Chapter 1207: Who Says the Old Man's Student Has No Opportunity?

"Who said my student has no chance?"

A sword cry echoed from the heavens, shattering the scenery around Zhen Huang Dian for thousands of li, like a mirror cracking apart.

The fractured world transformed into vibrant red plum blossoms, scattering like fallen petals in a flurry.

With his hair meticulously combed into a perfect bun and his sword robe spotlessly arranged, Mei Siyi appeared on the scene, his usually composed demeanor tinged with a hint of haste, his casual words laced with a touch of urgency.

Above his head loomed a double Sheng Jie, the tribulation clouds colliding high in the ninth heaven, booming and deafening.

In his right hand, he gripped the Tai Cheng Jian, its blade flickering between illusion and reality, radiating wild sword intent.

In his left, he held Xu Xiaoshou, whose face was etched with despair and shock.

Yet, despite rushing here in such a hurry, Mei Siyi had still managed to snatch his student away to safety.

Once the void sword intent dissipated, it was as if a massive curtain had been lifted.

The rampaging giant that had soared into the sky, originally struck down by the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian from afar, now turned into fluttering plum blossoms that withered away, leaving only the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian embedded in midair.

Everything that had just happened seemed like an illusion.

Even Er Hao hadn't reacted in time.

It wasn't until he saw the plum blossoms shatter that he realized what was going on. "Huan Jian Shu?"

"It's Huan Jian Shu!"

At the same moment, Xu Xiaoshou, tucked under Mei Siyi's arm, was overcome with wild joy.

He had already shed the form of the rampaging giant, thinking it had been destroyed by the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian.

But he never imagined that what he believed was "being shattered" was merely his own subjective perception, causing him to unconsciously drop the giant form.

In the critical moment, it was Mei Siyi who had stepped in and saved him—just as the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian was about to pierce his chest, when he felt that faint pain.

"But that doesn't make sense! I clearly saw the sword strike my chest; I felt the real pain..."

Xu Xiaoshou struggled to touch his chest and found no wound.

The earlier injury from Ji Jue Hei Shu had already healed. So, the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian hadn't actually hit him at all.

"True and false in cycles, illusion and reality in flux—this is the true essence of Huan Jian Shu."

Mei Siyi lifted his chin slightly, breathing quickly but silently, maintaining an air of composure.

"But that still doesn't add up! Teacher, didn't you say you don't specialize in Huan Jian Shu, so your mastery of it isn't deep?"

Xu Xiaoshou climbed down from Mei Siyi's hand, still unable to contain his excitement.

The feeling of narrowly escaping death and rising from hell to heaven was dreamlike and surreal.

But then, that was exactly what Huan Jian Shu felt like... though this was far too "dreamlike and surreal"!

"Am I still alive?"

Xu Xiaoshou pinched his face, then slapped himself hard.

Hiss! It really hurt!

Mei Siyi turned his gaze leisurely, glancing at the humanoid figure three zhang tall, with twelve radiant wings on its back, a holy halo above its head, clad in blazing white armor, and emanating a glow all over.

Sin One Dian, a forbidden creature?

Mei Siyi's mouth twitched subtly, his scalp tingling slightly. Then, as if remembering something, he chuckled and answered his student's question:

"My mastery of Huan Jian Shu is indeed not deep."

"Those who boast the loudest often hide the deepest wounds."

"So, Xu Xiaoshou... one must learn to be humble."

Er Hao felt a slight sting on his cheek.

He hadn't seen through Mei Siyi's Huan Jian Shu right away.

As a result, he had just been lecturing a fabricated version of the rampaging giant made of plum blossoms?

Humility, huh... Xu Xiaoshou's lips moved silently, not daring to argue.

Humility is good!

Ancient sword cultivators should all be this... humble!

As long as you arrive in time and no one dies, you can be as humble as you want, and I'll accept it!

Xu Xiaoshou finally turned his eyes to Mei Siyi beside him. He easily spotted the dry, curly strands mixed into his teacher's meticulously combed hair.

Looking down, beneath the spotless sword robe, there was an inner shirt with a torn collar and faint bloodstains.

Xu Xiaoshou's gaze lingered, understanding something. He took a deep breath and said, "Teacher, you're late..."

"Not late." Mei Siyi stared straight at Er Hao, not even turning his head, as he extended a charred arm. "On the way here, I did my best to save you."

"In the end, I realized it was just an arm—nothing more, not your true self."

Xu Xiaoshou staggered at the sight of the arm from his second true body, nearly falling from the sky.

He grabbed it and crushed it on the spot! All because of this?

Just because his second true body had gone to deliver a message but failed, and then self-destructed, turning it back into its original form?

You were delayed that long? Xu Xiaoshou didn't believe it.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from Mei Siyi's curly hair and the bloodstained, torn inner shirt.

Those details were just too glaring!

After a pause, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, is... is appearances really that important?"

"Appearances? What appearances?" Boom!

The ninth-heaven Sheng Jie thundered, and Er Hao dodged to avoid it.

Mei Siyi didn't even lift his head as his Jian Xiang suddenly rose from his waist, the Qing Wu Er Jian slashing upward with a crack, reducing the Sheng Jie to ashes. A dry, curly strand fell across Mei Siyi's forehead.

He reached up to tuck it back, tilting his head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

That's exactly what I mean! Xu Xiaoshou was almost frantic. He couldn't possibly say out loud:

When your second true body reached Mei Siyi's tribulation site, you were a bloodied mess, unrecognizable from the Sheng Jie!

Now that you're here, not only is the blood gone, but you've changed clothes too.

From the looks of it, on the way, you didn't just change—you probably even took a bath!

But didn't change your inner clothes?

How much time did that waste? If you hadn't done all that, could you have gotten here sooner...?

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts suddenly shifted, focusing on the key point—the Sheng Jie was gone just like that?

He quickly suppressed his urge to complain and looked up. That double Sheng Jie wasn't fake!

Mei Siyi had barely moved—actually, he hadn't at all—and the Sheng Jie was slashed away?

Remember, even Jiang Buyi, under a single Sheng Jie, was battered to less than a tenth of his strength and ended up subdued by Xu Xiaoshou.

But Mei Siyi, having sealed his sainthood, treated a double Sheng Jie like nothing? Was this the full power of a half-saint level ancient sword cultivator? Xu Xiaoshou's eyes reignited with hope.

For the first time, he clearly sensed that the liberated state of Tian Ji Shen Shi might not be invincible—it had weaknesses.

And Mei Siyi was Er Hao's weakness!

"What is he?" Mei Siyi already had the answer in his mind but still asked aloud.

"Tian Ji Shen Shi, Er Hao." Xu Xiaoshou clutched his teacher's robe, feeling a full sense of security as he gazed at the holy angel in the distance.

"I see." Mei Siyi took a long, deep breath. "How dare you provoke him?"

"I didn't provoke him! He came at me like a mad dog, trying to kill me out of nowhere..." Xu Xiaoshou's eyes reddened as he burst into sobs. "Teacher! I almost died! You have to stand up for me!"

"Let go."

"Oh."

Xu Xiaoshou quickly released the grip on the robe and wiped away the nonexistent tears from his eyes. "Teacher, how much of a chance do you have to take him down?"

"Less than one tenth."

"Ah? Less than one tenth?"

Xu Xiaoshou was so startled he nearly lost his voice.

Was the liberated Tian Ji Shen Shi that strong, that even Sword Saint Mei Siyi had no confidence?

Suddenly, he realized something, and his face darkened again. "Teacher, when you say 'one tenth,' do you mean exactly one tenth? You can't be humble about this!"

"One tenth is one tenth." Mei Siyi's expression turned grave. "I'm not joking. This is not an existence we can afford to provoke."

"Then save him first..." Xu Xiaoshou remembered something and turned aside.

Tian Ren Wu Shui was still impaled on the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian in midair, unconscious and twitching in pain.

Xu Xiaoshou watched, his throat tightening as he asked with difficulty, "Teacher, in an illusion, if someone thinks they've died, does that mean they really die in reality?"

"Yes."

"Then why haven't you dispelled the Huan Jian Shu yet? He's Tian Ren Wu Shui, my companion. He helped me survive just now! He's about to give out!"

Mei Siyi frowned as he stared at the blood-soaked Xu Xiaoshou.

He couldn't see how many wounds were on Xu Xiaoshou because they had all healed over time.

But he knew full well what it meant for this boy to face Tian Ji Shen Shi Er Hao alone and hold out this long—it must have involved immense suffering.

"The Huan Jian Shu has already been dispelled." Mei Siyi sighed.

"Then what about him?" Xu Xiaoshou pointed at Tian Ren Wu Shui, looking stunned.

"You should know that my Huan Jian Shu isn't refined—it's not an empty boast. Being able to save just you took everything I had." Boom!

The ninth-heaven Sheng Jie thundered, but it was easily slashed away by the Jian Xiang.

In that brief flash of light, the figure of the orange-masked man on the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian appeared, battered and near death, twitching in agony under the purifying force.

Tian Ren Wu Shui was on the brink of death, his breath faint.

So, this was all real! Completely real!

The joy in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes faded, his face growing incredibly serious. He no longer dared to deceive himself and instinctively stepped forward to save Tian Ren Wu Shui.

"Come back."

Mei Siyi's pupils contracted as he quickly reached out and pulled his student back.

At the same time, two beams of holy light slashed through the spot where Xu Xiaoshou had just stood and in front of Tian Ren Wu Shui.

If Mei Siyi hadn't pulled him back in time, Xu Xiaoshou would have been struck.

"He..." Xu Xiaoshou was oblivious to the danger.

With Mei Siyi there, he wasn't worried about his own safety, but Tian Ren Wu Shui's condition...

"He's beyond saving."

Mei Siyi didn't even need to look closely to judge the fate of Xu Xiaoshou's rescuer:

"With such concentrated Zu Yuan force piercing his body, and him not having your special constitution... even you might not recover from that."

"He's just waiting for death, whether soon or later."

"Even a god couldn't save him."

Xu Xiaoshou refused to believe it.

If he could just pull Tian Ren Wu Shui off the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian, there had to be a way to save him.

"Teacher..."

"There's no way!"

Mei Siyi stared seriously at his student. "You should understand—he's become a hostage now. As long as Er Hao is watching him, he's watching anyone who tries to help."

Xu Xiaoshou understood the logic all too well.

He had used the same tactic before, with Si Tu Yong Ren and Yu Ling Di as leverage, to beat Er Hao soundly.

But he still held onto a sliver of hope. "What if you step in..."

"I can only manage to protect you." Mei Siyi refused outright, deadly serious.

The liberated Tian Ji Shen Shi wouldn't joke around; if Mei Siyi fought, he'd need to give it his all.

Dragging along two burdens? How could he fight like that?

Even if they saved Tian Ren Wu Shui in the end, what then?

Could they keep this out-of-control Decaying Body nearby to recover?

Who knows—while nursing him, Mei Siyi might end up with his own Sheng Jie mutating, escalating from two layers to four!

Then, all misfortunes would converge, and one misstep could mean total loss—even the Xu Xiaoshou he just rescued might have to be handed over.

Mei Siyi wouldn't let any of that happen. He refused to become a second version of Er Hao, controlled by circumstances.

"Xu..."

Tian Ren Wu Shui, hanging on the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian, suddenly stirred and struggled to lift his gaze.

Xu Xiaoshou could tell he was calling his name and quickly looked over.

At the same time, under Tian Ren Wu Shui's mask, his right eye's three flowers churned and rapidly flowed into his pupil.

Xu Xiaoshou's vision blurred, and he closed his eyes, turning back anxiously to grab Mei Siyi's arm. "Teacher, let's escape—both of us, at least leave this Sin One Dian first!" Boom!

The Sheng Jie lit up the night over the Zhen Huang Dian ruins, but the Jian Xiang slashed it all away.

The mental awakening triggered. His words cut off abruptly.

Xu Xiaoshou opened his eyes and froze in place. "Heh."

Tian Ren Wu Shui let out a miserable laugh, black blood streaming from his right eye as the San Yan Tong vanished forcibly.

He closed his eyes heavily, his throat gurgling before he finally managed to utter a word:

"Run..."

Xu Xiaoshou was struck as if by lightning.

...

In the distance, Er Hao glanced at the Sheng Jie and said, "Finished chatting?"

This statement fully drew Mei Siyi's attention back—faced with a great enemy, no room for games.

"Mei Siyi, I've been waiting for you for a long time, but I didn't expect you to actually come."

"Yes."

"When did you connect with the Sheng Nu? What is Xu Xiaoshou to you?"

"He is my disciple."

"Why bother?"

"Since heaven and earth were born, we are all pieces on the board; it's time to enter the game—no need for more questions."

Er Hao fell silent, his wings of light trembling slightly, stopping his inquiries amid the thunder.

Once Mei Siyi's Jian Xiang had slashed the Sheng Jie away and the world grew quiet again, Er Hao spoke once more:

"You've been indifferent to fame and fortune for a hundred years. I don't understand what the Sheng Nu offered you to draw you out of seclusion."

"You do understand."

"You can't do it!"

"I have to try."

"Even Yu Tu couldn't do it. How do you compare to him?"

Er Hao sighed in persuasion.

Mei Siyi sighed lightly, slowly raising the Tai Cheng Jian to his chest, his eyes shifting from serene tranquility to unyielding resolve:

"I uphold his will."

"I said, no need to ask further."

Words that don't align lead to no more talk. Mei Siyi didn't want to waste breath.

He tilted the Tai Cheng Jian suddenly, and his sword intent shot straight into the clouds, piercing through the descending ninth-heaven Sheng Jie.

"Boom!"

The Zhen Huang Dian ruins were instantly detonated by the rushing sword energy. As the Tai Cheng Jian glimmered faintly, a majestic ancient city illusion materialized in the void.

Behind Mei Siyi, the Jian Xiang's myriad swords lit up, pressing down in unison.

The intent of Tai Cheng! Myriad swords in worship!

"Absolute Imperial System."

Mei Siyi murmured softly, swinging his sword.

The intent of Tai Cheng Jian and the momentum of Jian Xiang merged brilliantly, transforming into golden sword energy.

One strike.

Amid the roaring explosions, the rules belonging to Er Hao—those binding the entire Sin One Dian and the nearby heavenly dao, saintly dao, and spatial laws of Zhen Huang Dian—suddenly crumbled.

White mist billowed for thousands of li across Sin One Dian.

Mei Siyi stood with the Sheng Jie above his head, the ferocious Jian Xiang on his back, and the Hun Dun divine artifact Tai Cheng Jian in his hand.

He stared intently, his killing intent almost making the liberated Tian Ji Shen Shi tremble, yet his tone was one of negotiation:

"I wish to take one person away from here. Will you allow it?"

Er Hao tilted the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian and fanned his wings.

That surging aura forcibly pushed back the Absolute Imperial System, which was far more terrifying than a mere gust.

"And if not?"

Mei Siyi heard this and laughed heartily, standing firm with his sword, as sword intent gathered from all directions into the Jian Xiang.

The Jian Xiang grew section by section, like a giant in wild, endless growth, soon breaking through even the dome of Sin One Dian.

In the void above the island, a half-body monstrous figure suddenly appeared.

This monster was enormous, its Qing Wu Er Jian spanning nearly ten thousand li, slashing twice toward the heavens.

With two whooshing sounds, the Sheng Jie shattered and vanished on the spot. Evil Ghost Severs Tribulation!

This spectacle, even from across the various forbidden lands, drew stunned and horrified gazes.

In Sin One Dian, above Zhen Huang Dian, Mei Siyi remained unmoved, as if the sword strike hadn't come from him, speaking calmly:

"If not..."

"Then my fate is in the hands of destiny, but you will undoubtedly fall."

Er Hao was clearly shocked by this mad ancient sword cultivator's combat prowess.

Unlike the various half-saint level spirit refiners, ancient sword cultivators, once they sealed their sainthood, weren't divided into combat, control, or pure support types.

This group of eccentrics was stronger and more absurd in battle than the last, impossible to measure by the norms of spirit refining dao.

Not even the Tian Ji dao could compare!

A double Sheng Jie, and Mei Siyi could split it with one sword? If so, why had he come bearing the tribulation? Just for show?

Er Hao nearly short-circuited his thoughts.

"Are you threatening me?"

"It's not hard to understand..." Mei Siyi nodded indifferently. "This is a threat."

Seizing the moment of Er Hao's silence, Mei Siyi reached out and grabbed Xu Xiaoshou.

He was putting on a strong front while exhausted; in his mind, there was a banishment countdown, and he couldn't drag this out.

Er Hao must know that too.

But precisely because of it, he feared Mei Siyi fighting like a cornered beast!

A sword saint's desperate counterattack in one sword could unleash boundless power—no one wanted to test that!

With a firm grip.

Mei Siyi found he couldn't pull Xu Xiaoshou and looked down. Xu Xiaoshou was lost in thought...

He had clearly said earlier that he wanted to escape with Mei Siyi.

Now, he was staring at Tian Ren Wu Shui, pondering something?

"Xu Xiaoshou?" Mei Siyi called softly.

In that moment, he empathized with the choice his student might make.

Xu Xiaoshou had said it lightly before, but that line "he helped me survive just now" clearly carried great weight!

This boy might act frivolously on the surface, but he wasn't one to betray his allies. Mei Siyi immediately spread his sword intent across the area, focusing his mind on the surrounding world, and tightened his grip on the Tai Cheng Jian.

Xu Xiaoshou still stared at Tian Ren Wu Shui, who hung on the Sheng Cai Zhi Jian, now still and devoid of any life signs.

He hesitated, started to speak, stopped, and finally parted his lips, trembling as he said:

"Mei Siyi, c-can I be selfish just this once?"

"I said, call me 'teacher'."

"Teacher."

"Hmm?"

"I want to learn the sword..."