Chapter 1042: 19 Minute Greedy Killer Xu Xiaoshou

**Forest of Miracles.**

The dense forest was silent, without even the sound of birds, making it incredibly oppressive.

Rumble...

Suddenly, another loud noise echoed from afar.

Xu Xiaoshou and Lei Xier crouched on an ancient tree, curiously gazing towards the direction of the sound.

“It’s a bit far,” Xu Xiaoshou said, “it shouldn’t affect us here.” As he spoke, he couldn’t help but wonder why the explosions from that direction seemed even louder than those caused by the Void Attendant. Who was this explosive genius now?

“After all this time on Void Island, it’s normal for people to be making some noise at their landing spots,” Lei Xier said. She looked at the sealed formation ahead, which resembled a barrier, and mused, “Xu Xiaoshou, how much longer do we have to wait?”

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head, also looking at the barrier ahead. He took a deep breath of the rich medicinal scent, feeling the fluctuations in his energy sea and the pleasant shivers running through his body. He shook his head and said, “I don’t know, but we must wait.”

The actors aren’t in place yet; we can’t rush.

Actually, Xu Xiaoshou could easily use the Mimic to transform into Shuang Dai, and then split his body to infiltrate this sealed barrier. However, the images he had previously read from a soul indicated that the Void Attendant would surely awaken the moment anyone touched the spiritual herbs in the Shennong Medicine Garden. The real Shuang Dai had only managed to pick one Holy Relic Fruit before being furiously pursued and eventually buried by the Void Attendant under the guise of a mission. Xu Xiaoshou was sure that even if he went in and picked some fruits, he would only be able to take a few more at most. And once the Void Attendant was alerted, it would be impossible for him to successfully gather more spiritual herbs. If that happened, wouldn’t the entire Shennong Medicine Garden, a place capable of driving the world mad, be completely wasted?

“Why don’t we just give up?” Lei Xier suggested, changing her tune. Thinking of the three-hundred-foot-tall Void Attendant, she felt a suffocating pressure in her chest. A Throne and a Grandmaster attempting to acquire the entire Shennong Medicine Garden—it was ridiculous. If it weren’t for Xu Xiaoshou crouching before her, Lei Xier would have long since walked away; it was simply unrealistic!

“Giving up is not an option; we’re already here…” Xu Xiaoshou trailed off, then suddenly turned his head to the side. “They’re here!” he exclaimed.

Someone’s here? Lei Xier looked in alarm, her God-Demon Eyes swirling, and clearly saw the approaching figure from afar. A bare-chested man, with a powerful aura and extraordinary cultivation, was at the Taixu realm.

“Who is that?”

“I don’t know…” Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, yet felt a vague sense of familiarity. He recalled, remembering he had indeed seen such a person on Lone Sound Cliff, always standing behind Rao Yaoyao and Teng Shanhai. With him were more than ten other Taixu realm cultivators.

“Someone from the Holy Divine Palace?” Who the newcomer was didn’t matter. As long as Xu Xiaoshou knew this person wasn’t a friend, he could freely scheme against them. Everyone is here for the Holy Emperor’s Dao Foundation. I won’t let you be taken advantage of for nothing; if you have the ability, you can also get a piece of the Shennong Medicine Garden. But how much ability you have depends entirely on your own methods. If you can’t handle my scheme and become a mere pawn from the start, that’s on you, not anyone else.

“Hide well. Take Greedy God with you. I’ll be right back.” Gripping the Mimic, Xu Xiaoshou transformed, taking on the appearance of Shuang Dai, and leaped down from the tree.

Dragon-Subduing Hand Hong Dang had been searching for a while. He had followed the increasingly potent medicinal scent. His original landing point on Void Island was in the ancient city’s architectural zone, but like Xu Xiaoshou, he had heard explosions from the outskirts and followed the sound. Hong Dang didn’t know what this ancient forest was. But as he walked, the ever-increasing aroma of spiritual herbs filling his nostrils told him that this was indeed a treasure trove!

Stepping out from a narrow path, the giant footprints on the ground ended here. Hong Dang looked up and saw an immense, boundless, sealed barrier.

“The scent of spiritual herbs is leaking from this?” Hong Dang realized something, and while staying alert for potential dangers around him, he began to approach the barrier.

“Snap.”

Just then, from behind an ancient tree to his side, came the almost imperceptible sound of a dry twig snapping.

“Who’s there?!” Hong Dang roared, his spiritual energy forming a golden shield that immediately enveloped him. Only then did he turn his gaze, fixed intently on the source of the sound.

No one replied. Hong Dang narrowed his eyes, his right hand forming a fist, and struck through the air.

“Boom!”

The ancient tree exploded into dust, but the area remained empty.

“I’m over here.” At the same time, a husky voice appeared from behind him.

Hong Dang spun around instantly, without a moment of hesitation, a golden dragon phantom entwining his body with a 'thump,' and then he whipped out a kick.

“Boom!”

Space shattered into fragments from the kick. The black void formed for only an instant, the space restoring itself the next second. —The rules of Void Island were far stronger than those of the Holy Divine Continent.

“Tsk, tsk, quite vigilant, aren’t you, my friend?” A playful laugh came from another ancient tree behind him.

Hong Dang looked, finally seeing the real person. It was a figure entirely clad in a black robe, even wearing a mask on their face, someone who did not show their true appearance.

“Who are you, you petty sneak?” Hong Dang snapped coldly. At first glance, he couldn’t discern the opponent’s cultivation level, but the newcomer was so elusive and on Void Island of all places. He figured the minimum would be a Dao-Slaying expert capable of fighting a Taixu. Ninety-nine percent likely, it was a Taixu at his own realm. The unknown was always terrifying, but when the black-robed figure finally revealed themselves, Hong Dang lowered his guard somewhat, because the person’s words seemed to carry no ill will.

“My name is Xiao Ren.” Xu Xiaoshou, in the guise of Shuang Dai, wearing a mysterious black robe, leaped down from the ancient tree. He held his hands up, indicating no intention of attacking, appearing very friendly.

“Xiao Ren?” Hong Dang pondered for a moment, then sneered aloud: “Xiao Ren, the Gold-Ranked Hunter-Order Assassin from the Central Region’s Three Incense? He’s not as tall as you!”

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't expected this person to even know Xiao Ren. But on second thought, there were only a few Taixu realm cultivators active on the Holy Divine Continent; anyone who lived long enough would surely have gathered intelligence on other Taixu of the same realm. So, it wasn't surprising that the man before him knew about Xiao Ren, even if Xiao Ren was a mysterious Gold-Ranked Hunter-Order Assassin.

“I’ve already introduced myself, showing you such respect, but I don’t know your name?” Xu Xiaoshou smiled, maintaining a certain distance from the man, stopping at an opportune moment.

“You’re not Xiao Ren.” Hong Dang shook his head, his voice utterly certain.

“Your discernment is keen.” Xu Xiaoshou sighed, shaking his head, as if his ruse had been discovered and he had no choice but to remove the mask from his face, revealing an unremarkable face. He said, “I am Shuang Dai, the Gold-Ranked Hunter-Order Assassin from the Central Region’s Three Incense. Is that enough sincerity for you now?”

He had never intended to reveal his identity from the start. Because that would only make the other party more wary; after all, an assassin isn’t exactly a trustworthy-sounding identity. However, with the layer of ‘Xiao Ren’ as a cover, then revealing his true identity, he anticipated the big man before him would feel his sincerity and thus lower his initial guard.

“You’re Shuang Dai?” As expected, after a brief stunned moment, Hong Dang seemed to recall basic information about Shuang Dai, and after confirming it, he asked, “How can I trust you?”

“You don’t have to trust me, but both of us are here for the Holy Emperor’s Dao Foundation. Since that’s the case, temporary cooperation is essential, because you cannot break through this barrier.” Xu Xiaoshou pointed towards the barrier sealing the Shennong Medicine Garden.

Hong Dang turned sideways, his face grim, and cautiously glanced at the barrier. He quirked his lips and asked, “So you can?”

“You still don’t trust me enough, not even willing to tell me your name. How can we continue to cooperate like this?” Xu Xiaoshou sighed.

“Dragon-Subduing Hand, Hong Dang! I have no sect; I’m a lone wanderer.” Hong Dang said after a moment of hesitation.

“Hong Dang… so it’s you. I’ve long heard of your renown!” Xu Xiaoshou implied he had never heard of this person, but for a lone wanderer to reach the Taixu realm, this person must be extraordinary. At least, from his current experiences, Dao-Slayers were divided into ordinary Dao-Slayers and those capable of fighting Taixu. But any Taixu… There wasn’t a single simple Taixu in this world. Because to achieve the Taixu realm, one must first endure the Nine-Death Thunder Tribulation. This formidable hurdle trapped ninety-nine percent of the world’s spiritual refining geniuses; those who could pass it were all dragons among men!

“Brother Hong Dang, you also came here following the sound and chasing this spiritual herb scent for the first time, didn’t you?” Xu Xiaoshou chuckled.

“So what if I did?” Hong Dang didn’t deny it. Which Taixu realm cultivator who came to Sky City wasn’t here for the Holy Emperor’s Dao Foundation?

“Then it’s easy. I also came for the Shennong Medicine Garden. Now our cooperation can be finalized.” Xu Xiaoshou ‘casually’ revealed this information, and as he strode forward, he began to close the emotional distance between them, not just the physical.

Shennong Medicine Garden? Indeed, Hong Dang froze, then a fervent glint appeared deep in his eyes. “Brother Shuang Dai… do you know the situation inside?”

“I know a little.”

“Can you tell me?”

“Since we’re cooperating, of course I’ll tell you everything.” Xu Xiaoshou wasted no time and got straight to the point, his face showing a reminiscent expression as he spoke:

“I arrived here earlier than you, Brother Hong Dang, and remained hidden in the shadows. During that time, I saw someone approach, but I remained cautious and didn’t show myself. That person was very young, with a handsome appearance, powerful abilities, and skilled in spiritual formations. With just a few maneuvers, they broke through a corner of the Shennong Medicine Garden’s barrier and entered. I know that opportunities are always accompanied by danger, so I only observed from a distance and didn’t approach. But once the barrier was broken, the intensity of the medicinal scent inside was truly rare in the world!”

Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes gleamed with fervor, completely immersed in the images he had read from the soul, and he spoke with sincere emotion: “With just a fleeting glance, I saw tens of thousands of first-grade spiritual herbs in that garden, and even holy medicines… were countless!”

Hong Dang’s heart suddenly quickened. But even though he was tempted by the description, he couldn’t help but retort, “Brother, are you joking? Tens of thousands of first-grade spiritual herbs, and countless holy medicines? Do you really think I’d believe that?”

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t refute him; his expression grew even more fervent as he said: “To be precise, there are countless first-grade weeds, and holy medicines are the foundation of the Shennong Medicine Garden. You don’t believe me, Brother Hong Dang? I didn’t believe it either at first! But then I thought, this is Sky City! This is the source of the Holy Emperor’s Dao Foundation! For millions of years, no one has set foot here, and what was once a mere weed here would now likely attract countless people if placed in the outside world! Brother Hong Dang, look around you…”

Xu Xiaoshou pointed to the surrounding ancient forest: “These are Clearwind Woods, which are essentially worthless outside. Yet now, the Clearwind Woods covering the mountains and plains have, at their lowest, evolved into sixth-grade, with fifth-grade ones also present, and occasionally, you can even spot fourth-grade, Throne-level Clearwind Woods. Brother Hong Dang, do you think that time and the environment of Sky City can enhance and change these unranked spiritual trees? Then what level could those spiritual herbs, which were already first or second-grade, reach after millions of years in the Shennong Medicine Garden’s environment?”

Dragon-Subduing Hand Hong Dang’s gaze turned serious. Upon careful inspection, he found that the seemingly common ancient trees around them contained energy levels truly no less than Grandmaster or Throne-level spiritual herbs. However, he wasn’t an alchemist and didn’t know if these originally unranked spiritual trees, having grown to this point, could be used in medicine, or what their value might be. But… Shuang Dai was right. If even Clearwind Woods had grown to this extent from the diffused medicinal scent, could the true spiritual herbs in the so-called ‘Shennong Medicine Garden’ still be ordinary items?

“I still don’t trust you.” Hong Dang thought for a moment, then shook his head, refusing. He absolutely did not want to cooperate with an assassin. The risks were too great. This guy might turn around and stab him in the back, and Hong Dang would lose his life right there.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed softly at the words, and a chilling killing intent appeared in his eyes. “Sir! If I didn’t genuinely need someone to share the burden of firepower, do you really think I’d share this treasure with you?”

Sensing the killing intent, Hong Dang’s hair stood on end, and he asked warily, “What do you mean?”

“Brother Hong Dang, you’re too timid!” Xu Xiaoshou sneered, “If a Dao-Slayer came here, I’d kill them instantly; if a peak Taixu came, I’d secretly flee; but the one who came here is you, Brother Hong Dang! Precisely because it’s you, I am confident that even if you renege later, I can fight you to the death, which is why I chose to cooperate with you. However, Brother Hong Dang’s ambition is truly a bit disappointing. The Holy Emperor’s Dao Foundation isn’t something timid people get a chance to acquire!”

Hong Dang was furious at these words, but upon careful consideration, there was indeed some truth to them. If Shuang Dai wasn’t confident in suppressing him, why would he want to cooperate and share the treasure?

“This barrier, you have a way?” Hong Dang was swayed. Just as Shuang Dai believed he could handle Hong Dang, Hong Dang also felt his own strength was not inferior to Shuang Dai’s. If this guy really tried to betray him and stab him in the back, he was confident he could withstand the immediate counterattack.

“I have a way!” Xu Xiaoshou remained calm and collected: “I saw how that previous guy broke the formation, and coincidentally, I also have some knowledge of spiritual formations. With my methods, opening a passage in the Shennong Medicine Garden’s sealed barrier is no problem.”

“So, how do we cooperate?” Hong Dang asked decisively. He had also figured it out: since he was already here, if the Shennong Medicine Garden was truly as wondrous as Shuang Dai claimed, and he simply walked away, he would likely regret it deeply later.

“I’ll break the formation; you draw the fire.” Xu Xiaoshou twirled his fingers, speaking with ease, like a lion opening its mouth: “Afterward, we’ll split all the spiritual herbs in the Shennong Medicine Garden ninety percent for me, ten percent for you.”