Chapter 1233: Cause and Effect of Life and Death, The Chess Game Has Not Ended

Had the Sky Oracle in its Liberated Form fallen?

Under Mei Yiren’s single sword strike, he couldn't even summon the slightest defensive measure. His thoughts and consciousness were severed, leaving him an empty shell?

At this moment, everyone on Void Island felt it was inconceivable.

If the previous sacred fall of Jiang Buyi only allowed everyone to witness the final outcome—a Half-Saint transforming into scattered clouds and dissipating—

But not knowing what had happened before, they could only lament that Void Island was indeed a burial ground for Saints, and nothing more.

This time, however, the Sky Oracle in its Liberated Form appeared so sacred and possessed such immense power.

People's memories of this strongest Sky Oracle puppet clearly remained at the moment just before it battled fiercely with King Yama. Then, with a turn of the scene, Mei Yiren's single sword strike took its life.

How terrifying was that?How horrifying?

Everyone waited, expecting Number Two to perhaps suddenly tremor and quickly recover, using the power of Sky Oracle principles or something else.

The entire Void Island fell into a dead silence.

However, one breath passed, then three breaths, then ten breaths...

This time, the Sky Oracle was truly gone!

What remained was merely the Sky Oracle puppet, clad in holy white armor, with twelve glowing wings on its back, wielding the Sword of Holy Judgment, and a divine halo above its head!

This was merely a husk, a physical body; it had lost its soul and could no longer even be referred to as "he"!

"Wasn't the Sky Oracle known as the 'Strongest Half-Saint'? How could it be killed in one strike?" someone stammered in shock."The strongest Half-Saint? That's the strongest Half-Saint of *this* era. It still depends on who you're comparing it to! In this day and age, who doesn't have a 'reputation'? You should look at who drew the sword!""Mr. Yiren? Hasn't he been outdated for a long time...?""Outdated? That old man simply avoids worldly disputes. Do you really think others stop and wait for you just because you start cultivating?""But, one sword? He only used one sword...""You're not from the Eastern Region, are you? Have you heard the story of someone who, with seven sword strikes, decapitated the previous Hall Master of the Holy Temple?""You Tu?""Exactly. Mr. Yiren and Elder You Tu are from the same era; they stand at a height where they can discuss the Way as equals. What's so surprising about him striking down a Sky Oracle creation of the new era with a single sword?"

This left people speechless.

Indeed, from an objective standpoint, upon closer thought, the current situation seemed to boil down to a simple truth. But thoughts were one thing, and objectivity another.

Yet, the impact of Old Sword Saint Mei Yiren's sword strike was still overwhelming!

After Sin Hall One shattered, in the eyes of those on Void Island, Mei Yiren had essentially not made a move, staying in the background the entire time. Xu Xiaoshou, Huang Quan, Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man, Yan Wuse, Number Two, Eighth Sword Immortal...

Everyone else, human or ghost, was showcasing their power, while only Mei Yiren stood by idly.

He suddenly drew his sword, and the world fell silent.

How could this not drive people crazy?

A Saint's Fall

Compared to Jiang Buyi's demise, Number Two's fall was too quiet, too bizarre.

Had it not previously demonstrated its extraordinary combat power, some might even have mistakenly thought Number Two was made of paper.

Therefore, it wasn't that the Sky Oracle was weak, but that the sword strike was truly too powerful!

Furthermore, had Mei Yiren not escorted everyone on the island out of the Mental Prison Field before drawing his sword, the aftershock of that single strike might have claimed thousands of Spirit Cultivators.

Reflecting on this, everyone was alarmed.

Within the battle, Huang Quan, who had retreated to the back but observed more closely, stared intently at Number Two.

"There's still vitality."

"But only the body retains activity; its thoughts, its will, have all been completely erased, like a life scroll painted over with ink, wiped back to its initial blankness."

"Even if it can be revived, it might be another person... or rather, another life form. Whether it's human or not is debatable." Huang Quan observed very carefully, seeing more than others.

What he concluded, too, was that Number Two had been erased by a single sword strike.

This conclusion made Huang Quan frown deeply, feeling a strong sense of unease.

"That's the second one..."

"One Saint's fall, that's possible."

"Two Saints falling, within the same day?"

"Something is definitely wrong here!"

There are no coincidences in this world so exaggerated—so coincidental that two Half-Saints fall within a single day!

Huang Quan subtly turned his head, glancing at Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man, whose eyes still held a tremor of shock.

He subtly moved a little further away.

"It's always involved with some karma..."

Better safe than sorry.

Although it seemed as though all this had nothing to do with the "Body of Decay" and the "Blood World Pearl."

But upon closer thought... hey, there were traces to follow!

When Huang Quan took in Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man in the Southern Region, he knew how the "Artisan Gate" had perished.

It looked like that had nothing to do with Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man either!

But wasn't that situation strikingly similar in form and spirit to everything currently happening on Void Island?

"If there's one, and then two, perhaps there will be a third?"

Huang Quan's gaze swept around, seeing many Half-Saints present, each with a deathly pallor on their faces!

It wouldn't even require a suitable reason for one of them to suddenly drop dead, lie down, and vanish.

Because Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man was present, the Body of Decay could silently bring misfortune to those around it, regardless of friend or foe.

The Blood World Pearl was also present, one of the Ten Great Anomalous Weapons, so special that it was known as the "Root of World Calamity, Guide to Death." And look, it had successfully guided two!

And both were Half-Saints!

"It's not me..." Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man clearly sensed Lord Huang Quan's strange gaze and realized something, shaking his head and whispering, "I didn't cast any spells."

Huang Quan frowned under his mask, moving even further away. "From now on, do not speak to me."

Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man was momentarily speechless.

After a pause, Huang Quan remembered something and whispered, "Didn't you just make a sacrifice?""Yes.""You're alive again?""Yes.""You..."

At this point, Huang Quan's spiritual intuition stirred, triggering a self-imposed danger limit switch: no more than three sentences of communication with Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man were necessary.

He rationally refrained from asking further, fearing entanglement, and quietly instructed, "Find a time to escape first.""What about you?" Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man was startled. Was he not planning to leave together?"I will leave Void Island first, then come for you. At least this way, one of us can escape this place, and I won't be interrupted by external forces while constructing a spatiotemporal tunnel outside.""What about me?""As I said, you need to stay here for now, just find a place to hide. You seem not to die... Hmm, you don't need to answer that question."

Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man: "..."

Huang Quan seized the opportunity to disappear into the second dimension, his form fading as he left a task before departing:

"Make things a bit more chaotic. Ideally, a few more should die here. You can do it, but don't try to intentionally. Just hide well and be present."

Five Decays of Heaven-and-Man: "..."

He paused, then remembered something and chuckled sinisterly, "Lord Huang Quan, have you ever considered what is guiding you to leave now, and where you are going?"

Huang Quan's form instantly solidified back, his eyes under the mask filled with terror.

"This journey leads to death?"

"Is this the guidance of the Blood World Pearl?"

But glancing back at the situation on Void Island, where could be more dangerous, more likely to lead to one's demise, than staying here?"Shut your foul mouth.""Then I wish you a smooth jour...""Shut up!""Oh.""Oh, and if possible, the Ancestor of Time's Shadow... hmm?"

Huang Quan's words faltered, as he connected it to the fact that the Ancestor of Time's Shadow would inevitably implicate that individual. His form abruptly vanished; he dared not linger for another second. "Never mind, let's leave it at that. Don't contact me if there's nothing wrong... actually, don't even if there is."

Meanwhile, Mei Yiren finally sheathed the Tai City Sword.

The Prajna-less cut that eliminated the Sky Oracle in its Liberated Form did not stir many ripples in his unperturbed heart.

To outsiders, this was an impregnable hexagonal warrior, the strongest Half-Saint.

In Mei Yiren's eyes, it was merely a toy created by a young junior.

"Very strong..."

"But limited."

There were actually many ways to counter it, but only when placed on Void Island did this toy become extremely troublesome.

But once the restrictions were lifted, Red Plum Three Streams could strike it, and Prajna-less could strike it.

In other aspects, there were naturally other sword arts that could target it.

Failing to find a weakness in the Sky Oracle, and deeming it invincible, only served to inversely prove that one's cultivation of ancient sword arts was not yet profound enough.

After all, the Three Thousand Sword Ways encompass everything.

From this perspective, the Sky Oracle Arts were merely one of the Great Dao, nothing more.

"I wonder if Xu Xiaoshou can also grasp these insights..."

From the corner of his eye, he subtly noted the lingering astonishment in the eyes of Eight Revered A'an's esteemed disciple. Mei Yiren's right lip curled slightly, then quickly flattened.

He unfolded his paper fan, maintaining a steady rhythm, leisurely fanning himself twice, allowing the gentle breeze to carry away the lingering satisfaction in his heart, before finally looking towards Xu Xiaoshou.

One breath, two breaths...

He waited three breaths; that was enough.

Mei Yiren, already experienced, finally spoke with a smile:

"How was that?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened repeatedly, darting back and forth between the "soulless" Number Two and Mr. Yiren, circling several times before he could barely manage to speak:

"So... so powerful..."

*That's* it?

Mei Yiren suppressed the urge to raise an eyebrow, his face still serene.

He soon realized it wasn't that Xu Xiaoshou couldn't offer a higher evaluation of the sword strike or of him, his teacher.

Rather, he was too deeply shaken, temporarily limited to using meager vocabulary to describe what he had seen and felt.

This was reasonable.

Mei Yiren had encountered similar situations many times.

The sense of accomplishment as a teacher, to put it plainly, didn't it stem from moments like these?

"How much did you learn?" he asked again.

"Just a little..." Xu Xiaoshou recalled the sword strike he had just witnessed, feeling as though his memory had been given to Prajna-less; he couldn't remember much more. Yet, these details were firmly absorbed by the Sword Dao Plate, activating a large amount of related information within his Sword Art Mastery.

What is forgotten is not necessarily lost; it might have settled, and at some point, after accumulating deeply, a similar sword strike could naturally come to fruition.

"Just a little?" Mei Yiren was slightly displeased, for he could tell that this time, Xu Xiaoshou wasn't being modest or upholding the excellent virtues of ancient sword cultivators.

"Just a little," Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, repeating his answer.

Mei Yiren was then satisfied.

He wanted to say something more, but again suppressed these impulses, fanned his paper fan once, then folded it, put it behind his back, and retreated to the background.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately felt that *this* was a true master!

There was no true master who, upon appearing, would chant something like "I come from the Western Heavens," as if afraid others wouldn't know they were a master.

Look!

This was the true demeanor of a Sword Saint.

"Ten steps, a man slain; a thousand miles, no trace; with business done, he brushes his sleeves and leaves, his merits and fame deeply hidden."

Not a single extra word spoken; merits and faults, left for posterity to judge.

Xu Xiaoshou could already hear that after the deathly silence on Void Island, various exclamations of praise for Mr. Yiren echoed everywhere—rough, speculative, emotional, all sorts:

"Holy cow! What a sword!"

"This is the second realm, this is Prajna-less?"

"Who said ancient sword cultivators have declined? If this is still considered decline, then how many in the Spirit Cultivation world could defeat a 'declined' ancient sword cultivator?"

"It's probably ancient sword *arts* that have declined, not ancient sword *cultivators*... You only see their brilliance at this moment; how could you know the hardships they endured behind the scenes?"

"Indeed. But if Mr. Yiren hadn't been so merciful just now, wouldn't we have been unable to escape?"

"Yes, yes, that grayish Mental Prison Field was absolutely suffocating!"

The discussions surged like waves, one after another. As Xu Xiaoshou listened, he understood another layer.

So, to gain passive points, one didn't necessarily have to stand in a crowd and shout, "I'm actually a Half-Saint." There was also Mr. Yiren's subtle method of showing off...

Secretly glancing at Mr. Yiren, Xu Xiaoshou's estimation of him grew even higher.

Absolutely brilliant!

Mr. Yiren truly deserved the title "Sword Saint." He remained expressionless, as if that sword strike had nothing to do with him, and the crowd wasn't discussing him at all.

At the same time, seeing that everyone on Void Island had regained their senses, Big Mouth Xiao also timely concealed the ripples in his eyes.

He puffed out his chest, held his head high, took a step forward, cast a disdainful glance at Number Two, now just a puppet, then turned his gaze towards the scene of the Three Elephants Restraining Emperor, and scoffed:

"As I said, I don't even need to personally make a move to deal with you."

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stunned.

You can leech off that too? You're too good at this!

Can't you learn from my teacher? *That's* what you call 'demeanor.' You must be eager to expose yourself, huh?

However, it must be said that there were still Spirit Cultivators on the island who revered Eight Revered A'an, and they wouldn't necessarily deduce much from just one sentence.

With the imagery of "Three Elephants Restraining Emperor" already present, when they heard what should have been a murmur, yet somehow reached everyone's ears, they each expressed their astonishment.

Discussions about "Eighth Sword Immortal" naturally increased, claiming almost half of the attention from "Mr. Yiren."

Mei Yiren's eyes narrowed, silently aiming at a certain back.

That certain back clearly felt something—a chill ran down his spine. But words spoken were like water spilled; he could do nothing but maintain his composure and not turn back.

After the confluence of wind and clouds, came a fleeting moment of clear rain.

The relief and relaxation brought by the single sword strike that annihilated Number Two could not last long, because Yan Wuse had not been fully dealt with yet.

The Three Elephants Restraining Emperor merely held Yan Wuse captive; it could not completely suppress or seal him.

To truly achieve liberation in the current situation, with hatred fully roused, completely burying this one of the Three Emperors here and clearing a path to escape Void Island were both indispensable.

Even after Number Two was erased, Xu Xiaoshou hadn't seen Eight Revered A'an's contingency plans yet. He truly didn't want to stay here and continue being exploited.

He could easily surmise Eight Revered A'an's intentions:

Either he truly had no other contingency plans, and Mei Yiren was the biggest pawn in his scheme.

Or the game hadn't reached his anticipated final moment, so there was no need for contingency plans, or even for him to appear.

But the latter was even more terrifying!

Two Saints had fallen, yet the game wasn't over. How could he possibly stay in this wretched place?

By then, he would have gained enough fame and passive points, but no life left to spend them!

"Teacher, Old... ugh, I mean, Lord Eight Revered A'an, what should we do next?" Xu Xiaoshou had made his decision, but still asked.

Just then, before Mr. Yiren and the fake Eight Revered A'an could reply, a sharp cry, filled with suppressed fury, drifted from the distant sky.

"Where is Huang Quan?!"