Chapter 1293: Okay, I'll give you this face for Xu Xiaoshou

“This madman!”

Shui Gui’s madness terrified everyone on Xukong Dao, and even Mo Di Hei Long looked at him with new respect.

From atop the dragon’s head, Xu Xiaoshou’s perception of this individual had completely shifted.

To call him ruthless would be an understatement!

Shui Gui was truly a double-edged sword – how could Ba Zun An dare to employ someone like him?

Oh, right, that was Ba Zun An…

Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes, feeling a bit lost for words.

Now, even if Shui Gui suddenly turned on him, Xu Xiaoshou felt he could almost understand.

For the sake of his objectives, what was his own life worth?

However, the wretched state of his inexpensive uncle Mu Ling under the combined forces of three Sheng Jie was something Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t ignore.

There was the sealing force from the supreme Sheng Jie, the seal on Bai Lian, and Mu Ling’s own Sheng Jie…

These three terrifying assaults overlapped, causing the world to buckle, let alone Mu Ling.

Even Shui Gui might struggle to withstand such intense Sheng Jie, and Mu Ling hadn't even mastered the Ao Yi Zhi Li.

Xu Xiaoshou was itching to intervene.

He knew that the only ones who could save the situation now were either Dao Qiong Cang or Shui Gui.

If one of them offered assistance and the other didn’t interfere, the outcome would be favorable.

If both acted in concert, it would be better for Mu Ling and Bai Lian to perish like shattered jade than endure like broken tiles, and this particular jade held no significance for the two Ban Sheng anyway.

But…

“How could Shui Gui listen to me?”

Xu Xiaoshou felt that even if he produced the Eight-Character Order, it might not halt Shui Gui, who was utterly consumed by his fervor.

In this predicament, only Ba Zun An himself appearing could truly save Mu Ling and Bai Lian, right?

But if Ba Zun An actually showed up, would he even act?

Shui Gui might still be a double-edged sword, at least serving some purpose.

Ba Zun An was so arrogant that even if he arrived in person, Mu Ling and Bai Lian, who were unrelated to him, would be like air to him, their lives and deaths disregarded.

The only way to capture that man’s attention was to draw a sword against him.

Obviously, that was impossible—Ba Zun An was nowhere to be seen.

But was he just going to stand by and do nothing?

The Sheng Jie wouldn't wait, and observing Mu Ling’s agonizing state in the lightning, Xu Xiaoshou could no longer just watch.

Standing atop Mo Di Hei Long, he unleashed a commanding aura and roared furiously:

“Enough!”

Since Ba Zun An wasn't present, he would conjure one himself!

The tempest formed by his furious roar, capable of swallowing mountains and rivers, descended like a massive boulder from the heavens, generating endless air waves and crashing into the Sheng Jie.

Everyone looked up, suddenly remembering that amidst this battleground, there was still Xu Xiaoshou, the very individual who had once stirred up such chaos.

In the holy war, Xu Xiaoshou’s presence could no longer be overlooked.

He appeared weak, but his capabilities were extraordinary.

Moreover, with such a massive Mo Di Hei Long beneath him, even if it couldn’t act, who would dare ignore it?

Beneath the Sheng Jie, Mu Ling, covered in blood, cast a side glance, a hint of unwillingness in his eyes.

He yearned to shout for Xu Xiaoshou to retreat, but he knew his voice would be intercepted by the Ban Sheng.

Communicating with the Sheng Nu would only bring about greater karma.

Under the Sheng Jie, even opening his mouth was difficult for Mu Ling, let alone speaking out.

At that moment, Mu Ling seemed desperate.

He had thought he would be Xu Xiaoshou’s ultimate hidden card, but the situation had dramatically reversed, and he had been pushed to this point by the combined efforts of Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang.

Now, he even needed his nephew Xu Xiaoshou to rescue him.

In the lightning, Dao Qiong Cang also turned his gaze, his eyes flickering.

He had already calculated that Mo Di Hei Long couldn’t act again, as no seeds had been planted in the Xuanxu Box for a Sheng Di to make a move.

Without Mo Di Hei Long, Xu Xiaoshou appeared formidable but couldn’t directly confront a Ban Sheng; his strength lay in strategic maneuvering.

At that moment, with only his aura, Xu Xiaoshou was even less capable than Mu Ling in this battlefield.

What was there to fear?

Yet, as soon as that thought flickered, he witnessed Shui Gui suddenly cutting through thousands of thunderbolts beneath the supreme Sheng Jie and leaping out.

“Ha ha ha ha…”

He was laughing maniacally, pinching the half Beast Mask on his face, and giving Xu Xiaoshou a long, penetrating look:

“Excellent, since you've spoken, I'll grant you some consideration, Xu Xiaoshou!”

Everyone was stunned.

Even Xu Xiaoshou himself was momentarily bewildered.

He had already grasped the Eight-Character Order and had secretly nudged Long Bao several times to help amplify his presence at the crucial moment.

He never anticipated that as soon as he spoke, Shui Gui would back down?

Was he waiting for him to speak?

Did he really possess that much influence?

A hint of doubt flashed across Xu Xiaoshou’s face.

He even turned around to check, but confirmed that Ba Zun An wasn’t actually behind him.

Had he used Illusion Sword Technique?

“Something’s not right!”

While enduring the tribulation, Dao Qiong Cang narrowed his eyes in shock and pondered deeply.

He knew Shui Gui all too well—this person was once Yu Mo, the embodiment of lawlessness and indifference towards others.

In his youth, he didn’t even hold Ba Zun An in high regard, and Dao Qiong Cang himself wasn’t even in his sights.

Indeed, who in the world would a master of Ao Yi Zhi Li need to respect?

But now, Shui Gui was showing deference to Xu Xiaoshou because he saw potential in him?

Absolutely not!

Individuals like Xu Xiaoshou, who at this age could achieve such remarkable feats, might be rare across the Sheng Shen Continent, but there were still others.

Looking upwards, there were Yu Tuo, Cao Yihan, Bei Huai, Hua Changdeng, and others, all renowned young talents, not much inferior to the “one zhang eight Ba Zun An.”

For Shui Gui to concede at this juncture, it wasn’t due to Xu Xiaoshou’s potential—it meant Xu Xiaoshou possessed another hidden card!

One that could even threaten Shui Gui’s life, hence his retreat.

“What is it?”

Dao Qiong Cang observed the confusion on Xu Xiaoshou’s face and concluded that even Xu Xiaoshou himself might be unaware of it.

How utterly ridiculous.

If that were the case, it could make sense.

“From Ba Zun An?”

Tian Ji Si Nan clicked and turned, deducing something amidst the flashes of lightning.

Soon, Dao Qiong Cang’s eyes shifted, and he looked towards the shattered volcano below.

On the other side, Xu Xiaoshou was still deep in thought:

“Right, Shui Gui owes me a favor…”

“No, I think I owe him?”

After mulling it over, Xu Xiaoshou still couldn’t fathom why Shui Gui was showing him so much respect.

He could only attribute it to the standard behavior of allies within the same faction.

“In that case, don't let your conflict involve outsiders.”

Xu Xiaoshou spoke without specifically mentioning Mu Ling, but who on Xukong Dao wasn't sharp enough to understand?

This elaborate trap within the Sheng Gong would necessitate the Sheng Nu to provide a detailed explanation later, likely requiring extensive elaboration.

Shui Gui chuckled: “All of you? Xu Xiaoshou, don’t forget, you’re also with the Sheng Nu!”

Dao Qiong Cang suddenly interjected: “Xu Xiaoshou, you don’t have to be.”

These two treated the supreme Sheng Jie as if it were nothing, a stark contrast to Mu Ling’s pitiful state.

Xu Xiaoshou’s face suddenly darkened.

He couldn’t comprehend why both Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang were wary of him.

But their behavior indicated that he had indeed ascended, even if he didn't know the reason why.

Did this world necessitate delving into so many “whys”?

Standing atop the dragon’s head, Xu Xiaoshou skillfully seized the moment, pointed at Dao Qiong Cang, and snapped coldly:

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

He then pointed at Shui Gui, his face grim, and stated: “What are you waiting for? Save him, or do you want me to intervene and beat you?”

Good heavens!

The onlookers were all stunned by Xu Xiaoshou’s sudden assertiveness, and even Dao Qiong Cang and Shui Gui’s expressions changed.

Are you truly escalating this?

“Under angry glare, passive value, 2.”

But surprisingly, neither of them refuted.

Shui Gui’s face twitched with a strained smile as he said seriously: “In exchange, you must protect me.”

Protect you?

What could I possibly use to protect you—you might as well just call Ba Zun An!

Before Xu Xiaoshou could retort, Shui Gui had already taken action.

He flipped his palm, and the Ci Mian Zhi Men opened.

At the exact same instant, an ancient gate-like shadow appeared above Mu Ling’s head. The Ci Mian Zhi Men enveloped the Sheng Jie, displaying its previous power to sever it.

Now, its strength was poised to be demonstrated once more!

“This is Shui Gui’s hidden card…”

Everyone finally understood why Shui Gui dared to force his way through the supreme Sheng Jie, which had undergone multiple transformations.

Mastering the Ci Mian Zhi Men meant that if he couldn’t withstand the later stages of the Sheng Jie, he could halt it at any time.

As for Mu Ling…

Shui Gui didn’t touch Mu Ling’s own Sheng Jie; he only targeted the two supreme Sheng Jie seals on him.

“Cut it off!”

As the Ci Mian Zhi Men closed, it was poised to sever the Sheng Jie.

On the other side, Dao Qiong Cang unexpectedly moved, transforming into a streak of starlight under the Sheng Jie.

He flew towards Shui Gui, and Tian Ji Si Nan rotated the moment the Ci Mian Zhi Men activated.

“Tian Ji Thirty-Six Styles, Great Separation Technique!”

With a hum, the Ci Mian Zhi Men above Mu Ling’s head closed, but the Sheng Jie remained unsevered.

Because Shui Gui’s Ci Mian Zhi Men had abruptly flown away.

Just like when he had attempted to parasitize Dao Qiong Cang and was separated.

This time, the Ci Mian Zhi Men seemed to have entered an independent Tian Ji realm.

Dao Qiong Cang gently drew it in.

The Ci Mian Zhi Men was enveloped in countless radiant Tian Ji patterns and then disappeared.

“You!”

Such a turn of events caused a flicker of shock even in Shui Gui’s eyes as he abruptly turned back.

At the Sin One Hall ruins, it also caused a significant uproar.

Li Fugui reacted swiftly and, before anyone else could speak, loudly proclaimed:

“Dao Hall Master truly lives up to his reputation. As long as he seizes the Ci Mian Zhi Men first, Shui Gui is undoubtedly defeated.”

“Though it means sacrificing two Sheng Gong successors, what does it matter? Only through sacrifice can there be gain!”

The crowd was startled and skeptical.

Only a few individuals looked at Li Fugui with increasingly hostile eyes.

This man—they had endured him for far too long!

“Dao Qiong Cang?”

Xu Xiaoshou witnessed Shui Gui’s Ci Mian Zhi Men being taken and his face changed, but he quickly composed himself.

Would Shui Gui be so careless?

Indeed, when the Ci Mian Zhi Men reappeared, it was in Dao Qiong Cang’s palm.

“Shui Gui…”

Dao Qiong Cang smiled as he began to speak, but Shui Gui smirked cunningly.

“Xu Xiaoshou, make your move!”

With a boom, amidst the exploding lightning, Shui Gui shouted, and a faint light glowed from his chest, revealing another gate-like shadow.

What was in Dao Qiong Cang’s hand was clearly just an illusion of the Ci Mian Zhi Men!

It was a fake!

All of it was a deception!

These two cunning old foxes had hearts as black as coal!

“Ci Mian Zhi Men, seal.”

Shui Gui held the real Ci Mian Zhi Men, activating the inner island’s forbidden laws and barriers, instantly erasing the fleeting holy power Dao Qiong Cang attempted to resist with.

Dao Qiong Cang was sealed!

This series of unforeseen events transpired too quickly, so fast that Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t even reacted.

Shui Gui never intended to save Mu Ling; he merely used him as bait to create an opening for Dao Qiong Cang.

And Dao Qiong Cang fell for it?

Xu Xiaoshou broke out in a cold sweat and jotted down these devious tactics in his small notebook, reminding himself not to treat all Ban Sheng as innocently as Yan Wuse or Jiang Buyi.

“Move what? I’m not moving anything…”

“What realm am I in, and what cultivation do you possess? Am I even qualified to assist you?”

From atop the dragon’s head, Xu Xiaoshou coldly glared at Shui Gui, not budging an inch.

However, when Shui Gui dashed out, the true Ci Mian Zhi Men shadow opened and closed above Mu Ling’s head, severing his connection to the supreme Sheng Jie.

He kept his word!

This action left Xu Xiaoshou feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Was this moral coercion, Shui Gui? You’re so underhanded!

“Xu Xiaoshou, back away!”

Now freed from the supreme Sheng Jie, Mu Ling felt the power of his own Sheng Jie, which was still potent but seemed significantly weakened.

He roared with effort, no longer concerned about the positions of Sheng Gong and Sheng Nu, wanting to instruct Xu Xiaoshou to retreat.

In this holy war, Xu Xiaoshou getting involved would simply make him cannon fodder—how could he enter so carelessly?

With a whoosh, Shui Gui didn’t wait for Xu Xiaoshou and plunged directly into Dao Qiong Cang’s body.

Tian Ji Si Nan clicked and turned, but not a single light flickered—this was a sign of being sealed.

Dao Qiong Cang seized the moment before his body was completely taken over and calmly turned his eyes, meeting Xu Xiaoshou’s gaze coldly:

“Consider carefully before acting. I’ve given you a chance—don’t bring disaster upon yourself!”

This was referring to… contacting the Tian Ji Array?

Are you insane? Do you truly intend to drag me into the Sheng Shen Hall? Do I have any way out?

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t know if his understanding was flawed or if Dao Qiong Cang was too naive!

Regardless, Shui Gui had implied as much, but he didn’t believe he possessed the strength to join this holy war.

Aside from the Mo Di Hei Long beneath him, which had lost its combat capability, what could Xu Xiaoshou offer to assist Shui Gui?

I possess nothing, so I can only observe. You two are playing dirty, and I shall also play dirty… Xu Xiaoshou took a long, deep breath to mentally prepare himself.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Instantly, after Dao Qiong Cang was possessed, his body erupted in various places, spewing forth a mixture of crimson and inky liquids.

Under the forbidden laws and barriers, a Ban Sheng was like an ant—it wasn’t just an empty phrase.

With all the advantages, Shui Gui succeeded in his stratagem and gained the ability to injure Dao Qiong Cang.

Before he could do more, the supreme Sheng Jie struck again.

This time, even Dao Qiong Cang couldn’t withstand it. Various beautiful jades on his body shattered, and even his robes lost their radiance.

His body completely broke open, flesh flying everywhere.

“My heavens!”

“Has Dao Hall Master been suppressed?”

Spectators across Xukong Dao clutched their heads, dumbfounded.

The situation reversed so rapidly, with the unpredictable Dao Qiong Cang falling into disadvantage—it was beyond comprehension.

But Xu Xiaoshou felt a sense of doubt.

This was Dao Qiong Cang, after all—how could he fall so quickly?

Even though he had been tricked by Shui Gui once, would Dao Qiong Cang not suspect that the Ci Mian Zhi Men might be fake?

As that thought crossed his mind, everyone felt Xukong Dao tremble slightly.

“Rumble…”

A faint vibration came, and suddenly, spiritual lights shot up from various locations into the sky.

One after another, in an instant, three hundred and sixty-five thick spiritual lights pierced the sky, dispersing even the gloom brought by the Sheng Jie.

Following that, nine massive holy lights rose, like nine pillars holding up the sky, stabilizing the collapsing structure.

“What is this?”

The crowd looked around.

Li Fugui’s eyes widened as he thought of something.

“Si Wu Array!”

From atop the dragon’s head, Xu Xiaoshou had a flash of insight and finally realized what hidden card Dao Qiong Cang had prepared.

Having spent time in the Tian Ji Divine Envoy, he was quite familiar with the three hundred and sixty-five Zhen Xu Monuments and the nine core ones.

Now, this number and arrangement corresponded to the soaring pillars of light—it was exactly the sign of the Si Wu Array activating!

But…

Dao Qiong Cang was clearly under control—how could he manipulate the great array sealing Xukong Dao’s inner island, the Si Wu Array?

“You!”

Inside Dao Qiong Cang’s body, Shui Gui’s voice of shock stopped abruptly, clearly startled by the Si Wu Array’s activation.

This was beyond his calculations!

As his voice ceased, Dao Qiong Cang’s voice emerged, carrying a hint of amusement:

“Yu Mo, oh Yu Mo, after all these years, why do you still favor attacking strengths with weaknesses?”

“Your strength lies in the art of refining spirits, not in strategic planning. How could you possibly believe you could suppress me at every turn?”

The Ci Mian Zhi Men, due to the urgency of the battle, only sealed Dao Qiong Cang and didn’t encompass the entire Xukong Dao like last time…

Or rather, Shui Gui understood that encompassing the entire island was pointless; he had to focus solely on Dao Qiong Cang to truly activate the seal…

But Dao Qiong Cang had countered this, using himself as bait, setting up the Si Wu Array in advance to lure Shui Gui in?

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly grasped the intricate planning.

Last time, Xukong Dao was covered by the forbidden laws, leaving Dao Qiong Cang outside.

This time, Dao Qiong Cang was controlled by the Ci Mian Zhi Men, with the Si Wu Array controlling the field outside?

In two setups, Shui Gui fell for it twice, even when he held the initiative!

“This…” Xu Xiaoshou felt his head beginning to pound—this slippery old Daoist was too cunning!

From Dao Qiong Cang’s shattered body, splattered with blood and ink, a calm and serene Daoist sound echoed, drifting across Xukong Dao:

“With my position, Si Wu ascends.”

“Exhaust the ancestral power, seize your Dao foundation.”

Instantly, the three hundred and sixty-five spiritual lights on the island, along with the nine great holy pillars, began to shift.

As the great array activated, dust swirled, mountains and rivers moved, and the heavens were altered.

In Dao Qiong Cang’s palm, Tian Ji Si Nan continued to click and turn.

Though it displayed no spiritual energy fluctuations, anyone could see that the star points on it represented the various array eyes and flags of the Si Wu Array.

Dao Qiong Cang wasn’t using his own power to activate the Tian Ji techniques; instead, he caused the heavenly dao to operate autonomously, calculating the precise moment to unleash heavenly punishment.

Boom!

In the Sheng Jie, a beam of light thicker than lightning, more majestic in energy, and more ancient in aura descended from the sky, like a giant’s foot stomping down to crush mountains and rivers.

“Ancestral Source Power!”

Xu Xiaoshou sensed the power within and looked up in horror, detecting the purest and most refined ancestral source power from that beam.

This even surpassed the total demonic power Teng Shanhai had displayed and was stronger than Lei Xier’s divine and demonic power, which she couldn’t fully control.

“Using the Si Wu Array to restore peak Ancestral Source Power, channeled through Xukong Dao as the energy core…”

“Heavenly Ancestor Power! A strike from the Heavenly Ancestor!”

While Xu Xiaoshou was contemplating whether Shui Gui had prepared for this strike—after all, Xukong Dao was Shui Gui’s home ground…

Dao Qiong Cang’s body exploded again from within, and Shui Gui couldn’t escape.

Tian Ji Thirty-Six Styles, Great Imprisonment Technique!

—Dao Qiong Cang had cast this technique upon his own body early in the Sheng Jie.

His flesh had become a semi-open prison, awaiting Yu Mo’s arrival.

Xu Xiaoshou was so shocked his mouth hung open.

He could even calculate this?

Absolutely outrageous!

“Damn it!”

He was still wondering if Shui Gui had a way out, but then came a curse, followed by Shui Gui’s slightly irritated and panicked peculiar cry:

“Xu Xiaoshou, why aren’t you drawing your sword? What are you waiting for?”

“Are you waiting for me to perish, for this scoundrel to finish me off and then come after you?”