Chapter 1118: Friends, You Are Too Anxious

The first sentence of his self-introduction had barely finished.

Xu Xiaoshou realized his mouth hadn't stopped; even though he hadn't moved it, more self-introductions spilled out:"My name is Wen Chong!""Tan Ji is just my name... my surname is Xiaoshi.""Xu Deyie.""To be honest, senior, Xu Deyie is indeed just a pseudonym. My real name is... Xu Fujiu!""...Eight Revered.""This Saint, Jiang Buyi!"

The tones varied greatly, and the demeanors were completely opposite.

A long time passed before the self-introductions finally ceased.

By then, the entire first floor of the pavilion was utterly silent. Kong Yuhen stared blankly, and Xu Xiaoshou's face flushed, feeling as though all his aliases had been exposed.

They looked at each other, speechless for a long moment.

"What's going on?""Why did I say so much?""These weren't my words, were they? But they definitely came out of my mouth..."

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned, yet he could vaguely recall when and where he had made those exact self-introductions before, as those words had indeed come from his mouth in the past.

"Before?"Xu Xiaoshou sharply noticed a blind spot, and his heart tightened.

*Could it be that Kong Yuhen used an ability while asking his question...**Did he, from a higher time dimension, extract all my self-introductions from different situations across various timelines?*

The thought filled Xu Xiaoshou with an inexplicable dread. What kind of bizarre and terrifying ability was this? Didn't it mean no one could keep any secrets from Kong Yuhen?

"You're a bit dishonest." Kong Yuhen took a while to recover from the flood of names, then smiled, "So, who exactly are you?"

"Xu Xiaoshou," Xu Xiaoshou stated firmly, no longer daring to deceive. This was a powerful figure whose intentions and stance were unclear. If he accidentally made an enemy of him, he would regret it immensely. The crucial point was that with so many aliases exposed, it would only take a little time for the person before him to determine what face was behind all those names. So, there was no need to lie anymore.

"Then I'll tentatively call you... friend!"Kong Yuhen didn't seem to accept the name "Xu Xiaoshou." He chuckled and walked back to the tea stand in the center of the pavilion, taking the main seat opposite the door. With a lift of his hand, the dust on the seat to his left was cleared. Then, he poured a cup of tea using the hot water from the teapot and gestured for Xu Xiaoshou to sit, "Friend, please take a seat."

Xu Xiaoshou, bewildered, walked over and sat down, his gaze full of questions.

"You likely have many questions, which makes you quite wary, but feel free to ask," Kong Yuhen said with a faint smile, adding at the end, "I mean no harm."

"Anything can be said?" Xu Xiaoshou asked."Anything can be said," Kong Yuhen nodded.

"Alright, my first question then: where is this place?" Xu Xiaoshou, still not daring to drink the tea, watched Kong Yuhen pick up his teacup and asked."The Pavilion of Ancient and Modern Forgetfulness," Kong Yuhen replied, exhaling softly, gently shaking his head, taking a sip, and savoring it for a moment with closed eyes.

His movements and demeanor were incredibly relaxed, like an idle person existing outside this world, without a trace of worry or anxiety, as if everything in the world was at odds with him.

"So it is this place..." Xu Xiaoshou had anticipated it, but his confusion only deepened. "But I remember entering 'Sin Palace One,' if my memory serves me correctly?"

"How could memory be wrong? And no one altered it..." Kong Yuhen chuckled softly, put down his teacup, and looked at Xu Xiaoshou. "I placed the Pavilion of Ancient and Modern Forgetfulness directly atop Sin Palace One. Those with weak spiritual perception cannot see me. Those with strong spiritual perception can enter a different realm from the same time and location, which is to say, my pavilion."

"Spiritual perception?"

"Yes, you can simply understand it as having extraordinary mental and soul power."

*Is that why I could see General Void Red, but Mr. Yiren and Xiao Kongtong couldn't? Is that why, despite entering Sin Palace One almost simultaneously, they didn't come here, but I did?*

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly understood. After a pause, he asked, "How is the strength of spiritual perception distinguished? And how is it cultivated?"

"Distinguishing it is simple: those who can enter my pavilion are one tier, and those who cannot are another," Kong Yuhen said calmly, holding his teacup. "As for cultivation, in this pavilion, we don't discuss such heavy topics. Let's just talk about two situations."

*You're certainly confident...* Xu Xiaoshou muttered inwardly, not daring to dwell on it. He asked, "Which two?"

"First, those with naturally strong spiritual perception. This is innate talent, without reason, and cannot be imitated.""Second, those with naturally weaker spiritual perception who, through trials in the mortal world, have trained their perception. Their characteristic is a physically barren body but a rich spiritual essence."

Xu Xiaoshou paused slightly, feeling a connection to something. Not daring to think too much, he retorted, "But throughout my life, I haven't endured much hardship. My body is rich, but my soul is lacking. As for talent, I know my talent isn't particularly astonishing; it falls within the normal range."

"Of course, you have no talent," Kong Yuhen affirmed with a smile, agreeing with the latter part of Xu Xiaoshou's statement. Then, he changed the subject, "But you have endured enough hardship."

"I haven't..." Xu Xiaoshou instinctively retorted.

"Friend, you're lying again. You really like to lie; it's a sign of anxiety that perhaps you haven't yet noticed," Kong Yuhen said slowly, picking up his teacup for another sip and gesturing for Xu Xiaoshou to try some, indicating the tea was good.

Finally, his gaze was direct, as if piercing through souls, as he stared at Xu Xiaoshou and said, "What I can see, you possess."

Xu Xiaoshou instinctively reached for the teacup but quickly stopped himself from picking it up, as if his original intention was just to hold it to warm his hands.

Remembering Kong Yuhen's earlier words, he lowered his gaze and asked, "My second question: why did you just call me... 'a visitor from another world'?"

"What do you think?" Kong Yuhen countered.

Xu Xiaoshou scoffed, saying, "What I think goes without saying. What I want to know is what *you* think."

"An interesting answer."Kong Yuhen nodded and said, "My Pavilion of Ancient and Modern Forgetfulness exists in another dimension. You came from Sin Palace One, so aren't you 'a visitor from another world'?"

"Is that all?" Xu Xiaoshou disbelieved.

Kong Yuhen continued, "The Void Island is outside the Holy God Continent, essentially in another dimension. You came from the Holy God Continent, so aren't you 'a visitor from another world'?"

"That explanation is also quite far-fetched," Xu Xiaoshou scoffed.

This time, Kong Yuhen didn't immediately speak. He pondered for a long time, his eyes flickering slightly, before finally saying, "You came from beyond the Holy God Continent, while I have always been within this world. When you and I met, from my perspective, aren't you 'a visitor from another world'?"

Despite being somewhat prepared, Xu Xiaoshou was still terrified by what the person before him said. It was the first time he had met someone who could see through his true nature. The moment Kong Yuhen uttered those words, Xu Xiaoshou nearly shot up from the tea stand.

But reacting like that would likely be an admission. Xu Xiaoshou relaxed his suddenly tensed muscles. He picked up the teacup, gently blew on it a few times, wiped off some tea foam, but didn't drink. He put it down and shook his head with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Amusing."*I came from the Tiansang Spirit Palace, and my past before the palace is traceable. You can go look it up; I'm not the 'visitor from another world' you speak of...* Xu Xiaoshou wanted to offer such explanations but ultimately kept them to himself.

Explaining would be akin to concealing. He just chuckled, as if savoring the person's joke, suppressing his urge to rant loudly, and then let out another small laugh.

"Heh."

Kong Yuhen's brows furrowed. "Did I see incorrectly?"

At that sound, Xu Xiaoshou immediately confirmed that the person before him did not possess "mind-reading" abilities, and that his thoughts could indeed be concealed; he wasn't invincible.

But then, after denying himself, Kong Yuhen reaffirmed.

"Impossible. Although I've forgotten some things, I haven't lost much of my ability. It stands to reason that I couldn't be wrong. You are 'a visitor from another world,' aren't you?" His gaze was burning, as if he wanted to see into Xu Xiaoshou's heart through his eyes and strip away all his secrets.

"Yes," Xu Xiaoshou replied, meeting his gaze with a smile, seemingly affirming the other's words, then added noncommittally, "If that's what you wish to believe."

"Tsk, tsk..." Kong Yuhen rubbed his chin, his expression becoming amused.

He first picked up his teacup again and took a sip, his gaze never leaving the person opposite him during the action. Then he put the cup down, stood up, stretched, let out a long sigh, and slowly sat back down, leaning on the edge of the tea stand.

"Friend, you're quite anxious."

Kong Yuhen chuckled, saying meaningfully, "I couldn't be mistaken. The better you conceal it, the more it proves your inner panic. I must admit, though, you're very good at hiding it. Experienced, perhaps?"

Xu Xiaoshou was already on pins and needles, but he suppressed it, not showing it.

"I mean no harm," Kong Yuhen reiterated, then slowly said:"Visitors from other worlds are actually not uncommon on the Holy God Continent.""Various creatures from other dimensions are considered such.""I think you needn't be more nervous or anxious because of this. You're merely an ordinary part of an extraordinary minority; you're not that important."

He paused, not giving Xu Xiaoshou a chance to speak, then continued:"I've always considered the Pavilion of Ancient and Modern Forgetfulness a place without worries, where troubles are forgotten. Naturally, I speak a bit plainly, but truly, I mean no harm.""What I hope for is that every friend who comes here can do the same: rediscover their true self and return to normalcy."

"Why?" Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but ask.

"Many questions don't have a 'why.' If you insist on an answer..." Kong Yuhen spread his hands. "I don't know either. I told you, I've forgotten many things."

Xu Xiaoshou actually wanted to press for more information. He felt that the person before him probably knew more than anyone else in the world; at least since his debut, this was the only person who had seen through his very essence.

But precisely because of this, Xu Xiaoshou felt even more unable to stay in this Pavilion of Ancient and Modern Forgetfulness. Kong Yuhen's true intentions... No, he himself said his intentions were good, but after he gave a third explanation for "a visitor from another world," Xu Xiaoshou felt his worries hadn't vanished but had, in fact, doubled.

"I have a third question," Xu Xiaoshou said."Please speak."

"When can I leave this place?" Xu Xiaoshou asked unequivocally. This was a question he had wanted to ask for a long time, and his ability to wait until now to ask it in a casual manner showed a significant increase in his patience compared to his pain tolerance.

"Anytime," Kong Yuhen's answer was unexpected. He stood up directly and gestured towards the door. "Even now. My intention is for people to forget their worries, not to cause them more worry just because I exist."

"Phew~" Xu Xiaoshou let out a long breath mentally, stood up from the tea stand, and walked to the wooden door.

Unexpectedly, there was indeed no obstruction. Kong Yuhen made no superfluous movements, merely appearing to see a friend off, with a hint of fondness and reluctance in his eyes.

Beyond that, there was truly no hostility. It was as if the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale had not failed; his heart rate remained calm.—*Long ago, under the bewildering combination of strange abilities like time and space, Xu Xiaoshou, utterly powerless to resist, had completely lost faith in the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale. He believed the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale could be reasoned with for ordinary people, but Kong Yuhen was an exception. If Jiang Buyi came here, he too would surely be utterly bewildered, perhaps even killed, by the convergence of space-time attributes!*

Yet, Kong Yuhen's demeanor from beginning to end truly seemed as if he was only there to make a friend, using the method of actively luring people into this peculiar place to gain a trusted confidant with whom he could chat endlessly.

"I'm insane!"The instant before Xu Xiaoshou's hand touched the wooden door, he felt it was absurd that he was excusing this unknown individual in his heart.

He regained a sliver of reason, stifled the urge to open the wooden door, and turned back to ask, "What's behind this door?"

Kong Yuhen chuckled. "Friend, you are truly anxious. Could what's behind the door possibly be hell?"

Xu Xiaoshou let out a dry, "Heh heh," thinking, *If I die, I die.* He was about to press his hand on the door and push it open.

"Wait," a voice came from behind him.

*You finally spoke—a surprise!* Xu Xiaoshou thought.

He slowly turned, only to see Kong Yuhen pacing back. From the wooden wall opposite the door, he took down a staff imbued with temporal power, which had been hanging on the far right of the wall.

Then, he brought the staff over to Xu Xiaoshou.

"What does this mean?" Xu Xiaoshou's vigilance reached its peak. He looked at the staff as if it were a nuclear bomb about to detonate.

"This is the 'Temporal Ancestor Shadow Staff.' You've probably never heard of it, but long ago, some enthusiasts listed it among the Ten Great Psionic Weapons," Kong Yuhen explained.

Xu Xiaoshou's pupils constricted.*The Ten Great Psionic Weapons...**So, this isn't just a nuclear bomb...*

"What do you mean?" Xu Xiaoshou repeated, his voice extremely heavy. He felt as though he was being controlled again, just like when he first entered, and cold sweat trickled down his back.He tried to move a finger... "Huh?"*I can move?*

"A parting gift for a friend," Kong Yuhen, dressed as a wealthy scholar, handed over the Temporal Ancestor Shadow Staff.

"For me?" Xu Xiaoshou's lips parted, his face turning somewhat pale. "What... is the price?"

Kong Yuhen was taken aback, then laughed out loud after a long pause. "Friend, you truly are anxious! Can't it simply be a gift without a price? If 'giving' requires a price, then what would 'transaction' be called?"*But damn it, I don't believe it at all. Someone idly giving me the Temporal Ancestor Shadow Staff, one of the Ten Great Psionic Weapons? How is that any different from some strange being gleefully running over to give me an Imitator? Who would believe such a thing?!*

After a deep breath, Xu Xiaoshou said, "Just be direct. I don't trust you."*Perhaps it's a locator...**Perhaps one day when I'm on the verge of death, something inside will come out and take over my body...**Perhaps with this Temporal Ancestor Shadow Staff, in the days to come, you'll gradually consume me...*Xu Xiaoshou's mind had already found countless reasons for Kong Yuhen's actions, but none of them were "a gift." This didn't align with his definition of powerful figures in this world. There were no such selfless people. This seemed like a wealthy fool.

Kong Yuhen, oblivious to Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts, nodded with satisfaction upon hearing him. "Friend, this is the most honest you've been in my Pavilion of Ancient and Modern Forgetfulness. I can see that."

Xu Xiaoshou's face stiffened, and his thoughts abruptly halted.

But the next second, Kong Yuhen's expression changed. "Perhaps, for your way of thinking, I should change the concept of 'giving,' and change the way I say it, right?" His expression turned cold and subtly fierce, like a ruler indifferent to all living beings. He directly thrust the Temporal Ancestor Shadow Staff into Xu Xiaoshou's arms, saying, "The things I want to give you, here in the Pavilion of Ancient and Modern Forgetfulness, you don't seem to have the ability to refuse, or any room for resistance, do you?"

Xu Xiaoshou froze, nodding his head in utter stupor. "If that's the case, you can only accept it. Why bother refusing?"

Xu Xiaoshou stared at the Temporal Ancestor Shadow Staff in his arms, feeling the influence of time and space once more, his thoughts unable to process.

"Alright, you may leave now. I look forward to your second visit," Kong Yuhen finally resumed his warm smile. "Presumably, by then, you'll be able to let go of some anxiety and converse with me calmly."

With a creak, the wooden door was pushed open. Outside the door lay dim mist and an invisible space-time passage.

Kong Yuhen gestured with his hand, "Alright, you can go. Don't worry, don't be anxious. It's not hell ahead."