Chapter 1208: Red Plum Three Flows · Falling Petals Realm

As expected...

Mei Siren knew that Xu Xiaoshou would never abandon his companions. Er Hao had clearly seen this too, which was why he had pinned Tian Renwusui in place, successfully luring Xu Xiaoshou to stay. Yet Xu Xiaoshou was no fool; he must have seen through this tactic as well.

Given that, his desire to "learn sword" meant he had already calculated the costs before and after. Mei Siren's thoughts reached this point, and he turned his head for a final confirmation: "At this time? In this place?"

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head in response, meeting his gaze with flickering eyes. Er Hao had mentioned Yan Wuse and Dao Qiongcang were on Xukong Dao, and even if it wasn't those two, there must be other allies. Mister Yiren was certainly not Bazun An's backup... If Bazun An could foresee this scene before Xukong Dao's arrival, knowing Mei Siren would come to save him from near death at Er Hao's hands, Xu Xiaoshou would be the first to disbelieve it!

The spatial traces previously detected here suggested they were left by Huang Quan and Mister Yiren working with Jiang Buyi... Huang Quan, as the leader of Tian Renwusui, would never give up such a powerful organization member.

Then there was Sheng Shen Diantang, where the semi-saint Rao Yaoyao, having lost her ability to think, had become an unpredictable variable, potentially appearing anywhere at any time to commit some mad act.

Xiuyue Huigong had been forced to flee amid the desolate winds, and the forces of the Southern Domain could hardly penetrate deep into the Eastern Domain, so Xiuyue Huigong could be ruled out for now—they likely couldn't enter the game and probably didn't want to anyway, so no need to consider them further.

That left only Shengnu... Bazun An had promised to cover everything, yet after all the killing, with people either dead or maimed, he still hadn't shown up. What was he thinking? Had he forgotten something so important? If not, then his backup plan must be buried terrifyingly deep...

Even Er Hao knew Bazun An's intentions weren't purely about the inner island of Xukong Dao, and Dao Qiongcang, known as unfathomable by gods and ghosts, must have realized this too. So if Bazun An truly held a final trump card, Dao Qiongcang's layout would obviously be even greater...

Not enough! His brain wasn't enough!

In a flash of insight, Xu Xiaoshou felt his mind throbbing with pain, as if it might split apart.

But precisely because of these thoughts, his gaze stopped flickering and gradually solidified into determination.

Fixing his sight on Tian Renwusui, Xu Xiaoshou affirmed his inner resolve and hesitated no longer.

At least, he knew that if he truly left with Mister Siren...

Tian Renwusui, as such a special ghost beast host, falling into the hands of Sheng Shen Diantang would lead to who knows what horrors.

And Er Hao had helpers, even seemingly allowing Mister Siren to take him away, which meant even the enemy's escape was still within his control.

Running further would only keep him trapped in the palm of this liberated state Tian Ji Shenshi!

So the best choice now wasn't to run, but to use the semi-saint Mei Siren as a pawn in a gamble against Dao Qiongcang, maximizing the chance to severely wound, or even kill, Er Hao right here.

Otherwise, once Er Hao reunited with his people, every step he and his teacher took would be hindered.

Xu Xiaoshou gave Mister Siren the most decisive, all-in answer:

"At this time! In this place!"

If Mister Siren couldn't defeat Er Hao, he would be killed by Xukong Dao's rules after a few strikes.

If he could defeat him, then there would be ways to lift his "death countdown."

"This old one understands." Mei Siren gave Xu Xiaoshou a deep look and asked no more.

If his student wanted to learn sword, then he would demonstrate.

The sword lord is fierce when drawn, so teaching sword naturally required a worthy opponent.

The liberated state Tian Ji Shenshi was just right!

"Xu Xiaoshou, what kind of sword do you want to learn?"

"Anything, Teacher. Just show it freely—I have a photographic memory."

As Xu Xiaoshou spoke, Dao Yun surged around him, entering the Tian Ren He Yi state, and he stepped onto a Jian Dao Pan beneath his feet.

Though he lacked the semi-saint status and didn't dare to activate the final level of "Sword Mastery," he couldn't truly see through the second realm of various sword techniques yet.

But his "Perception" was already at Sheng Di Lv0, coming with exceptional memory.

Later, if needed, he could activate the skill, recall it once, and experience it firsthand.

He refused to believe that anything learned in the Tian Ren He Yi state wouldn't be comprehended once his skill levels rose!

Mei Siren was startled by this Jian Dao Ouyi Zhen Tu.

He could tell at a glance that it wasn't from the second realm of ancient sword techniques.

But the fact that Xu Xiaoshou could step into it meant his understanding of Jian Dao had qualitatively changed from before.

A single day apart feels like three seasons.

Mei Siren gained a new appreciation for that saying and once again updated his view of Xu Xiaoshou's talent.

This kid's growth rate was far beyond his expectations!

"In that case, this old one will follow his own teaching plan." Mei Siren didn't inquire further about Xu Xiaoshou's growth and calmly turned his gaze back to the waiting Tian Ji Shenshi.

"Not running anymore?" Er Hao asked with complete composure, as if Mei Siren's decision to stay or go meant nothing to him.

"Not running anymore."

"You're being used as a tool by Xu Xiaoshou, or rather, by Shengnu through him... It's not worth it."

"My student wants to learn sword—that's all."

"Your end will be miserable."

"That's none of your concern."

Mei Siren dismissed Er Hao's direct and indirect words and threats with a few words, his tone calm and devoid of any extra emotion.

Mister Siren didn't ask back... but Xu Xiaoshou felt a twinge of guilt upon hearing it.

Because, in a certain sense, Er Hao was right.

For no reason, Mister Siren had been drawn into this because of him and was now at the forefront.

He had become the biggest pawn, the sharpest sword in the clash of forces.

"Then let's start with Xin Jian Shu!"

Mei Siren wasted no more words, raising his Taicheng Jian, intent on demonstrating his lifelong knowledge.

"Xin Jian Shu targets gods and Buddhas below, merely the limit of the first realm, yet Xin Jian Shu is not limited to that..."

As the sword hummed, his thoughts stirred. Zhenhuang Dian drifted down with fluttering red plum blossoms.

Xu Xiaoshou, standing on the Jian Dao Pan, was taken aback; he could easily tell this wasn't an illusion from Huan Jian Shu.

These falling plum blossoms seemed real, manifested through inner visualization? Was Xin Jian Shu some kind of idealist mysticism, where you think it and it appears?

"No!"

"There's more to it—not just Xin Jian Shu, but other abilities too..."

Xu Xiaoshou seemed to see through something, yet was still obscured, unconsciously rubbing his eyes.

Mei Siren's instructive voice rang out calmly: "The nine great sword techniques are not independent; they complement each other."

"When mastered deeply, sword techniques, sword flows, and Jian Dao can all fuse freely, defying norms."

"Xu Xiaoshou, watch closely..."

"This sword uses the heart as the main, aided by the path of non-existence, so one can visualize red plum blossoms and make them fall, think of a person and manifest their form."

Think of a person? Who?

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned, unable to react immediately.

Soon, he saw the "Wujian" in Mei Siren's Jian Xiang right-hand great sword light up—that was the representative of Wujian Shu from Qingwu Er Jian.

"Xin Jian Shu targets gods and Buddhas below, gathering intent into form."

"Wujian Shu is the flow of non-existence, inverting reality and illusion."

Mei Siren lightly swung his sword forward, not aiming at Er Hao or anyone specific.

This made both Er Hao and Xu Xiaoshou pause; neither had seen such a sword before.

It seemed Mei Siren had been targeting only this hateful world from the start...

"Red Plum Three Flows: Falling Petals Realm!"

With a sword cry, Taicheng Jian slashed into the void.

Under Mei Siren's feet, four massive, illusory, red plum petal-like sword energy flows bloomed, spreading in all four directions for tens of thousands of li.

These sword flows surged from all sides, converging in the sky to form a bizarre boundary.

Plum blossoms fell from above, a chaotic flurry like snow, but crimson snow.

"What is this..."

Xu Xiaoshou reached out to touch a falling plum.

That speck of crimson brought a subtle, swirling sword intent like an undercurrent, yet it passed through his hand without harm.

The world before his eyes suddenly became strange!

In his sight, Mei Siren turned with a smile, his form gradually dissolving into illusion.

Er Hao was the same; the holy glow around him withered piece by piece under the falling plum blossoms, fading into nothingness.

"Everything... disappeared?!"

Xu Xiaoshou was horrified to find he had vanished too, as if under some invisibility spell, though not completely.

It was as if only consciousness remained...

With the emergence of "Falling Petals Realm," not only people but the entire ruins of Zhenhuang Dian, the world of Zuiyi Dian, and even the heavens and earth quickly turned to nothing amid the fluttering plum blossoms.

In contrast, strangeness appeared!

Elemental light points grew brighter—the intense red of flame, the profound depth of ice... and so on.

The rules of the Great Dao revealed themselves, complex and intertwined, forming a net in thick, strip-like, endless forms, surging wildly.

Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, light, dark, wind, thunder, ice—all present, dazzling.

With space gone, fragments turned into obscure fluctuations, like ripples from fish swimming underwater, with no more substantial spatial blades or storms.

But inside, numerous foreign Dao rules, spatial nodes, and time nodes all became vivid and glaring!

"What should exist is lost... What can't be seen has all come out..."

Standing on the Jian Dao Pan, Xu Xiaoshou vaguely grasped a bit of the essence of this sword "Falling Petals Realm."

As he tried to comprehend it deeply, a piercing scream suddenly echoed from the void, filled with terror:

"What kind of sword technique is this!"

"Impossible, this is impossible!"

"This saint has become a consciousness body and used secret methods—you can't possibly find me..."

"Mei Siren! Semi-saint Mei Siren? Ah!"

Jiang Buyi's voice!

Xu Xiaoshou felt a chill down his spine, though he couldn't find his spine.

Even without eyes, his "Perception" remained; he could see that in this inverted reality, hazy, gray-white clouds had appeared in the void.

The clouds weren't in clusters or shapes but strands weaving into mist.

The voice came from there.

"That must be Jiang Buyi!"

"No! These mists are Jiang Buyi's... consciousness body?!"

"Passive value, +1 from fright."

Xu Xiaoshou was scared by this bizarre world.

At the same time, he saw scattered ice-blue mists in the air.

Mixed in were intermittent voices: "Shou Ye"

"Shou Ye, hold on, I'm almost back..."

"Damn Tian Ji Shenshi, if you've got the guts, race me fair and square—sneak attacks are cowardly..."

"Jiji! It hurts~ Why can't you all hear me, jiji jiji..."

Han Ye!

Han Ye's consciousness body had also emerged?!

Xu Xiaoshou felt his scalp tingle, even though his scalp had been slashed away by Mister Siren's sword.

He finally fully understood "Red Plum Three Flows: Falling Petals Realm."

It wasn't the first or second realm; it was just a fusion of two sword techniques...

Yet this sword achieved what Mister Siren had spoken of—inverting norms, swapping reality and illusion!

Using Xin Jian Shu as the lead and Wujian Shu as support.

It manifested the inner world of consciousness into reality.

And hid the real world beneath these two sword techniques, turning it into a dream-like illusion.

—Such power to reverse the universe and turn illusion into reality was truly terrifying!

Xu Xiaoshou had been puzzled about Mister Siren's intent with this sword earlier.

But after seeing Jiang Buyi's consciousness body, he understood.

Jiang Buyi had used San Jie Nan Yan to propel Mister Siren to semi-saint, and ancient sword cultivators rarely tolerated old grudges.

Or, to put it nicely...

To deal with the liberated state Tian Ji Shenshi, Mei Siren had to first handle Jiang Buyi's hidden consciousness body, which could strike from the shadows at any time!

"Xu Xiaoshou, how much of this sword have you learned?"

Amid the falling petals in this pure consciousness world, Mei Siren's figure appeared, holding Taicheng Jian and standing proudly.

With everything inverted, Mei Siren could still manifest as a physical form in this consciousness realm.

"Wujian Shu, first realm, Flow of Non-existence?"

Xu Xiaoshou, still on the Jian Dao Pan, hadn't truly comprehended this sword and felt he had learned less than thirty percent.

He couldn't even produce a voice; it felt like the brain his teacher had slashed away was regrowing.

So itchy! Really itchy!

How was this done? Was it another use of Wujian Shu?

Was this the combat power born from an old Seven Sword Immortal's reflections on ancient sword techniques? It was too abstract, too hard to learn!

Mei Siren smiled as he wiped his sword and said:

"Use Xin Jian Shu as the guide and Wujian Shu as the application."

"'Falling Petals Realm' inverts the real world and the consciousness world, separating body and mind for absolute control, and it can sever one's intent—truly a sword of mental domination and killing."

"If you still can't grasp it, try this approach..."

Mei Siren didn't worry about his words allowing others in the field to learn or counter this sword. After all, it contained thirty years of his effort—how could a spirit refiner who wasn't even an ancient sword cultivator steal it away?

"Use 'targeting gods and Buddhas below' to visualize yourself as the absolute ruler, fully immersing your consciousness in the mental world; then activate the Flow of Non-existence to invert reality and illusion, making 'targeting gods and Buddhas below' enter the real world."

"Maintain Xin Jian Shu and Wujian Shu... Now your state is: consciousness in the real world, body in the consciousness world."

"This is the 'false state' created by the fusion of these two sword techniques. If you can't sustain your sword techniques, the 'false state' becomes real, and you'll die by the rules."

At this point, Mei Siren sped up his words, clearly afraid Xu Xiaoshou might die in the 'false state,' and guided him patiently:

"In this state, use Xin Jian Shu to reverse body and mind, then relax your obsessions, not fixating on form and awareness—that is, the distinction between concrete and abstract—and let your consciousness return to your body."

"If you can't, under 'targeting gods and Buddhas below,' activate it again to force your consciousness back to the mental world, then back to the body in the mental world."

"Thus, you can send your real self into the consciousness world for battle."

Mei Siren sensed sword intent forming around him; he knew Xu Xiaoshou had understood his words and gained some insight.

But this kid seemed to have never learned the first realm of Wujian Shu, the Flow of Non-existence?

"Take your time, don't rush. It's okay if you haven't learned Wujian Shu."

"It's simple; this old one will demonstrate the true essence of Wujian Shu again."

Mei Siren knew Xu Xiaoshou's comprehension was high, and now that he could step into the Jian Dao Ouyi Zhen Tu, it proved his talent.

So the old sword saint raised his Taicheng Jian, ready to demonstrate "Flow of Non-existence" once more.

Just then, a sword hum resounded through the air. The plum blossoms in the sky intensified, dense as a crimson blizzard.

At the peak of Falling Petals Realm, a bright full moon appeared, and beneath it, a majestic ancient tower rose into the void, with a defiant black silhouette standing at its top.

Xu Xiaoshou, in the form of "targeting gods and Buddhas below," stepped onto the Jian Dao Pan and successfully entered Falling Petals Realm.

He excitedly turned back, glancing downward. "Teacher, I'm in!"

Mei Siren was stunned for a moment and turned back involuntarily, only to...

In that instant, demonic thoughts exploded on the old sword saint's body, causing him to deviate into madness.

Jiang Buyi's consciousness body contracted, then burst into a black mass.

Han Ye's consciousness fragments convulsed in pieces, also tainted with black demonic energy.

"You Tu, eat... urk!"

"Ahhh, Xu Xiaoshou, this saint will kill you, I must kill you!"

"Jiji, jiji? Heaven and earth, this great one is the largest, jiji jiji!"