Chapter 1200: The Eerie Gossip Chat Bureau

"Not taking the bait, what a shame."

Watching Feng Xiaoshe slip out of the spatial passage with such ease, Xu Xiaoshou felt a wave of envy.

He wished he could do the same—after being targeted, shake off the unilateral red wing, negotiate with the Tianji Shen Shi, and then leave. That would be far more graceful than a messy escape after a big battle, at least without anyone chasing him.

But... there was no way.

It was he who had chopped up Yu Ling Di, and he who had nearly slain Si Tu Yong Ren.

With the title of Sheng Nu hanging over his head, making any negotiation with Sheng Shen Dian Tang impossible, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't even imagine how much of a mental lapse it would take for the Tianji Shen Shi to give him a chance like they did for Feng Xiaoshe.

As the spatial passage was about to close, Xu Xiaoshou made a small attempt.

He turned into a shadow and vanished, while a tiny figure darted into the passage opening.

But Er Hao, having already deactivated the silver "defense mode," reacted swiftly and blocked the entrance in an instant. With one kick!

There was a loud "bang," and the casually sketched portrait clone was instantly shattered by Er Hao's kick.

Xu Xiaoshou dispelled his vanishing state and also dropped his berserk giant form, landing back in his original spot with an awkward grin.

"Tianji Shen Shi, you're amazing! Your reactions are so quick!"

"Sarcasm?"

Er Hao remained unfazed, his calm gaze fixed on him. "You can't leave, and I won't give you the chance."

"That damn Feng Xiaoshe managed to trick you and get away. If you don't want to chase him, what else do you want to talk about? I can pick up where he left off and chat with you."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled while scratching his head, badmouthing Feng Xiaoshe—who had run off faster than a rabbit—as hard as he could, all while plastering on the sycophantic smile typical of a minor player, and continued,

"Tianji Shen Shi, you might not know this, but I know astronomy above and geography below, I'm versed in ancient and modern knowledge, and there's nothing I don't understand."

"From grand things like the rules of the mysteries and cosmic secrets, to everyday matters and even ants crossing the street..."

"Whatever it is, I can explain it to you reasonably, and I'm no worse at chatting than Feng Xiaoshe."

Er Hao listened, his lips curving up slightly, as if amused.

He adjusted the bronze cauldron he was holding.

Yu Ling Di inside the cauldron had nearly recovered, but under the suppressive force of the Great Red God's Fury, it was reduced back to a mass of pulp. Xu Xiaoshou wasn't sure if this was Feng Xiaoshe's deliberate move, but he was certainly grateful for it.

Because it bought him more time.

Now that Feng Xiaoshe was gone, Yu Ling Di was regenerating quickly.

"You're quite interesting," Er Hao said, turning his gaze north and staring intently. "If Feng Xiaoshe isn't your backup, then he must be."

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't expected the conversation to dive straight into the main point. This was too fast!

It would be great if it were Rao Yao Yao instead.

Xu Xiaoshou swore he could chat with Rao Yao Yao until the end of time, switching identities along the way. Even with Ba Zun An's invisible "safety net," he could drag things out. But Er Hao was nothing like Rao Yao Yao.

Hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat, though he kept his expression steady, using his "transformation" ability to control his face and muscles as he lightly remarked,

"Who do you mean?"

"Who else on Xu Xu Dao could achieve sword dao sainthood? I once passed through Ji Qi Zhi Sen and sensed Mei Yiren's sword intent there."

Er Hao glanced back.

"How dare you!" Xu Xiaoshou's eyebrows shot up as he snapped, "A saint is not to be insulted! How can you speak the true name of a half-saint so casually? Watch out for heavenly retribution!"

Er Hao's gaze grew more intrigued.

He rarely encountered young people who dared to speak to him this way, not even Yu Ling Di or Si Tu Yong Ren.

"You seem to think that if Mei Yiren shows up, he can save you from this mess."

"Ah?" Xu Xiaoshou looked puzzled, though his liver trembled inside.

Er Hao's gaze returned to its serene state, unchanging as he said,

"I'm not just waiting for Yu Ling Di to regenerate—that's only a minor reason."

"I also don't mind your clumsy attempts to stall for time; I'll humor you if you want."

"Because compared to these trivial details, what intrigues me more is..."

"When did the Seven Sword Immortals' Mei Yiren decide to enter the game and firmly take a stand against Sheng Shen Dian Tang?"

"And why did he choose you? Is he your guardian deity?"

"Your sword techniques—he taught them to you."

Er Hao's questions hit the mark, shifting from inquiry to certainty. Xu Xiaoshou could no longer feign ignorance.

So, I'm not that important after all...

Er Hao is willing to play along and stall because Mei Yiren's choice matters more than Yu Ling Di, the Ci Mian Zhi Men, or me, the so-called top young powerhouse of Sheng Shen Continent...

He wants to see with his own eyes if Mei Yiren will come to save me, so he can be absolutely sure it's not a bluff—that the Seven Sword Immortals' Mei Yiren has truly joined the game...

"I'm a bit sad."

Xu Xiaoshou laid bare his inner melancholy, his face full of distress as he said, "What are you made of? How can you read people's hearts and stab right at their sore spots?"

"Answer my questions."

Er Hao remained calm.

"I don't know..."

Xu Xiaoshou said, noticing Er Hao's readiness to strike if words failed, so he quickly shook his head and kept the conversation going: "Don't doubt it—I'm just a pawn. I really don't know why Mei Yiren chose me."

"If I had to guess... it's probably because my talent is exceptional? Yeah, that's obvious, so that's why Mei Yiren picked me."

"Secondly, Ba Zun An must have influenced this, right?"

Xu Xiaoshou showed a face full of utter disgust.

He knew that lying to the Tianji Shen Shi was pointless.

The other's powerful computational abilities could deduce the truth from any lie.

So, Xu Xiaoshou openly expressed his genuine loathing for the Sheng Nu and Ba Zun An—feelings that were real, just not as intense before.

"Ba Zun An is the real mastermind; I'm just his puppet."

"Killing me or capturing me won't mean much—I'm just a slightly powerful pawn... Not being arrogant, I can do quite a bit, heh."

"But a pawn is still just a pawn. I don't even know what Ba Zun An is really after."

"Not afraid to tell you..."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, lowering his voice.

Even though they were far apart, he cupped his hand to his mouth as if whispering in Er Hao's ear: "Ba Zun An told me to stir up trouble as I please—he'd cover for me!"

"Can you believe that? So I have to cause chaos with all my might!"

"But up to now, I have no idea where this old Ba's backup is. Facing you, facing the Tianji Shen Shi... honestly, I'm terrified!"

Er Hao said nothing.

For a moment, he couldn't tell if Xu Xiaoshou's words were from the heart or a deception.

What was meant to be a humorous chat, where both knew the other was stalling, suddenly heated up thanks to Xu Xiaoshou.

Er Hao didn't make a move.

His tone carried a hint of curiosity, whether feigned or genuine gossip, as he asked, "You're so clever—what do you think Ba Zun An wants to achieve?"

At this question, Xu Xiaoshou was struck dumb, like he'd been hit by lightning. Heavens!

The mighty Tianji Shen Shi, a creation of Dao Qiong Cang, a member of Sheng Shen Dian Tang's ten-person council, possessor of the strongest analytical powers...

Was asking a lowly Sheng Nu junior about their leader's true intentions? Something's off with you!

Or is it me?

How did the conversation veer into this absurdity? How should I answer?

You're my enemy—should I bare my soul?

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated, his lips parting twice before he finally forced a smile and said, "Let's change the topic, okay?"

He even suspected that Er Hao might have something like a passive system that could analyze his words and extract the truth from nonsense.

Or perhaps, he might unconsciously reveal key information that Er Hao could cleverly catch.

Though Xu Xiaoshou himself didn't know any Sheng Nu plans.

But what if some of his actions were part of Ba Zun An's scheme, and he was unaware of the reasons?

If he said it out loud, could Er Hao use his vast knowledge and information databases to bypass him and deduce Ba Zun An's real plan?

He had to guard against that! So, he couldn't say a word!

This topic was off-limits!

But Er Hao calmly shook his head in refusal: "Either we fight, or you chat with me about this. I'll wait with you."

You're too kind!

Xu Xiaoshou almost laughed in frustration.

Seeing Er Hao poised to attack, he waved his hands quickly: "Let's talk, let's talk—no fighting for gentlemen."

He really didn't want to fight Er Hao again!

Though Er Hao's battle mode had failed on its first attack, making it seem like Xu Xiaoshou had the upper hand.

But Er Hao's analysis was spot-on.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't withstand attacks from Er Hao in battle mode; he'd only tricked him with the portrait clone through pure prediction.

As for why Er Hao didn't realize he was attacking a clone and continue to intercept Xu Xiaoshou's attempt to take people into his Yuan Fu...

Xu Xiaoshou guessed that Er Hao might have figured it out but chose not to act. Both sides tacitly agreed to the swap.

Xu Xiaoshou got Mu Zi Xi and Zhu Yi Ke, while Er Hao got Yu Ling Di and the Ci Mian Zhi Men—everyone happy.

That was exactly why Xu Xiaoshou dared to make that prediction.

This Tianji Shen Shi didn't care about saving face; he only cared about real gains and losses.

That was the fundamental difference—and the most terrifying aspect—compared to people like Rao Yao Yao or Jiang Biyi!

In Er Hao's eyes, Yu Ling Di and the Ci Mian Zhi Men were more important than Xu, Mu, and Zhu combined.

"Answer my question."

Er Hao urged.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't stay silent any longer.

In that brief moment, he'd come up with a hundred reasons for Ba Zun An's goals, and now he carefully said, "From your perspective..."

"No need to consider my perspective; I can think for myself."

Er Hao interrupted: "Just speak from yours—what do you think Ba Zun An is using you for? Say it."

You're impossible to sway!

Xu Xiaoshou had never faced an enemy like this in conversation—neither evading nor fighting head-on. He had no experience and didn't know how to handle it.

"From my perspective..." Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Er Hao, lowered his head in thought, then looked up again, his eyes lighting up as he opened his mouth.

Er Hao suddenly raised his hand to interrupt: "If I detect any sign of lying, I'll consider it the end of our chat and kill you."

"You know, humans can't hide instinctive tells, even if you try. You might not notice them, but I can."

In that instant, Xu Xiaoshou saw Er Hao's true terror.

This guy wasn't just a war machine; he was a flawless lie detector!

Even in what seemed like a meaningless chat, he could find ways to extract useful information.

What could be more direct than getting intelligence on the Sheng Nu's ultimate goals from a face-to-face talk with their most talented member?

Wasn't this better than interrogation?

In this enemy scenario, if it happened at another time, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't have believed it possible.

It was too absurd!

The Tianji Shen Shi of Sheng Shen Dian Tang chatting with a Sheng Nu member about their leader's true purpose, and they might even start reasoning like old friends...

Ah! Unbelievable!

But Er Hao had turned this fantasy into reality.

Just as his existence was an impossibility, he had the power to make the impossible possible.

"How should I answer..."

Xu Xiaoshou wiped away the thousand explanations in his mind. He'd figured it out.

Ba Zun An didn't need him to cover his tracks and never shared his plans. So, in this moment, spouting nonsense was fine, right?

It was all for survival—not shameful, right?

"I think my guess is limited—Ba Zun An really never told me his plans, no matter when..."

"Get to the point, or I'll kill you for more nonsense."

"Uh."

Xu Xiaoshou choked and shrugged helplessly: "I think Ba Zun An wants to unleash the combat forces on Xu Xu Dao's inner island—that's probably his ultimate goal."

Er Hao's eyes brightened, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Soon, he fixed his gaze on Xu Xiaoshou.

"What makes you say that?"

What, what the hell! And "that"?

Xu Xiaoshou nearly choked on his irritation.

What was this strange feeling?

We're enemies, yet you're showing an expression like we're old confidants sharing secrets?

Who knew the Tianji Shen Shi could be so human-like and expressive!

"You see..."

Xu Xiaoshou "saw" and then "spit" out a breath, suppressing his discomfort as he struggled to explain to Er Hao: "First, the Sheng Nu's forces aren't that strong, and I can't even remember all nine seats..."

"Okay, fine—to be honest, besides Ba Zun An, I only know Cen Qiao Fu is a Tai Xu, and the storyteller has Tai Xu-level power."

"But that's fine on the Da Lu Wu Yu, where Tai Xu counts as the peak."

"If we're talking about matching up to Xu Xu Dao... or going up against Sheng Shen Dian Tang in a real war, just those few aren't enough."

"That's where half-saint level forces come in, and Xu Xu Dao's inner island fits perfectly."

"Ba Zun An is the lord of the black and white veins; if he succeeds, he might finally have the qualifications to wage a full-scale war against Sheng Shen Dian Tang..."

At this point, Xu Xiaoshou glanced around the void, feeling a bit guilty even though he saw no one else.

Wait, no...

I'm a Sheng Nu member!

Why does this chat make me feel like I've become a traitor?

How could I discuss the Sheng Nu leader's purposes with an enemy? Even if it's just speculation...

If a big war really happens, Er Hao would be a key opponent!

"That's an interesting deduction, and it has some plausible reasons."

Er Hao nodded, neither denying nor pointing out any lies. He could see Xu Xiaoshou was being open as a betrayer—a honest kid who deserved reward, not punishment.

So, Er Hao asked further:

"Then, as a minor member of Sheng Nu, not even one of the nine seats..."

"You also said Ba Zun An didn't tell you his plans, but even you can figure them out."

"Do you think that's the entirety of Ba Zun An's purpose?"