the air.

Xin Gugu's breath was entirely different from the other two.

This was an upright Spiritual Cultivator, a befitting and respectable Sovereign Stage.

His powerful aura was rich and mellow and even more condensed than everyone present.

The realization was visible on Zhang Zhongmou's face, as well as a look of deep despair. He was full of resentment as he stared at Zhang Taiying's face.

He had already said much earlier that he should not attack, so he should not attack.

But he had refused to listen.

They had not only failed to force the other to reveal his hand but also another Sovereign Stage was introduced to the equation.

Who could stand this?

Two Sovereign Stage Physiques were worrying enough to send them into desperation. Now that there was another Spiritual Cultivator at the Sovereign Stage, he was afraid that no one would be able to go back tonight.

Xin Gugu's spiritual senses swept across the scene. He more or less understood the situation on hand.

Looking at the direction of the familiar eastern courtyard area and the strange pit, he knew at once that Xu Xiaoshou was the culprit behind it.

'Pill concocting… Can it explode like this?'

Although there was strong disbelief in his heart, this was not the best time to ask about it.

He looked at the three Sovereign Stages in front of him and licked his lips hungrily. His eyes were filled with excitement.

"Shall we start the fight?"

Even if he did not want to fight in the city, if he had no choice but to face a battle, Xin Gugu would not refuse it at all.

Xu Xiaoshou stood behind Xin Gugu.

Since Zhang Taiying's momentum was interrupted, he had regained his freedom of movement.

"How many do you want to take on?" he asked absently.

However, in his heart, he was asking how many of them that Xin Gugu could restrain.

If this guy's answer was for each of them to tackle one person, then he could pack his things up and go home.

Xin Gugu waved his hand grandly and shook his staff.

"Three!"

"You don't have to do anything. Leave it all to me!"

Xu Xiaoshou was shaken by this wild claim.

After witnessing the cultivation level of these three people, Xin Gugu still dared to utter such crazy words.

'Good, I like your confidence!'

Xu Xiaoshou took a step back, crossed his hands in front of his chest, and nodded.

His look was as if he were saying…

"Very well, you can take the stage. I'll have the backseat."

The three people from Zhang Mansion were amused.

The head of them, Zhang Taiying, could not bear this tone at all.

He was different from Zhang Zhongmou. In his path, there was never much talking or suspicion. He had come to rely on were his fists alone. Brute strength and combat power triumphed above everything.

He took one step out, and the void trembled.

Zhang Taiying commanded in a low voice, "Black Pattern!"

Bang! Bang!

His muscles started bulging and expanding. This guy was already as strong as a little giant, and his figure skyrocketed again.

Not only that, but as he uttered these words, the Devil Veins wrapped around his body, and a black mist instantly oozed out.

His eyes were glowing a fiery red, and he went into a frenzied state on the spot.

Xin Gugu did not dare to delay any further. He slackened his grip of the staff in his hands, and the Energy Seal on his body instantly loosened.

A faint blood mist began to emerge. Before Xin Gugu could move too much, a "bang" sounded in front of him.

It was an air blast caused by the friction of muscles.

'What? Has the fight commenced?'

'Aren't I this guy's target?'

Xin Gugu's heart shuddered. He looked back abruptly.

Xu Xiaoshou was still there.

He also looked to the front with a blank expression on his face.

That was…

Who?

Xin Gugu's eyes flashed with spiritual light. He turned his head again to look in the direction of Zhang Taiying.

There were still figures in that place. However, their identities had altogether changed.

"Aje?"

Xin Gugu's eyes widened.

When did this guy fly to the front?

Where was Zhang Taiying?

Where was he?

"Ma Ma…"

Aje turned its head slowly. Its eyes were glowing red with excitement.

If there were people in the face of battle who displayed more enthusiasm than Xin Gugu, it could only be this guy who was born to kill.

The other two people from Zhang Mansion were also stunned. Zhang Taiying, who had turned on the Black Pattern, was sent flying by Aje with one punch.

Was Zhang Taiying beaten up?

This was simply unimaginable.

Zhang Duoyu tilted her head and looked at the old man in horror.

Zhang Zhongmou smiled wryly. "This old man said earlier that this is a Sovereign Stage Physique. Do you really think that my Tianyuan Mist Mountain was seized for no reason?"

"This…" Only a look of shock remained in Zhang Duoyu's gaze.

"Wow!"

There was a cry of pain from afar. The remaining arm of the one-armed Zhang Taiying was completely twisted under that punch.

His Ancestral Bear Spirit had been launched to its peak state, so this injury was nothing to him.

With a flick of his arm, he turned his head again. His eyes were red in his fury, and he rushed toward Aje's direction.

"Die, you thief!"

Aje tilted its head, quietly looking at Zhang Taiying's thunderous and terrifying punch. It did not move until the fist neared his face.

With a foot and a lift of his jaw…

Boom!

Zhang Taiying was hit in the chin by Aje's raised heel. He was sent flying high in the air in a right-angled posture.

This time, it wasn't just the two people from Zhang Mansion who were dumbfounded.

Xin Gugu and Xu Xiaoshou were equally shocked.

Four faces were thunderstruck.

"What… What kind of combat power is that?"

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Read I Am Loaded with Passive Skills Chapter 361 - A Disagreement Turned Into a Brawl online for free - AllNovelFull

Chapter 361: A Disagreement Turned Into a Brawl

"Damn it!"

Although Xu Xiaoshou had overestimated Aje's combat power, he still could not help crying out in surprise in his heart after seeing this kick.

Aje's combat power really seemed to be a mystery.

When it faced himself for the first time, it had only slapped his Master Physique until his head bled.

It had once again displayed his power when it turned into a monk's knife and killed Zhang Xinxiong with a single slash.

In the face of Zhang Zhongmou's Tianyuan Mist Mountain, it also rained down multiple punches. It had almost blown up that shield after its unrelenting strikes.

But…

It was to face Zhang Taiying…

Even Xu Xiaoshou could not guarantee that he would not meet his end with a punch if he stepped forward, given the terrifying muscle strength of the other party.

However, with a kick, Aje sent its instantly opponent flying.

What was this guy made of?

Was everything before just child play for it?

In other words, was it merely saying hello?

Xu Xiaoshou was horrified.

He suddenly thought of Ye Xiaotian's loss of self-control when he learned that he took Aje out of Tianxuan Gate.

Perhaps, this guy had a scary origin that he did not know of.

Otherwise, why was such freakish combat power forced to be suppressed in Tianxuan Gate and restrained with a double seal?

If it were set free, it was no doubt that in the face of the pelting attacks from the masked man, it would be able to display its combat power.

It could even perhaps kick the masked man and send him flying.

Everyone was startled by Aje's kick. Xin Gugu was no exception.

After discovering that Aje had snatched his opponent away, he was a little unhappy in his heart.

Under the force of this kick, that slight bit of displeasure in his heart disappeared at this moment.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the two shocked people from Zhang Mansion and seized the moment to chuckle softly. "Do you still want to attack?"

He drew his hands behind his back. An indifferent expression was played across his face.

It was as if all this were within his expectations.

He stepped forward again. Xu Xiaoshou directly crossed Xin Gugu this time.

He stood behind Aje.

Yes, he felt very safe.

Zhang Duoyu only felt dryness in her throat.

Who were these people? It was too scary.

Even people like Zhang Taiying, a pure Physique Cultivator of the same level, could be sent flying into the air with a single kick. Was it even necessary to continue the fight?

Just as she was about to speak, a sturdy figure high in the sky fell back down.

"Hahaha!"

"Very strong!"

"You are very strong. I like it!"

Zhang Taiying's expression had thoroughly changed in the face of such a strong opponent. It had stirred the long-lost tension and oppression in his heart that he yearned.

He was different from his two comrades. When it came to Aje's combat power, not only did he experience palpitations but also excitement.

The excitement had bred a desire to fight against a powerful opponent.

Xu Xiaoshou saw his expression and felt something wrong in his heart.

Was this another one who lusted after battle?

He had severely miscalculated.

This battle could not be allowed to commence.

No matter how strong Aje was, it could only deal with one opponent at a time.

It would require Aje to be held back by Zhang Taiying, and the other two people to obstruct Xin Gugu. Xu Xiaoshou could not withstand it if the Zhang family summoned external aid.

What was more, he was aware that the Sovereign Stage could not simply attack others.

If the commotion drew strong cultivators from the City Lord Mansion, he was afraid that they could not escape freely today.

Xu Xiaoshou's original intention was to come and cause an explosion. He hoped this would hold back the strong cultivators in the Zhang family so they would not attend the banquet dinner the next night.

It was that simple.

When Zhang Taiying was left alone, his moment would come.

"How many?"

Xu Xiaoshou shouted at the restless Zhang Taiying.

When everyone's eyes were on him, he slowly said, "I have already explained why I came here today. I only want an item from the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion and don't want to harm the innocent."

"Hmph!"

Zhang Taiying snorted coldly, "Even if you want to harm us, you also have to be able to cause harm!"

"If we fight today, it is inevitable that the Sovereign Stage will come. At that time, even you will not be able to escape. Is that why you cower and dare not fight?"

Xu Xiaoshou thought in his heart that he hit the nail on the head. On the surface, he plastered a disdainful smile on his face and nonchalantly spoke.

"Escaping is not an issue. If I attack, I'm afraid you won't live to see the daylight."

"How arrogant!"

Zhang Taiying did not believe it. This was his territory. How could he tolerate other people to trigger random explosions and come and go as they pleased?

With a wave of his hand, he turned on the Zhang Mansion's array.

He planned to cover everyone with the array and prevent Xu Xiaoshou from leaving.

Xu Xiaoshou shivered inwardly.

It was no wonder that this guy was the master of the Zhang family. He was not as foolish as the old man.

If they were going to be covered or pulled into the bounded domain, the outcome would be difficult to predict.

"That is such a pity."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed regretfully and commanded, "Attack!"

At that moment, these people needed to experience suffering if they wanted an opportunity to leave the grounds.

Aje and Xu Xiaoshou were connected spiritually. The instant he gave his order, it pounced on Zhang Taiying again.

Since Zhang Taiying had suffered at its hands before, he did not dare to delay any longer.

With a sweep of his hand, he was clad in heavy armor.

He pinched a Midnight Black Pestle in his hand. With a loud bang, he met Aje's fist.

The void exploded with airwaves. Under the influence of the spiritual weapon, Zhang Taiying resisted Aje's attack solely.

There were repeated explosions. This time, not only the people at Zhang Mansion moved, but the people nearby were also alerted of the commotion. A crowd of spectators quickly formed.

Although the two in the void said they would fight and retreat, Zhang Taiying was still crushed and beaten. It still was close to Xu Xiaoshou's prediction.

Aje was delayed.

Zhang Zhongmou's eyes glinted with certainty.

When he did not want to fight, he really could not summon up his fighting spirit. However, Zhang Taiying had already started. As a member of Zhang Mansion, he had to contribute his part too.

"Attack!"

With a low bellow, he pounced directly on Xin Gugu.

Zhang Duoyu, however, turned her beautiful eyes toward the direction of Xu Xiaoshou.

"Damn it!"

Xu Xiaoshou almost wanted to retreat into Yuan Mansion.

He had suffered immensely from his encounter with Red Dog, so he had absolutely no desire to fight a Sovereign Stage right now.

"Don't worry."

Xin Gugu suddenly looked back and smiled at him comfortingly.

He ignored the old man who was flying toward him. He loosened the grip of his staff and touched his palms together.

"Hum!"

Blood energy rose from the top of his head and turned into a Blood Knife.

The Blood Knife slashed his head and cut Xin Gugu in half.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

Everyone was shocked at this sight.

Was it normal to slash oneself before a fight?

In the next second, everyone doubted their earlier thoughts.

Xin Gugu, who had split in half, had turned into two pools of blood. The blood solidified and turned into two Xin Gugus.

"Two Sovereign Stages?"

A horrified look spread across Zhang Zhongmou's wrinkled face.

Could this person be divided into two and used?

The problem was that he cut himself in this manner. In theory, it could only reduce his strength.

From his breath alone, he could not tell the difference between these two Xin Gugus.

It was unidentifiable which one was the main body.

Both were equally powerful.

"Ha-ha! Come on, fight me!"

Xin Gugu laughed gleefully. One of his bodies pounced on Zhang Zhongmou, and the other pounced on Zhang Duoyu.

With a roar, this convenient pair formed the prelude to the battle.

As ribbons of blood and spiritual source danced in the air, the night sky roared of the battle taking place. Everyone underneath raised their heads to look toward the sky, and they were all shocked.

"Six… Six Sovereign Stages?"

Chapter 362: Xu Xiaoshou Felt That He Should Do Something…

The full moon hung high in the sky.

However, no one could sleep in Tiansang City.

No matter how far apart, the intermittent roar of the void still caused people to look up.

It was not long before the battle started, but the intensity of the fight was shocking.

"What is going on today? There already was a Sovereign Stage battle during the day that spread 10 miles with heavy casualties. Is there another one now?"

"Looking at this situation, it is even worse tonight than it was during the day!"

The people who were close enough to see the events unfurl had tension written on their faces. They did not witness the spectacle in amusement at all.

An occasional Sovereign Stage battle would be a source of entertainment for these guys who were usually idle.

Even if this source of entertainment was a little risky, they were more than happy to join in the fun.

However, it seemed that the Sovereign Stage could lock horns twice in a day now.

It completely went beyond the limits of entertainment.

It was a death sentence by the king of hell.

Whoever got too close to the fire would die.

How could anyone care to join in the fun when their lives were at stake?

Being able to control themselves from dragging their families away from this perilous land was a complete show of faith in the City Lord Mansion and its ability to maintain public order.

"There is no peace in Tiansang City anymore…"

Everyone sighed heavily in their hearts.

However, Xu Xiaoshou felt slightly lonely in the battle.

After he discovered that Xin Gugu alone was able to restrain everyone, he felt quite bored.

He looked down at the nervous crowd that had gathered at Zhang Mansion. Nearby, the six Sovereign Stages were already in the heat of battle.

Xu Xiaoshou nearly waved a flag behind in support.

He forced himself to resist this impulse. Knowing the scale of the commotion here, his Perception spread. It estimated that the ruckus had attracted a lot of strong cultivators.

'I should do something.'

Xu Xiaoshou could not help but think of this.

When he conceptualized this idea, the sword energy left by the scruffy-looking man suddenly jumped above his energy center.

"Hmm?"

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised.

That energy conveyed its bloodthirsty yearning for a battle to him.

'What the hell? This sword cognition… Does it have consciousness?'

Xu Xiaoshou widened his eyes in shock. Deep down in his heart, he felt a fiery excitement bubbling up.

If he could use the power of this sword cognition, he imagined that he could stop these people who were deeply engrossed in the fight with a single sword.

As he thought of this, Xu Xiaoshou immediately took out Hidden Bitter.

The newly reborn Hidden Bitter appeared to be revived and rejuvenated after that double cultivation.

It was originally a ninth-grade spiritual weapon. However, after experiencing countless torturous incidents under Xu Xiaoshou, it almost fell apart and deteriorated to tenth grade.

As its foundation was still there, the sword observation helped to restore it to its peak form.

Under the Sword Intent, its edges were even stronger than before.

Xu Xiaoshou no longer hesitated. He drew his full sight and immediately looked away.

Hidden Bitter trembled with a buzz. After experiencing the sweetness of double cultivation, it already knew what Xu Xiaoshou was going to do.

The sword handle tipped slightly as if it was looking at him shyly.

However, under Xu Xiaoshou's grip, the sword body of Hidden Bitter suddenly straightened. It stretched itself upright and waited for the gaze of its master to fall upon it in anticipation.

As Xu Xiaoshou initiated the Sword Observation Technique, Sword Intent formed in his eyes.

He had already experienced it before and was familiar with the process. He successfully bridged the connection between the sword and the person.

A faint white mist oozed out from Hidden Bitter.

At this moment, the heavens and earth experienced a drastic change.

In the shocking transformation of the void, it turned into countless miniature swords. The tens of thousands of small swords went rigid, and the sound of the sword cry rang through the 10-mile-long street.

"Om—"

Xu Xiaoshou raised his eyes. The sword energy swam past Hidden Bitter instantly and pierced his body.

"Oof!"

After going through a painful experience in the past, he mentally prepared himself this time. He gritted his teeth and tolerated it, enduring the horrifying sword energy that was piercing his body.

Fingertips, wrists, forearms, elbows…

Little by little, the sword cognition swam across. At every inch it penetrated, Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he was slashed open by a sword.

The remaining sword cognition energy in his body turned into an awe-inspiring Sword Intent and merged into his body after the tormenting episode.

An increasing strengthening feeling was born in that painful place.

Even after entering the stage of the Master Level Physique, Xu Xiaoshou could still clearly feel this significant change.

'Is the Sword Observation Manual that strong?'

'This change…'

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly thought of the broken sword body belonging to the masked man that fell into pieces.

Was it possible that if he continued to develop in this situation, he could also cultivate similar skills?

He was secretly surprised at this realization.

Not just him, but the six people in front of Xu Xiaoshou were also shocked at the drastic change. It was as contrasting as heaven and earth.

The Sword Intent in the void was awe-inspiring. Following the trembling body of Xu Xiaoshou, it manifested into rolling waves of the sword tide. The soft yet surging sword cry made everyone's hair stand on end.

'A swordsman?'

Zhang Zhongmou's pupils contracted instantly, and horror unfolded in his heart. 'Is this guy also a swordsman?'

When Tianyuan Mist Mountain had been seized earlier, and he failed to summon it back, he concluded that it was because the person before him was a Sovereign Stage Physique.

Now, tens of thousands of swords were in the void before him. It was as though they were there to shoot him down, slap him across the face, and tell him that he was wrong.

'Not only is he a swordsman, but is this guy also an ancient swordsman?'

The faint sword cognition gave Zhang Zhongmou a feeling of déjà vu.

When he was young and carefree, he traveled far across the continent and visited many associations of distinctive arts.

The Eastern Region left the heaviest impact on him when he was young and wildly ignorant.

Among the few swordsmen who defeated him, only one possessed such a similar ability.

'Sword cognition…'

Zhang Zhongmou looked nostalgic as he recalled his younger days.

At that time, this person was not famous yet. However, he had suffered tremendous defeat at the hands of this person and his sword.

Shortly after that, this person claimed half of the Eastern Region and established a terrifying Sword Dynasty…

Fringe Moon Immortal City.

After that, Zhang Zhongmou learned that the little-known guy who defeated him at that time turned out to be the only named apprentice of the Eighth Sword Deity.

Only…

'So… Is this guy from Fringe Moon Immortal City?'

Zhang Zhongmou looked at the young man in front of him who had perceived the sword. His slight fascination only lasted for a moment before Xin Gugu assailed him with a pillar of blood.

"Stop… Stop."

Xu Xiaoshou could not hold it in anymore. He forced himself to endure the pain and gradually forced the sword cognition that had made its way to his shoulder to retreat.

He originally wanted to use the Sword Observation Technique to trigger the sword cognition on his energy center. Perhaps if he were lucky, it would fly out of him in its lust for battle.

That way, the time bomb in his body could also be expelled at the same time.

He had not anticipated that the sword cognition only moved during the early stage in an apparent attempt to seduce him to cultivate.

When Xu Xiaoshou moved, it stopped and completely disappeared.

"Was I cheated?"

Xu Xiaoshou did not allow himself to think further and held Hidden Bitter in his hands. He could not hold on anymore. He was desperate to release the piercing power that had spread across his body.

Once the Sword Intent emerged, it was a majestic sight, just like the celestial phenomenon of 10,000 swords that moved with an order. Xu Xiaoshou's words were quite formidable.

As soon as his voice fell, the 10,000 swords in the void stirred. The six people in the field stopped the fight.

Zhang Taiying narrowed his eyes. He glanced at the sword in Xu Xiaoshou's hand with some surprise.

Could a ninth-grade sword have such power?

After realizing that this guy was not as simple as he initially thought, his anger subsided, and he calmed down.

Even if they had to fight, they should not be fighting at the doorstep of Zhang Mansion. Otherwise, the Zhang family would suffer a massive loss in the end.

"Your Excellency, what is your intention?" Zhang Taiying asked coldly.

"What is my intention…"

Xu Xiaoshou's hand that was holding the sword could not stop shaking. His lips turned purple. Finally, he forced the sword cognition into his palm.

"I can't expel it out. Although this sword energy is strong for me, before the Sovereign Stage, it will only expose my ability.'

'I must put it away!'

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes flashed as he thought of Yuan Mansion.

With a move of his hand, he was about to launch the sword cognition into Chaos Space.

Unexpectedly, the sword cognition above his energy center was suddenly alarmed.

A flicker of breath shot out and tore a bloodied path in his body. It suddenly merged with the sword cognition that Xu Xiaoshou had cultivated in his palm.

"Ah–"

Xu Xiaoshou cried out on the spot, Hidden Bitter suddenly stiffened under the bewildered gaze of everyone.

Shoo!

A silver light pierced the sky. Its brightness lit up the heavens.

As this sword struck, it seemed to have torn the galaxy apart. The sight sent everyone into shock.

Swish–

At the same time, the 10,000 swords that were floating in the void swept away neatly.

The draft from the 10,000 swords blew at Zhang Mansion silently.

The next second…

Boom!

The Hidden Scriptures Pavilion split into two, and the slanted top half and fell onto the ground.

In the next instant, the Zhang Mansion barrier exploded and filled the entire courtyard with smoke.

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Chapter 363: I'll Take One of Your Items as Punishment

"What the f*ck!"

The powerful cultivators who had just entered Zhang Mansion all watched the attack from this one sword in disbelief.

It was so shockingly powerful that it was as if they had witnessed a great Buddha chop in broad daylight.

"This… This…"

"Who is this person?"

"A Sovereign swordsman? Even a Sovereign swordsman might not be this powerful, right?"

"Oh my God, look at what he is wearing… Is it a guard? Isn't he a Zhang Mansion guard? I walked past one in the morning while I was buying some biscuits, and one of them even pushed me!"

"Does this guard have issues with Zhang Mansion?"

"Are you blind? One look at this and you can tell that Zhang Mansion was attacked. What does it have to do with the guard? Even if it does, the guard was probably possessed by someone else!"

Zhang Mansion was in chaos.

Dong Qing Street surrounding the Zhang Mansion was also in an uproar.

The difference was that the Zhang Mansion was literally in chaos while the uproar in Dong Qing Street was just the crowd in disbelief.

One sword…

It was such a casual and simple-looking sword.

Even when that person raised his sword, everyone could not tell how much power was actually contained within it.

It was as if it was a sword attack by an Innate Cultivator using an ordinary grade-nine spiritual sword.

It seemed as if it was a dream.

Zhang Taiying was dumbstruck. Zhang Zhongmou was dumbstruck. Zhang Duoyu was also dumbstruck.

The scariest part was not the fact that Zhang Mansion had exploded. That was something to be expected during a battle between Sovereigns.

The younger and less powerful members of the family had already been rapidly evacuated under the care of a few family elders. Thus, there were not many casualties.

But…

The Hidden Scriptures Pavilion was gone.

That was the only area in Zhang Mansion protected by Sovereign spirit-gathering arrays.

Even if Zhang Taiying were to take out all of his belongings, they would not be worth as much as the value of that spirit-gathering array.

Now, with the unveiling of one sword, it was gone.

Six Sovereigns had just been fighting to the death, and then this person casually took out a sword and sliced.

The pavilion was gone.

There wasn't even any sound, yet the protection barrier and ancient tower were destroyed.

It contained decades of the Zhang family's decades efforts and treasures.

It held immensurable wealth and fortune, as well as countless spiritual techniques.

Both of Zhang Taiying's eyes were bloodshot.

"You…"

"You are very good!"

He growled lowly as if the beast within him had been fully released. "Today, if I, Zhang Taiying, do not kill you, then I am not a human!"

That terrifying murderous look scared Xu Xiaoshou so much that he shrunk back.

Unleashing that one sword had used up all his energy. The hand holding Hidden Bitter was bleeding.

'Is it that powerful?'

Xu Xiaoshou looked around Zhang Mansion, which was filled with holes. If the people there hadn't evacuated earlier, other than the Sovereign cultivators and those masters who were tough…

No one else would have been able to survive.

'How could it be?'

'It was just one stroke of unrefined sword cognition, and it was only a semi-finished product…'

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts stalled.

'Yes, it was that man's sword cognition. Is his sword cognition actually this terrifying? Just a small breath of it destroyed Zhang Mansion…'

'That included the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion.'

Gulp.

Xu Xiaoshou swallowed a mouth of saliva. He felt like blacking out and almost fell down.

He was exhausted.

He didn't have a single drop of energy.

All of it had been used up.

Being able to sustain his standing position was only thanks to his Toughness.

Even so, facing the murderous intent of Zhang Taiying, Xu Xiaoshou lightly flipped Hidden Bitter over.

Swish!

A soft sound rang in the silent surroundings. The three people from Zhang Mansion were nervous again.

This guy had already proved himself to be very strong.

Even if Zhang Taiying was in his berserk mode now, he was not confident that he could take on that sword from earlier.

'Is he going to attack with his sword again?'

Everyone retreated as they looked at Xu Xiaoshou slowly and casually return the black sword in his hand back into its scabbard.

Afterward, they saw this young man lift his head.

No expression could be seen on his face, which was covered with dirt.

Yet, weakness could be seen filling his eyes.

'Hmm? Weakness?'

'It must be fake!'

Everyone was looking at Xu Xiaoshou, which caused him to feel nervous. He wanted to go faster but he couldn't.

He took a deep breath. The crowd grew more anxious.

"I…"

Boom!

Once the word left his mouth, he could not sustain the Sword of the Void. It exploded.

Stepping sounds could be heard as the three people from Zhang Mansion retreated at the same time. Their faces were full of shock.

After waiting for a long time, Xu Xiaoshou still did not raise his sword to attack. They were so angry that their faces turned red.

Xu Xiaoshou was amused.

He was only weak to the extent that he could not speak, but these people were still so afraid of him attacking again.

"You, you little fella…"

Xu Xiaoshou raised his finger. He wanted to point at Zhang Taiying but found that he couldn't even move his fingers.

He could only lift his chin and ask, "Didn't you say that if you didn't kill me, then you were not human anymore?"

"Quickly come at me. If you don't, you will not be human anymore after tonight."

Zhang Taiying's face was filled with shock as his blood pressure rose. He almost released his energy to fly toward him.

"Calm down!"

Zhang Duoyu grabbed his hand from behind just in time, barely managing to pull the impulsive guy back.

"We can't mess around!"

"Chief Elder is already old. Zhang Mansion cannot do without a master, so you must endure!"

Zhang Taiying was speechless.

Zhang Zhongmou also didn't know what to say.

Her words made a lot of sense.

Still, she could have been less direct. She didn't have to voice out the harsh reality.

The two of them were so angry that their faces darkened. But words of wisdom are words of wisdom, so Zhang Taiying still accepted them.

Xu Xiaoshou saw the three of them huddling together. He called Aje and Xin Gugu to his side by eyeing them.

With these two as protection, he regained some sense of security.

He knew that this moment was of utmost importance. If he showed some weakness or made a blunder, the three people from the Zhang Mansion would definitely come after him like hungry wolves.

He had to build his momentum to have a chance of escaping.

"That one sword…"

Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head. He paused for a moment before slowly speaking. "Punishment."

Zhang Taiying clenched his fists so tight that there were cracking sounds. He almost jumped out immediately. Luckily, Zhang Zhongmou helped restrain him.

"Stay calm. This guy will not dare to mess around."

"He should know that his one sword would have already alerted the City Lord Mansion. If he does not retreat now, it will probably be hard for him to do so later. Hence, he has no choice but to leave now!"

"Just wait a little longer!" Zhang Zhongmou communicated to him telepathically.

Zhang Taiying replied angrily, "Is Zhang Mansion a place where he can come and go as he pleases? How would the outside world see the Zhang family after that one sword destroyed part of our territory? How would they view me?"

Zhang Zhongmou sighed.

"Endure!"

"Endure for peace, and retreat for harmony."

"The Hidden Scriptures Pavilion might be gone, but it can be rebuilt."

"If you really want to fight, are you confident that you can take down those two Sovereigns, not to mention that one sword?"

Zhang Taiying was silent.

He gritted his teeth so hard that his gums started to bleed.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled casually. His eyesight had blurred, but he still managed to take out Yuan Mansion.

"As I said earlier…"

"The reason I came here was to simply retrieve an item from you Hidden Scriptures Pavilion, but you didn't want to listen."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Zhang Zhongmou and said those words slowly.

He didn't speak like that to annoy them. That was the only way he could speak due to his exhaustion.

If not for Eternal Vitality helping him hold on, he would have fainted.

Everyone looked at Xu Xiaoshou as he spoke to the air beside him. They weren't sure what he wanted to do until he unveiled the Yuan Mansion in his hands.

Accumulating the last drops of energy in him, Xu Xiaoshou's spiritual senses expanded and enveloped half of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion that was on the ground.

The faces of the three strong cultivators from Zhang Mansion tightened as if they had simultaneously realized what was happening.

"No!"

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head slowly, squinted his eyes, and said to the air, "Too late."

After that, a flash of light shone from Yuan Mansion. Half of the multi-story Hidden Scriptures Pavilion disappeared.

"I'll take one of your items as punishment!"

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Chapter 364: Zhang Taiying Has Given Up

Silence…

The air was so silent that it was terrifying.

As if silenced by the Way of the Heavens, everyone looked at the half-disappeared ancient tower on the ground and collectively went silent.

Even Xin Gugu was shocked by Xu Xiaoshou's actions.

Earlier, he had obtained a spiritual pond that caused Xin Gugu to be drenched from head to toe. That one thing was fine.

Now, he had taken away half of their possessions right in front of their faces.

What kind of a person was this?

Yuan Mansion was supposed to be used to escape from the enemy, but it was now being used as a magical tool for robbery.

What if the Chaos Space in Yuan Mansion was fully developed? Was he going to take the whole world under his belt?

Suspected, Passive Points 66.

Impressed, Passive Points 222.

Not only were the Zhang Mansion people shocked but also the crowd surrounding them to watch were all equally shocked.

"I'm afraid this will be a case of bad blood that will never end."

No matter whose family inheritance was taken by half, the situation would definitely become one that could no longer be peacefully resolved.

Moreover, the half of the ancient tower that fell to the ground was the top half of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion.

Needless to say, the top half of ancient towers were usually the most valuable and significant.

When selecting their spiritual techniques in the tower, ordinary family disciples could not even enter the second floor.

Those who struggled and managed to reach the Innate Stage could only go up to the third and fourth floors.

Now…

Looking at the remains of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion, it only had four and a half floors left.

The ability to go up…

And choose spiritual techniques…

What the f*ck was this?

If there was nowhere to go up, how could they choose better spiritual techniques?

The first to explode with anger was Zhang Taiying, who had been suppressing his fury for a long time.

After clearly being reminded of what the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion meant for the Zhang Family, his pupils disappeared. Magic weaves could be seen forming in his bloodshot eyes.

"Roar!"

With a loud roar, the man who had already transformed into a mini giant earlier expanded again after ingesting a drop of Sovereign blood essence.

Black fur rapidly grew on his body. Zhang Taiying now looked like a gigantic beast. He shook off his two companions, who were restraining him, and stepped out.

Boom!

The space shattered as he flew forward straight for Xu Xiaoshou.

"Go to hell!"

Zhang Duoyu immediately tried to grab him. This time, he could not catch up to Zhang Taiying's speed and grabbed onto nothing.

"Big Elder!"

She looked to the side with great urgency only to see Zhang Zhongmou shaking his head.

"No."

With one word, Zhang Duoyu understood.

No matter how much they wanted to avoid it, Zhang Taiying had to fight in this fight.

The inheritance could not be broken.

The young man's actions seemed simple, but they could possibly cause future generations of the Zhang family to lose their inheritance.

As a family that was still growing and developing, it would inevitably be destructive for them.

"Master…"

Zhang Duoyu mumbled and clenched her fists as she glanced at the young man, who looked so proud that it was as if he was going to start floating.

"Attack!"

The two of them followed closely behind and rushed toward Xu Xiaoshou as well.

"Come at us!"

The fighting spirit in Xin Gugu's eyes ignited as he shouted and was about to receive Zhang Taiying's blow.

Xu Xiaoshou almost fainted at the sound of his loud voice.

"Hold… Hold me."

His body swayed as he turned back and spoke.

Xin Gugu was surprised.

He looked at the back of Xu Xiaoshou's head. He hesitated a moment and said, "I'm over here."

Xu Xiaoshou did not turn back.

Even though his senses were blurred and he could not receive any information from his Perception, he still used All Things are Swords and managed to feel that murderous intent.

'Did Zhang Taiying still dare to attack?'

Still feeling shocked, he did not know that his one sword had quelled the enemy. It was his unreasonable robbery of their inheritance that led them to attack again.

There was no time for any thinking now.

"Don't attack!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked back after stopping Xin Gugu.

If they were to attack, all that he had worked for would be wasted.

Struggling to look in the direction of the murderous intent, Xu Xiaoshou smiled coldly.

He drew a Sword Aura in the air with his fingertip.

"Cross the line, and you die!"

His cold and crisp voice resonated with the wind. That bold Sword Aura caused Zhang Taiying to wake up.

It was obviously just an ordinary Sword Aura that was Innate grade.

Yet, there was a small hint of faded sword cognition on it.

It was this thing that had torn the skies like a piece of cloth earlier and destroyed a super-strong Sovereign defense spirit-gathering array.

'Can I withstand the attack?' Zhang Taiying thought.

Just when his toes were about to cross that weak Sword Aura, Zhang Taiying subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

"Move!"

"Keep moving!"

Flames of anger ignited in Zhang Taiying's heart as he looked at the frail Xu Xiaoshou. Even if he was blind, he could tell that this young man's condition was not right.

Besides, he wasn't blind.

He practically shouted at the young man standing behind the Sword Aura, "At your current state, you cannot execute that one sword attack anymore!"

Swish! Swish!

Two figured stopped behind him.

Zhang Duoyu's eyes were filled with shock.

Had the bold and fearless Zhang Taiying been stopped?

Could he still be stopped by someone's words even when he was in his berserk mode?

In the past, this was totally not possible at all.

'Afraid?'

Zhang Duoyu used to think that this word was never in Zhang Taiying's dictionary. Now, she was not so sure anymore.

Sigh!

Zhang Zhongmou looked at the scene. Despair momentarily flashed across his eyes.

Different from Zhang Duoyu, this situation of having to stand at the forefront alone for the family at the risk of his own life…

As someone who had been there before, Zhang Zhongmou could understand.

He did not speak at this point. No matter how many differing opinions he might have had with Zhang Taiying on normal days, he would not interfere regarding the decision he made now.

"My state…"

Xu Xiaoshou closed his eyes, but his unstable senses seem to completely envelop everyone.

He laughed bitterly. Without denying it, he said, "You are right. I am indeed in a weak state right now, but how hard is it to release one sword attack?"

Doubt was written on everyone's faces, including that of Xin Gugu.

Considering Xu Xiaoshou's state, he seemed to be bluffing.

"Ha-ha, ha-ha!"

Zhang Taiying stared furiously. He raised his head and laughed wildly. " If releasing one sword attack is not difficult, then you could have already done so. Why all the talk now?"

Xu Xiaoshou did not waver. He asked, "If you think that one sword is hard, why do you still not dare to cross the line?"

The scene was extremely silent.

Xin Gugu was shocked. At this point, he had to admit some things to himself.

In terms of thinking capabilities, even after adding up everyone's, they would still lose to Xu Xiaoshou's.

That would be so no matter in terms of reaction time or the ability to twist words.

"Roar!" Zhang Taiying let out a furious roar that shook the surrounding area.

He punched his chest, felt his blood boil, and almost turned insane.

His rational side stopped this impulse.

The thin veil that covered his embarrassment had been broken. Zhang Taiying felt his face turn burning red.

He had been scared, but…

But…

"Stop making excuses for yourself."

Xu Xiaoshou calmly spoke.

Relying on Eternal Vitality's ultra-strong recovery speed, this short span of time was sufficient for him to recover to the point that he could move.

He waved his hands and ushered Aje and Xin Gugu behind him as he dragged his weakened body to be exposed in front of the Sovereigns.

"I will give you one more chance to choose for yourself…"

"A step or a sword?"

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Chapter 365: Retreat

Xin Gugu felt like he was going mad.

His initial impression of Xu Xiaoshou was that he was a weird young man with a thought process that was different from everyone else. Thus, it made him stand out from the crowd.

Now, however, Xu Xiaoshou had completely refreshed his worldview.

Despite being at the Innate stage, he had the audacity to pretend that he was someone else in front of these powerful Sovereigns.

He may have suppressed them with the sword technique, but Xin Gugu was aware that it was his trump card.

The technique had drained Xu Xiaoshou of all the energy and mana in his body. It had used up all that was needed for the trump card.

Yet, in this weakened state such, he continued to stand in front of Xin Gugu and Aje to defend them.

He was no longer a courageous man but a complete lunatic.

There was no doubt about that.

Xin Gugu had felt a sense of curiosity arose within him. Xu Xiaoshou may have been a lunatic, but with reference to the statements he proclaimed and the impact he had made…

"Can you really not use that technique anymore, Xu Xiaoshou?"

There was no reply. Zhang Taiying remained silent as well.

One breath.

Another breath.

"I already have the answers."

Xu Xiaoshou smiled sarcastically. He lifted his chin and looked at the others with a slightly elevated angle as if he was taking pity on the most pathetic individuals in this world.

He turned around and waved his hands.

"Let's go!"

"Ma Ma…" Aje mumbled. His red eyes had a dull glow as he followed Xu Xiaoshou.

Watching Xu Xiaoshou's brave and nonchalant back view, Xin Gugu felt a raging ocean of respect in his heart.

He looked back to Zhang Taiying, whose face was so dark that it could be used as writing ink.

His gaze shifted to the two great Sovereigns behind him.

Humiliation was overflowing from the eyes of the woman. As for the old man, he seemed to be the only one who maintained a normal attitude on this battlefield.

'No!'

'Those who can maintain an attitude in this time must already have been changed psychologically.'

Xin Gugu lifted his lip corners.

He wanted to control his urge to laugh, but it proved far too strong to be held back.

"Hahaha!"

The feeling was gratifying.

It was immensely gratifying.

He learned that the real battle that brought satisfaction and happiness was not finishing the opponent in one strike.

The real satisfaction of the battle came from the feeling when one could no longer attack, but the opponent remained afraid to move.

It was no longer just about the squabble during the battle. The opponent thoroughly loathed them from their body to the heart, and even to their soul.

As he looked at the constipated faces of the three people, Xin Gugu's heart felt as light as a feather like it could soar like a bird.

"Let's go!"

After all, he was a chaotic Sovereign. He had let himself be free after he had learned that the three people before him were terrified of making a move.

He swung his robe sleeve with gusto and pride before he rushed to catch up with Xu Xiaoshou.

"Amazing!"

"You know Xu Xiaoshou, I'm difficult to convince and impress. Even that hag Jiao Tangtang did not impress me much."

"But I am so impressed by you today!"

He spoke with great carefreeness as he reached out to pat Xu Xiaoshou's shoulders.

Regarding the battle, Xu Xiaoshou had made defense preparations beforehand.

Even if the enemy had seen through his devices and tactics, he knew they would forget the fact that he had other plans around him that would ruin their scheme to attack.

Upon hearing a solid hitting sound, Aje turned around.

It reached out and caught Xin Gugu's palm before his hand could land.

It postured itself as if to say, "Oh Ma Ma, do you think you can hit a ghost beast host body?"

The sudden movement caught Xin Gugu off guard. He immediately understood that he might have knocked Xu Xiaoshou to his knees with his palm. He awkwardly and silently retracted his hand.

After they had walked about a mile, the three people behind them had made no sounds or movements.

"Don't bother looking anymore."

Xu Xiaoshou heaved out a mouth of foul air and said, "They didn't take the first step. Hence, they would not have the courage to take another step, even if they were not thinking straight."

Xu Xiaoshou continued to spit out his breaths.

Xin Gugu shook his head. He was utterly impressed by Xu Xiaoshou.

The man was a complete genius in terms of applying his cognitive abilities on the battlefield.

"Say, that sword technique just now, how did you do it?"

"And the explosion in the Eastern Courtyard earlier… Did you really do that with an alchemy explosion?"

"Also, the last thing you said, can you really do the sword technique again?"

Questions were filling Xin Gugu's mind. He was certain he would not be able to sleep that night if the questions remain unanswered.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyelids jumped. He also wanted to keep up his strong front.

Unfortunately, after they had been out of range and clear of danger, and he could relax without worries, he found it almost impossible to regain his strength.

With a thud, he collapsed onto the ground.

Aje reacted quickly. Reaching out, it grabbed onto Xu Xiaoshou and carried him up in a bridal style.

"Is he dead?"

Xin Gugu was stunned. He lowered himself to give Xu Xiaoshou a sniff. He realized his presence was incredibly stable, so it was impossible for him to be dead. Rather, his presence seemed extremely weak.

"Is he asleep?"

His eyes widened as he felt the vigorous ripples of life force surging within Xu Xiaoshou's body.

If the young man was not so tired that he could not keep himself awake, it would be hard to believe that this was the same young man who looked as if every strength had been taken from him.

'Is this man a human?'

'It looks like he didn't burn any power at all with that sword technique. Was it all mental stress?'

'Therefore, what he said at the end was not a lie. In fact, there was honestly in that. He can use the technique again.'

Xin Gugu was moved deeply by this discovery.

He recalled the scruffy-looking man. Xu Xiaoshou was no simple character if he had been chosen and protected by someone like him.

'Sword…'

Truthfully, Xin Gugu did not have much knowledge about swords and their techniques.

He was born and raised in the Xu Yue Grey Palace of the Southern Region. Therefore, he did not have any correlation with anyone in the Northern Region.

He had heard about the existence of a famous entity amongst the swordsmen, the Seven Sword Deity.

There was another addition who could barely be called half a deity but had been elevated by the common man through legends and myths to the near sainthood, the Eighth Sword Deity.

'Who was that scruffy-looking man?'

Xin Gugu did not believe that Xu Xiaoshou, who was at the Innate Stage of cultivation, would be able to execute a technique of this level. There had to be some form of external assistance from an outsider.

In terms of outsiders, the only suspect was that man.

He knew that man was strong, but he doubted he was on the same stage as the sword deities in the legends.

However, Xu Xiaoshou's sword technique was something entirely separate from ordinary swordsmen in its conceptualization.

This technique would have proved unachievable for swordsmen of the Sovereign Stage.

'He let this rascal execute such a frightening sword technique, but the man himself seemed rather powerless.'

The irony was clouding Xin Gugu's mind.

In fear that there might be others tailing them, Xin Gugu could not afford to indulge in his thoughts any longer. He guided Aje toward a dark area to conceal themselves.

"It's over."

The City Lord Mansion had paid close attention to the night's battle, along with everyone else who was looking up in respect and fear on Dong Qing Street.

Fu Xing walked with his hands behind his back. He turned to look at Liu Qing. His expression remained dignified.

"Has father not returned?"

Liu Qing nodded. "He's still in the back garden researching his new crystals. Even when the City Lord Mansion was attacked, he didn't budge to look."

"Tonight's events were unexpected. We can't expect him to move around."

Fu Xing felt a tinge of headache and held his hand to his forehead.

Someone at his age should have been moving around freely and enjoying his life as a bachelor of a rich and powerful household.

However, his father remained deeply embedded in his obsession with the spiritual array and neglected his duties. He had no choice but to carry a portion of the household's burdens.

He was Master Stage but required to tend to issues dealt with by a Sovereign Stage. Truth to be told, he felt that he had too much on his plate.

"What about the Holy Divine Palace? Any updates?" he asked.

A battle between the Sovereigns was a violation of the Holy Law, so the White-clothed of the Holy Divine Palace would be called upon to suppress the battle.

Liu Qing smiled lightly and replied, "I'm afraid that they no longer care about Tiansang City anymore."

"Oh?" Fu Xing was puzzled. "How so?"

Liu Qing stepped forward imposingly. Her gaze locked onto the dust in the skyline that had yet to settle.

"The uncontrolled growth of the White Cave sword will have already birthed four swords. This has confirmed the worsening situation."

"Because of that, almost everyone found it difficult to hold on or hold up. Even if the extradimensional cracks had not been opened, there were already individuals smuggling themselves in."

"The Red-clothed of the Holy Divine Palace had not been activated yet. Regarding the White-clothed, they had already sent six batches over."

Fu Xing asked in shock, "Six batches?"

The number was unthinkable under normal circumstances.

The White-clothed of the Holy Divine Palace usually moved in batches. Perhaps a better term was group. These groups ranged in size from five as the least amount and 10 on the larger end.

All of them were individuals of the Sovereign Stage.

"Yes."

Liu Qing nodded and replied with a smile, "Aside from White Cave, by sheer estimation, the Sovereigns eliminated at the present would be at least a two-digit number."

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Chapter 366: The Horror Theme Park Project

In the darkness, Zhang Taiying transformed into a giant and was on a crazed and relentless pursuit of Xu Xiaoshou.

He jumped and hopped between every step and got closer to Xu Xiaoshou, who was weaker than he ever had been.

The humongous body of the giant leaped into the air and landed on one arm. It summoned Ye Xiaotian's Hand of Ripping Heaven and completely squashed Xu Xiaoshou with its hands.

"Whoa!"

Xu Xiaoshou jerked awake and straightened his body on his bed.

Woosh!

Mu Zixi, who was trying to change the warm towels, stood stunned at the headboard of the bed. Before Xu Xiaoshou could move, she immediately tilted her head back in defense.

Her expectations rang true. A strong gust of wind swept across the room.

If she had moved a little slower, her forehead would have been shattered on the spot by the wind.

"Clang!"

The basin of hot water was flipped over. The hot water was sent flying out of the container.

Xin Gugu already had the experience of hot water and pond water pouring down on him. He was too familiar with this scene. With a shake of his head, he transformed into a puddle of blood water and slipped away.

"Ho–"

The air was silent.

Xu Xiaoshou was dazed.

The two before him and the scene that unfolded gave Xu Xiaoshou a moment of deja vu.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

Mu Zixi called out angrily with her arms on her hips. "You are trying to launch another sneak attack again, aren't you?"

Xin Gugu smiled and appeared in a human form carrying a smug expression on his face.

"Gotcha!"

Xu Xiaoshou stared silently.

He was rather speechless, but he was guilty as charged. However, the peaceful environment had warmed him up on the inside and smoothed his mood after waking up from the nightmare.

"Did you two stay up all night again?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked out the window. It was daytime. The two must have stayed within this room for the whole night again.

He was not anyone of any significance, so he wondered why they had to be so committed and concerned for him.

His thoughts wandered. He wondered if he had done something wrong that warranted this behavior from them.

He lifted his blanket and looked down.

It was a relief that his pants were still on.

He focused his vision. Something was different.

Someone had changed his pants.

Xin Gugu rubbed his eyes. "Did you see what you did last night?" He yawned and asked, "How could I leave you?"

"If someone had attacked or assassinated you while I left, what then?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked up quizzically. "Not necessarily."

Xin Gugu laughed coldly. "That's what I thought too, but you…"

He had followed along Xu Xiaoshou's journey as a form of assistance, but he never imagined he would become a bodyguard and how much pressure this would put on his mental state.

The young man was a simple person of the Innate stage, yet all of his enemies were people of the Sovereign Stage. All of his battles were with Sovereigns too.

It was a rather stressful and terrifying life to keep up with.

"How is Greedy the Cat Spirit? Is he alright?' Xin Gugu asked with worry.

Xu Xiaoshou gave Yuan Mansion a peek. The giant white cat was lying on the ground. It was unable to hold itself up.

"It's alright. It's in more comfort than you are right now, almost at the height of luxury. No, wait. It is at the height of luxury."

Xin Gugu did not get the subtle message behind Xu Xiaoshou's words, but the plain words were enough to let him heave a sigh of relief.

His greatest fear was that Xu Xiaoshou had destroyed Yuan Mansion and threatened the safety of Greedy the Cat Spirit.

Now that he knew all was well, he did not need to guard for much longer.

There were no Sovereigns who caught up and attacked them during the night. The Zhang family would have less inclination to attack during the day.

"I'm going."

He waved his hands and covered his mouth as he yawned. He was going to catch up on the sleep he had missed.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced toward Mu Zixi. Although he had not seen the girl for a few days, it felt like seasons had passed since they last met.

Her face was one he was familiar with, yet it felt so distant.

The long battles she had fought in the past two days did not seem to suit her adorable features.

"How long have I slept?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"Not long. It's just one night this time. The duration of your rests are getting shorter."

Mu Zixi's eyes had a particular look in them.

Honestly speaking, she quite liked it when Xu Xiaoshou was injured.

The scent of his body after an injury was truly heavenly.

Any injury on the body required life force to patch up the physical form, so it was hard to let go of and be nonchalant about.

Therefore, she was never able to stay away from Xu Xiaoshou every time he had himself and continuously tended to him.

Her worries were a natural reason, but she would be lying if attraction was not one of the factors as well.

Mainly it was worry. That was the factor that motivated her the most.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the strange expression on her face and picked up the bronze mirror on the table. His face was in good shape.

"What's wrong?"

"Do I look extra good today?"

Mu Zixi looked at him in silence.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

Without a word, she blushed and left the room.

"Oi!"

Xu Xiaoshou called out. He felt strange when the girl did not reply.

There was something very off about the situation, but he could not put a finger on what it was.

He thought he might have spoken less than usual this time.

Xu Xiaoshou eyed the notification banner. The Cursed notification remained amongst the banners.

'Was my intuition wrong?'

He stroked his chin in thought. The situation was hard for him to understand.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. His pupils lit up.

'Wait… Does this girl like me?'

Coming to that conclusion, Xu Xiaoshou grabbed the bronze mirror again.

'Huh, but it's not like I got handsome overnight…'

'That's impossible!'

He quietly put down the mirror and closed the compact with a wave of his hand.

'They all left, and I wanted to share the joy with them…'

Xu Xiaoshou reached into his chest. He transformed into a bright spot of light and disappeared from the spot.

In Yuan Mansion…

The Chaos Space remained filled with grey and murky fog. Within them was a thick and vigorous life force that unfurled itself from the fog with unstoppable energy and force.

The newly dug spirit pond had immediately transformed overnight. The vitality spiritual energy it contained had almost doubled.

Xu Xiaoshou was in for a shock when he got closer to the pond.

The spirit fishes had jumped excitedly above the surface of the spirit pond. It was as if they had all been shot with steroids. They jumped and flopped with intense vigor.

If the fish were to keep up the pace, they would have been able to launch themselves into the sky and the moon sooner or later.

"Oh my, isn't this a bit too much?"

He had never stayed in Yuan Mansion for a particularly long period of time.

However, he understood the moment he laid his eyes on the scene.

The overwhelming vitality spiritual energy was not necessarily a good thing. If an ordinary person stumbled across the place, that person would have exploded on the spot within a day or two.

Even worse, the person would have suffocated to their doom.

The thought sent a shiver down Xu Xiaoshou's spine.

'Yuan Mansion is much more dangerous than I thought.'

'However, I can't waste the vitality spiritual energy. I should only use it, though that sounds dangerous too. Like growing spiritual herbs…'

The money-making prospect lit Xu Xiaoshou's eyes up.

A vitality spiritual energy of this level would accelerate the growth of spiritual herbs by more than 10 or even a hundred times in comparison to the outside world.

'If I plant them, would they evolve to become spiritual creatures?'

Xu Xiaoshou thought hard about the decision. His eyes were locked onto the flopping and overly enthusiastic spiritual fishes.

'Cooking Expert, piranha, dryads… or something like them?'

He was dumbstruck by the combination. He was convinced and ready to transform Yuan Mansion into a horror theme park.

In future encounters with enemy forces, he could invite them into Yuan Mansion for a fight or as a guest.

Bringing a guest into this dangerous place would make the battle easier for him.

"Heh. That girl Mu Zixi might like this place too," Xu Xiaoshou commented with a laugh. "I should invite her over when she's free."

"She might like it so much that she doesn't want to leave…"

Xu Xiaoshou was lost in his happy thoughts as he picked up the drunken white cat from Yuan Mansion.

"Wake up!"

He inhaled and sucked the excessive life force out from the cat's body. The cat's white eyes returned to normal.

"Meow."

The meow was low. There was a deep-seated fear in its tone.

"Go play on your own," Xu Xiaoshou said with a smile. "You can't stay in Yuan Mansion forever, but you can stay here for the time being."

"The life force in Yuan Mansion is too strong too. Use this as a transition."

The white cat determinedly tried to prop up its body.

However, its four legs went in different directions. None of them were moving in sync under his command. The cat lose power in its legs and collapsed onto the ground.

"You got this!"

Xu Xiaoshou raised his fist encouragingly and gestured to the spirit pond. "Your reward is over there!"

Fish jumped out from the pond full of life. The cat's eyes glimmered at the sight of them. It struggled for a while, but it remained sprawling on the ground without strength.

Xu Xiaoshou ignored the Greedy the Cat Spirit and retrieved Aje from his chest. Aje formed into a human form as he emerged.

This was his territory, so all the tricks and secrets had revealed themselves to him one by one.

"Ma Ma…"

Aje tilted its head and called out.

Waving his hand, Xu Xiaoshou turned toward the ruined remains of the four-story tower close to the spirit pond.

"Come on, let's go treasure hunting!"

Report chapter

Chapter 367: The Devil Box and The Letter

Without a doubt, if there was anything in this world that would bring more joy than earning Passive Points, it would be looting.

The largest loot that Xu Xiaoshou had the pleasure of pocketing came from Li Seven and Xiao Sixteen.

The former's wealth in the form of spiritual arrays was still lying in the spatial ring.

The latter, on the other hand, had helped to transform him into a legendary multi-millionaire.

His only regret was that Red Dog was beaten up so miserably by the Raging Giant that even his spatial ring was gone.

Otherwise, he estimated that the net worth of that Sovereign Stage killer was 10 times of Xiao Sixteen's.

"One billion…"

He would be lying if he said it was not a pity.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed regretfully. However, he also knew that he was lucky enough to survive.

A smile spread across his face as he looked at the ancient tower before him.

"Who knows, this thing might be able to top Red Dog's. It could even be more than that!"

It was practically half the inheritance of the Zhang Mansion. Before last night, Xu Xiaoshou could not have imagined that it would fall into his hands.

After all, his original intention was only to blow it up.

Even if the Sovereign Stage fought, the moment he took out his sword, all he could think was, "I should do something…"

"Nothing is certain in this world."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed and stopped thinking, leading Aje into the collapsed tower.

Although the barrier of the collapsed tower was intact, it had already been disengaged.

The cut was not as smooth as he imagined. Rather, it was jagged and hideous with crisscrossing ravines and deep pits.

Xu Xiaoshou knew this feeling.

He felt this way when the sword cognition of that man wandered into his body.

He stepped into the ancient tower from the battered end. There was a dark, shadowy atmosphere inside.

"Spiritual techniques!"

"All of them are spiritual techniques!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt his eyes lighting up.

His reaction was different from the past. Now, spiritual techniques were no longer useless things.

He likened them to spirit crystals and wealth, and it was not too farfetched to say that he could exchange them for priceless treasures.

For him, their existence was of little significance.

For the world, spiritual techniques were a crowd favorite.

It was only the first floor, yet before his eyes was a display of rows of jade scrolls and ancient books.

The space was not very large, and there were not many shelves with spiritual techniques. The quantity was very impressive for a single person.

Xu Xiaoshou also knew that this collapsed tower was the upper half of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion of the Zhang Mansion. Even if it was the first level that he had entered, it was the upper-middle level of the entire Hidden Scriptures Pavilion.

The setup here was very similar to the first level of the Spiritual Library Division in the Tiansang Spirit Palace. There was nothing special about it.

The value of the contents within it was entirely different.

Xu Xiaoshou randomly flipped through a book. It was about Innate Stage Spiritual Techniques.

He flipped another book. It was the Peak of Innate Stage.

"Hiss."

"I am guessing that everything here is Innate Stage Spiritual Techniques!"

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. With a rough sweep of his gaze, there were no fewer than hundreds of Innate Stage Spiritual Techniques. It was indeed a considerable inheritance.

If he brought out the contents of this level, he estimated that he could open a small Spirit Palace.

"How come the quantity here feels like more than the Spirit Palace…"

Xu Xiaoshou made his way inside, getting more and more stunned as he walked in further.

The categories of spiritual techniques included were simply numerous.

Whether the spiritual techniques were for the formal path or the deviated path, they were all available. What was more, the options were abundant. The Spiritual Library Division could not live up to it.

"This is impossible. It's only a Zhang Mansion. How can they have more things than the Tiansang Spirit Palace?"

"How many families have been robbed of their inheritance? Could it be that the Spirit Palace conceals its treasures?"

Xu Xiaoshou thought as he crossed the floor and walked up to the next level.

To him, Innate Stage Spiritual Techniques held no attraction at all.

The second level was full of jade scrolls, and the number was fewer than the first level. There were probably only dozens of them within sight.

However, Xu Xiaoshou was astounded.

Logically speaking, the sudden reduction in the number could only mean that their level had increased sharply.

"Master Stage Spiritual Techniques?"

Xu Xiaoshou was eager to touch a jade scroll. Before he could reach it, he was blocked by a light barrier.

"A barrier?"

It stunned him for a while. He reached his hand out and gave it a sharp jab, breaking open the barrier instantly.

"Is it that weak?"

In reality, the barrier was not weak. Xu Xiaoshou possessed abnormal qualities in his body.

Without thinking, he put something on his forehead, and his heart jumped wildly in his chest.

"I have struck the jackpot!"

"There are dozens of Master Stage Spiritual Techniques!"

"I have only recently attained Master Stage proficiency in my Sword Technique Expertise. If I can cultivate it, wouldn't it be equivalent to having dozens of Passive Skills?"

Xu Xiaoshou was drooling over this thought, but he also understood that even a Spiritual Cultivator who was a genius could not learn all the spiritual techniques in this world.

Specialization was the key.

Putting down the jade scroll in his hand, Xu Xiaoshou made no further attempt at verifying the contents here. He turned his gaze to the upper level.

"If there are five levels, there are still two levels above if I exclude the top level of the tower."

"This is already the Master Stage Spiritual Technique, and there are so many of them…"

"What could the levels above contain?"

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaoshou made a quick dash for the upper level with a swoosh.

An illuminated gate blocked his way, but the function of its existence meant nothing to Xu Xiaoshou.

Relying on the strength of Toughness, it only required a bump. Xu Xiaoshou did not have to move at all.

The illuminated gate suddenly trembled and exploded under the force of wave after wave of increasingly powerful countershocks.

"It has the strength of the Peak of Master Stage."

Xu Xiaoshou estimated the energy of the illuminated gate. He guessed that if the collapsed tower was intact, the illuminated gate should behave the same as the array, which had the level of the Sovereign Stage.

That way, it would require some effort if he wanted to enter.

At that moment, he did not see it as an obstacle.

He took a step forward.

It was silent inside, and the space contained only one long table.

There were seven light clusters on the long table.

"Cool!"

Xu Xiaoshou sucked in cold air, only to feel dizzy in his head.

"Seven doors?"

At this moment, he wanted to point out his realization quality again. If he could comprehend the spiritual technique…

Were they Sovereign Stage Passive Skills?

"That's a little scary!"

Suppressing the alarm in his heart, Xu Xiaoshou decided not to trigger them. He instead headed straight to the last level.

"What will it be?"

"Beyond the Sovereign Stage… Cutting Path, Higher Void?"

"Or Demi-Saint Stage?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt that his imagination went too far. If the Zhang family had such a powerful ability, they would have slashed him in half on the spot. In any case, he would not even be able to put on a show before them.

As he stepped into the fourth level, unexpectedly, no bookshelf stood before him. Instead, there was a black square table and a rocking chair.

Clearly, someone had lived here.

"Was it that old man?"

Xu Xiaoshou thought of Zhang Zhongmou. Not surprisingly, these should be the traces left behind by that old man.

He was a little disappointed. He thought that the highest level would contain the best treasure. He did not expect that he would only collect a pile of domestic garbage in the end.

"This can't be right!"

Xu Xiaoshou allowed his gaze to wander. He suddenly settled on the square table.

On top of it were a hanging light spirit pen holder, a black inkstone, and a purple box.

There was a letter under the box.

"An unfinished letter?"

Xu Xiaoshou did not care about this as the purple box had attracted his attention.

Along the way, even the Sovereign Stage Spiritual Techniques did not trigger an emotional roller coaster in him.

But that box made Perception report an urgent warning with a dangerous throb.

This throbbing only emerged on occasion in the past. Every time it materialized, it could only signal a catastrophe or a blasphemous event.

"This… What have I collected?"

Xu Xiaoshou had a weird look in his eyes. Although he was surprised to be opening a devil box, he was full of worry.

"Forget it. When we get to the mountain, there will naturally be a way through!"

Now that he was in his Yuan Mansion, Xu Xiaoshou could not refrain from opening it.

He paced forward and moved the rocking chair. He sat on it with his hands hovering above the purple devil box.

Report chapter

Chapter 368: The Decision and Destiny

Zhang Mansion…

In one night, its residents were unable to recover from their attacked state.

Zhang Taiying stayed up all night, but he too did not know what he was thinking.

However, the silhouette of that weak yet formidable young man was etched in his mind.

Crack!

He tightened his fist and slowly released it.

In this world, there were too many helpless situations mixed with reality. It had never occurred to Zhang Taiying in the past when Tiansang City was not so vibrant and Zhang Mansion could dominate one end of it.

Nowadays, there was a mixture of good and evil people. If they let their guard down and revealed their weakness, they would be attacked by similar folks again.

After this night, Zhang Taiying finally understood it.

Even if he was a Sovereign Stage, the limitations of this world still confined him.

He could not break free and could only witness himself sinking deeper and deeper, inch by inch.

"Is this the limit…"

The morning sun beamed on the top of his head and gradually brought his surroundings to light.

Zhang Taiying raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot. He basked in the warm feeling that radiated from his face. Only then did his heart slightly relax.

"No, no one can stop me!"

He got up and walked toward the direction of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion.

The collapsed tower…

Only half of it remained.

Zhang Zhongmou stayed at the same place. Unlike Zhang Taiying, he only spent half the night recuperating from the aftermath of the battle.

"You came."

The old man spoke quietly as he heard footsteps approaching.

Zhang Taiying marched to the door. Neither of them entered the tower. They only raised their eyes slightly to see the top level of the collapsed tower.

On regular days, they rarely lingered on that floor.

At this moment, it had become the highest floor.

Zhang Taiying's face turned dark but soon recovered.

"Was that Xu Xiaoshou's protector who came to seek revenge?" he asked.

Zhang Zhongmou nodded. "It should not be wrong."

"Are the three Sovereign Stages there just to protect an Innate Stage brat?"

"Perhaps…"

When Zhang Zhongmou said this sentence out loud, even he did not believe it.

But the facts were right in front of him, and the desolation and hopelessness that this picture painted forced him to believe it.

"Infernal Heavenly Flames, sword cognition, Sovereign Stage Physique…"

"The abilities that only appeared last night are three of the most difficult techniques to cultivate in the world…"

"This…"

Zhang Zhongmou shook his head without feeling but solemnly said, "At least we know that the former Dean of Tiansang Spirit Palace, who is now the Vice Dean, has a foot in this."

"Then he is a swordsman… But if he were a swordsman, Xiao Qixiu did not seem to follow this path."

"That young man, on the contrary, resembles a person."

"Who?" Zhang Taiying looked back.

Zhang Zhongmou did not offer a further explanation but only said two words. "Su family!"

Zhang Taiying felt his heart sinking. He knew who exactly Chief Elder was speaking of.

Not long ago, a terrifying event transpired in Tiansang City.

The Su family had been an unshakable giant in Tiansang City since ancient times.

The reason was naturally due to the famed sword in their possession, Epitaph of City Snow.

Each generation of the sword-bearer of the Su family had extraordinarily terrifying combat power. Even if Zhang Taiying was to face the sword-bearer alone, he had no confidence that he could safely retreat.

Yes, victory was unthinkable. The only thought that should occur to one was how to escape alive after defeat.

It was this kind of existence that drew enemies from afar.

That night, a masked man who did not even have a sword attacked the Zhang family in a killing rampage and threatened to take Epitaph of City Snow.

But how could the Su family compromise?

The Su family was a noble family of swordsmen, the type that would rather die than turn their backs on their beliefs.

Immediately, both parties were fighting to draw blood.

The ending was also very apparent. Almost no one could strike the masked man with a sword before admitting defeat.

As per the swordsmen rite, if one loses, one dies.

That night, there was a bloodbath at the Su Mansion.

Almost all the existing Sovereign Stage cultivators in the Su family died.

Even if the elder of the Su family made his final defense, he still failed miserably.

Even until the masked man killed the last person in the battle, no one would reveal the whereabouts of the famed sword.

This tragic ending was simply bone-chilling.

If one randomly asked anybody on the spot, almost everyone in Tiansang City would answer this question.

The famed sword of the Su family was in Tiansang Spirit Palace in the hands of Su Qianqian.

It was no secret.

Almost all the higher levels of the Su family paid with their lives to protect this secret. Although, this secret was not a secret at all.

"What for?"

Zhang Taiying could understand the reasoning behind it that the others could not think of, even if they cracked their heads.

However, understanding the reason did not mean that he empathized with them or was willing to follow in their footsteps.

At least when the young man arrived the previous night, he chose a different path from the Su family.

In the end, he saved a small remnant of the Zhang Mansion.

Whether the ending was good or bad, Zhang Taiying was not sure. He certainly did not regret his choice.

If he had to do it again, he would still make the same decision.

"So, do you think that young man is the same person who killed the Su family?" Zhang Taiying asked after he was silent for a while.

Zhang Zhongmou was confused, and it showed in his eyes.

He did not understand it very well. That guy looked very similar. At least, his sword was at the height that the masked man could strike.

Suspicion vaguely arose in his heart. He could not put a finger on the strange feeling he felt.

Was the person who came this time an impostor?

"I cannot tell definitely, but I am 70 or 80 percent sure!"

Zhang Zhongmou sighed and said, "Perhaps it is not the same person, but they will be from the same organization. No matter how you decide to proceed, I will respect your decision."

Zhang Taiying glanced at the collapsed tower and closed his eyes.

"My decision has caused the Zhang Mansion half of its fortune!"

"We are lucky that it's only half."

Zhang Zhongmou patted him on the shoulder. "The Su family's decision obliterated their entire clan."

"The sword-bearer…"

Zhang Taiying murmured to himself. Sometimes he could understand Elder Su's thoughts, but sometimes he felt that it was not worth it.

"Let it be."

Without thinking about it too much, Zhang Taiying regained his composure and said, "Whether the misfortune of the Zhang Mansion is a blessing or a curse, it remains hard to tell."

"Maybe this person was not completely lured over by Xu Xiaoshou."

Zhang Taiying paused and thought seriously. "The masked man had his sights set on the famed sword. Perhaps he obtained intelligence about the Sacrificial Carving from somewhere and came to investigate the rumors."

"The Sacrificial Carving…"

Zhang Zhongmou murmured. Suddenly, his pupils contracted, and he raised his head. He gazed at the top level of the collapsed tower.

His heart twitched with a horrifying realization, and panic appeared on his face.

Zhang Taiying did not notice his expression and continued his monolog. "Our Zhang family has spent so much effort and only then retrieved two pieces of Sacrificial Carvings from White Cave."

"Whether or not we can soar into the sky and achieve new heights, it ultimately depends on this opportunity."

"The City Lord Mansion definitely cannot resist this temptation. As long as we claim the White Cave quota this time, we will still have a chance to take off."

"The mere Hidden Scriptures Pavilion… We can give it to him!"

Zhang Taiying sneered coldly. He glanced back at Zhang Zhongmou and wanted to continue talking but was frightened by the black face of the old man.

"What's wrong?" He was puzzled.

Zhang Zhongmou whispered and said in a trembling voice, "The Sacrificial Carving is on… It's on the ninth floor…"

"The ninth floor?"

Zhang Taiying was a little confused. When he watched Zhang Zhongmou staring in the direction of the collapsed tower, he suddenly realized that something was wrong.

"You mean…"

"That's right."

Zhang Zhongmou swallowed the lump in his throat and said with much difficulty, "The Sacrificial Carving that we were going to give to the City Lord Mansion, as well as the letters, are still on the ninth floor of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion."

Zhang Taiying was speechless.

Where on earth was the ninth floor?

The highest place in sight was only four and a half floors.

Report chapter

Chapter 369: The Engraved Shard

Yuan Mansion, the highest level of the collapsed tower…

Click!

Xu Xiaoshou applied a light force and crushed the spiritual array guarding the purple devil box. It opened with ease.

It was completely different from the Light of Buddha or the Wrath of the Devil that he had expected.

Lying in this box was an ordinary bronze shard.

"What is this?"

He was looking forward to seeing what was in the box. When he saw this broken thing, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly had black question marks on his face.

He picked up the shard and observed it with detail.

The shard was very heavy, and it was like old iron speckled in rust. No matter how hard he rubbed, no dirt came off.

There were engravings on it, but just like this shard, only a tiny part was visible. Xu Xiaoshou could not tell what they were at all.

Xu Xiaoshou guessed that even if the complete engraving was placed before him, he would still be unable to tell anything from it.

Apart from its texture, this engraved shard still had some bronze color remaining. The original color of the engraving should have been the same as it.

It was evident from the few clean spots on it.

Overall, something unidentifiable had contaminated this bronze shard. Although it was very black, it could not be wiped clean.

"Did this item trigger that dangerous warning for me?"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned. He did not believe it.

He casually tossed the item on the table. He flipped through the purple devil box again and could not find any concealed layer. There was also no hidden compartment on the top layer.

In general, this devil box was only a devil box and did not have any mechanism to transform itself into other forms.

Judging its material, it was just a rather expensive box. It was not even comparable to most of the spiritual ore in his spatial ring.

"In other words, this devil box is just an ordinary thing. Does the mystery lie on this engraved shard?"

Xu Xiaoshou set down the purple box and picked up the engraved shard again. His spiritual senses reached out toward it.

However, at the first sweep, it already provoked an incident.

The moment his spiritual senses came into contact with the engraved shard, he sensed an oppressive murderous intent.

Xu Xiaoshou felt his hair standing on end.

He had never seen such a concentrated and terrifying murderous intent.

Even the masked man, even Red Dog…

Among the strong cultivators he had encountered in the past, he never experienced a murderous intent that terrified him more than the murderous intent hidden in the depths of this engraved shard.

Suddenly, Xu Xiaoshou's eyes turned red. An unknown force transported him to a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Withered bones, demented devil beings, blood flowing into rivers, corpses scattered all over the floor…

Among the endless Senluo Purgatory sight before him, there was a long, slender black sword.

The black sword was elegant, and the bronze engravings on it were shrouded in mystery. It was this very sword that was constantly hovering in the void.

With every rotation it took, blood-black Monstrous Aura seeped out from it.

One could even see such a suffocating murderous intent with the naked eye. It had caused all beings to deviate from the Great Path and launch into self-destruction.

No life force remained in the world.

"Ah–"

Xu Xiaoshou grasped his head in excruciating pain. He felt that he only needed to be here, and the Monstrous Aura would instantly infiltrate his mind and soul.

If the pain of the sword cognition wandering through his body was at level 10, then at this moment, the piercing pain that tormented his soul was at the level of hundreds of thousands.

A violent primitive desire instantly destroyed the clarity of the spiritual altar. Even if Xu Xiaoshou had realized that something was amiss, he could hardly contain his thirst for destruction.

"Argh!"

He roared in rage, and his muscles took on a golden light and swelled sharply.

At this moment, the Devil's Will of the Spiritual Universe suddenly seemed to have discovered a catharsis. It had purged all of it into an unknown place.

Xu Xiaoshou relaxed his expression, and his breath returned. Finally, he forcibly stifled the urge to transform into the Raging Giant.

"Hu!"

With a blur before his eyes, the sight of his surroundings in the collapsed tower once again greeted him.

Pen, ink, paper, inkstone, the devil box, the engraved shard, and Aje, which had its hand on his shoulder.

"Ma Ma?"

Aje tilted its head, its eyes flickering red and momentarily turned black.

Black Devil Veins snaked around Xu Xiaoshou's body and constricted him. With Aje's palm as the origin, it was all absorbed away.

"Aje?"

"Can you absorb this devilish energy?"

Xu Xiaoshou was drenched in sweat and looked terrified.

It shook off the engraved shard in its hand like a hot iron, and then it shivered.

"Cultivation deviation?"

Truthfully, it was practically impossible for Xu Xiaoshou to experience cultivation deviation since he did not need to cultivate.

This almost impossible event in the past was a reality at this moment, and it was all because of an engraved shard.

Xu Xiaoshou was in disbelief.

His spiritual power and mental strength were already terrifyingly powerful. The increase of Perception had once again elevated them.

Even at this level, he still could not hold on for a moment. He instantly experienced devil invasion.

"How horrible!"

"What the hell is this?"

"That sword…"

Hovering between heaven and earth, causing everything to lose their spiritual quality and turn into withered bones, the culprit behind the mass destruction scene was an elegant Devil Sword…

Xu Xiaoshou could not fathom it at all. However, it had vaguely reminded him of a familiar feeling.

"What's going on?"

At this moment, the spatial ring on his chest trembled. Hidden Bitter shot out.

Xu Xiaoshou grasped at it inexplicably. As he glanced at the trembling Black Scabbard, enlightenment suddenly flashed in his eyes.

"According to previous tales, the Black Scabbard should be the scabbard of the Fourth Sword."

"Is this engraved shard also related to the Fourth Sword?"

"Or is this a fragment that fell off that sword?"

Xu Xiaoshou was a little surprised. If this was the fragment of the Fourth Sword, then where did the Zhang family get this?

Everyone knew that White Cave had not opened yet.

"This is weird…"

Although puzzled, Xu Xiaoshou had already realized that this fragment was of no simple matter.

Sure enough, the treasure contained within the top level of the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion was not inferior.

"Perhaps this item can contribute greatly to the White Cave expedition."

Xu Xiaoshou had no idea, but for the time being, he could only accept this item. Nonetheless, he no longer dared to extend his spiritual senses closer to it.

"That's not right!"

Thinking of the devil invasion, Xu Xiaoshou was suddenly overjoyed.

Currently, if he wanted to take on the Raging Giant form, it seemed that he had to go through a life-threatening tribulation.

This fragment could instantly bring him into the Raging State, and Aje could restrain its devil invasion power.

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head to look at precious Aje and suddenly realized that it was a tremendous treasure.

It could easily absorb such terrifying devilish energy in this way and not be affected at all.

Was it possible that this guy had a considerably terrifying origin compared to the Fourth Sword?

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback by his thoughts.

"It should be impossible!"

When he thought of Slaughter Cape…

"Perhaps the purpose of the Slaughter Cape in Tianxuan Gate was not to hold Aje captive, but because of Aje, it had become Slaughter Cape."

Xu Xiaoshou was silent for a while.

When he had excessive thoughts, he could sometimes perceive the horrors of life.

The feeling of having his life dictated by fate resurfaced.

He raised his head and gazed through the ceiling of the top-level, looking toward the Chaos Heavens of Yuan Mansion.

The breath of vitality was very majestic, but the chaotic grey mist was ferocious and dancing.

It could never be predicted what shape it would take on in the next second.

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts were all over the place, and he was a little confused.

"What is waiting for me in the front?"

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Chapter 370: Xu Xiaoshou Ventures into Farming

Xu Xiaoshou leaped out from the highest floor of the collapsed tower.

However, he did not leave Yuan Mansion after exiting the collapsed tower.

The fish in the spiritual pond were springing frantically.

Seeing their vigorous movements, Xu Xiaoshou fell into deep thought. They were bursting with energy.

'Perhaps I can bring forward my planting plan for the Garden of Horror.'

'I don't know how much these spirit fish can evolve in the end.'

On the ground, Greedy the Cat Spirit inched its way forward. It took the form of a little white cat. It was now well enough to move with some effort, but its movements were not flexible.

The lively fish greatly aroused its interest.

After all, it had been locked up by Xu Xiaoshou in Yuan Mansion for a long time.

It was inevitable that it would be slightly famished after being trapped for such a long time.

"Meow~"

It growled and pounced forward, but the spirit fish were simply too flexible. Greedy the Cat Spirit's pounce had no effect at all.

With a splash, it fell straight into the pond.

Water sprayed everywhere.

The spiritual pond, which was already active enough, became even more restless.

Although the fish could not see the existence of Greedy the Cat Spirit, they were brimming full of spiritual quality.

All the fish noticed something was wrong when an unfamiliar breath trespassed their surroundings, and they swam wildly and jumped even higher.

Pounce!

The cat caught the fish, but the fish escaped.

The entire spiritual pond was in an uproar. The commotion was louder than firecrackers.

Xu Xiaoshou was amazed at the sight.

If he indeed had realization quality, perhaps he could even realize something by looking at this scene.

But at the moment…

'Well, this cat is rather weak. If the fish evolved, could they mock it instead?'

'It has embarrassed all the ghost beasts…'

Xu Xiaoshou did not give it much thought. He even forgot Xin Gugu's instructions. The only lively scene in Yuan Mansion had enraptured him immensely.

'What else is lacking?'

He stroked his chin and observed the ground at the edge of the pool where the water had splashed out. A faint grayish-green seemed to be on the verge of popping out.

It was rather frail.

'Life?'

Xu Xiaoshou slapped his head in realization.

There were enough animals in Yuan Mansion, but plants…

It was somewhat challenging to grow it from nothing in this Chaos Space, even with a strong vitality and spiritual energy.

He estimated that it would take at least a year or half. It was certainly an uphill task.

"Hehe."

As Xu Xiaoshou thought of this, he picked out a handful of spiritual herb seeds from his spatial ring.

He also had other precious spiritual ingredients, but it would only be a waste if they could not be grown.

Since he intended to sow a new garden, it would be better to start with ordinary seeds.

After they had taken root here, perhaps they would improve the quality of the soil. He could plant high-quality elixir spiritual ingredients such as those required for the Origin Court Pill in his next harvest.

Xu Xiaoshou randomly sprinkled seeds along the edge of the spiritual pond. He watched the purple seeds tumbling and suddenly realized that something was wrong.

'Purple Snake Orchid Seed?'

The seed that he took out was one of the special spiritual ingredients in the Red Gold Pill.

This spiritual ingredient was poisonous. When used as medicine, it would be refined in the form of seeds.

If he were to use spiritual herbs to condense pills, he would require other strong spiritual herbs to suppress their poisonous quality. Otherwise, it was very likely to be condensed into a poisonous pill.

While the Fallen Star Pill used the thousand-year-old Purple Snake Orchid as a medicinal ingredient, it was a different story because it was a top seven-grade healing medicine.

To be truthful, Xu Xiaoshou did not possess many spiritual herb seeds.

Most of the spiritual ingredients given to him by Elder Sang were individual ingredients.

The ones that could appear in seeds were poisonous ingredients.

'Uh, it shouldn't be a big problem planting poisonous herbs…'

Theoretically, it was interesting to create a Garden of Horror. However, Xu Xiaoshou was a little fearful of reality running askew from his imagination.

To balance out the poisonous seeds he had planted, he also grabbed a handful of spiritual herbs and inserted them along the edge of the spiritual pond.

However, these low-grade spiritual herbs had not been treated when they were picked. Many of them did not have the possibility of being replanted.

Whether or not they could survive entirely depended on God's will.

'Well, I hope you can all thrive. Wait for me to come and harvest!'

Xu Xiaoshou was satisfied with his planting method of half poison and half spiritual herbs. Perhaps with the existence of the spiritual pond, everything could thrive.

In this case, when he next entered Yuan Mansion, he would not be greeted by the sight of a genuine Garden of Horror.

He imagined fish and cats frolicking and spiritual herbs growing bountifully.

Everything would be growing and evolving naturally. That would be a pleasing sight.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at it for a while then withdrew his gaze.

'That's it!'

'What's left is to make ample preparations for the City Lord Mansion banquet dinner.'

Xu Xiaoshou really did not care if he could obtain the White Cave quota.

It was not as if he was the leader of a large organization. He did not pay attention to these things, and he did not feel a pressing need to fight over them.

On the contrary, Elder Sang would surely send him into that dangerous place.

'My primary purpose of attending the banquet dinner is naturally to get more intelligence about the White Cave. That guy Fu Xing is a good starting point…'

'However, Zhang Taiying is also a top priority.'

Xu Xiaoshou swore that he must kill that person.

Not only was the arrest warrant of Three Incenses not withdrawn, but the existence of that person had already posed a threat to himself.

However…

'Killing a Sovereign Stage?'

The night attack at the Zhang Mansion did not cause Xu Xiaoshou's ego to swell. The strike of his sword that toppled the tower also did not make him conceited enough to think that he alone could fight against Zhang Taiying.

On the contrary, the strength that guy possessed that made him capable of surviving Aje's barrel of attacks made Xu Xiaoshou fearful.

If it were him against Aje…

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at precious Aje beside him.

He did not have the confidence to fight this guy, persevere for so long, and not lose the upper hand.

Xu Xiaoshou squinted as he thought about how to kill Zhang Taiying.

'At Zhang Mansion, I only need to ask Xin Gugu to pay them a few more visits later.'

'I don't have to do anything. The other two Sovereign Stages are unlikely to accompany Zhang Taiying out.'

It was only human nature to be afraid.

After this hardship, the Zhang family had to be panicked and worried.

If it were not for the need to attend the City Lord Mansion banquet dinner, it was unlikely that Zhang Taiying would leave the Zhang Mansion anytime soon.

'Since the number of people is now limited, Zhang Taiying is the only one left to attend the event…'

'How can I kill a Sovereign Stage in a place as heavily guarded as the City Lord Mansion?'

Xu Xiaoshou assessed his current combat power.

He had Xin Gugu and Aje on his side. However, this combination was probably not enough to kill this guy without drawing any attention.

'No, it's far from enough!'

Despite that, it was the only chance that Zhang Taiying would go out. Even though he could not be sure, that was an opportunity he could not miss.

'I need to do something…'

Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head and frowned.

Finally, he concluded his thoughts and focused his gaze on the Yuan Mansion. He glanced at the Red Interface on one end.

'The Sovereign Stage is too hard to kill. I need support!'

Xu Xiaoshou looked toward the bottom of the Information Bar.

Passive Points: 86,944.

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Read I Am Loaded with Passive Skills Chapter 371 - A Black Screen online for free - AllNovelFull

Chapter 371: A Black Screen

'This much?'

Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled.

The Passive Points were used up in his last visit. It had only been a short while since the last visit, but the points had increased immensely.

'Were they multiplying?' he thought.

'No, it should be that time in Zhang Mansion…'

It struck Xu Xiaoshou that the points were accumulated during his visit to Zhang Mansion.

He had not paid any attention to the growth of his Passive Points after the cauldron explosions.

Many Spiritual Cultivators resided within Zhang Mansion.

Moreover, Dong Qing Street, which Zhang Mansion was located, was an expensive stretch of property.

Aside from the Zhang family, some other smaller clans and forces had congregated on the street. Hence, there was an impressive amount of Spiritual Cultivators present.

In the event of a battle, emotions like fear spread. More importantly, anyone who was a witness would be taken aback at the sight of it.

If Xu Xiaoshou were to calculate with the lowest number assumption which was 100 Spiritual Cultivators in one family…

If there were 10 families and everyone in each family gave him 10 Passive Points from Impressed, this would have amounted to 10,000 points.

'Wow!'

The numbers were absurd. Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback by his own calculations.

The 80,000 Passive Points looked quite little after he had done the math.

'The explosion and the sword technique later on, as well as the time I pretended in the void, all of that was only for eighty thousand Passive Points?'

He felt that his Passive Points were stolen somehow.

However, once he calmed down and thought through the process again, he remembered no one was around to witness him triggering the explosion.

It was after the impacts of the explosion that people had reacted and identified him.

The real spectacle that was witnessed by many would have been the final battle at the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion.

Hence, the high volume of Passive Points should have refreshed at that very moment.

The discovery left Xu Xiaoshou speechless.

'Well, this was a surprise…'

He had unintentionally checked his status and did not expect to gain this massive amount of points.

The accumulation of Passive Points in the system had never failed to surprise him whenever he checked back on it every once in a while.

There were times when Xu Xiaoshou was unaware of his actions, but it had attracted the attention of many or even been a pain in the neck for them.

"Hehe!" He laughed aloud and thought, 'It looks like large-scale events are more suitable for me…'

'As long as others are watching, even a two-person fight will be beneficial…'

Xu Xiaoshou had plans to keep to himself and live a quiet and peaceful life, but the epiphany had given him the idea to crash the banquet at the City Lord Mansion and flaunt his powers.

If he could practice around 10 cauldrons of alchemy pills at the banquet, Xu Xiaoshou shivered at the thought immediately.

'Killing Zhang Taiying is the focus here. These people are all Sovereigns, so I can't go too far!'

Recollecting his thoughts, he returned to look at the 80,000 Passive Points.

Xu Xiaoshou paced around. 'How should I use them?'

The strongest technique at present was Sword Technique Expertise, and it had already been maxed to the highest level. Theoretically, if he wished to improve it further, he had to tap on the Expertise Passive Skill.

The Sword Technique Expertise was the key for Xu Xiaoshou to understand and internalize the Sword Observation Manual, and it sped up the process of Sword Cognition from Observation.

All of the factors enabled the attack that split the Zhang Mansion pagoda in half.

'Should I upgrade Cooking Expert?'

He was hesitant.

Cooking Expert did not have a corresponding fire-type text like Sword Observation Manual that he could refer to.

In other words, there was a possibility that the skills he would obtain after leveling up were limited to cooking and fire control.

These did not directly increase his battle skills.

Moreover, these skills were hard to be applied when it came to eliminating Zhang Taiying.

Infernal Heavenly Flames – White Flames and Dragon Melting Realm would be useful, but to master these spiritual techniques, I need the Advanced Infernal Fire Seed!'

'However, I have no idea where to find it, so I can't realize them now.'

Xu Xiaoshou was troubled by the situation.

Redirecting his attention, he inspected the Sharpness skill.

Of all the Passive Skills, it was the only one that directly boosted his battle skills.

The others had been maxed out or were side skills used for power-ups.

'Sharpness and my sword techniques share some overlaps, and I don't know what direction it will take after leveling up. If there was no link or compatibility between these Passive Skills, then it's not worth to level up this aspect."

Xu Xiaoshou looked away and decided to head to the roulette located in the store.

'Lottery or Awakening!'

Xu Xiaoshou had made his decision and agreed that it was time for him to have a few new Passive Skills in his inventory.

'Every time I try, it is around 10,000 points. It would be a waste of effort.'

'Not to mention Berserk Giant and Exploding Posture have not been fully refined yet. I have barely scratched the surface of their potential…'

He opted to not awaken it.

Rather than having the skill, he chose to spend more time researching the Exploding Posture.

There were areas of improvement in the one gas bead attack, and there was much to work on for the Exploding Posture.

Let's do 10 draws in a row first. That would be 50,000 Passive Points!'

Xu Xiaoshou hovered his hand and was given 10 keys in exchange.

He returned to Yuan Mansion as he tried to patrol for a suitable location that was safe for use.

'Water?'

Gazing at the active spirit fishes, Xu Xiaoshou flew out and laid down in the spirit pond. He took a few deep breaths after he had laid down.

'This place should be a good spot!'

He laughed as a wave of comfort washed over his heart. He felt like he was the embodiment of the European Emperor Possessed.

If he drew his lottery slots in a new place and a new state, would he need a new way of speech as well?

For example, he decided to remain silent in the process.

Click.

Xu Xiaoshou watched Greedy the Cat Spirit reach out to touch the fish from above them. He wore a smile on his face as he slotted the key in his hands into the roulette.

Once the first key was in, he had to continue with the second key.

At that very moment, his world went pitch black. The scene of Greedy the Cat Spirit playing with the fish and the Chaos fog all disappeared.

Xu Xiaoshou almost jumped out of his skin.

Once he had gained his senses back, he leaped into the void as if he had been shot with an energy boost.

"What!"

With a thundering yell, Xu Xiaoshou had been teleported into a fantasy realm.

The earth was renewed, and an endless blue sky and a sparkling ocean stretched out before him.

Creatures of all forms, big and small, legendary and ordinary, were walking together and alongside each other.

As he slowly digested the scenery before him, he realized he had been teleported to an entirely new world.

The world had gigantic creatures from ancient times as well as new tender seedlings that were freshly sprouting from the ground.

Some aggressive battle-ready clans and tribes were engaged in a vicious battle with the enemy clans that resided beside communities that wished to live a quiet and peaceful existence.

A strange sense of balance struck Xu Xiaoshou as he was overlooking this world with an omnipresent bird's eye view.

'What is this fantasy realm trying to tell me?'

"Take the middle path? Live with the coexistence of Ying and Yang?"

Another fantasy realm appeared before him. It was full of in-depth learnings and understandings of the world. To an extent, one could describe them as representing the true meaning of the Expertise Passive Skill.

With the Sword Technique Expertise, the Sword Will was continuous. It was constantly rebirthed, and it was indestructible.

With the Cooking Expert, heaven and earth were the pots and stoves. every being was consumable. The world had turned into a kitchen.

He wondered if the fantasy realm that was presented to him now was triggered by the Expertise Passive Skills.

'What do they mean?'

Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head. He was not ready to think deeply about the subject yet.

In the next second, all the beings that were living or had passed combined. The realm shone brightly with the spiritual glow of the Great Path.

Every leaf, stone, and being that was alive had glowing lines across their bodies.

It resembled the veins of a leaf and the lines of time left on the surface of a rock. They were the arteries and veins of life.

He was confuddled by the images he saw.

Xu Xiaoshou frowned.

'Path?'

Suddenly, a word conjured itself in his mind.

After a moment of gathering his bearings again, Xu Xiaoshou surveyed the landscape around him. His eyes renewed with excitement but slight uncertainty.

'Are these spiritual veins?'

Chapter 372: Weaving Expertise???

The lines of veins that were cleanly engraved on the bodies of all creatures were the very spiritual veins that Xu Xiaoshou had been looking for to no avail.

'Is Passive Skill related to the spirit-gathering array?'

Xu Xiaoshou could barely contain his excitement.

He recalled the days when he had almost lost his vision to study the spiritual-gathering array in depth.

Despite all of his efforts and the use of the Qingming Celestial Rock, he could not tattoo any spiritual veins on himself.

The efforts made him realize that to become a Spiritual Cultivator was equal parts hard work and natural talent.

Xu Xiaoshou had been unable to cross the threshold into the profession. However, the situation was different now.

'It looks like hard work does pay off. Have I finally reached the state to learn the craft?'

Xu Xiaoshou opened his eyes as wide as possible.

It occurred to him that to reinterpret the marks on the bodies of creatures as spiritual veins was not a simple thing to achieve.

It looked as if Spiritual Cultivation Expertise ran through every being alive. The spiritual veins could be found on rocks and even individual leaves.

He inhaled deeply and held back his emotions.

Xu Xiaoshou wondered if it would be possible to engrave the veins on a human.

Human bodies were walking diagrams of the blood circulation chart. He wondered if he was supposed to dissect the veins according to it.

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded.

'Unless it's Operation Expertise…'

There was no time for him to delve into his thoughts any longer. After all the creatures completed the metamorphosis process for the spiritual veins, their bodies seemed to have been annotated with a Vitality Diagram.

He stared intensely into the diagram of parallel and intersecting lines and tried to immerse himself in the new world he was in.

Xu Xiaoshou was lost in the scene before him. He was slowly falling into the rabbit hole.

However, once he had fallen in, he realized that the situation was rather amiss.

The Vitality Diagram on the creatures' bodies seemed to be traceable to the existence of all creatures in this world.

He watched the tribe of giants who were aggressively tearing apart their enemies. Their every movement was mapped on their Vitality Diagram as if they were controlled like a marionette puppet.

Xu Xiaoshou studied the diagram and immediately gained all knowledge about the giant's movements.

'Oh my God!'

Xu Xiaoshou was quivering in his shoes.

If an ability like this existed, he was afraid of the power it contained.

He gingerly turned to the large border on the side.

The being was dead. No absolute signs of life could be found.

Its Vitality Diagram remained dormant after one year.

It remained the same even after two to three years.

However, as time dragged on for close to eternity, Xu Xiaoshou was surprised that the rock's Vitality Diagram started to move slowly.

'It's breathing!'

As time progressed, it had been changing, transforming, and even breathing.

Eternity was simply a second for the rock.

His eyes lit up with realization. He seemed to have cracked the mystery of life. He felt that it had taken him a long time, but it was no more than the time of a single breath.

He was still within the world of the fantasy realm.

The blue skies and oceans of the new world remained eternal.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up again as he lifted his eyebrow and refocused his line of sight away from the small beings of life to the void above him.

The physical landscape of the world around him was changing as well.

Under his watchful gaze, the Vitality Diagram of the world hidden within space and time had slowly revealed itself to him.

'Path?'

The word appeared in his mind rather suddenly, but he was not confused this time.

He was taken aback.

Under the net of the law of the Great Path, creatures were categorized based on natural selection and the survival of the fittest.

After Xu Xiaoshou experienced his epiphany, the world began to shake around him like it was on the edge of shattering into pieces.

He was not convinced by this.

If the world around him had simply been a fantasy realm, he would have been convinced by the scene.

In fact, the fantasy realm presented to him was all built based on the foundations of the real world around him.

He had verified this point when he experienced the Sword Technique Expertise for the first time.

Even the Seven Swords of the Moving Heavens, which was the highest level of the White Cloud Sword Technique, was a technique that existed on the Shengshen Continent.

If the fantasy realm was real, did that mean the changing rules of the world were the truth as well?

Xu Xiaoshou recalled the words of Elder Sang in Qiu Long Words.

Regardless, he refused to believe in that.

He did not believe the old man when he said that all life was virtual.

He also did not believe in the cruel truth that the old man had told him.

As the void tore itself into bits, Xu Xiaoshou kept his eyes open to observe the last pieces of the world before it vanished.

The sky and earth had ceased to exist. The net of the Great Path's law was slowly deteriorating in color.

The darkness had swallowed all forms of light.

Xu Xiaoshou felt slightly dizzy. He was aware that the strong inflow of information from the Expertise Passive Skill was about to start.

However, in his attempt to understanding the world around him, he gritted his teeth and held on to his search for a sign of life amidst the world of destruction before him.

'That is…'

He suddenly caught of glimpse of something that made his eyes enlarge, but the darkness had engulfed his vision before he could focus. Xu Xiaoshou slowly closed his eyes.

'Ho!'

When he had opened his eyes again, he had returned to the familiar surroundings of Yuan Mansion.

The transformation was life-changing and an indication of absolute power.

In comparison to the two other worlds he had previously experienced, the world he had seen this time encompassed all of the lives of creatures and turned it into a glimpse into the truth of a new world.

If he was honest, this was the most spectacular experience yet.

However, a wave of vulnerability trembled from the depths of Xu Xiaoshou's soul.

A pang of despair hit him. His personal determination had led him to witness the last scene clearly.

Concealed within the darkness, in a space that he could not name, a gigantic pair of hands were glowing softly with spiritual light.

The hands were weaving the Great Path.

He could believe that the world's Vitality Diagram and the net of the Great Path's laws were born from the hands of someone.

'What is that?'

Xu Xiaoshou did not understand his panic. If it was himself from the past who had witnessed this, he doubted he would be half as anxious as he was.

Perhaps it was his changing knowledge about the world that made Xu Xiaoshou rather anxious about the unfolding scene.

Some things came in pairs within the unseen world. As unrelated as they may have seemed, after more observation, they had a great amount of synergy that complemented each other.

'Horrifying!'

Xu Xiaoshou tried to recover from his emotions and convinced himself to take the situation more lightly.

'This is a fantasy realm," he thought. 'You will lose if you take it too seriously!"

The notification banner pinged. Xu Xiaoshou turned around to come face to face with a string of words.

Expertise Passive Skill acquired: Weaving Expertise

Xu Xiaoshou stared at the words and rubbed his eyes before staring at the words again.

Expertise Passive Skill acquired: Weaving Expertise

He thought that his vision had gone blurry. He looked at the words again, but there was no change.

The words remained what they were, reinforcing what they represented.

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled.

'Weaving Expertise?'

His eyes were opened so widely that his eyeballs could have rolled out.

'What kind of skill is Weaving Expertise!'

'I saw the changes in the world! After all that, you tell me this skill is called Weaving Expertise.'

'Shouldn't this be Spirit-gathering Array Expert, the kind that lets me draw veins on others and pull the explosive trigger on my enemies?'

He felt that he had been lied to by the system. Xu Xiaoshou's face went sour.

The system had been continuously glitchy and inconsistent, but this round was truly outrageous in Xu Xiaoshou's book.

"Weaving…"

He muttered, but he tried to rationalize the situation. No matter what happened, he had at least seen a truth of the world.

The hand was without a doubt weaving the Great Path.

'Don't tell me I was overthinking?'

Xu Xiaoshou collapsed on the ground weakly. 'Is this thing really a weaving type?'

Report chapter

Chapter 373: I, Xu Xiaoshou, Can Still Make Things Work

'I got played!'

Xu Xiaoshou rested for a while. He still did not believe that the Expertise Passive Skill he had obtained this time was the Weaving Expertise.'

He looked at Cooking Expertise and suddenly felt that this Passive Skill was actually perfectly normal.

'Weaving… Ah… Ah!'

Xu Xiaoshou almost went insane. He had wanted Spirit-gathering Array Expert, not this broken thing.

'That's not right!'

'Calm down!'

'Now that I think of it, when Cooking Expertise first came out, I seemed to be also like this, right?'

Xu Xiaoshou ran around the perimeter of Yuan Mansion for a few rounds before coming to a stop.

'In this world, there do not exist any weird and useless skills. There are only those that the inventors did not… Never mind!'

'If I think seriously for a moment, this thing and the spirit-gathering array… Ugh… Spiritual veins could actually be related!'

'Weaving is just using strings, right? There should be some relation between strings and spiritual veins!'

Xu Xiaoshou nodded with a lack of confidence. 'Uh, that must be it!'

Without thinking anything further, he immediately raised the level of this Weaving Expertise to Innate Stage.

A large amount of knowledge instantly entered his mind. Xu Xiaoshou's face darkened.

'Was it really just weaving?'

In that great amount of knowledge, there were detailed explanations of different types of stitches, needles, and plaits…

Including how to use strings, their thickness, and arrangement, as well as tips that affected the whole…

Including colors, collocation, composition…

Aesthetics, perception, artwork appreciation…

Lastly, there was a part on…

'Rhythmic gymnastics?'

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

He looked at the part about gymnastics and was left speechless.

'Is this asking me to move and stretch more to prevent me from being overly addicted to weaving and having diseases of the vertebrae?'

With a plop, Xu Xiaoshou could not control his movements and fell onto the ground.

He looked at the vast sky and deeply exhaled a breath of air.

Puff…

He felt a little helpless, with which he struggled.

With mixed feelings and a heavy heart, Xu Xiaoshou squatted.

'There is still some use for Innate Stage Weaving Expertise. At least, it taught me in detail about the Weaving Technique.'

'If that is the case, when I use this method on a spirit-gathering array, can I also easily control spirit veins?'

Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head as he trembled. He took out a piece of Qingming Celestial Rock from his ring.

It was a foundational rock for array wheels.

By carving spirit veins on the rock to gather spiritual energy, the spirit-gathering array was formed.

He took out a carving knife, had a second thought, and put it back.

Innate Stage Weaving Expertise was honestly very useful and practical.

It taught Xu Xiaoshou how to gather his spiritual source to form a needle, which could be used on anything to practice the Weaving Technique.

Xu Xiaoshou pinched his fingers as a delicate spirit needle started to form.

Different from its calm appearance, this spirit needle had a spirit core within it vibrating at high speeds. It allowed this needle to carry huge destructive capabilities.

The moment he pinched the spirit needle, Xu Xiaoshou's hand stopped trembling immediately.

As if he had undergone strict and intensive training, the young man raised his pinky finger. His face looked strange. He was just about to start weaving when he subconsciously glanced at Aje.

The expression on his face seemed as if he had been forced to do something but was seen by a familiar person.

It was quite embarrassing.

"Ma Ma…"

Aje called out softly as his line of sight shifted to land on Xu Xiaoshou's lifted pinky finger.

"Uh."

Xu Xiaoshou tried to retract his finger, but it bounced back by itself.

"Never mind."

He slightly relaxed as he gave the rock a little poke.

Crack!

The Qingming Celestial Rock exploded.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

'As expected…'

The small explosion did not make Xu Xiaoshou disappointed. On the contrary, his eyes showed signs of deep thought.

'It's very strong!'

'Even the Qingming Celestial Rock could be instantly broken, and it looked like it was filled… Uh… It exploded like a filled balloon…'

'What if this was used on a person?'

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hands. Tens of thousands of spirit needles appeared in the sky.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

With a casual movement, the spirit needles made frantic noises.

Xu Xiaoshou was excited.

'Who could defend against this?'

'As long as that person did not guard against this, wouldn't I be able to poke him to death?'

The attack power was not the main point. The main purpose of a spirit needle was not to be used with Qingming Celestial Rocks.

Xu Xiaoshou pondered this for a while. He immediately gave up on the physical form of carving spirit-gathering arrays.

Since the road he had taken had already gone astray, he decided to run wildly on this road ahead.

Perhaps it would be a totally new style.

He kept the tens of thousands of needles and left just a dozen. This was the limit that the Innate Stage of Weaving Expertise could control.

'Move!'

Using his spirit senses to control it, Xu Xiaoshou viewed the sky and earth as the array wheel, used the spirit-gathering array as a carving knife, and started carving in the air.

Even though Weaving Expertise did not bring the way of spirit-gathering array carving, in the past few days, Xu Xiaoshou had already studied and memorized the stuff that Li Seven had left behind.

The key to spirit-gathering arrays was in the spirit veins.

When drawing spirit veins, their thickness and depth, including the layout, all had a direct relationship with the actual formation of the array.

Regarding that point…

Weaving Expertise had it.

As the spirit needles danced in the air, Xu Xiaoshou used his spiritual source and condensed them into spirit threads.

At this point, these spirit threads had replaced spirit veins.

The thickness of the thread, its outline, the interactions between threads, and their attraction and repulsion, were all within Xu Xiaoshou's mind.

This was only the most basic study of the Weaving Technique in Weaving Expertise.

As he swayed according to his mood, Xu Xiaoshou slowly realized that his thoughts and ideas might become reality.

Using the air as his array wheel, Xu Xiaoshou threaded his spirit needles and weaved a beautiful pattern.

The pattern started to develop and become more structured. If there was a Spirit Array Caster present, that person would shockingly realize that…

This pattern was actually a basic spirit-gathering array.

Beads of sweat rolled down Xu Xiaoshou's forehead. He completed his last weave without even shifting his gaze.

Hum…

The spirit-gathering array in the air did not explode or become damaged like the Qingming Celestial Rock when it was being carved. After a hum, it started to shake and vibrate.

'Is it working?'

Xu Xiaoshou was in a daze. He had never thought that a random passing thought would work.

He replaced the peaceful and prosperous family pattern within the Weaving Expertise into the spirit-gathering array and successfully weaved it.

At this point, he was over the moon.

Xu Xiaoshou examined the sight in front of him. After the array was formed, it finally overcame the period of instability and shone brightly with brilliance.

Foosh… Foosh… Foosh…

Since Yuan Mansion was a small, tight place, he was able to feel the power and intensity of this spirit array even more.

As the rich and surging aura of vitality gathered, it was as if a storm had met a black hole and was pulled straight toward it.

Xu Xiaoshou's clothes were almost ripped off his body.

This young man, who had found hope in despair, was tearing up profusely at this point.

'Hard work will always be rewarded!'

For the third time, he sat on the ground with a plop. It was caused by the fact that his spiritual source had been used up.

More so, it was from the fact that…

'If I had already found the entrance to spirit arrays, I wouldn't have to worry about not being able to become a spirit array master anymore, right?'

'Weaving Technique…'

'So what if it was weaving technique? I can still make things work!'

The edge of Xu Xiaoshou's mouth twitched.

"Ah-ha!"

He could not hold it in any longer.

"Oh-ho!"

He sprawled on the ground with his hands on his stomach, as he let out a crazy bout of laughter.

"He-he, ha-ha, ha-he, ha-ha…"

Chapter 374: I, Xu Xiaoshou, Want To Do Something Big

"Ma Ma?"

Aje seemed to be scared by Xu Xiaoshou's craziness and looked at him with its head tilted as he rolled and slapped the ground.

After being crazy for a while, Xu Xiaoshou used his hand to pull down from his forehead.

"Calm."

He calmed all his emotions.

Looking at Aje's silly face, Xu Xiaoshou straightened his robes and said, "Never mind. You can continue to be in a daze!"

He had finally settled the Way of Spirit Array. Xu Xiaoshou felt the huge rock in his heart soften. He felt great.

'The next step is to level up this Weaving Expertise so I can create spirit arrays with a simple movement.'

'If that's the case, I can use Big Fire Ball and nest it within the array. When I encounter enemies, I can throw it at their faces.'

As he thought that, Xu Xiaoshou started drooling uncontrollably.

He had long wanted to be able to command this type of fighting style like a wealthy man throwing money at his enemies.

Previously, Lei Shuangxing's uncountable treasures, as well as Fu Xing's defense spiritual weapon, had left him speechless.

Now, he finally had a chance to become the type of person that he hated and found the most annoying.

"Woo-hoo!"

He called out with a trembling hand over his mouth. Xu Xiaoshou finally calmed down.

He looked at Yuan Mansion again.

He had exchanged 10 keys to get 10 consecutive draws. The first key had already gotten him Weaving Expertise.

Would the remaining keys give him something extra?

Did he lose out by exchanging so many keys?

That was not possible.

Perhaps with the nine keys, he could draw nine more skills.

'Could it be possible that today is my lucky day?'

Xu Xiaoshou was very happy. He used up the remaining keys at once and looked at the notification board.

'Nine? Nine thank yous?'

He took a step back.

'Did I not even get a notification for one key?'

Feeling a big pouty, Xu Xiaoshou sucked in some air and was speechless.

Even though he knew this time he had already gotten more than its worth, the nine keys were still quite disappointing.

Passive Points: 26,944

It required 50,000 for the lucky draw and 10,000 to level up. Now, he was left with this little amount of Passive Points.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at High Spirits.

He had not paid much attention to this skill for a long time.

For this skill to not have been his focus of leveling up meant that it had been functioning well for him.

This time's drawing of spiritual arrays using Weaving Expertise had completely used up his spiritual source.

This exposed two problems.

His cultivation level was not high enough, and its growth was not keeping up well.

'Should I level up?'

'No!'

Without much hesitation, Xu Xiaoshou put all of his skill points on Weaving Expertise.

He did not have to consider it at all.

As long as he could create array wheels, he could prepare lots of spiritual arrays beforehand.

As for High Spirits, he decided to temporarily use elixirs to get him through for now.

Under certain current circumstances, spiritual arrays were more important.

Weaving Expertise (Innate Level 1)

Weaving Expertise (Innate Level 6)

Following this change, a large amount of knowledge entered Xu Xiaoshou's mind.

This time, not only did the simple Weaving Technique appear, but there was also more information on how to cultivate inner peace and resolve.

'Multitask control, multiple needles weaving, controlling spirit finger, puppeteering…'

The more he looked, the more shocked he was.

Weaving Expertise encompassed many things.

To simply define it as the Way of Spirit Array was honestly degrading it.

Weaving seemed to be unimpressive and not comparable to a spiritual array at all.

But Weaving Expertise contained really strong and powerful attention cultivation.

The newly appeared multitask control, as well as multiple needles weaving skills, helped Xu Xiaoshou learn how to multitask efficiently.

Based on his memories, Xu Xiaoshou used his spiritual senses to summon hundreds of spirit needles in thin air.

"Move!"

With a simple command, the hundreds of spirit needles started to move. They all had their own designated paths. They instantly weaved a shape that resembled Aje.

"Ma Ma!"

Seeing itself being flashed across in the air, Aje was feeling a little excited and called out agitatedly.

Xu Xiaoshou was even more agitated as he pat Aje on the shoulder.

"Look!"

"My hundreds of weaving needles… Ha-ha, it was still 10 needles a while ago!"

"This method of multitask control not only increased my efficiency by tenfold, but it also means that during battles, I could possibly create spiritual arrays in an instant!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened so much that they almost fell out of his head. He was so excited that his lips trembled.

Aje retracted its line of sight from the sky. Its eyes were red with excitement.

It looked at the hand Xu Xiaoshou had put on its shoulder. It seemed to understand the feeling of excitement and was about to release its own excitement.

Boom!

Even with his Recoil and Toughness, Xu Xiaoshou was slapped and thrown deep into the ground by Aje.

The air was silent.

The young man crawled out from the pit. He coughed a little and took a deep breath of air.

"Naughty."

He brushed the dirt off his butt. Without saying a word, light flashed as he retreated from Yuan Mansion.

'Stupid Aje. I shall confine him in there for a few hours!'

'Did you dare to slap your Ma Ma?'

Xu Xiaoshou was angry as he looked at his shattered shoulder bones, which had started to heal under his Eternal Vitality. He got on his bed to calm himself.

'Weaving Expertise was too strong!'

'It was so strong that using just spiritual arrays to define it is totally not appropriate!'

"If this Passive Skill were to be leveled up to the Master Level, the controlling spirit finger and puppeteering techniques might be able to shine and perform as well!'

Xu Xiaoshou thought about the last scene he saw of that bright hand in the illusion. If he was not wrong, that was the controlling finger's final form.

As for puppeteering…

'That's a little terrifying. Could it really be like what I saw that time?'

In the illusion, Xu Xiaoshou remembered that he had seen the Vitality Diagram of some giant race.

Based on the design of the giant's diagram, he could predict the giant's movement whenever he wanted to.

'If I drew this design, would that mean I could control that giant's actions like I was controlling a puppet?'

"Tsk!"

Xu Xiaoshou took in a breath of cold air. It was too terrifying.

If he took into consideration the previous multiple needles weaving…

'This means that once the battle starts, I just need to instantly perform weaving on the enemy, and the enemy will bound to become my puppet!'

'With the way of weaving being able to control living things, won't every being just be an ant?'

Xu Xiaoshou was deep in shock and could not recover for a long time.

Was he interested?

He was extremely interested.

Xu Xiaoshou felt that he was very eager and hungry for it.

However, the Passive Points that he had now were not sufficient for his Weaving Expertise to attain that level.

'I've got to get to work!'

Coming back to the starting point, Xu Xiaoshou's head started to hurt.

Earning small amounts of Passive Points was easy, but to earn a large number of Passive Points within a short amount of time was definitely not an easy task at all.

Other than harming oneself like when he was at Black Cliff, he could only cause trouble in a large crowd of people to get their attention and judgment.

'Is there another black cliff?'

The answer to this question was bound to be negative.

Xu Xiaoshou thought about it as he took out a golden invitation, which was the City Lord Mansion's banquet invitation letter.

As he looked at the invitation letter, the young man made sly laughing noises.

'I can't… I can't remain low profile anymore!'

'I want to do something big!'

'I want to earn money!'

Report chapter

Chapter 375: I Said, There Must Be Wind

Sizzle~

Bang!

The sky was getting dark, but the explosions did not cease at the Small Manor. It was as if Doctor Strange was conducting laboratory experiments.

In the room…

Xu Xiaoshou put down the Qingming Celestial Rock shard in frustration.

"It still doesn't work!"

The difficulty level of making the Blank Array Wheel was beyond Xu Xiaoshou's expectations.

It was an unfathomable feat for an Innate Stage Spirit Array Caster.

In the Way of Spirit Array, this kind of self-made freestyle array wheel could not benefit from any spiritual technique. It was simply too difficult to master.

There was no way to get started without at least a Master Stage cultivation level.

Xu Xiaoshou was currently only at level six of the Innate Stage for his Weaving Expertise skill. Yet, for most of the spiritual arrays, it was already possible to manipulate them.

Given time, he could work out the mechanics of the Master Stage spiritual array because of the precise and extensive knowledge he had in his mind.

When it came to the Blank Array Wheel…

It was impossible.

'Can I comprehend it only when I get to the Master Stage?'

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the Qingming Celestial Rock shard on the table.

He created his own Weaving Technique out of thin air, but the spiritual array depended on a physical object.

Of course, there were some things in common between the two.

If he were honest, there was a big difference between skills conjured out of thin air and those that required the handling of a physical object.

At least for now, Xu Xiaoshou could not carve a spiritual array out of thin air on an entity.

Even if he tried hundreds of times and wanted to break through this shackle, he still faintly felt that something was missing.

'Is this the threshold?'

Perhaps this was the breaking point between Innate Stage and Master Stage.

For others, maybe this setback would last a lifetime.

For Xu Xiaoshou, the obstacle preventing him from obtaining that skill was a matter of 25,000 Passive Points.

Unfortunately, he was currently penniless.

"Damn…"

With a feeble moan, Xu Xiaoshou stopped struggling.

If this went on, it would be in vain and a waste of time.

The most urgent matter on hand was to earn more Passive Points.

He pushed open the door and stepped out of the courtyard. Unknowingly, night had fallen.

Xu Xiaoshou inhaled a breath of fresh air and made little effort to tidy himself up. He held his hands to his mouth, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Enemy attack!"

His distressed scream sounded for less than a second before two figures raced toward him from the sky.

Mu Zixi landed on the roof tiles, her double ponytails curling with her movement. She released a violent wood attribute breath.

Xin Gugu behaved more like a startled bird. He had already imagined that Zhang Mansion would not let the two of them off so easily.

It was possible that they tailed them secretly and were undiscovered.

This scream of an enemy attack instantly verified the idea in his mind.

"It's good that you have come!"

A golden light was the first cast, followed by a cloud of blood mist that flew past, binding the Golden Staff in the void.

As soon as the bounded domain opened, it wrapped around the entire manor.

"Since you dared to come over, there is no escape now!"

The two had rushed over frantically. When they looked at Xu Xiaoshou in the courtyard, he seemed to be stretching.

Mu Zixi was speechless.

Cursed, Passive Point 1.

Xin Gugu was confused.

Suspected, Passive Point 1.

Xu Xiaoshou bowed his body slightly.

"Are you coming?"

He took out the invitation in his hand and waved it. "Come, I'll take you to a good place where we can eat and drink!"

Xin Gugu felt deflated after his impressive entrance. "Xu Xiaoshou, where is the enemy?"

"He escaped."

Xu Xiaoshou acted nonchalantly.

He could not be bothered to call for them one by one, nor did he want to elaborate further. He just said softly, "I only have to raise a finger, and Zhang Taiying would run with his tail between his legs!"

Xin Gugu was shocked.

'As if I would believe that!'

Suspected, Passive Points, 1.

"So, is there no enemy?"

"Hehe." Xu Xiaoshou patted him on the shoulder without saying much. He looked back at his junior sister.

"There is a banquet dinner. Do you want to go? I got the invitation from the handsome guy who wanted to charm you that day."

"If you go, maybe you can change from a country chicken into…"

"Ah!" Mu Zixi immediately kicked him forcefully and looked at him with daggers in her eyes.

"What country chicken?"

"You are the country chicken!"

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

"Hehe, I am the country chicken… I am the country chicken…"

Xu Xiaoshou cowered slightly and said, "Alright. You are a phoenix, okay?"

The little girl raised her head haughtily with a smug look in her eyes. "I don't need you to tell me that. I really am a phoenix!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at her serious expression and reached out his hand to pinch her face.

"Tsk tsk… Really… I only gave you some color, and now you can open a dyehouse! You don't need any encouragement at all, do you?"

"Would you like me to light up a candle for you so you can put on a shadow puppet show? Perhaps this peacock will then spread its plumage."

Mu Zixi was dumbfounded.

She did not know what the hell Xu Xiaoshou was talking about.

Intuitively, she sensed that this guy had to be mocking her.

'How hateful!'

"What do you mean?" Mu Zixi's eyes blazed contemptuously.

"Nothing!" Xu Xiaoshou spread his hands. "If the country chicken doesn't cover itself and lights a candle to see its shadow, who would think it is a phoenix?"

"Did you really think that you could grow bigger by looking in the mirror?"

Big?

Mu Zixi heard this word without catching anything else.

As soon as she lowered her head, she saw her little feet. Suddenly, the vein on her forehead throbbed menacingly.

"Xu, Xiao, Shou!"

She rushed toward him.

In the courtyard, a flurry of green plants instantly flew up to the sky. Xu Xiaoshou hurriedly flew up to the void, evading one after another.

"Don't mess around!"

"If we want to do gardening, there is no need to be so violent…"

Xu Xiaoshou was saying no on his mouth, but he had a cheeky look on his face.

As he flew, he pointed out various spots. His mouth ran on without stopping.

"Right, plant some big trees on the rocks here!"

"You can also plant some by the pool. I will fly around, and you will encircle him…"

"Xin Gugu?"

"Get out of the way! We can form a spirit-gathering array here, so don't obstruct us!"

"Junior Sister, plant the trees first. Later, I will cast the spell personally!"

Mu Zixi looked at Xu Xiaoshou, who was jumping up and down. She realized that she could not keep up with his speed.

Every tree she generated sprouted behind his behind, but it could not reach him. No, they could not even rub against him.

Did he get stronger again?

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

Xin Gugu watched the two of them fooling around in the courtyard. In a flash, his surroundings were shrouded in green.

He felt somewhat redundant standing there.

"Never mind."

When he turned around, he released the bounded domain.

"I was so worried about your life that I could not sleep at night. But here you are playing around in front of me."

Xin Gugu felt like his efforts were for nothing. He sighed heavily and turned away bitterly.

"Don't go!"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the person who was about to leave and suddenly became anxious. "You haven't watched me cast a spell yet!"

He pointed his finger in the direction of Mu Zixi.

"Set!"

Dozens of spirit needles flew out in an instant like a meteor passing through the sky at night. They directly wrapped around Mu Zixi under her surprised gaze.

"Restraining Array?"

He had trapped Mu Zixi with these spirit needles. Her expression changed as she felt the strange imprisonment power.

'Spiritual array?'

'When did Xu Xiaoshou learn about spiritual arrays?'

She raised her little head. Her eyes were filled with disbelief.

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

Xin Gugu paused in his step. He also noticed Xu Xiaoshou's new abilities.

"These are… Are they spirit needles? What are they?"

Seeing that Mu Zixi could not move after Xu Xiaoshou's command, Xin Gugu was shocked.

However, no one could understand the power of this Weaving Technique without being trapped in the spirit thread.

Xu Xiaoshou ignored him and smiled lightly to himself in the air.

"Watch closely! I am going to cast a spell!"

Under the starry sky, Xu Xiaoshou raised his eyes. Behind him, tens of thousands of Swords of the Space appeared out of thin air.

These swords were naturally useless for drawing arrays, but…

What a spectacular sight.

Under the shocked gaze of the two, Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand again.

Instantly, hundreds of spirit needles soared through the light, leaping toward the courtyard like excited elves. They formed a crystal-clear outline of a Vitality Diagram under the starry night.

Xu Xiaoshou closed his hand and secretly swallowed a magic pill. He twitched his mouth and stood with his hands behind him.

The full moon behind him reflected his silhouette mysteriously. The 10,000 swords also made him appear majestic and impressive.

"I said that there must be wind!"

Xu Xiaoshou flung the sleeves of his robe. The Courtyard Map suddenly illuminated amid the extraordinary sight.

If the gods summoned and Buddha called, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth would gather madly under these words. The sudden strong gust that enveloped Xu Xiaoshou sent his clothes flapping with a loud rustle.

At this moment, not only Mu Zixi looked a little dumbstruck, but even Xin Gugu was also rendered speechless.

Revered, Passive Points 2.

Chapter 376: My Little Brother at the Entrance of the City Lord Mansion

The round moon in the sky was dazzlingly bright.

The clouds around hid behind the moon shyly.

Compared to the events in the past two days, Tiansang City was a bit too quiet.

In a city that never slept, there would be no curfew on weekdays unless something serious happened that could affect the safety of the entire city.

Tonight, that was the case.

When everyone attended the banquet at the City Lord Mansion, the streets of Tiansang City were clear.

Tonight, almost all the influential forces in the city would gather in the City Lord Mansion. If there were an accident outside, it would be a big deal.

That was because the City Guarding Array would be turned on tonight.

The blue light curtain rose from and enveloped the entire city. When the void was closed, all those who raised their eyes and looked at the sky were impressed.

"The City Guarding Array was launched. The City Lord Mansion banquet dinner…"

"Is it about to start?"

"We have arrived!"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned when he walked to his destination following the map on the invitation. He used his spiritual senses to view it.

Behind him, Mu Zixi also adopted a similar dazed expression. She stared straight ahead with her huge eyes and unconsciously swallowed her saliva.

"Is this… Is this the City Lord Mansion?"

The sight before her was a magnificent palace that glittered blindingly.

The brilliant golden external wall went on for miles. Even if Xu Xiaoshou stood a few feet away, he could not see the ends of either side.

"How big is this place?"

Not to mention the wall, just the gate at the doorway was several feet high.

There were two rows of door sentinels standing beside the gate. He counted 36 people in total.

The door sentinels were clad in silver armor. They had solemn expressions on their faces and were armed with spears and swords. It was a sight to behold.

"Why is it called the City Lord Mansion? It might as well change its name to The Forbidden City instead!"

Xu Xiaoshou stopped in his steps. He gazed at the imperial palace in front of him and only felt that the Small Manor he recently bought dulled in comparison.

It was crushed by such competition.

"No wonder…"

Xu Xiaoshou murmured to himself. No wonder Fu Xing had such a weird expression when he asked Fu Xing how big his house was and whether it could accommodate hundreds of people.

A few hundred people would only occupy the area of a toilet for a house of this size.

"Let's go."

Xu Xiaoshou calmly spoke, pulling Mu Zixi to move forward.

'I cannot reveal to others that I am country bumpkin!'

'I have seen the world!'

'Perhaps not before, but now I have!'

He suddenly dragged Mu Zixi from her shock. She looked startled. She lowered her head to try to pull her hands out of his grip.

After a while, she blushed suddenly and stopped her actions.

'He, he held my hand?'

Her heart thumped…

And thumped…

At that moment…

Watched, Passive Points 1.

The sudden popup notification cast Xu Xiaoshou in shock, and he stopped in his thoughts.

He paused, and his hand moved in a forceful reflex.

"Ah!"

Mu Zixi immediately let out a strange cry. Her face turned green.

"Xu Xiaoshou! What are you doing?"

Xu Xiaoshou hurriedly released the hand of his junior sister and forced himself to calm down.

Was someone staring at him again?

Who was it?

He thought of the arrest warrant issued by Zhang Taiying…

'No way. Can that guy be staring at me at this time?'

'Should he not take care of himself instead?'

'Xin Gugu should be sauntering in front of his house at this time!'

Without thinking further, Xu Xiaoshou turned his head and pulled his junior sister's hand with a sigh of relief.

His gaze wandered, carefully searching the surroundings with Perception. However, he discovered nothing except a few wealthy people who wanted to enter the City Lord Mansion.

'Who could it be?'

"Xu Xiaoshou!" Mu Zixi glared at her senior brother, who was blowing wildly on her now-bloodied hands.

"Cough, don't be afraid. I'm here!" Xu Xiaoshou looked a little flustered.

Mu Zixi was furious. Did he ask her not to be afraid?

What she feared most now was his sudden tenderness.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

"Go, keep going!"

After a while, they had already gone around 13 times. Xu Xiaoshou realized that if he stayed in place, someone might see him. He immediately let out a vitality breath, pulling the little girl with him and leaving.

"Uh~"

There was a groan.

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

"Stop right there!"

The silver-armored door sentinel shot his spear and stopped Xu Xiaoshou in his tracks. His hands stretched out as he barked, "Invitation card!"

"Here."

Xu Xiaoshou handed over the gold gilded invitation card that he had prepared. At this crucial moment, there should be no trouble.

The door sentinel examined it before closing it.

"You may enter."

Xu Xiaoshou pointed at the girl behind him. "We are together. Can she enter?"

"Yes." The door sentinel nodded. "Your invitation entitles you to bring three guests."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded and took a step toward the door.

Right before he stepped in, the notification popped out again.

Watched, Passive Point 1.

Xu Xiaoshou felt his heart hammering in his chest, and he halted in his step again.

Behind him, Mu Zixi could not stop in time and hit her head against him.

"Ouch."

Fortunately, her previous experiences had finally taught her a lesson to always keep her spiritual source protection on. So, she was not affected and sent flying back from the force.

The little girl covered her forehead and shot him a resentful look.

'He stopped again!'

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou turned around. His sixth sense compelled him to look behind. He was not disappointed and saw a figure rushing out of the woods.

It was a scruffy-looking lad with stains and smears on his face. He looked to be about 15 or 16 years old.

He had a long braid. The hair on his scalp was as oily as rapeseed. It was unbearable to look at him.

As soon as he saw Xu Xiaoshou, the boy yelled and rushed over.

"Big Brother!"

"I finally waited for you! Why have you only come now? They pushed me earlier!"

The young man's voice had a nasal tone as if he was about to cry. His eyes were whirling with tears.

Coupled with the muddy body above, he was like a weak teenager bullied by the door sentinel.

The door sentinel knew him too. When he watched the lad jump, a spear blocked his chest.

"Stop!"

"I have already told you, no invitation, no entry!"

When Xu Xiaoshou heard that, he quickly understood what had happened.

That lad wanted to enter the City Lord Mansion, but he did not have an invitation. He could only wait for a kindhearted person to bring him in.

It seemed that the Watched just now came from that guy.

However, he had been scanning for so long. Why had he not spotted that person?

Was it all so simple?

Xu Xiaoshou felt his heart stop. He wanted to turn around cautiously, but when he looked at the aggrieved eyes of the young man, he suddenly stopped.

'Do I look like a fool?'

'I must look like a nice person. Does he think that I will I bring him in for no reason?'

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated for a while as if recalling his memories before he spoke.

"Little Brother?"

When the young man heard his words, his tear-filled eyes glittered with hope. "Big Brother, it is me. Do you still remember me?"

"I can't recall who you are."

The boy choked before he could say anything.

Cursed, Passive Point 1.

He burst into tears, squeezing his fists. He shook his head and struggled with his words. "This is impossible. How can you forget me? We were…"

"What were we…"

The boy saw that Xu Xiaoshou did not catch on and widened his eyes incredulously. "Have you really forgotten me? Can't you even remember my name?"

Xu Xiaoshou lowered his head and hesitated for a while. Suddenly, his face lit up in recognition. "Oh, is it you?"

The boy's eyes glittered in excitement.

"Big Brother, you have recalled! My name is…"

"Your name is…" Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head with eyes squinting as if he were trying to recall.

"Well, my name is…" There was encouragement in the boy's eyes. He seemed to expect his big brother to recognize him.

Xu Xiaoshou thought for some time. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he pointed at the other party.

"I remember! It's you… Xu Xiaoji, right?"

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

Chapter 377: You Are Not Human

"Ha-ha!"

Mu Zixi could not hold back her amusement and burst out laughing.

As she guffawed, the 36 door sentinels tried very hard to hold back their smiles, even though they were supposed to be serious because of their positions.

"Pfft!"

No one could tell who let out the burst of air trying to stifle his amusement.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced back only to see solemn faces. He had no idea who let out that sound.

The young man opposite him turned green in his face. He had not expected that after the long silence, Xu Xiaoshou would coin such a name.

But…

"Big Brother, you recognized me! I knew you wouldn't forget me!" The boy sobbed and attempted to push away the spear, but he flew out immediately with a thump.

Xu Xiaoshou was aghast.

How could he accept a name like Xu Xiaoji?

To enter the City Lord Mansion, it seemed that he would tolerate anything.

What was he after?

"Is it you?" Xu Xiaoshou exhibited a surprised look on his face.

The young lad, Xu Xiaoji, fell to the ground and struggled to crawl halfway. He lost his footing when he heard those words and fell directly to the ground.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

He touched the mud on his mouth. The tears in his eyes made their way out.

"It's me, Jiji! Big Brother, you finally remembered!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt goosebumps rising.

He was amazed by this lad.

He carefully examined the young lad's condition and discovered that he indeed had no spiritual source at all.

Was he an ordinary person?

That was impossible.

There had to be something off with him.

Was he also a killer? A killer from Three Incenses?

Xu Xiaoshou was a little uncertain, but if the killer of Sovereign Stage made an appearance in this way…

Xu Xiaoshou felt that it was unnecessary.

He was merely an Innate Stage, so was it even worth the effort?

"Xu Xiaoshou."

Mu Zixi pulled his sleeves and shook her head slightly.

Even she could tell that something was wrong with this guy.

Xu Xiaoshou frowned and thought for a while, but he looked at the door sentinel and said, "He's my little brother. Please let him in."

He was not afraid of the enemies who made themselves known to him, but he was anxious that this guy would disappear and secretly stalk him.

It was the safest if his enemy was within his grasp.

The door sentinel had a question mark on his face.

Suspected, Passive Points 38.

In this episode, even a blind man could see that the two had no relation at all, yet Xu Xiaoshou had acknowledged this little brother.

Even Xu Xiaoji himself was in absolute disbelief.

He had hit so many roadblocks and found no one willing to entertain him. Now, he finally succeeded.

It perplexed him that the key to his success was so inexplicable.

'Is my acting so good? Was he fooled?' Xu Xiaoji did not know what to make of the situation.

The door sentinel breathed lightly and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Mm."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded his head in affirmation. "How can I not recognize my little brother?"

"But he has many big brothers!" The door sentinel attempted to persuade him.

"No."

"From now on, he has only one big brother!"

Xu Xiaoshou smiled and reached out his hand to the lad on the ground.

Under the reflection of the full moon, the young lad Xu Xiaoji seemed to have seen the divine light radiating from behind his Big Brother Xu Xiaoshou at that instant.

"Big Brother!"

He cried loudly and rushed forward to hug Xu Xiaoshou.

"Damn it, wait!"

It was too late!

The moment Xu Xiaoji leeched onto Xu Xiaoshou, blood suddenly burst out of his body with a bang, and he fell to the street.

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

Mu Zixi watched the scene from behind with a trembling heart. Her face was ashen.

She was familiar with this situation.

Xu Xiaoshou heaved a sigh.

"My stupid little brother, you only need to call Big Brother. Why do you need to hug me?"

He stepped forward to pass him a magic pill. Unconsciously, his Perception detected that the boy whose ribcage had cracked from the impact was instantly recovering.

"That…"

That speed of recovery was almost on par with his Eternal Vitality.

What was the origin of that guy?

He hesitated for a moment but stepped forward and handed the magic pill over.

"Big Brother!"

Xu Xiaoji looked at him with misty eyes. He was speechless as he swallowed the magic pill tearfully and suddenly became animated once more.

"Are you a killer?"

Xu Xiaoshou leaned over and cut to the chase.

The boy looked dumbfounded after hearing this question.

Was he so direct?

"Big Brother, I am not… You, you misunderstood…"

"Are you lying to me?"

"No, I am not!"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the Information Bar. He observed that nothing had changed, and he immediately frowned.

He remembered that he had triggered a type of alert before called Deceived.

The trigger for that type of alert was most unusual, and he had no way of reproducing that incident or unearthing a pattern.

Sometimes it would be triggered by other people when they were lying, and sometimes it would not.

Were there any restrictions to it?

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated for a while and then continued to ask, "Are you a killer?"

"No!"

Deceived, Passive Point 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

At this moment, his hair stood up.

He cursed inwardly and wondered what was going on.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the young man, who was less than a few inches away and never felt so close to death.

He adopted a passive expression and tried very hard to conceal the shock in his heart.

This kid was still pretending.

He could not expose himself.

Xu Xiaoshou tried to still his throbbing heart. He attempted his best to remember what the difference between these two questions was.

'There seems to be no difference. How can different answers trigger the same alert?'

Hmm?

Different answers?

Xu Xiaoshou closely scrutinized the young man below him and grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet. He pointed at the big tree beside him.

"Is this a tree?"

"Hmm?"

The lad was stunned.

Was he seriously asking this question?

They were talking about a different topic just now, so how did he switch to this channel suddenly?

Suspected, Passive Point 1.

"Answer me," Xu Xiaoshou demanded.

The boy hesitated. "Yes."

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the Information Bar, but there was no movement.

"You can only answer yes and no."

"Yes!"

The young man did not hesitate. This was his golden ticket into the City Lord Mansion. He only had to keep up with the pace of the person before him.

Even at this pace, he almost broke his waist bending over.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the Information Bar, but there was no sign of movement on it.

Oh, he was right after all…

That was indeed a tree!

"Say 'No.'"

Xu Xiaoji was speechless.

'Big Brother, my dearest Big Brother, what do you want to do?'

Xu Xiaoji almost keeled over.

He seriously considered if he should end this and immediately terminate their newly claimed relations. Perhaps he should worship another big brother.

"Hurry up," Xu Xiaoshou urged him.

The young Xu Xiaoji glanced at the sky feebly.

"No!"

Deceived, Passive Point 1.

Xu Xiaoshou was thrilled, and his eyes shone brightly.

Indeed…

It could only detect a lie when the words "Yes" and "No" were mentioned.

To be precise, did this pair of antonyms "Yes" and "No" need to be present to fulfill the condition that triggered the Deceived alert?

Whether or not it was necessary, Xu Xiaoshou did not know. With that lever, he was confident that he could take advantage of the system.

Xu Xiaoshou suppressed his delight at his discovery and turned his head to look at the glorious palace behind the door sentinels. He was eager to verify his theory and quizzed the lad once more. "Is this the City Lord Mansion?"

"Mmm."

"Yes!"

"Now say 'No.'"

"No!"

Deceived, Passive Point 1.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled contentedly. He was getting close to unraveling the mystery behind the elusive Deceived alert.

He pointed to the sky again.

"Is that the moon?"

"No!" Xu Xiaoji felt insulted.

Deceived, Passive Points 1.

Xu Xiaoshou grinned as the corners of his lips curved. He was chuckling deep in his heart and elated beyond words. He looked around and realized that there was nothing else to point out.

He looked at the boy thoughtfully.

"You are a human!"

Xu Xiaoji looked humiliated and almost burst into tears.

"No!"

The air was quiet for a second.

Xu Xiaoshou was a little taken aback.

What happened to the alert?

Where did Deceived go? Did this broken system fail him again?

Suddenly, his pupils contracted.

That was not right.

"Not a human" did not trigger Deceived. Did this mean that he was telling the truth?

"You, you… Say 'Yes.'"

The lad rolled his eyes in frustration. "What the hell are you trying to do? I can't stand you anymore!"

"Say 'Yes!'"

Xu Xiaoshou hollered.

"Yes!" Xu Xiaoji responded reluctantly.

Deceived, Passive Point 1.

It was at this moment that Xu Xiaoshou felt as though he had ascended to heaven. He was on cloud nine.

He immediately fell to the ground, trying to search for the shadow of the young man on the floor. It was just his luck that dark clouds were covering the moon.

Xu Xiaoshou hugged the lad tightly.

"I was wrong!"

"Big Brother, you are my Big Brother!"

Xu Xiaoji was in disbelief.

He was stunned for a while, and his face burned red with anger.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

What kind of psycho had he encountered?

Was this lunatic even human?

Cursed, Passive Point 1.

Chapter 378: You Are Small, So You Don't Understand

He was damned if that was a person.

Xu Xiaoshou pretended to pounce on the ground. As the clouds passed and the moon unveiled, Xu Xiaoji's shadow was visible on the floor.

'So, is he not a ghost?'

'My God, what kind of creature is this?'

Xu Xiaoshou was scared out of his wits. He had never encountered such a situation before.

It was better to be naïve and ignorant. If one did not know much, one could at least live a happy life.

Like before, Xu Xiaoshou could still tease the young man in front of him openly and honestly.

Now, even if he wanted to show off his mouthiness, he could not muster that up anymore.

'The built-in lie detector in the system… Sure enough, there is no good product from this lousy system.'

'Since it can be detected, it is probably a big secret.'

'People cannot know too much…'

Xu Xiaoshou trembled as he stood up and looked at the young man in front of him whom he had christened Xu Xiaoji. He shuddered as he thought if this guy wanted to hold him at fault.

"Big Brother!"

Xu Xiaoji faced him with streams of tears running down his face. He sobbed woefully and lamented.

"Big Brother, please don't pull my feet any longer. I only want to enter the City Lord Mansion this once. If you don't want to bring me along, then forget it. You don't need to be so insulting!"

"I am a human being, and I also have feelings!"

Xu Xiaoshou thought in his heart, 'I would be a fool to believe you!'

'If you are human, then how can the system be wrong?'

The lad's reasoning and explanation, however, made him a little puzzled.

Based on the results from the system's lie detector, this guy was not only not human but also a killer. Therefore, if he wanted to enter the City Lord Mansion, he should have a target.

But that target did not seem to be him.

Otherwise, this guy would not need to spend so much time beating around the bush with him there.

Xu Xiaoshou rationalized the events and calmed himself down. After all, he had uncovered the secret of this guy, but the other party was still in the dark.

Now, he naturally could not make it known that he knew too much.

Therefore, he pretended not to care and flung his sleeves.

"Little Brother."

"Although I have almost forgotten your looks, you and I get along so well. I also recognize you as my missing… Bah, I meant my long-lost Little Brother who was separated from me for many years."

"Do you want to enter the City Lord Mansion?" Xu Xiaoshou quickly changed his words.

"Yeah!" Xu Xiaoji gritted his teeth and nodded in humiliation.

Upon seeing this, Xu Xiaoshou quickly comforted him by saying, "This way, I can bring you into the City Lord Mansion. After you enter, what do you do or where you go is entirely up to you!"

"But everything will have nothing to do with me."

"How about this?"

Xu Xiaoji was surprised. How could this guy suddenly be so kind?

Wasn't this the best outcome he had desired?

However, would there be anyone so kind to not only play along with him and acknowledge this fraudulent Little Brother but also bring themselves into the City Lord Mansion without asking for anything in return?

That was impossible.

Xu Xiaoji darted his eyes around as he pondered Xu Xiaoshou's motives.

He was not stupid. He could tell that Xu Xiaoshou's words and actions were far too bizarre.

It was as though this guy was about to do something major, and he was afraid of being held back by himself.

No matter how major his plans were, could they be more important than his own?

Xu Xiaoji did not continue thinking about it. After all, this proposal was the closest to a perfect scenario for him.

"Okay!"

He agreed instantly, and Xu Xiaoshou did not continue talking. He hurriedly turned around and tossed his head.

"Keep up."

Mu Zixi looked at these two guys who first dove to the ground before getting up. They then behaved as though they were blood brothers. She was dumbfounded.

Not only her, but the 36 door sentinels were also a little flabbergasted.

Could such a strong bond between people be successfully established in such a short time?

Looking at those two guys who had their arms on each other's shoulders, whoever did not know what was going on would really think that they are blood brothers.

The door sentinel stood with his spear in front of him. He was hesitant to retract it back or direct it out.

Xu Xiaoshou walked toward him with a smile and pushed away his weapon.

"I've confirmed it. He is indeed my little brother."

"If I bring another person, it's not too unreasonable, right?"

The door sentinel swallowed his saliva. Black lines seemingly appeared on his head. He sized up the two of them. A weird expression gradually formed on his face.

"Have you reached a special arrangement?"

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

"Please."

At this point, he could not stop them since they were on the same page.

'It is fine to bring another person with you…' Xu Xiaoshou thought and nodded slightly.

Under Mu Zixi's suspicious stare, he led his little brother and junior sister into the City Lord Mansion.

The banquet room…

It seemed that the banquet room was fashioned from a large competition platform for the event that night. It was very spacious on one side.

The purpose was simple. It had to accommodate many distinguished guests.

At the same time, it was also convenient to assign the White Cave quota after the eligible candidates emerged successfully from the fight.

On the eastern side of this open-air banquet room, there were hundreds of dining tables. Countless night pearls adorned the surrounding walls, which lit up the place so brightly that it was as if it were daytime.

The ambiance was festive with singing and dancing.

Most of the people in attendance were middle-aged men and women of distinguished status. They all had extraordinary strength, and the number of guests was increasing by the minute.

On the western side of the banquet room, there was an enormous competition platform in its original state.

It was different from the dining and partying area on the east. The young talents from the major cities stood on the competition platform in Tiansang Prefecture.

Although the fight had not started yet, the young people on the stage were already quietly sizing up each other.

The brilliant white stars of the barrier reflected the various figures beneath it.

There were people warming up and others who were showing off their skills.

Some people assumed a high-and-mighty demeanor and walked around disdainfully.

Some were fledgling and darted their eyes around anxiously.

Under the guidance of the attendant, Xu Xiaoshou flew over a distance for a quarter of an hour before he finally arrived at the banquet room.

This time, he could no longer recoup his amazement.

"Big!"

"It is too big!"

The City Lord Mansion was so big that it was almost terrifying.

This place did not need any spiritual arrays for protection. If they did not reveal the map, it could function as a Miniature Restraining Array on its own.

With no one to lead the way, any intruders would be lost within the walls very quickly.

"We have arrived."

The attendant bowed and said before he retreated to continue his duties.

"We have arrived."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Xu Xiaoji and said the same to him. His tone hinted that they would no longer have anything to do with each other, and they would part ways.

Xu Xiaoji was speechless.

How could this guy disapprove of him more than himself?

Forget it.

Parting ways was indeed more beneficial.

He thought for a while and turned his unwilling eyes to Xu Xiaoshou. "Big Brother, I shall leave now?"

"Go, your wings are now mature, and you have to learn to conquer the skies." Xu Xiaoshou smiled reassuringly as though he was a benevolent senior.

Xu Xiaoji was speechless once again.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

With a toss of his head, he walked toward the west side of the banquet room. He made his way toward the gathered youths.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the departing figure, the benevolent smile on his face instantly turning into one of relief.

Finally, he got rid of this leech…

"Let's go!"

Without saying anything else, he led Mu Zixi to the banquet on the eastern side.

"Are we going to the banquet?"

Mu Zixi was a little bewildered. This behavior was not in line with the usual antics of her senior brother.

Shouldn't he jump into the crowd to make a scene and then slam those guys who had triggered his annoyance on the ground one by one?

"Xu Xiaoshou, did you go the wrong way?" she asked.

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head and glanced in the direction where Xu Xiaoji had disappeared off. He patted Mu Zixi on the head.

"No. You are small, so you don't understand."

"Some people… Well, I should say some humans and non-humans are beyond the level your brain can comprehend or discern."

He conveniently omitted the fact that if he did not have that lie detector, he also would not be able to figure that out.

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback by the sudden influx of notification popups.

Hmm?

Did he say anything uncalled-for? That reaction was inexplicable…

He held the stormy face of the little girl in his hands and took a closer look at her.

"Do you have a fever?"

"Or is there water in your brain?"

Mu Zixi lowered her head and looked at her toes. She squeezed her pink fists tightly.

Small?

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

Report chapter

Chapter 379: The Famous Xu Xiaoshou

Xu Xiaoshou hid at the corner of the banquet. He watched and judged the many strong men in the crowd as he stuffed himself with food.

'Master, the highest stage of Master, a Sovereign, another Sovereign!'

'These old men are kind of terrifying!'

He paid little attention to the young and handsome men at the east.

His goal was to determine the strongest individual in the proximity, find Zhang Taiying in the crowd of people, and lock his sights on him.

This full moon would be a prickly one.

His vision encircled the many tables of the banquet as he searched for his target. His ears were full of various sounds of conversations and noises from the event.

One banquet table suddenly caught Xu Xiaoshou's attention.

He glanced over at the table.

Sitting at the table were two middle-aged men. They were well-dressed and commanded an impressive presence.

However, their way of talking was rather strange.

"Ho, isn't this Master Zhao? Did he finally decide to leave the house?"

The voice who spoke first was at the highest level of the Master Stage, but Xu Xiaoshou could not recall who the man was.

"Oh? Brother Wen?"

The voice who replied belonged to the man of the Sovereign Stage. The voice sneered and added, "I heard that someone in the Wen family passed recently. What was it about? Was it Old Wen Chong, or the Old Wen snake?"

"Or was it someone younger? A shame for someone old to send someone young off."

"Ha, a tease as always," the familiar-looking old man retorted. "Enough about me. Hasn't the Zhao family lost a disciple of the Spirit Palace as well?"

"Same as always. It was the foolish actions of the rascal. This matter is of no significance to me!"

"Ha-ha, it seems like lives have little value in the eyes of Master Zhao!"

"Some do, at least yours. I would love to buy it if I could."

The other replied with silence.

Halfway through their conversation, Xu Xiaoshou felt that something was amiss. The topic that the two men were discussing stood out to him.

He coughed.

Xu Xiaoshou pulled Mu Zixi over as he made his way to depart from the place and relocate to a different place.

An unexpected situation had occurred.

Zhang Taiying was not the only enemy present at the banquet.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

The sudden voice came from a lady who had walked past the two. The lady jerked her head back and looked toward him with great curiosity.

Xu Xiaoshou stopped in his footsteps and looked over to where the voice came from.

He had too many enemies around him, and he was afraid to expose himself.

"You are…" With a glance, he realized he had never crossed paths with the individual before.

Qu Qing-er was donned in a purple evening gown with a champagne wine glass in her hand. She presented herself in a dignified manner, but the alcohol caused a flush in her cheeks made her appear extra charming and attractive.

She bowed and spoke with a smile. "Qu Qing-er of Plenty Gold Company. I've met Master Xu before."

Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled. 'We've met?'

He paused. It struck him that this was the technique that was only spoken of in legends: striking up a conversation.

The thought lit up Xu Xiaoshou's eyes.

He was someone who had the power to woo others in a banquet setting as well.

He swept his fringe aside immediately. "Yes, we've met!"

Qu Qing-er did not say words in response.

"You've met me before Master Xu."

"Of course!"

"Oh?" Qu Qing-er's expression broke into a slight excitement.

She had researched Xu Xiaoshou after the incident with Old Man Jin.

Moreover, in her days of working in the higher levels of Plenty Gold Company, she had witnessed the fight between Xu Xiaoshou and others she had suspected to be strong forces.

However, he should not have met her before.

"When did we met?" Qu Qing-er tilted her head in curiosity. A strand of her black hair fell from the back of her ears and slid down onto her shoulders.

Xu Xiaoshou had to maintain his proper front, so he did not dare to let his vision drift.

He scanned the physique of the other with Perception and swept away the hand of his junior sister before continuing with a deeper voice. "We met often."

He stared into the eyes of the lady. "You look so strikingly similar to the woman in my dreams!"

"Though I have never met you personally, I believe we are spiritually connected. Hence, you must have met me in this way as well."

The abrupt obscene talk had turned Qu Qing-er's face as red as an apple.

She was thrown off and speechless.

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

Xu Xiaoshou turned behind him casually. "How about you go have fun on your own? I just remembered some business I have to attend to!"

Mu Zixi was taken aback. She could barely this was her own disciple brother.

Her brother had always been a blockhead. She wondered why he had suddenly decided to be open-minded.

Mu Zixi looked toward Qu Qing-er curiously and wondered if she was the reason for the change in Xu Xiaoshou's behavior. Her eyes wandered to the bosom of the woman. Her eyes narrowed, and she understood what was happening.

Cursed, Passive Points 1, 1, 1, 1…

"You went too far Xu Xiaoshou!"

Xu Xiaoshou nearly jumped from Mu Zixi's yell.

Xu Xiaoshou's mind raced. His name was not something that could be boldly declared, especially in a room that had his many familiar enemies in every corner.

He rushed forward and held down the mouth of the young lady. He looked at Qu Qing-er apologetically. "My bad, something came up I will take my leave now."

If he had wanted peaceful relations with others, he had to have a peaceful relationship with those within his family.

If he had known this would have happened, he would not have brought Mu Zixi along.

The scheme was a lost cause.

Qu Qing-er smiled happily. She did not mind the situation. From the words, she had already seen through what kind of person Xu Xiaoshou was.

He was a simple loafer, and that was all there was to him.

She nodded with agreement and was about to take her leave with her glass of wine. At the same time, voices of suspicions could be heard from the far side of the banquet.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Another voice that belonged to a woman called out. However, the tone that it carried was not a voice of doubt but rather a factual statement that the other had confirmed his identity.

'Damn, do I know so many people?'

In a rush, Xu Xiaoshou cast his gaze over in that direction and discovered he knew the owner of the voice.

"Fu Dianhong!"

The woman was covered head to toe during their first meeting at the back alley of the Plenty Gold Company where she tried to capture him.

The second time they met was a sheer coincidence at the Pill Pagoda. She was donned in the robes of a Spiritual Cultivator.

However, seeing her now in the red dress changed her presence as a warrior completely. She had the aura of a princess.

The description was not far from the fact. She was the princess of the City Lord's Mansion.

Fu Dianhong was often the center of attention of many young and handsome men. As she approached from the west side of the stage, she brought with her a hoard of young and strong men.

The yell had brought the eyes of everyone at the banquet into the direction of Xu Xiaoshou.

Some of the elders had begun to ponder the name and remembered events that had happened.

Watched, Passive Points 172.

Xu Xiaoshou felt every hair on his body stand up.

He had been so caught up in his pride that he had slipped up and caused all the attention on himself.

Xu Xiaoshou tried to calm himself down. There had to be a way that he could easily brush this under the carpet.

He joined on the gaze of the masses and turned his head around as well.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Who is Xu Xiaoshou?"

Qu Qing-er laughed with a scoff. Her laugh was an obvious signal to others who he was.

She wanted to make a few jokes about the situation. At that moment, another voice of surprise and suspicion arose in the room.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned for words.

'What is going on?' he thought.

'Am I known by so many people? Why does everyone know me?'

Not only did Xu Xiaoshou turn to the source of the voice with panic, but Qu Qing-er, Fu Yinhong, and many others in attendance also turned simultaneously to the direction of the voice.

All of the individuals in the masses had picked up on the cue in the voice. The cue had carried unwell intentions.

The instant Xu Xiaoshou turned and showed his face, Wen Song matched his face with the one in the wanted poster. His face sank immediately.

"Are you Xu Xiaoshou?"

Beside Wen Song was Zhao Nong, who was at the highest level of the Master Stage.

Zhao Nong locked eyes with the young man a distance away. He could not believe the young man who was a mid-stage of the Origin Court was able to eliminate Zhao Shu.

Suspected, Passive Points 1.

Between the elders present, the younger men, or anyone from Tiangsang Spirit Palace, those who truly knew Xu Xiaoshou could be boiled down to a handful.

The meeting planted a seed of doubt in the hearts of everyone.

"Who is this Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Is he strong? Many people seem to know him, but he's just of the mid-stage Origin Court."

"Xu Xiaoshou… That name is quite bizarre!"

The talented young men watched as an unhappy expression surfaced in the eyes of Fu Dianhong and Qu Qing-er.

They did not care much about the attention from the elders, but for someone as weak as Xu Xiaoshou to catch the attention of the two beauties in Tiangsang City was rather unbearable.

At this moment, everyone in attendance had an intention to challenge him in their hearts.

Everyone present always wanted to show off their abilities.

How could they let an individual of the Innate Stage take all the attention?

Report chapter

Chapter 380: But Words Could Kill

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Xu Xiaoshou mumbled his name quietly under the stares of the banquet attendees.

He took a peek at his notification banner.

Watched, Passive Points 239.

Missed, Passive Points 120.

Suspected, Passive Points 113.

Although all he did was stand still, the notification banner was refreshing at an alarming speed. Additionally, it had started to climb as more joined the crowd.

Xu Xiaoshou grinned from the corners of his mouth.

'Wow, this place is heaven!'

Taking a broad gauge of the people who were in the banquet hall, he estimated that it would be around 600 to 700 individuals.

However, the crowd was scattered around. He had only attracted around half of the people, yet he was able to accomplish this level of Passive Point increase.

If the rate of renewing points was sustained, he would accumulate a similar amount of points as the time he fell from Black Cliff in just one night.

Additionally, this method was painless. He did not need to torture himself to gain any new Passive Points.

Xu Xiaoshou controlled his excitement and turned to elder Wen Song. He said his words with a slow shake of his head. "Sir I think you have the wrong person. I'm not Xu Xiaoshou."

He shook his head sincerely. He tried to play it off as never having met the man before to an extent that he had never heard his name before.

"Ha-ha, do you think you can lie in front of me?" Wen Song sneered.

The denials from Xu Xiaoshou were meaningless to him.

As Wen Chong's third grandfather, Wen Chong was his precious grandchild. After the news of Wen Chong's passing had reached him, he had stared at the portrait of Xu Xiaoshou at least a hundred times a day and made sure to burn the face of Xu Xiaoshou into his memory.

Even if Xu Xiaoshou had been incremated, he would be able to recognize his ashes.

Wen Song was not the only one who did not believe him. Zhao Nong and all the other young men in the venue were in disbelief as well.

Xu Xiaoshou could fool no one there.

If there were only a single person who had recognized him, perhaps it would be an honest mistake. However, with more than four people who felt the same way, there was a small margin of error.

Suspected, Passive Points 336.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at his notification banner and tried to hide his joy. He turned to the crowd sincerely.

"I am really not him."

"I'm sure everyone here is mistaken."

Suspected, Passive Points 364.

Zhao Nong stroked his beard and smiled coldly. "I had hoped for you to come clean and admit your crimes with some boldness, yet…"

"You refuse to acknowledge your own name."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head. "Do we perhaps look similar to one another?"

Doubted, Passive Points 322."

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

Wen Song cut into their conversation. "Stop pretending. How could we mistake how you look like and your potential?"

"Ah."

"You still don't believe me." Xu Xiaoshou sighed.

"That's the right thing to do. I am Xu Xiaoshou," he added with a grin.

The crowd was dumbfounded.

The sudden twist in the situation caught everyone off guard.

"What is this fella doing?"

"He was so insistent on denying, but now he admitted it."

"He can't just admit it like this!"

"If he did not admit it, no Sovereign in the City Lord Mansion would be able to harm him!"

"Now that he admitted it, these old guys will not let him go so easily!"

Voice could be heard in the crowd. Some were confused. Some who are more sympathetic toward the situation were worried for the young man they had never met. Despite it all, Xu Xiaoshou did not care much about their responses.

Instead, he gazed at his notification banner quietly.

Doubted, Passive Points 344.

Debated, Passive Points 411.

Xu Xiaoshou could no longer suppress the bursting excitement within him as he watched the notification banner refresh at rapid speeds.

He could not believe the thousands of Passive Points he had accumulated after a few sentences.

The City Lord Mansion was truly a valuable place for him.

Xu Xiaoshou realized this was not the highest number of the Passive Points yet. He had to milk the opportunity further.

This was the perfect time for him. There were plenty of Spiritual Cultivators around, all of whom had not entered the barrier yet.

He knew he had to strike while the iron was hot.

"When I denied it, you didn't believe me. When I did not deny it, you still didn't believe me."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hands nonchalantly. "By the way, what do you guys think my name means?"

Zhao Nong and Wen Song exchanged looks of disdain.

They both mentally agreed that the young man was a very strange individual.

The unexpected and out-of-the-norm question had thrown both of them off. They stood silently momentarily unsure of their words.

"You killed…"

Before Wen Song could finish, Xu Xiaoshou cut in. "Yes, I killed someone. What does it have to do with you?"

Wen Song was at a loss for words.

The words Xu Xiaoshou had spoken greatly haunted him. He had dismissed the topic with such ease. It was almost as if he was unaware that the victim was Wen Song's dearest grandchild.

"You!"

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hands and cut him off before he could unleash his rage. "Why? Do you want to avenge him?"

"By fighting me? Right here?"

"You are a bully. You want to take someone weaker like me on simply because you're strong."

Wen Song fell silent.

The chain of accusations had made Wen Song red in the face. He gritted his teeth as if he wanted to say something, but he was unable to get another word out.

He had the intention to do that. After Xu Xiaoshou's repeated accusations, he did not dare confess his intentions.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

In fact, Wen Song almost gave it away in the moment of rage. He inhaled deeply and thought about his response.

He thought about the appropriate response to the words that were clearly meant to agitate him and what would smooth the situation over.

The expressions of the young talents around them had changed as well.

This young man was smart.

"I've never seen someone with such a sharp tongue. His words have their logic to it as well."

"Wait. Isn't this bullying? Isn't this the strong picking on the weak?"

"Right! I always hated people who picked on the weaker ones! They are the worst!"

"You are mistaken! This isn't a fight! From the looks of it, it sounds like he killed someone!"

"Same!"

Their conversation sparked a heated debate amongst the crowd. Others had become aware of the occurrence and joined in. Xu Xiaoshou subconsciously became the center of attention in the guest hall.

Impressed, Passive Points 162.

Debated, Passive Points 477.

Belittled, Passive Point 62.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the notification banner and looked casually toward the old man. He realized the other man had not recovered from his anger yet.

He was much weaker than he had expected him to be.

He supposed Wen Song was constantly buttered up by his family as the head of the Wen clan. He had lost his sense of self-awareness and could no longer take any oncoming criticisms in a quarrel.

Above all, he had made the mistake of picking a fight with Xu Xiaoshou.

He raised his eyebrow playfully and laughed.

"Ha, you old thing."

He stepped forward and focused his gaze on the old man. He casually said, "You know how we young men like to fight with one another. The fella launched a sneak attack on me, and I misjudged my attack. It was all accidental."

"Do you want to use this excuse and attack me?"

"Does the highest level of the Master Stage want to fight a mid-term of the Origin Court like me?"

"That's truly something reputable to do!"

"You're so amazing!"

Xu Xiaoshou was merciless with his sarcasm.

To speak truthfully, the old man was only at the highest level of Master Stage. This level was nothing to Xu Xiaoshou at this point.

Should the worse happen, all he had to was to call Aje out for assistance.

It seemed rather amusing to him that the elders put so much emphasis on respect for seniority, especially if they were on the more powerful end. Yet, they refused to pay respect to someone like Xu Xiaoshou if he proved himself to be more powerful than them.

His words were a smack on the face to Wen Song. He had not thought through his arguments before starting the quarrel.

The old man was shaking with anger. When Xu Xiaoshou finished his sentence, his mouth was opened, but no coherent words nor sentences could come out of it.

"You… You…"

"You what? Why are you stammering?"

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Read I Am Loaded with Passive Skills Chapter 381 - What Is Xu Xiaoshou's Background? online for free - AllNovelFull

Chapter 381: What Is Xu Xiaoshou's Background?

"Puff!"

Wen Song sensed his exasperation rising into a lump in his throat, and he sputtered out.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the saliva that rained in the sky and took a few steps back in disgust. 'What a pity it's not blood,' he mused to himself.

He could not summon any good feelings about old men like this who had no achievements to show for but behaved so egoistically.

Not to mention, the two sides were on opposing camps.

The onlookers were surprised by the fearless Xu Xiaoshou.

"Is he… Is he not afraid of death? Or is he going all in?"

"He's not stupid. He knows that he has the cultivation level of the mid-stage of Origin Court, and he also knows that Elder Wen is the peak of Master Stage…"

"How dare he speak?"

"Is he ignorant?"

"Oh, he is dead meat!"

Respected, Passive Points 232.

Ridiculed, Passive Points 224.

Everyone exploded into a commentary on the spectacle. Even the people who were as far away as the west side of the competition platform were attracted over.

Not understanding what happened during the banquet, everyone was eager to join in the gossip. They quickly gathered around.

In a corner, Xu Xiaoji was warming up his body with stretching exercises. He pulled and pulled before straightening up.

'What is the situation where Xu Xiaoshou is? He just stepped foot in here and is already making enemies for himself?'

'Did he intend to cooperate with me like this?'

Everything went too smoothly for him, and Xu Xiaoshou was godsent help to divert attention away from what he was planning.

Looking around at his empty surroundings, Xu Xiaoji ran away and disappeared.

In the banquet, among the people…

Wen Song, who had eased his mind, flew into a rage realizing that he could not compete in the word-of-mouth dispute. He moved with his palm, and the spiritual source soared.

"Stop it!"

Fu Yinhong yelled out.

She glanced at Xu Xiaoshou with a strange expression and turned to look at Wen Song.

"Elder Wen should know the rules of the City Lord Mansion banquet dinner. If you want to attack, you can only wait for the Platform Competition later!"

Wen Song glared and hissed. "This kid is rude!"

"Rules are rules!"

Wen Song was speechless.

After a long silence…

Boom!

Wen Song was so furious that his spiritual source gathered dangerously. The ground under his feet exploded, creating a large hole on the floor.

At this time, everyone was shocked. They retreated backward.

Fu Yinhong frowned and said coldly, "Elder Wen, pay attention to your status!"

Wen Song narrowed his eyes and raised his chin. "This old man can't hold back his strength!"

Fu Yinhong immediately thought to put on her armor.

Did this guy think that he could do anything since others called him his predecessor?

With so many eyes on the City Lord Mansion banquet dinner, if everyone behaved as they wished, wouldn't this place be a mass grave tomorrow?

"Hu…"

She took a deep breath, suppressing her inner impulse.

After all, if they were to break out in a fight, she would also be going against the rules.

She could not set that precedent.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the girl's heaving chest and turned his head to look at old man Wen Song. He said in a teasing manner, "Old man, you have no outlet for your tantrum, so you decided to act up in front of a lass."

Lass?

Act up?

This sentence offended two people at the same time.

Fu Yinhong and Wen Song froze in outrage and gawked at the young man who was still on his lengthy prattle.

"It's not right for you to behave like this. You are already at the peak of Master Stage, yet you can't hold back your strength. Don't you know that you're a guest here? How can you be so arrogant even after smashing the floor of the host's residence?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Fu Yinhong, who stood tall and looked like she wanted to speak. He stretched his hand out and whispered.

"You don't have to thank me. I have your back on this matter!"

Fu Yinhong was speechless.

'You have my back? Do I need you to have my back?'

'I want to tell you, kid, to shut up in time! If you go on like this, I will be the first one to bet that you will be slapped to death by this old guy in anger!'

Wen Song was livid with anger after hearing Xu Xiaoshou speak again. His face flushed tomato red. After seeing his reaction, Fu Yinhong chose to remain silent.

"Xu Xiaoshou!" Wen Song hollered. "Juniors should not toe the line!"

Xu Xiaoshou covered his ears and stepped back. "Are you hard of hearing? Do you think that I can't hear you when you are speaking so loudly?"

Wen Song was speechless.

Cursed, Passive Points 1.

'Ahhh!'

The old man could not hold it in anymore and wanted to slap him to death.

The irritability in Wen Song's heart overflowed. If there were a meter to measure his annoyance, it would have burst the scale.

"Are you thinking of attacking me?"

Xu Xiaoshou sneered at him. "What an outrageous old guy!"

"Do you understand the rules of the City Lord Mansion? What is the dignity of the City Lord Mansion if you act like this? How would this affect the White Cave quota of the City Lord?"

As soon as this last sentence came out, Wen Song was stupefied.

The onlookers were also bowled over.

"Good fellow, this kid is right!"

"My God! If this happened, the Wen family is going to face hard times this year…"

Everyone looked at Wen Song, who was violently angry but had no choice other than to swallow it down. That sight amused them for a while.

"This Xu Xiaoshou… His mouth is too formidable!"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled inwardly at the Passive Points contributed by everyone while he continued to increase the severity of his tone.

"I only said a few words to you. At most, I have talked to you as equals, and you can't tolerate it."

" I only spoke, and you want to attack."

"Give an inch, and you want a foot. If I started the fight, do you want to blow up this City Lord Mansion?"

Wen Song felt a fire rising in his heart. Unfortunately, he could not vent it out. It hurt his body very much.

He asked with a hoarse voice, "What qualifications do you have to talk to me as equals?"

"Oh, qualifications?"

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow.

"What a noble word!"

"Do you have one more nostril than me, or do you have one more belly button?"

"Qualifications?"

"Are the qualifications you are talking about referring to the domineering and reckless behavior that you have exhibited and your clear disdain for the rules?"

"If that is the case, what qualifications do you have to smash the floor of this City Lord Mansion?"

"Since when was the Wen family more superior than the City Lord Mansion?"

Wen Song almost spat out a mouthful of blood. His face was dark, and even his eyes had lost their glint.

He wanted to refute.

At this time, if he even said a word, he would be verifying Xu Xiaoshou's allegations. It would amount to be claiming to be nobler than the City Lord Mansion.

It would be alright if it were on regular occasions, but tonight was the banquet dinner.

He could not ruin the opportunity for the Wen family to obtain the White Cave quota because of his mistakes.

Zhao Nong silently pulled the old man back from one side.

He and Wen Song were not on good terms, but as soon as Xu Xiaoshou appeared, the enemy of his enemy was his friend.

When he first saw that his opponent was dumbfounded, he wanted to speak out.

But now…

Forget it.

It would be better to step back.

When the Platform Competition started, there was a chance that this kid would die.

"Patience…"

"When you are old, you should learn to calm down!"

Fu Yinhong looked at Old Man Wen in amusement. He had singlehandedly dug the pit he was currently in from the verbal spar with Xu Xiaoshou.

She also knew that she should not pursue the matter, and she could not let Xu Xiaoshou go on anymore.

The way he spoke was an invitation for disaster.

"Xu Xiaoshou…"

Before she could say anything to dissuade him, the onlookers cleared away amidst a burst of noise.

All the people surrounded in the middle looked toward them. They saw a gallant young man walk over quickly through the newly formed passage.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

His sound came before he arrived in person.

He laughed heartily. Even if Fu Xing did not recognize Xu Xiaoshou, he saw the little girl with twin ponytails moving evasively toward the side, trying hard to avoid being dragged down by association.

If his junior sister was there, he had to be there too.

"Big Brother Shou, you have arrived!"

Fu Xing squeezed through the crowd excitedly. As he expected, he saw Xu Xiaoshou trapped in the middle.

His call immediately sent everyone into a hush.

"Big… Big Brother Shou?"

"Did Young Master call him Big Brother? No wonder… No wonder this kid dared to anger the peak of Master Stage with an Innate Stage cultivation level!"

"What is Xu Xiaoshou's background?"

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