Chapter 1100: I am looking forward to your "Ghost Sword Technique"

“Xiao Kong Dong!”

A piercing roar from the depths of a soul echoed in the night.

Having abandoned her physical body, severely weakening herself not to harm but merely to escape the predicament of the Illusory Sword Technique, the Ghost Hag utilized the explosive power of her temporary 'Soul Escape'. Just as she was about to burst out of this illusory world, a roadblock descended from the sky, stopping her.

Just one step!Only one step away!

But the man with narrowed eyes in front of her had reacted in mere moments, appearing before her.

The Ghost Hag had, in her mind, completely torn this narrowed-eyed monster to shreds.

She had abandoned her physical body, and even used 'Corpse-Devouring Soul Escape'!

This was an advanced escape technique that drained the physical body's power, in exchange for a short-term surge in soul energy, used for retreating from enemies or fleeing for one's life.

After using it, regardless of success, her former physical body could no longer be used.

Aside from seizing another's body or independently crafting a new one, the Ghost Hag would be left with only this soul body for a long time.

And yet, Xiao Kong Dong remained relentlessly pursuing her!

“Calling me so loudly, is there something special you wish to tell me?”

Under the moonlight, two faint, dark miniature swords appeared in the pupils of Xiao Kong Dong's slightly narrowed eyes.

This was a simple application of the 'Soul Control Deception Technique', through which he could clearly see the Ghost Hag's soul body and all her subsequent movements.

Unless one was a Spirit Master who had mastered special spiritual techniques, or had studied the ancient sword cultivation's 'Soul Control Deception Technique', it was difficult to cross the boundaries of yin and yang to perceive a human's soul body with mortal eyes.

This was the unique power that some Spirit Masters, specializing in mental and soul cultivation, most desired.

Because without specialized cultivation in this path, ordinary people—even those of the Grand Void realm—would likely be helpless against soul attacks. They wouldn't even be able to see them!

But clearly, Xiao Kong Dong was not among them.

“Just give me a chance...” The Ghost Hag's twisted face showed intense struggle, her voice finally weakening as she pleaded desperately.

“I gave you a chance,” Xiao Kong Dong said with a sigh. “If you had been capable enough to break free from my Illusory Sword Technique, I likely wouldn't have pursued you further. As the old saying goes, don't pursue a cornered enemy.”

What he said was indeed true.

Firstly, Xiao Kong Dong had completely looked down on Evil Elder and the Ghost Hag, believing there was someone behind their actions this time. The facts, however, seemed to prove otherwise; if there were, they would have shown up by now.

Secondly, his intervention to detain them was entirely to protect Xu Xiaoshou. If it had been an enemy's diversionary tactic, his master would likely hold him accountable afterward. But facts also proved that the appearance of these two assassins had no 'tactic' whatsoever, only 'recklessness'.

“You and I have no grievance between us. I never intended to harm you,” the Ghost Hag said miserably, gazing at the night sky and the moonlight, her heart filled with desolation. “If you let me go today, I will surely repay you in the future.”

“Can you even harm me?” Xiao Kong Dong calmly retorted.

The Ghost Hag's soul body trembled violently, and she helplessly closed her eyes.

Heaven knew how much time she had wasted running frantically and circling around with 'Evil Elder' in the illusory world.

She had believed that Evil Elder, having used 'Deceitful Gate Evil Arts' and unleashed the 'Ominous Yin Eye', could lead her to break free and escape like a dragon returning to the sea.

She never expected that a terrifying aura of pressure would erupt from the adjacent street; only then did the Ghost Hag realize something was amiss.

Upon probing, sure enough, 'Evil Elder's' abilities were fake, virtual creations, and 'Evil Elder' himself was actually Xiao Kong Dong in disguise!

She had been deceived!

And if things were as expected, the disturbance on the adjacent street meant that Evil Elder had met with misfortune. He was likely already dead. A dignified Grand Void realm cultivator...

They had even survived the horrors of the 'Blood Realm' together.

She never thought that on this Void Island, they would both die at the hands of another Grand Void realm cultivator.

Dying in a grand battle would be acceptable, but the Ghost Hag could clearly foresee that even if she exhausted every means at her disposal, she probably couldn't harm a single hair on Xiao Kong Dong.

After all, she had used every last trump card she had, yet she couldn't even break out of the most basic Illusory Sword Technique.

Was the gap between people truly so vast?

“We are both Grand Void realm cultivators!”

The more she thought, the angrier she became; the more panicked, the more indignant. Her emotions nearing collapse, the Ghost Hag's soul body erupted with immense spiritual power, distorting her into a monstrous figure as she shrieked:

“Xiao Kong Dong, if you refuse to spare me today, I will fight to my dying breath to tear a piece of flesh from your body! I would rather be shattered jade than a whole tile!”

The furious roar of her soul echoed across the heavens. Xiao Kong Dong felt a stinging pain in his head, as if pricked by needles.

However, as the two dark miniature swords in his pupils slightly expanded, a soul barrier formed by sword intent effectively blocked the damage outside his body.

He smiled, surveying the Ghost Hag's almost frenzied soul body, and calmly said, “Do you really think you are jade?”

“Ah—”

The Ghost Hag's soul body instantly turned crimson, and the surrounding soul power became wild and turbulent. She seemed to have used another forbidden technique, charging desperately towards Xiao Kong Dong like a cornered beast.

“Die!!”

Xiao Kong Dong remained unmoved, not even making a move to draw a sword.

It wasn't until the soul power was about to reach him, until the Ghost Hag's horrifyingly ugly face fully magnified in his pupils, almost pressing against his own, that he slowly raised a single finger.

“Very well, I'll give you one last chance.”

The raging, crimson soul power that permeated the heavens was instantly suppressed. The Ghost Hag's forward momentum was halted as if a pause button had been pressed, and she immediately froze in the night.

The madness and desperate struggle in her eyes vanished, replaced only by rationality and an absolute yearning for survival.

“Thank you, thank you, Senior Brother...”

“As long as you spare me, I'll do anything you ask, even be your ox or horse...”

“What I cannot accomplish myself, I can surely help you achieve using my connections and resources from the Three Incense Sticks. My survival would definitely be beneficial to you, bringing nothing but advantages...”

“Shhh.” Xiao Kong Dong frowned, bringing a finger to his lips and hushing her softly.

The Ghost Hag immediately realized she was being too noisy. She pulled back, nervously raising her gaze to the Senior Brother of Crescent City, ready to listen to his instructions.

“You're thanking me too soon,” Xiao Kong Dong said calmly, massaging his ear. “I only said I'd give you a chance; I didn't say I'd spare your life directly.”

The Ghost Hag's expression changed, her eyes again bloodshot and crimson. But she quickly regained her composure and asked tremblingly, “Wh-what do you mean?”

“Your opponent isn't me, it's him. As long as you survive his hands, the sky's the limit for you, the ocean's wide open for you. I won't block your path; I keep my word,” Xiao Kong Dong said, gesturing to the side with the hand he had been massaging.

The Ghost Hag, her soul body trembling, laboriously turned her head to look.

Under the night sky, two figures, one old and one young, stepped through the air, treading on moonlight.

The elder gently swayed a paper fan, radiating an ethereal, immortal aura; the younger one had a fierce expression, with a bounty of ten thousand gold on his head.

“Xu Xiaoshou...”

The Ghost Hag's gaze, almost capable of devouring, flickered past Xu Xiaoshou. Not believing him to be her opponent, only the elder remained.

“You, who are you?” She took a silent, meaningless deep breath with her soul body, asking in as calm a tone as a normal person would use.

“This old one is Mei Siren,” Mei Siren said, fanning himself with the paper fan. Sensing the soul body's question was directed at him, he, always respectful of his opponents, did not hesitate to introduce himself.

Mei Siren... The Ghost Hag seemed to have heard a name that was slightly familiar yet utterly strange. She lowered her head, pondering it for a while, then suddenly looked up, her soul body trembling violently.

“The Seven Sword Immortals, Mei Siren?”

At this moment, the Ghost Hag's cracking scream almost pierced the heavens, and her soul body developed more cracks.

...Cracked?

Xu Xiaoshou watched this scene in shock. It was the first time he had truly witnessed someone being scared to the point of their soul cracking just by a name.

He subconsciously poked his two index fingers into his ears. Then, with a shift of thought, he saw that the Ghost Hag's scream had brought '0.01' charge value to 'Finger of Annihilation'.

If I restrain her and make her scream at that decibel ten thousand times, I could have a 'Finger of Annihilation' with '100' charge value... An absurd thought occurred to Xu Xiaoshou.

“Precisely,” Mei Siren calmly nodded.

“You're toying with me!” The Ghost Hag, eyes red, craned her head and roared at Xiao Kong Dong. “She couldn't even defeat the Senior Brother of Crescent City; how could she fight Mei Siren, one of the Seven Sword Immortals?”

This was an old monster among old monsters!

The only one who could compare to him was perhaps You Cha, also one of the Seven Sword Immortals?

And You Cha's combat power was on par with someone capable of instantly killing the former Hall Master of the Holy Divine Palace...

“I'm insane!”

The Ghost Hag clutched her head, muttering incoherently, nearly collapsing on the spot.

How dared I...

Xu Xiaoshou has Xiao Kong Dong and Mei Siren by his side. How dared I attack him? This is clearly rushing to my death!

It's impossible...

How could Xu Xiaoshou have protectors like Xiao Kong Dong and Mei Siren? Isn't he just a member of the Holy Slaves? Why would these two grand masters of the sword become his protectors?

Mei Siren suddenly chuckled.

He had a slight playful streak, but he never expected this soul body to be so susceptible to teasing. In just a few words, its Dao heart was almost shattered. He immediately spoke, “This old one is not your opponent. The one you are to fight is him.”

He folded his paper fan, pointing to Xu Xiaoshou beside him.

The Ghost Hag felt as though she had fallen from heaven to hell, and then from hell back to heaven. Her emotions were incredibly convoluted as she turned in disbelief to look at the only young man present.

“You?”

From that single simple word, Xu Xiaoshou detected shock, doubt, and disdain.

“Am I really that pathetic? I've at least taken a few Grand Void realm lives myself...” Xu Xiaoshou cleared his throat and said seriously, “Don't recognize me? This Seat, Xu Xiaoshou!”

This absurd 'This Seat' instantly disrupted the somber atmosphere, making it comical and slightly playful.

Xiao Kong Dong's eyelids twitched. Mei Siren's paper fan, which had been pointing at Xu Xiaoshou, paused for a second before he irritably tapped it downwards, but it was easily dodged by the ever-prepared 'This Seat'.

The Ghost Hag seemed to have heard a monumental joke, instinctively wanting to ask for clarification.

But she forcefully suppressed this impulse, turning to look at Xiao Kong Dong and Mei Siren, asking solemnly, “What you said, that I can live as long as I defeat him—do you truly mean it?!”

Her final words even became an exclamation, showing how dearly she valued her life.

“My word is my bond,” Xiao Kong Dong nodded.

“A promise worth a thousand pieces of gold,” Mei Siren glanced at Xiao Kong Dong, concurring.

“First... one burst of vigor, then waning strength, then exhaustion!” Xu Xiaoshou stepped forward, pointing at the soul body before him, and sneered, “Are you looking down on me? Believe it or not, once your spirit weakens, I can kill you with just a glance?”

Heh heh... The Ghost Hag sneered inwardly, not even sparing Xu Xiaoshou a glance. She only stared at Mei Siren and asked, “How do we fight?”

She could vaguely perceive that this was a senior expert guiding a junior, using her as a whetstone. But she didn't care!

Life is truly precious.

What if she was a whetstone? If she could live by sharpening Xu Xiaoshou's blade once today, Evil Elder, if he were still alive and learned this, would probably die of anger on the spot.

After all, once his 'Ominous Yin Eye' possessed a body, and if no one intervened, there was a ninety percent chance he was already dead.

“You are free to do as you please; just give it your full effort. Even if you harbor murderous intent, as long as you win, no one will stop you today,” Mei Siren said with a smile.

If I dared to kill, I truly wouldn't survive... The Ghost Hag was already secretly delighted. She knew her limits, thinking to herself that Xu Xiaoshou couldn't possibly die today. She could only win, and only win with difficulty, neither severely injuring nor crippling Xu Xiaoshou, and certainly not killing him.

One must know the score!

“How should I fight?” Xu Xiaoshou also looked towards Mr. Siren.

He hadn't lied just now. Given the Ghost Hag's current disoriented state and unstable Dao heart, the Heart Sword Technique, 'Under the Gaze of Gods and Buddhas', truly needed only 'one glance' to reliably cause this old hag to fall into qi deviation.

A Ghost Hag at her peak might have been able to resist with special methods, but the current Ghost Hag was already terrified... well, her soul! She had no power to resist whatsoever.

But Xu Xiaoshou knew that what Mr. Siren wanted him to use was no longer the 'Heart Sword Technique', but definitely the 'Ghost Sword Technique'!

But the 'Ghost Sword Technique'...

Xu Xiaoshou's current understanding of this sword technique was limited to its name. Or more accurately, aside from the vast inherent knowledge gained from 'Sword Mastery', he would find it difficult to outwardly apply it in a short amount of time.

It was like before he began cultivating the 'Heart Sword Technique'; he had no practical means to wield it.

“Since your comprehension of the 'Heart Sword Technique' is so high, this old one will teach you as you learn and fight. But remember, this time you can only use the Ghost Sword Technique.”

Mei Siren's answer was exactly as Xu Xiaoshou expected. After speaking, he looked at the Ghost Hag.

“Again, you give it your full effort. However, if Xu Xiaoshou uses any ability other than the 'Ghost Sword Technique' during your fight, you win, and you can leave at any time.”

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

“Master, aren't you a bit too confident in me? Where did you even get that confidence from? I don't have it myself!”

The Ghost Hag was also dazed by what she heard.

She shook her head twice before realizing what the old Sword Immortal was saying, asking incredulously, “You mean, he's fighting me, and he has to restrict himself?” She pointed at Xu Xiaoshou.

Mei Siren waved his paper fan, giving her a look that plainly asked, “Are you stupid?”

He didn't repeat his words, merely smiling. “You've already given up a physical body for him; he should also impose some restrictions on himself, to return the favor, wouldn't you say?”

Never had the Ghost Hag loved the ancient sword cultivators' insistence on fairness so much. She absolutely adored the phrase 'returning the favor'.

“You, a beginner?” The Ghost Hag finally looked at Xu Xiaoshou, referring to the 'Ghost Sword Technique'.

It was not hard to infer from Mei Siren's previous words that Xu Xiaoshou was definitely a novice and had never encountered the 'Ghost Sword Technique' before!

“Mhm...”

Xu Xiaoshou merely nodded his head, and the Ghost Hag felt as if she had been struck by a blessing from heaven. Flowers seemed to bloom in her heart, and she almost leaped with joy.

There's a chance, an absolute chance!

Today, absolutely, there's a chance to survive!

Heaven does not wish my demise!

“Forget giving you one battle, even if you were given one year or ten years, how long would it take for you, Xu Xiaoshou, who has just begun cultivating the ancient sword cultivation's 'Ghost Sword Technique', to reach the first realm?”

The Ghost Hag had a rudimentary understanding of ancient sword cultivation.

Only with a Dao-Severing cultivation, combined with the first realm of one of the nine great sword techniques, could one perhaps harm a Grand Void realm cultivator.

“Xu Xiaoshou was merely at the Master cultivation level... No, now he couldn't even use any external power, only the 'Ghost Sword Technique'. Even if he achieved the first realm, could he kill her?”

—What a joke!

“I truly look forward to your 'Ghost Sword Technique'!” The Ghost Hag could no longer suppress the smile at the corner of her lips, and a hint of faint mockery even appeared in her eyes.

“Scorned, Passive Value, 1.”

The information bar flickered, and Xu Xiaoshou's eyelids twitched in response.

It had to be said, the look in her eyes was quite irritating. Xu Xiaoshou also clearly felt the pressure Mr. Siren deliberately placed on him.

He believed that if he couldn't kill the Ghost Hag today, his master and the others would indeed let her leave; this was their 'character'.

But since the opportunity for the five-person assassin squad of the Central Region to gather tonight had presented itself, he would not allow this menace in front of him to escape.

The Ghost Hag was, after all, an assassin, a Grand Void realm cultivator. If he couldn't kill her tonight, she might truly take his life at some unsuspecting moment later on.

A lingering threat is worse than an immediate one.

“I also look forward to it...”

Xu Xiaoshou's eyelids narrowed slightly. He took a step forward, his chest slightly puffed out, genuinely feeling a surge of pride stimulated by the pressure. He also gained strong confidence in the 'Ghost Sword Technique' he was about to cultivate.

“It's just the beginning, but soon, it will be at its peak.”