Chapter 1009: Enthusiastic Citizen Mr. Ba's... I Want to Report

"You..." Granny Tian Ling almost cursed Yao Yao and her entire ancestry to hell in her heart.

However, when she turned her head, countless gazes were fixed on her, as if this task was her destiny, and she had been born solely for this moment of pushing the door.

"Can this old woman refuse?" Granny Tian Ling struggled weakly, her voice barely a whisper.

"Didn't you come here for the City of the Sky?" Teng Shan Hai smiled. "Now a golden opportunity lies before you. A mere reach, and your dream will come true. What's not to like?"

*You* try it then! Granny Tian Ling's aged eyes widened in exasperation.

But at this moment, with all her powers sealed by the forbidden barrier, there was no need for Yao Yao to even act. Teng Shan Hai, clad in the Azure God Armor, could send her to eternal damnation with just one hand.

Yao Yao, still displaying a semblance of humanity, said, "Pushing the door carries risks, after all. If you accept this task, regardless of the outcome, a great merit will be recorded in your name. Afterwards, you can come to the Sacred God Temple to exchange it for any treasure you desire."

"And if I don't accept?" Granny Tian Ling thought to herself, *I've already accumulated so many merits. This time, the Sacred God Temple's endless empty promises have truly unsettled my mind. I should never have come to this cursed place.*

"If you don't accept..." Yao Yao's expression remained perfectly still, "then you have no value in remaining here."

So, that means death? Granny Tian Ling had long since deduced this answer, but hearing it confirmed by Yao Yao herself still sent a chill down her spine.

"I accept." Powerless, she could only nod. Without further hesitation, she walked towards the Void Gate.

Since there was only one path left to choose, she could only pray that pushing this door wouldn't lead to her sacrifice, but truly allow her to enter the legendary Sacred Secret Void Island.

"Stand back." Watching Granny Tian Ling extend her hand, Bai Lian instinctively spoke, simultaneously retreating with his master Mu Lin, fearing any unforeseen incident.

Yao Yao, Teng Shan Hai, and Ye Xiao did likewise.

Since someone else was risking their life, they didn't need to approach. They could then use the first-hand experience to determine if the door still held any traps.

"Phase One, commence." In his vanished state, Xu Xiaoshou's eyes also burned with anticipation, fixed intently on the Void Gate.

This was his last fallback. Later, he might need to use this very door to evade the pursuit of the Jiang Clan's Half-Saint. With someone now testing the dangers before him, he naturally watched with extreme vigilance.

Under the watchful eyes of several individuals, the old 'test subject,' Granny Tian Ling, swallowed hard. She pressed her hand onto the ancient door, applying a slight push.

A low hum reverberated. The space trembled, and the ancient door let out a strange sound.

After absorbing sufficient energy, the Void Gate, despite its archaic and imposing appearance, was no longer as immoveable as everyone had anticipated.

Granny Tian Ling only used a small amount of physical strength; she couldn't even access her spiritual essence. It was truly just a slight push...

And then...

*Whoosh!* The ancient door spontaneously opened a crack. A tide of light surged forth from within, completely engulfing Granny Tian Ling, the sole figure standing before it.

"No!" Granny Tian Ling cried out in terror, her voice choked. She felt no pain, yet the sheer unknown was far more terrifying.

The Void Gate's devouring power offered no quarter. In a flash, it pulled her inside.

With a soft thud, in less than a single breath, Granny Tian Ling, a Grand Void realm expert, completely disappeared from everyone's sight. The Void Gate then silently closed.

"Gone?" Everything returned to normal.

Teng Shan Hai's eyes widened in surprise; he had hoped to deduce something from this experiment.

Yet the Void Gate had swallowed her so cleanly, so simply, that it made one question if it truly was that straightforward...

"Is she dead, or was she teleported into the City of the Sky?" Teng Shan Hai asked Yao Yao.

Yao Yao pondered. She, too, wanted to know the answer to that question...

Logically, King Yama and the Water Ghost wouldn't be so benevolent as to simply leave the grand entrance to the Sacred Secret Void Island here, allowing anyone who stumbled upon it to enter.

If it were Yao Yao, she felt she could set a simple trap, and still countless individuals would flock to it.

But this door-pushing experiment... was incredibly simple!

The person simply vanished. Whether she was dead or alive, it was impossible to tell without experiencing it firsthand!

What now?

In his vanished state, Xu Xiaoshou remained silent for a long time.

He, too, was baffled by the simple act of the gate swallowing the person.

However, on second thought, the Water Ghost had mentioned that this would be his 'near-death' opportunity. Logically, he wouldn't set traps to harm his own people, would he?

Therefore, from the perspective of their own side, the Void Gate placed by the Water Ghost might genuinely be for the simple purpose of absorbing people.

So, Granny Tian Ling wasn't dead but truly transported to the Void Island?

"She's probably not dead. If she were sacrificed, the scene would likely have been much bloodier," Yao Yao mused for a moment, then turned to look at Mu Lin.

She knew the backgrounds of Teng Shan Hai and Ye Xiao; neither had ever seen a Void Gate, so questioning them would be futile.

However, Mu Lin, one of the top five authorities of the Sacred Palace, might know more about the world's unique treasures, such as this Void Gate.

However, upon seeing everyone's gaze turn to him, Mu Lin merely paused for a moment before calmly stating, "Without knowing the full picture, I cannot comment."

Yao Yao was speechless. Teng Shan Hai was speechless. Ye Xiao was speechless.

Even Xu Xiaoshou, still in his vanished state, felt a vein throb on his forehead.

He considered the experiment completed. Even if Yao Yao and the others still didn't know whether Granny Tian Ling was alive or dead, and even if this Void Gate seemed somewhat dangerous...

...at their level, this slight risk should be worth experiencing firsthand, right?

So, as things usually unfolded...

Yao Yao and the others' next course of action would undoubtedly be one of two things: either leave someone to guard the door while the rest entered, or use a special secret method to summon more members of the Sacred God Temple to completely secure the Void Gate, ensuring only their people could enter and explore.

Either outcome would be unfavorable to him.

Because Xu Xiaoshou was still counting on this door to be his final safeguard.

Additionally, if possible, he wanted these individuals before him to bear some of the risks that the Jiang Clan's Half-Saint might pose to him.

"What should I do...?" His mind whirred. In no time at all, Xu Xiaoshou, ever full of cunning ideas, had a new plan.

Beneath the Deep Sea Forbidden Barrier, while these individuals appeared formidable, most of their combat strength had been reduced by at least ninety percent, with Yao Yao being the only exception.

If he was afraid of death, then they should be even more so.

So, what would happen if Yao Yao and the others encountered an enemy they normally couldn't contend with at this very moment?

Would they react aggressively, or would they become even more cautious?

"Let's go!" "Time to test it out!"

As he thought this, a wild spark ignited in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes.

He put away the Greedy God, returning it to his Primal Residence, then transformed, taking on the appearance of Eight Venerables.

"I can stay here to guard. Teng Shan Hai's Azure God Armor can withstand any attack from those below the Half-Saint realm. You can go in and try it. Don't forget, we still have someone in the City of the Sky. Once you're inside, find him, and perhaps you can explore together or even return after conquering the city."

Before the Void Gate, Yao Yao was still discussing the plan, her gaze fixed on Teng Shan Hai.

Without a doubt, even if the Void Gate was dangerous and Granny Tian Ling served as a grim warning, they still had to send one of their own inside.

And Teng Shan Hai, without question, was the best candidate for the task.

"Understood." With the order given, Teng Shan Hai nodded in acceptance.

Having witnessed Granny Tian Ling's disappearance, while he still harbored concerns, his fear of the Void Gate was significantly less than when everything had been an unknown.

With the Azure God Armor, he could go anywhere!

"Take this." Yao Yao retrieved a Void Token from her spatial barrier and instructed, "Find Yu Lingdi. With this Void Token, you'll be able to return safely from the City of the Sky's gates. Afterwards, report everything you find inside to me."

Teng Shan Hai took the Void Token, nodding silently. He walked with solemn determination to the Void Gate, as if marching to his death.

He slowly extended his hand...

*Clap, clap, clap!* Just then, applause echoed from a distance behind them.

Along with it came a hoarse, mocking chuckle:

"Commendable courage, truly commendable... I never thought anyone would willingly leap into the death trap King Yama laid. This truly opens my eyes and confirms what I've heard. The Sacred God Temple truly lives up to its reputation."

"Who?!" At that critical moment, Teng Shan Hai paused his hand, his heart skipping a beat. He spun around abruptly.

Yao Yao, Night Owl, and the Sacred Palace master-disciple duo, Mu Lin and Bai Lian, made the same move.

As they all turned, they saw an exceptionally gaunt figure standing in the vast expanse of water behind them.

He possessed handsome features and a resolute facial outline, but he was disheveled, with a scraggly beard, and his cloudy eyes further emphasized his languid, dispirited state.

Most striking was a sword scar on his neck, and the distinct eight-finger mark.

"Eight Venerables?!" Yao Yao's eyebrows shot up, her pupils constricting. She seemed unable to believe her eyes.

Night Owl's face, hidden in the shadows, finally showed a flicker of emotion. He gazed at the figure before him, which was somewhat familiar yet subtly different in its details, and fell into deep thought.

No sack... and his mental state was far worse than the one in the spatial current on Lone Sound Cliff. *Is this one real? Or was that one the true one?*

"Eight Venerables, Leader of the Sacred Slaves..." Mu Lin's gaze shifted, and he paused, staring at a face he had vaguely known in his youth, somewhat familiar yet made strange by decades apart. He found himself at a loss for words.

Almost instantly, he could differentiate this man from the slovenly figure carrying a sack on Lone Sound Cliff, and confidently determine who was real and who was fake.

Some things, regardless of cultivation realm, could be deduced solely from their aura.

Sang Qiye had been misled by this individual, straying from the path and ultimately defecting from the Sacred Palace, completely severing ties with the Jin Zhao lineage.

After all these years, he had finally seen another side of this man!

"Is he the true Eighth Sword Immortal?" Bai Lian, the only one who had progressed from a junior to an equal, understood something from his master's and Yao Yao's reactions.

He didn't immediately recall the animosity between the two sides, only curiously scrutinized the "Eight-Fingered Man," whose reputation spanned the continent.

It could be said that even in the Central Domain, he had grown up hearing tales of the man before him.

Meeting in the deep sea in such a manner, even if the era wasn't too distant, filled Bai Lian with a slight thrill, as if he had encountered a figure from history.

But he quickly composed himself.

*Uncle Sang defected from the Sacred Palace because of him, and ended up in Sacred Mountain Prison. Even if Master doesn't say it, he must be quite angry, right?*

*Hmm, judging by everyone's reactions, this one shouldn't be a fake.*

Bai Lian secretly glanced at the impassive Mu Lin, noticing his master's tightly furrowed brow, the wrinkles so deep they could trap a Grand Void realm expert. He immediately averted his gaze, feigning disinterest.

*I know nothing. Anyway, Master is here. Let the elders handle this matter!*

Beneath the deep sea, the true Eight Venerables suddenly appeared, with no one to protect him.

Yao Yao said no more. She immediately drew her Profound Azure Divine Sword, standing ready, but hesitated to strike. With a hint of shock, she asked, "How are you here?"

She recalled there being an "Eighth Sword Immortal" carrying a sack on Lone Sound Cliff.

But she had fought that individual during the night battle in Eastern Heavenly King City. He wasn't real; he was merely an imposter.

This person, however, perfectly matched every detail in Gou Wuyue's report: appearance, cultivation, cloudy eyes, listless demeanor. And he stood so calmly in the water.

The familiar aura of sword intent, permeating him from inside out, could not be faked in the slightest.

Based purely on intuition, Yao Yao was certain: this was the true Eight Venerables!

"Stop! There's no need to resort to violence." Xu Xiaoshou, in the guise of Eight Venerables, faced Yao Yao's Profound Azure Divine Sword with an air of relaxed ease. He smiled and said, "Today, I am not here to fight. Moreover, under the Deep Sea Forbidden Barrier, your greatest assets—spiritual essence and attributes—are gone. Even combined, you cannot harm me. Naturally, we can simply have a brief chat; there's no need for a major conflict."

A brief chat? What could the Sacred God Temple and the Sacred Slaves possibly have to talk about?

Teng Shan Hai scoffed, suddenly recalling Eight Venerables' previous words. "What do you mean, this Void Gate..."

"A trap!" Xu Xiaoshou interrupted with a knowing smile, articulating the very fear in their hearts.

He had heard all of this earlier while in his vanished state, so he knew exactly what these members of the Sacred God Temple feared most.

The art of conversation, he knew, was to say exactly what your opponent feared most.

Of course, all this had to be based on the premise of actually "being very powerful," or at the very least, "appearing very powerful" in the eyes of others.

Xu Xiaoshou ignored Teng Shan Hai and Yao Yao. Having delivered his line, he turned his gaze to Mu Lin.

To prevent Uncle Mu from launching a sudden attack and ruining his disguise, he had further preparations.

*Thud!* Casually, Xu Xiaoshou pulled out Elder Sang's massive, three-legged 'Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness' bathtub. He set it down beside him, leaned against it, and said, "Let's be civil today, everyone! As for this one from the Sacred Palace, we should have met before..."

He looked at Mu Lin and smiled. "Let's not dwell on old matters; we don't have time. Let's discuss something new. Your grand-disciple is currently in my hands, and this alchemy cauldron is the best proof. Of course, given the 'Sleeveless' connection, I won't harm her. I'm merely using her as a shield. I'll release her once we've finished our discussion. How does that sound?"

Bai Lian was dumbfounded. *This... isn't this Hua Ying's alchemy cauldron?* But then he suddenly remembered this was the cauldron belonging to the "Hua Ying" who had appeared on Lone Sound Cliff earlier... He seemed to understand something.

Mu Lin's expression also faltered for a moment, then his brows relaxed, and everything returned to calm.

"What do you want?" he asked on behalf of Yao Yao, simultaneously shifting his body slightly to position himself between Yao Yao and "Eight Venerables," to prevent any sudden attacks.

"It's quite simple..." Xu Xiaoshou genuinely adored this clever Uncle Mu. He looked back at Yao Yao and said, "Today, I'm just a simple, enthusiastic citizen who wants to report something."

"Report?" Yao Yao, Teng Shan Hai, and Night Owl all froze simultaneously, feeling they had misheard.

You, the head of a dark organization, reporting something to the righteous Sacred God Temple? Are you insane?!

"Exactly, a report." Xu Xiaoshou nodded, speaking words that guaranteed astonishment. "None of you are outsiders, so there's nothing we can't discuss. I'll be direct."

"I want to report King Yama and the Water Ghost for colluding with the Half-Saint of the Northern Territory's Puxuan Jiang Clan. They conspired to plot against the Lei family children and are simultaneously attempting to unearth the truth of the Lei family tragedy from that year for great profit. Furthermore, they have now laid a trap at Lone Sound Cliff, burying hundreds of innocent individuals from across the continent – including Throne experts, Dao Slayers, and even Grand Voids. Hm, you don't need to look at me like that. If nothing unexpected happens, the Jiang Clan's Half-Saint will soon arrive here personally to verify my claims."