Chapter 1144: Fated Encounter, Harbinger of Misfortune

Although Xu Xiaoshou covered Gu Qing'er's unrestrained mouth at the first moment, it was already too late.

The three words "Jiang Buyi," including both given and surname, had burst out and, like spilled water, could not be retrieved.

"Boom!"

A heavy sound echoed through the void, and the three felt an immense pressure descending from above, laced with the will of a Ban Sheng.

The dome of the sky seemed to transform into an invisible giant eye, casting a gaze from an unknown place that made the three below break out in goosebumps, their scalps tingling.

"Is this a Ban Sheng?" Gu Qing'er was stunned.

He had never imagined that a casual mention would summon the honorable name of a Ban Sheng!

The key point was, Zui Yi Dian truly had a Ban Sheng, and it seemed this Ban Sheng was nearby, now directing their attention from afar, guided by his words?

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"I really didn't mean it!"

Gu Qing'er, like a startled cat with fur standing on end, jumped behind his senior brother Gu Qingyi and clutched tightly at the back of his robe.

In Gu Qing'er's understanding, a Ban Sheng was on the same level as their master—in simple terms, someone you couldn't afford to provoke and absolutely shouldn't actively offend!

Gu Qingyi had no time to scold his junior brother.

He gripped the Xie Jian Yue Lian with one hand, his sharp sword intent surging like a blade piercing the sky, actually tearing through the Ban Sheng's pressure.

A flash of light appeared in his eyes, forming two faint small swords that drew together in the middle, turning into a red dot at his brow.

"Hong Zi Gui Qian?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes flashed with surprise.

He was now shrinking his presence like a turtle, making Gu Qingyi stand out as much as possible.

After all, it was Gu Qing'er who had provoked this, and Gu Qingyi was just cleaning up the mess—wasn't that normal?

For Xu Xiaoshou, he was wearing a face that was completely unfamiliar to Jiang Buyi, and his aura was entirely different from his true self.

Moreover, in the fierce battle at Miracle Forest, Jiang Buyi hadn't seen Xu Xiaoshou's real form, so he had no fear of being recognized.

After invoking the Hong Zi Gui Qian, Gu Qingyi's aura turned icy cold.

A faint hint of Sheng intent spread from him.

This Sheng intent was clearly not from his own cultivation and differed completely from the Sheng power Xu Xiaoshou had gained from consuming the Sheng Ji Guo; it was a genuine external force!

But with the temporary Sheng-level aura from the Hong Zi Gui Qian, Gu Qingyi could stand tall under the Ban Sheng's distant gaze, neither humble nor arrogant.

"No offense intended, senior. This matter is purely an accident. I apologize on behalf of my junior."

Gu Qingyi spoke rapidly, as if knowing that speaking slowly might mean he'd never speak again in this lifetime. After the apology, he continued in a barrage:

"I am Gu Qingyi from Zang Jian Zong. This is my junior brother, Gu Qing'er."

"Our master, Wen Ting, has long heard of Jiang Ban Sheng's great reputation and asks me to convey his greetings."

"The Jiang clan of Pu Xuan in the Northern Domain has had little interaction with Zang Jian Zong in the Eastern Domain. Today, taking this opportunity, we can foster more exchanges in the future. Later, I will prepare generous gifts and visit in person to express our remorse."

Even Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback by these words.

What a quick mind Gu Qingyi had!

First, an apology; second, invoking their sect; and finally, wrapping it up beautifully to turn the crisis into an opportunity, transforming this offense into the start of beneficial exchanges between the two powers.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but glance at Gu Qing'er, who was hiding his head behind Gu Qingyi's backside, lost in thought.

Were these really disciples from the same master?

The Ban Sheng's pressure from the horizon lingered for a long time, until fine beads of sweat appeared on Gu Qingyi's forehead, before it finally subsided.

"Very well."

Accompanied by a ethereal voice drifting from all directions, this crisis was somehow overcome by Gu Qingyi!

Gu Qingyi let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow.

In the next second, his killing intent surged, and he suddenly turned around.

"Senior brother, I know—umph?"

Before Gu Qing'er could finish, the furious Gu Qingyi swung the Xie Jian Yue Lian, striking and slashing fiercely in a horizontal whip.

The force was so heavy that it shattered the space.

"Ah!"

"I know I was wrong!"

Gu Qing'er ducked low, barely dodging the blow without getting hit.

Failing to land the strike only fueled Gu Qingyi's killing intent. He spun the sword in his palm, gripped the hilt, and thrust forward.

From a distance, the sword tip pierced through, instantly creating a large hole in the distant maze wall, a shocking sight.

But Gu Qing'er seemed to anticipate it, his Jian Lun of nine swords trembling behind him as they scattered in all directions, channeling the force and diverting the harm.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!"

A section of the maze wall collapsed, yet Gu Qing'er emerged unscathed!

"You brat, how dare you fight back!"

Gu Qingyi's eyes turned cold. He pulled his elbow back, bringing Yue Lian to his chest, gripping the sheath with his palm and pushing the sword guard with his thumb to reveal two fingers' width of the blade.

"Boss, stop! This could kill someone!"

Gu Qing'er panicked, reaching up to grab his Xue Jian Jue Se Yao Ji.

"Murder!"

He shouted desperately while gripping the sheath with one hand and the hilt with the other, drawing the sword with a clang and slashing horizontally in front of his chest.

As the sword hummed, it was as if an ancient beast charged from behind Gu Qingyi, transforming into a towering sword light that ripped through countless maze walls and mercilessly slashed toward Gu Qing'er.

"Swoosh."

Blood splattered.

Gu Qing'er's named sword shattered in two, and his body was split apart.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

He didn't understand, but he was greatly shocked.

"What... what was that for?"

Just then, a notification popped up.

"Received illusion, passive value +1."

This jolted Xu Xiaoshou awake.

Turning around, he saw Gu Qing'er, completely intact, had appeared behind him, clinging to his leg in full panic.

"Chen brother, save me!!!"

"Saving a life is better than building a seven-level pagoda!"

This guy...

Xu Xiaoshou felt his scalp tingle.

The illusion technique had been so seamless that even he hadn't seen through it immediately.

Gu Qing'er had some real skill!

But how many beatings must this troublemaker have endured to predict his senior brother's every move so accurately and prepare defenses in advance?

In his panic, Gu Qing'er hugged what he thought was his savior, Chen brother, but something felt off. His hands hurt, so he quickly let go.

Looking down, he saw his palms were slashed open and bleeding, with his tiger's mouth severely torn!

Gu Qing'er fell into deep thought.

That's impossible. I've experienced senior brother's "moral persuasion three-hit combo" thousands of times. How did it upgrade this time?

Even through the illusion technique, the sword light shook my tiger's mouth?

Is there such a big gap between me and senior brother?

Ahead, Gu Qingyi charged forward with his sword, but seeing Chen Shuo standing between him and his junior brother, his anger subsided a bit.

"Chen brother, let him go. If I don't chop off one of his legs today, he won't learn his lesson!"

"Alright." Xu Xiaoshou stepped aside without hesitation.

Gu Qingyi froze, and Gu Qing'er stared in disbelief, his eyes filled with grievance and helplessness.

Wait, Chen brother, what's your angle?

Aren't you supposed to mediate, calm my senior brother down, and give him a way out?

If he can't save face, I might really get dismembered!

"Received resentment, passive value +1."

Gu Qingyi was at a loss too.

He raised his sword, wanting to strike but unable to follow through, glancing bewilderedly at his junior brother on the ground, then at Chen Shuo, back to his junior brother, and again at Chen Shuo.

"Received curse, passive value +1."

"Senior brother, I was wrong! I'll punish myself! No need for you to do it—I'll handle it!"

Gu Qing'er quickly admitted his fault, his attitude sincere as he held his sword, humbly on the verge of kneeling.

"I'll copy the Jian Jing fifty—er, sixty—er, fifty is fine, fine, a hundred times! I'll copy the Jian Jing a hundred times and go into seclusion for reflection when we return to the sect!"

Gu Qingyi took a deep breath and finally lowered his sword.

"Five thousand times!"

"And in Zui Yi Dian, don't say another word. If you utter even one extra syllable, I'll chop you up!"

"Of course, of course." Gu Qing'er nodded frantically, but seeing his senior brother raise his sword again, he realized his mistake and quickly covered his mouth. "No more, no more—I'll shut up, shut up."

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but chuckle.

This guy just couldn't stop talking, could he?

For him to survive this long, "Wen Ting" must have saved his life more than once.

Of course, a guy this reckless either had extreme luck or strength that was as outrageous as his mouth.

Gu Qing'er sheepishly stood up and scurried behind his senior brother to massage his shoulders, but a glare from Gu Qingyi made him quickly withdraw his hands.

"Heh heh." He chuckled foolishly, but inside, he was thrilled.

Copying the Jian Jing? That wasn't punishment—it was a reward!

After five thousand copies, he'd surely gain new insights.

By then, he'd leave his junior brothers in the dust, trample his senior brother underfoot, and even challenge Wen Ting for the title of Seven Sword Immortals—it wasn't a dream!

"Chen brother, let's go. We can't delay any longer."

Gu Qingyi kept in mind that his second junior brother's savior had less than four days left; Zhen Huang Dian was the priority.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, saying nothing, and smiled as he followed.

The environment of Zui Yi Dian remained dim.

The oppressive feeling from the giant kingdom's void island persisted.

But traveling with the Gu brothers, Xu Xiaoshou felt relaxed for the first time since entering the void island—even if it was just for this brief moment.

The path to Zhen Huang Dian went smoothly, eerily quiet.

Aside from occasional beast roars from somewhere and faint sounds of distant battles, and the muffled mumbling he tuned out, there was nothing else.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled and enjoyed the rare peace, suddenly envying Gu Qing'er's carefree nature.

His joy was constant.

Along the way, they picked up a few more tree seeds, all bearing the same information: "Zhen Huang Dian, Jiang Buyi."

The smile at the corners of Xu Xiaoshou's mouth gradually faded.

Peace...

How long could this luxurious peace last?

"Boom!"

With a single glance, Jiang Buyi repelled the void attendants without lifting a finger, leading the Jin Ji Ren Ou behind him and guarding this notably weak spot in Zui Yi Dian's space.

The golden water drop in his hand emitted light, projecting the black crow that was still fleeing.

The path it showed was clearly not the same as where Jiang Buyi stood, nor the route he had taken.

Jiang Buyi remained steady, not rushing at all.

The greatest difference between a Ban Sheng and those below was that one cultivated the Sheng Dao, the other the Tian Dao.

The Sheng Dao surpassed the Tian Dao because Ban Sheng power was no longer bound by it.

The Tian Dao was constant yet formless; the Sheng Dao was ever-changing yet tangible.

For each Ban Sheng, their Sheng Dao was themselves, the path they chose.

In Jiang Buyi's Sheng Dao, on his path, this "form" could be called "cloud."

Fate flowed like clouds, drifting east or west, never still except in death.

As a Ban Sheng, Jiang Buyi could trace the clouds to know the path, amplifying his intuition into something like foresight.

This ability was minor and weak, rarely useful.

But when used in secret against the unaware, it could sometimes yield surprising results.

Right now, Jiang Buyi's intuition told him that the black crow in the golden water drop—his target—would appear here.

So he had come ahead of time instead of chasing from behind.

Better to wait and catch them off guard.

As for that earlier incident...

Truth be told, when his name was called, Jiang Buyi had been startled.

He couldn't act now, so upon seeing it was just three ignorant youngsters, he breathed a sigh of relief and wisely chose not to confront them.

Before the "exile order" was lifted, he had decided not to cause extra trouble.

Waiting...

Endless waiting...

Finally, at a certain moment, Jiang Buyi shifted his gaze from the pale, bloodless Jin Ji Ren Ou and looked toward the horizon.

"Caw—"

A black shadow pierced through the gloom and entered Jiang Buyi's Sheng domain.

Jiang Buyi's lips curled up.

The shadow halted abruptly in mid-air, then turned tail and fled back the way it came, as if seeing a ghost.

"Since you've come, stay awhile. Why fear?"

Jiang Buyi didn't use any power; his words carried a Sheng sound, warm as a spring breeze.

The shadow from the horizon stopped, turned back, and rushed into the Sheng domain, only to realize and flee desperately again the next second.

"I, as a Ban Sheng, command you to stop!"

Jiang Buyi finally rose from the rubble, his expression turning cold as Sheng intent erupted.

With a boom, the space for hundreds of miles around froze completely, as if everything were imprisoned.

Mu Zi Xi trembled uncontrollably, unable to move, her eyes vacant and empty, like a soulless shell.

"Big watermelon, big watermelon, big watermelon..."

"I'm a big watermelon; I saw nothing, heard nothing."

The shadow from the horizon was restrained, finally revealing its true form.

It was a three-legged crow, pitch black as ink, radiating inauspicious energy.

But now, its innate inauspiciousness seemed contaminated, its aura strangely altered, even its feathers dull and falling with every flap.

Jiang Buyi was stunned.

He recognized this creature.

Three-legged black owl! The emblem of Dao Bu Shou Zuo Ye Xiao!

"Ye Xiao?"

Ye Xiao finally transformed into human form.

She was ethereally faint, her aura extremely weak, the feathers on her black cloak nearly gone, and blood constantly seeping from the corners of her mouth under the hood.

Outside the Shi Kong Jin Fu, Xu Xiaoshou's guess was correct.

The Ye Xiao that died was just an unimportant puppet body.

But the terror of the Tian Ren Wu Shui lay here: through the connection between that puppet and Ye Xiao's true body, the "curse killing" technique had been amplified to its extreme, affecting her essence.

Now, under the barrage of various calamities, curses, and misfortunes from the Tian Ren Wu Shui tribulation, even Ye Xiao's combat strength was impaired.

This was why, upon entering this special region, she immediately turned to flee.

She didn't even dare glance at anyone.

Her priority was to find a place to resolve the Tian Ren Wu Shui tribulation; any delay would mean her death—by unnatural causes!

Little did she know, this was a Sheng domain; she couldn't leave.

Once stopped by the Ban Sheng's call, Ye Xiao had no choice but to comply.

But as she looked, joy suddenly surged within her.

"Jiang Buyi?!"

Ye Xiao's eyes lit up, feeling her luck had turned, bringing her a lifeline.

The Jiang clan of Pu Xuan in the Northern Domain, though not openly allied with Sheng Shen Dian Tang, had many covert connections.

After all, Jiang Buyi himself had participated in the Lei family tragedy with Dao Xuan Ji back in the day.

The ties between the Jiang clan and Sheng Shen Dian Tang weren't intimate, but in certain aspects, they were in the same boat.

Especially...

Ye Xiao's gaze shifted, spotting the golden water drop in Jiang Buyi's hand.

"Is Jiang Ban Sheng here to help me?" Ye Xiao didn't beg outright; that would be beneath her.

Since Jiang Buyi hadn't shown hostility, given the Jiang clan's relations, he couldn't ignore her.

The pursuer behind her hadn't given up.

With a Ban Sheng's help, combined with her own power of death, she wouldn't need to flee—she could counterattack and bury the pursuer here!

This An Bu Shou Zuo clearly didn't know that Jiang Buyi's ties with Sheng Shen Dian Tang were no longer as strong as she thought.

Not long ago, Jiang Buyi had slain Zhan Bu Shou Zuo Teng Shan Hai right under Rao Yao Yao's watch.

Thus, when Jiang Buyi saw that the crow was actually An Bu Shou Zuo Ye Xiao, his face fell.

He could see Ye Xiao was being hunted.

He could even clearly sense who was pursuing her.

This was absurd! Ye Xiao's aura was almost entirely overshadowed by the decay—Tian Ren Wu Shui!

"I mistook you for someone else. You may leave."

Jiang Buyi waved her off, and seeing she didn't move, he felt awkward, glanced at the Jin Ji Ren Ou, and said, "We should go!"

Ye Xiao was ice-cold, not uttering a single extra word.

"Rao Yao Yao has achieved Sheng status and is on her way. Jiang Ban Sheng may choose to leave or stay and lend a hand."

"Rao Yao Yao, Sheng status?"

Jiang Buyi was clearly baffled.

He recalled the Sheng tribulation fluctuation before entering Zhen Huang Dian.

So, it wasn't Mei Si Ren achieving Sheng, but Rao Yao Yao?

No!

How could she be so fast?

She was still one step short—oh, so that step was me?

Jiang Buyi suddenly understood something, finding himself in a dilemma.

It wasn't that he didn't want to help Ye Xiao, but now that he'd found Zhen Huang Dian and no longer needed Tian Ren Wu Shui, he really didn't want to encounter it again.

If he ranked the people on this void island he least wanted to meet, Tian Ren Wu Shui would be second, with no one first.

That ability was disgustingly overpowered!

But the situation didn't allow him time to think.

As the standoff continued, a cackling laugh drifted from the distant sky, full of absurdity and mockery.

"Ye Xiao Shou Zuo, I wonder what kind of confidence allows you, after falling under my curse, to still believe your luck will turn and you'll find help in the shadows?"