Chapter 1211: Yan Wuse, Save Me

A piercing scream of agony suddenly rang out.

Er Hao's back exploded with a mass of consciousness, but it wasn't the remnants of Er Hao's own consciousness. Instead, it belonged to...

"Si Tu Yong Ren?"

Xu Xiao Shou listened to that scream and felt the familiar fluctuations from the consciousness that had been whipped out by the Xun Shen Bian. He froze in shock.

"Spare me! Spare me!"

With just one lash, Si Tu Yong Ren's consciousness seemed utterly destroyed.

After losing Er Hao's protection, he couldn't hold out for even a breath. He was instantly assimilated by the power of the Hong Chen Jian, as if he'd forgotten his own pain. His consciousness formed into a twitching, surging cloud and bowed from afar.

"Seen... seen you, Si Ren sir..."

The Xun Shen Bian didn't stop. It struck again.

Red plum blossoms fluttered as ancient characters shattered once more.

Er Hao's back was left with almost no characters intact, as if the flesh and blood of a human body had been stripped away.

"Urgh ahh..." Another scream erupted.

This time, what was drawn out wasn't just a twisted, convulsing mass of consciousness.

There was also a phantom eye, as if it didn't belong to this Luo Ying Jie at all.

"This is..."

Xu Xiao Shou's pupils contracted. He recognized it as the consciousness of Jiang Bu Yi that had been swallowed into Er Hao's body earlier.

It had been drawn out too?

Did that mean all disobedient consciousnesses were pulled out by the Xun Shen Bian? And that eye...

Xu Xiao Shou couldn't see or touch it, but he could easily "sense" the intense aura of calamity upon it.

The San Jie Nan Yan?

Recalling Lei Xi Er's previous deductions, Xu Xiao Shou desperately wanted to pull her out and ask, but he didn't dare.

The scene of Si Ren sir battling Er Hao's consciousness was heart-wrenching. He felt he could be caught in the crossfire at any moment.

How could he pull Lei Xi Er out to her death?

Without protection, Jiang Bu Yi's consciousness struggled for less than three breaths before it weakened and was assimilated by the Hong Chen Jian's power.

"Seen... seen you, Si Ren sir..."

He bowed from afar, his state a bit better than Si Tu Yong Ren's, but not by much.

The Xun Shen Bian paid no more attention to these two tamed... or rather, enlightened individuals. It lashed out again.

After enduring two strikes without a sound and still trying to resist the third strike of the Hong Chen Jian's third form, Er Hao finally broke.

"Urgh heh heh..."

Incoherent spasms escaped his mouth.

His back, after taking the third direct hit from the Xun Shen Bian, burst apart as it deflated.

"Bang!"

Countless ancient characters exploded outward.

Er Hao's consciousness, in its rule-based form, scattered like water splashing from a sunken boulder, flying in all directions and unable to reform.

In the Luo Ying Jie, red plum blossoms mixed with ancient characters, dancing gracefully.

Any of those ancient characters that still held traces of Er Hao's consciousness, not yet fully dimmed, paused slightly upon touching the sword energy of the red plum blossoms or the floating debris of the mortal world.

Then, they turned and bowed in unison toward Mei Si Ren, who stood high above with the sword image on his back.

"Seen you, Si Ren sir..." "Seen you, Si Ren sir..."

From all sides, the voice of Er Hao echoed.

The ancient characters folded like dough being shaped, radiating devout intent.

Xu Xiao Shou felt chills run down his spine, his dark eyes unable to hide the turmoil in his heart.

He had always known Si Ren sir was powerful, but he never imagined that after achieving sainthood, he could be this strong!

He had thought the liberated state of the Tianji God Envoy was unbeatable in the world.

But even Er Hao, in that nearly invincible state that had left Xu Xiao Shou and the Tianren Five Decays barely able to function, was quickly outmaneuvered by Si Ren sir. He was drawn into a consciousness world favorable to him and beaten down.

And not just beaten—literally hung up and whipped on a textual level!

Only now did Xu Xiao Shou fully understand Si Ren sir's step-by-step strategy.

From the beginning, it wasn't about taking Jiang Bu Yi's life.

It was because he had fought Jiang Bu Yi and knew he carried the San Jie Nan Yan, which Er Hao coveted.

So, he devised a plan using the Hong Chen Jian's three forms. The first sword overturned reality and illusion.

The second sword severed Er Hao's consciousness rule-based form. By the third sword, Er Hao's consciousness was shattered.

Each step linked perfectly. After three swords, the mightiest half-saint was reduced to nothing.

"This is the power of a 'Jian Sheng'?"

Gazing at Mei Si Ren, who stood high above, still calm and at ease, Xu Xiao Shou felt that his newly acknowledged teacher was almost terrifying.

Perhaps only Er Hao could hold out until the third sword of the Hong Chen Jian's three forms.

If it were an ordinary half-saint... Xu Xiao Shou believed that ninety-nine percent of them couldn't last that long.

They would be lost after the first sword, Luo Ying Jie, not knowing how to fight or break it.

At least, reality and the consciousness world flipped upside down.

Without Si Ren sir's guidance, Xu Xiao Shou wouldn't have entered the Luo Ying Jie himself.

All his strength would be suppressed to less than one ten-thousandth, and he wouldn't even know how to use his skills or techniques to break it.

Maybe only his "Disappearance Technique" could be used for evasion.

But just evading wouldn't help against Si Ren sir's next sword...

Er Hao had already demonstrated that. In front of these high-level half-saints, such actions were as good as suicide.

"Terrifying indeed!"

"The ancient Jian Sheng is truly the most unprovokable and illogical combat profession."

The more Xu Xiao Shou thought about it, the more excited he became.

Because this powerful Mei Si Ren wasn't an enemy. And this battle... it looked like a fight, but it was really a lesson!

Si Ren sir was demonstrating for him the first realm of the eight great sword techniques beyond the Sheathed Sword of the Cang Jian Shu.

Moreover, it was a fused application of the various sword technique realms. Even for another ancient sword cultivator with great talent, just mastering Luo Ying Jie might take thirty years!

But Xu Xiao Shou was different, completely different.

With his feet on the Jian Dao Pan and in the state of unity with heaven and man, even if he couldn't fully grasp the three swords of the Hong Chen Jian right away, with Si Ren sir's step-by-step guidance and demonstration, he could extract the first realm of the eight great ancient sword techniques from it.

In other words, given time to digest it, Xu Xiao Shou could master nearly half of the Eighteen Sword Streams!

In the early days, that level could even contend for the title of Qi Jian Xian!

But now...

Watching Mei Si Ren, who had achieved sainthood and evolved his combat power to such an absurd degree, Xu Xiao Shou once again realized the true value of the Qi Jian Xian title.

He didn't even dare challenge someone like Rao Yao Yao now, let alone others dreaming of the "Qi Jian Xian" name.

In the Feng Sha Array, Mei Si Ren turned his head and asked indifferently, "Xu Xiao Shou, how much have you learned?"

"A little bit."

Xu Xiao Shou snapped back to attention and responded seriously.

Mei Si Ren looked at the Dao rhythm on him and the brighter Jian Dao mystic array beneath his feet, a smile appearing on his face.

"It seems you've grasped the essence of ancient sword cultivation."

Xu Xiao Shou almost couldn't maintain his cool expression.

The essence of ancient sword cultivation wasn't about sword intent or techniques, but an elegant and noble quality called "humility."

"Come."

Mei Si Ren beckoned.

Xu Xiao Shou thought he was being called and started to step forward.

But to his surprise, the sword intent from Mei Si Ren spread out, and from outside the Luo Ying Jie, that San Jie Nan Yan that had been whipped out entered.

It was no longer phantom-like, vague, or out of reach.

It was as if it had also been transformed into a physical entity by Mei Si Ren's Heart Sword Technique, entering the Luo Ying Jie.

"Hold on to this. It's Jiang Bu Yi's... no, it's the Lei family's San Jie Nan Yan. I was forced to undergo the half-saint tribulation because of it."

"This might be what you want. Now, it's barely returning half of it to its rightful owner."

"Its fate is yours to decide."

Mei Si Ren showed no attachment at all. He didn't even glance at it before waving the San Jie Nan Yan to his student.

Xu Xiao Shou was stunned, then quickly caught the Lei family eye, and his respect for Mei Si Ren grew even more.

Being detached from fame and fortune was just a phrase.

But how many people could truly achieve it?

The power of the Lei family eye, coveted even by the Sheng Shen Hall or the five great Sheng Di families, meant nothing to Mei Si Ren.

And now, after witnessing the power of the San Jie Nan Yan, he still didn't care.

In this regard, Jiang Bu Yi, Er Hao, and even the Dao of the five great Sheng Di families were all insignificant!

If they could have done the same...

Maybe Jiang Bu Yi wouldn't have ended up in such a miserable state. Er Hao wouldn't have fallen into danger out of greed.

All the deadly feuds over the "Lei family eye" might never have happened.

But Xu Xiao Shou knew all too well:

There was only one Mei Si Ren!

Truly achieving such openness and consistency was rare in the world.

Not even seven out of ten could match him.

One person, one sword.

In this world, that brought absolute confidence, with no desire for external things.

This was perhaps the highest realm of ancient sword cultivation, transcending techniques themselves.

"I'll handle it properly."

Xu Xiao Shou solemnly put away the San Jie Nan Yan.

Mei Si Ren withdrew his gaze, as if advising, murmuring to himself, reflecting, and sighing:

"Do not rejoice in possessions, do not grieve in self, do not linger in the mortal world, do not belittle yourself."

Xu Xiao Shou pondered thoughtfully, silently savoring the words, then nodded as if enlightened.

As a teacher, what Mei Si Ren most wanted to teach his student wasn't just sword techniques, but how to be a person.

He had seen too many students who, after learning sword techniques, became arrogant and were eventually destroyed by their own abilities.

Long ago, he realized this, so Mei Si Ren had stopped teaching under his real name, refusing to enable such folly.

But tragedies kept happening; one couldn't stop fate.

Personal destiny depended on personal encounters and growth.

All cases of virtue not matching position, or ability exceeding one's worth, ultimately led to sorrow.

Mei Si Ren didn't want Xu Xiao Shou to become another such regrettable figure after learning the sword.

The advice was just incidental. Soon, Mei Si Ren looked back into the Feng Sha Array.

The consciousness belonging to Jiang Bu Yi had been enlightened by the Hong Chen Jian's power. It convulsed in midair, unable to resist, maintaining a posture of worship.

"There are two more."

Mei Si Ren spoke, and the Xun Shen Bian formed again in the nine heavens, as if ready to strike at any word.

Jiang Bu Yi's consciousness suddenly stopped trembling and struggled violently the next second.

But the enlightening power of the Hong Chen Jian assimilated it, and soon two phantom pupils vaguely formed on his consciousness, about to be expelled.

Just then, among the ancient characters that had been whipped apart and scattered from Er Hao's consciousness rule-based form,

Three characters broke free from the enlightening power and unfolded, straightening up as if they had a spine, emitting a faint light.

Looking closely...

One was "Xu," one was "Xia," and one was "Xuan."

Mei Si Ren's eyes narrowed, realizing that Er Hao's consciousness had been shattered by the Xun Shen Bian and couldn't reform temporarily.

So, these ancient characters that could resist the Hong Chen Jian's power were likely not from him, but from his backup.

Who could it be from?

Before he could think, the ancient "Xuan" character brightened intensely after its faint light.

Countless Tianji Dao patterns shot out from it, intertwining in the sky of the Luo Ying Jie to form a slowly unfurling black-red scroll.

Instantly, it overwhelmed everything in sight and altered thoughts in the mind.

"The Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi!"

Xu Xiao Shou saw the scroll and was horrified, instinctively shielding all his senses and avoiding looking at it.

He remembered clearly.

In the Miracle Forest, after Jiang Bu Yi left, it was with the left-behind Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi, using just the character "Gui," that he was pulled out of his Disappearance Technique.

If he hadn't sensed the danger in advance and cut off his own arm like a lizard's tail,

He might have lost his true body to Jiang Bu Yi's backup!

"The great Dao progresses, adhering to order, yin and yang evolve, forming their own mysteries."

"Under Tianji, all things can be traced; all illusions are broken, transformed into differences."

Profound secret texts quickly outlined on the black-red scroll, and a faint sacred sound drifted down from the nine heavens, cleansing hearts and shaking souls.

"Transform!"

In the end, the Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi evolved into a single character.

The "Hua" character, instantly enlarging infinitely in the mind, contained terrifying power.

Even though Xu Xiao Shou wasn't looking or listening, and had activated his Disappearance Technique upon sensing something wrong,

It still entered his mind.

It was as if it wanted to purify and melt him, evaporating his Disappearance Technique and reverting him to his original form.

Even his physical body, soul, and treasures in his Qi Sea couldn't resist this single character's power; they were all about to dissolve into primal energy and vanish.

"Whose character is this?!"

Xu Xiao Shou was terrified.

He realized this "Hua" character was infinitely more dreadful than Jiang Bu Yi's "Gui" character back then.

It contained a deep understanding of the Dao's true meaning through Tianji power, like brainwashing, even washing away one's terror!

Making one think, it all makes so much sense...

This interpretation of "transformation" is so logical...

One might even want to follow this character, dissolve into nothingness, and merge into Tianji for eternal life...

"Buzz." His spiritual awakening triggered.

Xu Xiao Shou's expression froze, and the next second, he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Si Ren sir, save me—"

"Dao lad..."

Mei Si Ren smiled, but as if he hadn't heard his student's cry for help.

He half-closed his eyes, entranced, listening to the entire sacred sound of the Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi from start to finish and deeply comprehending its essence.

Words of ultimate goodness and elegance always felt like a spring breeze.

But today was different from the past. He was no longer the Qi Jian Xian under Jiang Bu Yi's "Gui" character, but an ancient Jian Sheng who could rival the "Hua" character of Dao Qiong Cang!

Only when the "Hua" character appeared and the sacred sound ended did Mei Si Ren's entranced expression remain, though his eyes were fully closed.

As if enlightened, he murmured to himself, lightly raising his right hand with the Tai Cheng Jian and joining his left fingers to stroke the blade: "After snow strikes the red plum, a faint fragrance lingers; when spring leaves and cold winds come, the red plum blooms again."

As he finished, specks of red plum blossoms bloomed on the Tai Cheng Jian, reaching the tip before retracting, like time reversing, all retreating back.

In the Luo Ying Jie, white snow fluttered, mixed with crimson flakes falling, only to fly back midway, as if gravity had inverted, returning piece by piece.

"Illusion Sword Technique, spatiotemporal leap."

Mei Si Ren's eyes suddenly opened, sword light bursting forth, and he slashed forward with the Tai Cheng Jian.

In the Luo Ying Jie, time reversed. The "Hua" character shrank and vanished, reverting to the thirty-two characters of the Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi.

The scroll rolled up, Tianji dissipated, all energy returned to its origin, condensing into the Dao patterns on the "Xuan" character.

The Tai Cheng Jian gently struck this "Xuan" character.

Crack!

With a sharp sound, the ancient "Xuan" character was still in its bowed state, never having released the Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi, when it was forcibly extinguished in its infancy, splitting into two.

At that very moment, on the other side, the "Xu" character glowed brightly.

This time, however, it didn't dare shoot out Tianji Dao patterns to form a Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi.

Instead, a voice burst from it, trying to sound calm but tinged with panic—Er Hao's voice—piercing through space and time, echoing across nearly the entire Void Island:

"Yan Wu Se, save me!"