Chapter 1116: “不急”

Third, of course, is a summary of various situations that defy common sense.

For instance, sudden realm mutations, serendipitous encounters, or special changes occurring due to favorable timing and geography, even unbeknownst to the Spirit Cultivator themselves. Other examples include abilities forcibly seized through soul possession, or the power of ghost beasts.

Xiao Kongdong's gaze swept past Mu Zixi and landed on Xu Xiaoshou, seemingly holding some insider information, a meaningful look in his eyes.

The power of ghost beasts?

Xu Xiaoshou was slightly stunned. "How does the power of ghost beasts get added to realm power?"

Xiao Kongdong spread his hands and chuckled. "I'm not entirely clear on that question. The power of ghost beasts is a peculiar force that low-level Spirit Cultivators cannot access, high-level ones are hesitant to actively engage with, and only a very small number of people research. Unfortunately, I haven't studied it."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately looked at Mr. Ji Ren, wondering if this knowledgeable teacher might know something.

"This old man doesn't understand much either, only vaguely. To find the answer to this question, one might have to start from the Holy Divine Palace, from Laurel Peak's Sacred Mountain." Mei Ji Ren shook his head.

Ascend the Sacred Mountain?

That's not looking for answers; that's looking for death, isn't it?

Xu Xiaoshou had once boastfully told Elder Sang that as a Throne, he would ascend the Sacred Mountain. However, after witnessing the combat strength of the Half-Saint Jiang Buyi, he felt he had indeed underestimated the world's powerhouses.

Whether a Throne in the Dao realm could conquer the Sacred Mountain was still unknown, primarily depending on how much the system could boost his combat power. But to go to the Sacred Mountain just to find answers about special realms, he would surely be going to his doom.

As for... Greedy God!

Xu Xiaoshou still didn't want to sign a ghost beast contract with Greedy God just for a special realm.

In his view, his relationship with Greedy God was already as close as it would be after signing a contract.

Adding another layer of binding through a contract might not only enhance their connection but also entangle him with enigmatic forces like the Grey Palace of Xuyue.

When it came to ghost beasts, if certain karma were to be tainted, it might be difficult to escape.

Thinking this over, Xu Xiaoshou pondered briefly before asking, "Teacher, Senior Brother, do you know what kind of force the Grey Palace of Xuyue in the Southern Region is?"

The abrupt shift in topic seemed to make sense upon closer thought.

Xiao Kongdong suddenly connected it to something, his expression solemn as he said, "My advice is definitely not to. The Grey Palace of Xuyue is indeed another path to cultivating special realms, but that place is too chaotic. The risk of going to the Grey Palace is no less than ascending the Sacred Mountain."

Xu Xiaoshou mused inwardly that he had been misunderstood and had merely wanted to understand the Grey Palace of Xuyue as a force, but he offered no further explanation.

Xiao Kongdong's words, however, opened another door to the world for him.

"How strong is the Grey Palace of Xuyue?" Xu Xiaoshou was slightly surprised. The risk of going there was no less than ascending the Sacred Mountain, which implicitly affirmed the Grey Palace's power.

But if it's so powerful, why were the people from the Grey Palace of Xuyue he had seen in the past—such as Jiao Tangtang and Xin Gugu—well, just average?

Xiao Kongdong gazed deeply at Xu Xiaoshou, then sighed after a long moment, saying:

"Think about it yourself: in the Five Regions of the continent, which place or force dares to casually mention the term 'ghost beast'? Most keep silent about it."

"Yet, under these circumstances, the Grey Palace of Xuyue in the Southern Region is the first and only force that dares to actively involve itself with ghost beasts and research their power."

"By rights, it should have been annihilated long ago under the suppression of the Holy Divine Palace. But it has survived to this day. Why?"

Right, why?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't want to think at all; this was clearly his question, and Xiao Kongdong should be answering it.

"Why, indeed?" Mu Zixi, at the perfect moment, asked the question for him.

Xiao Kongdong glanced at the brother and sister, then stated gravely, "Because of 'chaos'!"

"The Southern Region is too chaotic. Unlike the Central and Eastern Regions, which have clear rules and order, the Southern Region is a place of disorder."

"In that area, the Holy Divine Palace has very few branches, and those are located in less important county towns, holding little influence."

"The true wielders of power and influence in the Southern Region, trusted by various Spirit Cultivators, are instead various self-made intelligence organizations and indigenous prominent families."

"Examples include the Grey Palace of Xuyue, the Feng Family, Half-Moon Residence, and numerous other forces that possess their own branches of unorthodox and deviant arts."

"You should know that the main cultivation methods of Spirit Cultivators in the Southern Region are 'heretical and deviant' abilities. Perhaps that term isn't entirely accurate, but it truly describes them, because their practices are genuinely very strange."

Xiao Kongdong seemed to recall something, a look of wistfulness on his face.

Xu Xiaoshou, however, recalled the ability he gained from Old Evil, the 'Eyes of Malevolent Yin'. Such a thing was indeed not something normal Spirit Cultivators would cultivate or could successfully cultivate.

"It's exactly like Old Evil's ability. He must have been to the Southern Region to acquire such a legacy." Xiao Kongdong nodded, confirming Xu Xiaoshou's thought.

"Why is the Southern Region so chaotic?" Mu Zixi spoke up again.

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself that he had found a mouthpiece from the Yuan Mansion world.

His junior sister was sometimes useful in this regard; her curiosity was overflowing. No matter who the target was, she could ask questions that most people wanted to ask but didn't dare, or questions that would otherwise go unanswered.

"The Southern Region reveres the Evil God; legend has it that it's the place where the Evil God fell."

"Her philosophy advocated 'breaking through order' and 'pursuing freedom'. Over time, this philosophy evolved into something quite twisted, becoming the current 'disorder' and the 'pursuit of true spiritual and physical freedom,' which essentially means 'indulgence'."

Xiao Kongdong had few reservations, generously explaining all of this. He then paused and added, "Well, the so-called Evil God holds a status in the Southern Region comparable to the Sword God in the Eastern Region."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately realized, yet still felt somewhat puzzled.

He wondered how such a good philosophy—'breaking through order' and 'pursuing freedom'—could have degenerated into the current state of the Southern Region.

"No wonder she's an Evil God..." Mu Zixi also murmured.

"No," Mei Ji Ren suddenly interjected, seriously fanning himself with a paper fan. "'Evil God' is merely a jocular nickname used by Spirit Cultivators in the Southern Region. Among the Ten Ancient Ancestors, her true title is 'Ancestor of Arts,' or 'God of Arts.'"

Xu Xiaoshou's gaze turned, slightly moved.

Mei Ji Ren clasped his paper fan, looked at his student, and said softly:

"All arts and techniques under heaven originate from the Ancestor of Arts."

"Whether it's the path of spirit arrays, unorthodox arts—which were actually known as 'Golden Gate Arts' in ancient times—or even Heavenly Secrets, they are all essentially abilities of the Ancestor of Arts."

"It's just that most of these ancient legacies have been lost over time, making it difficult to trace their true origins."

Xu Xiaoshou was greatly astonished.

Heavenly Secrets also originated from that Evil God in the Southern Region... or rather, the Ancestor of Arts?

"That's right..."

He suddenly realized, having heard before that Spirit Cultivators in the Southern Region practiced unorthodox ways, some even developing their own Heavenly Secrets, which eventually led to bizarre, unclassifiable results.

So, there was truth to the rumors after all!

The things they researched truly had legitimate origins; they just couldn't learn the authentic versions.

Speaking of authenticity...

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly wondered, compared to the Dao Hall Master's 'Heavenly Secrets', which of his own 'Weaving Arts' could be considered authentic?

If both were legacies of the Ancestor of Arts, perhaps what the system provided was more orthodox? But where did the system find these legacy experiences—from the Great Dao itself?

Xu Xiaoshou dared not ponder further.

He usually avoided delving too deeply into such terrifying thoughts, as it served no purpose other than to scare himself.

"Let's conclude this topic."

Xu Xiaoshou raised his eyes and smiled, looking at the two seniors before him, returning to the main point: "How much time is left on your 'countdown'?"

"Six days," Xiao Kongdong replied.

"Same as me..." Xu Xiaoshou turned to Mr. Ji Ren. "Teacher, you have eight days left?"

"Yes," Mei Ji Ren nodded.

He wondered if the two seniors weren't anxious at all, even though more than half the time had passed.

Xu Xiaoshou was actually a bit anxious. He had wasted an unexpected amount of time in the Yuan Mansion world, mainly waiting for Lei Xier's transformation. To his surprise, after he emerged, the two seniors remained completely unfazed.

He decided that if they weren't anxious, he wouldn't be either.

He reasoned that at worst, when the countdown ended, they would all die together.

He figured that a mere Void Island surely wouldn't be able to bury Seven Sword Immortal Mr. Ji Ren and Senior Brother Can Yue Xiancheng.

If that were the case, it would be perfectly normal for him, Xu Xiaoshou, to be buried alongside them. In comparison, he felt utterly insignificant.

"Then let's stop chatting and head to Sin One Hall first?" Xu Xiaoshou suggested.

"Alright, as Mr. Ji Ren arranges," Xiao Kongdong said. He thought that if even Xu Xiaoshou wasn't anxious and was willing to waste time cultivating in the Yuan Mansion world, then he must have a backup plan.

If that was the case, he thought, why should he be anxious?

Moreover, this time they were acting with Mr. Ji Ren. At worst, they would all die together.

It was normal for him to die on Void Island, but surely a mere Void Island couldn't bury Mr. Ji Ren, could it?

"You're not planning to break through to the Throne Dao realm here anymore?" Mei Ji Ren looked at his student. He was actually a tiny bit anxious, but then he thought that if Xu Xiaoshou, with even less time on his countdown, wasn't anxious, why should he be?

Too many people stood behind this kid, including Bazun An, the revered figure of both the Black and White Veins.

Void Island was his home. Mei Ji Ren simply didn't believe for a second that Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't have some backup plan, especially if he was willing to waste time and life entering the Yuan Mansion world.

Bazun An must have left some trump card for Xu Xiaoshou, allowing him to be so fearless with only six days left on his countdown.

Since everyone else wasn't anxious, he, the old man, wouldn't be either.

He thought it would be better to seize this opportunity for Xu Xiaoshou to first break through to the Throne Dao realm. It would be safer to enter Sin One Hall after gaining greater means of self-preservation.

"I'd like to..."

Seeing everyone so calm, Xu Xiaoshou's anxiety also dissipated considerably.

However, compared to breaking through to the Throne Dao realm, he still felt it was better to eliminate the life-threatening "countdown" as soon as possible.

He wondered how much time it would take to break through to the Throne Dao realm.

He considered that if he were to meditate, achieve a breakthrough, and then ten days or half a month passed, by the time he woke up, he wouldn't be waking up at all.

"I feel that my opportunity to break through to the Throne Dao realm isn't now, but in Sin One Hall." Xu Xiaoshou had a vague premonition, but it was mostly an excuse to make Mr. Ji Ren and Xiao Kongdong anxious enough to enter Sin One Hall first.

He thought he could break through anytime; after all, with Mr. Ji Ren as his protector, how could anything go wrong?

But the prerequisite was that this possibility would only arise once they entered Sin One Hall: by unexpectedly encountering a "Death Exemption Token," successfully exchanging it, and then breaking through after the "countdown" was lifted.

Wandering the streets and praying that someone would exchange a "Death Exemption Token" in Sin One Hall, bring out three of them, and then coincidentally bump into their four-person team to die—that was nothing short of wishing for pie in the sky, utterly ridiculous.

"Let's go then," Mei Ji Ren said, waving his paper fan, signaling Xiao Kongdong to lead the way.

Responding to his words, the group moved forward.

Sunlight spilled onto the wide, long street, stretching the shadows of the four-person team, adding a touch of cheer to this lifeless giant's kingdom.

Everyone was relaxed, carrying few burdens.

Apart from Mu Zixi, the three of them knew that the others had backup plans; otherwise, they wouldn't be treating the "death countdown" with such nonchalance.

Although this was his first time encountering such a peculiar "countdown," it didn't matter that he lacked experience; it only mattered that someone else had it.

As the saying goes, "When three people walk together, one of them is bound to be my teacher."

He reasoned that if his teacher wasn't anxious, why should he be?

As a result, each member of the four-person team felt at ease about this trip to Sin One Hall, as if they were sightseeing, their morale at its peak.

Aside from the faint, deliberately suppressed anxiety, all that remained was intense curiosity about the internal situation of Sin One Hall.

—On a journey without danger, appreciating the scenery naturally became the top priority!

"Sin One Hall is still a bit dangerous," Xiao Kongdong said as they walked, continuously relaying information he had obtained while with Ye Xiaotian. "Ye Xiaotian said that when he came out, its perilous domain attribute had already been activated. Now, a few days have passed, so that place must have become even more terrifying."

"Hm," Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Mr. Ji Ren, thinking, the Miracle Forest was already devastated, and the activation of its perilous domain attribute was repeatedly suppressed. With this old Sword Immortal here, what was there to fear?

"Indeed," Mei Ji Ren also nodded subtly, casting a fleeting glance at Xu Xiaoshou. Seeing the boy's calm expression, Mei Ji Ren wondered just how powerful the trump card Bazun An had left Xu Xiaoshou was, making him so dismissive of even the foremost of the Nine Great Perilous Domains.

"Dean?" Mu Zixi's attention drifted far away. "Has the Dean also been to this place? Where is he?"

"He went home," Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes. This junior sister was even more outrageous than him; her ability to grasp the main point was almost zero.

"There are quite a few Void Attendants in Sin One Hall," Xiao Kongdong continued, feeling vaguely that something wasn't quite right, but he didn't think much of it after glancing at Mr. Ji Ren. "Ye Xiaotian said he was chased out and only managed to escape because he possessed space-related abilities. Everyone else died inside."

"I'm not afraid of Void Attendants," Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand dismissively.

He no longer feared even the Void Attendant guarding the Shennong Herb Garden.

After contracting the Void General and learning that it was once the leader commanding all Void Attendants, Xu Xiaoshou now only wanted to meet that Void Attendant again and ask if it still wanted to guard the Shennong Herb Garden.

Of course, there was only one possible answer to that question.

"Tsk tsk..."

Xiao Kongdong's face was full of emotion; he found them all so arrogant, and he liked it.

If even Xu Xiaoshou was so arrogant after contracting the Void General, what was he still worrying about?

"Shall we go in then?" He swallowed the words about Ye Xiaotian facing hundreds of Void Attendants back then, deciding those details weren't worth mentioning.

The group finally arrived before the majestic hall. Coincidentally, they hadn't encountered any living people on the way, which was normal given the vastness of Void Island.

Without delay, Xiao Kongdong glanced up at the plaque, confirmed it was indeed "Sin One Hall," and placed a hand on the hall's great door.

He naturally had to lead the way.

He figured only he was fit for this position; Mr. Ji Ren would only act if an insoluble emergency arose. Xiao Kongdong was well aware of his own place.

"Follow me,"

Mei Ji Ren, however, didn't fuss about order. Watching Xiao Kongdong vanish into the ethereal mist beyond the hall door, he turned to his student, spoke, and then stepped forward to follow.

"I'll go first!"

Mu Zixi was the first to rush forward. In an exploration team, being in the middle was naturally the safest position.

The vanguard had to directly face unexpected dangers, while those at the rear had to contend with the unknown, chilling dread, terror, and their own fear behind them, which was even more terrifying than being the vanguard.

The young girl felt she wouldn't be able to handle the rear position, so she rushed into the hall third.

"Then I'll be the tank at the back,"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. It felt like a group of four breaking into a haunted house; it was quite amusing.

He didn't hesitate much. At this moment, he didn't even subconsciously pull out the Holy Emperor Dragon Scales to detect the risks of entering Sin One Hall, simply stepping straight inside.

He couldn't blame anyone else; he could only blame the two formidable figures in this team for providing such an overwhelming sense of security!

So full it overflowed! So strong it was explosive!

What Xu Xiaoshou didn't know was this.

The first three were fine; they simply entered Sin One Hall.

As he, too, stepped through the grand entrance of Sin One Hall, his entire form disappearing into the illusory mist within,

The plaque above the hall entrance subtly shifted, as if time and space were in disarray. The three characters "Sin One Hall" transformed into five characters: "Ancient and Modern Tower of Forgotten Worries."