Chapter 1295: Don't worry, I'm invincible now

A soft sound echoed.

Yanmang sword unleashed a burst of white flames, piercing through the Tianzu light as if unobstructed, splitting it apart.

"Boom!"

As the sacred tribulation rumbled once more across the heavens and earth, it signaled that everyone had broken free from the Shi Zu Ying Zhang's restraints.

Regaining their senses, they saw the Tianzu light cleaved in two, sliding harmlessly past Dao Qiong Cang's body.

It was a close call, but it missed!

"Did he just cut it open?"

Countless people cried out in shock.

The Tianzu power unleashed by Si Wu Zhen was undoubtedly at the Shengdi level of attack.

Even if Xu Xiaoshou went all out, how could he possibly break through such a beam?

How had his power surged to this level in an instant?

Did he borrow from the Shi Zu Ying Zhang?

No, this is the aura of Jin Zhao!

Even the strongest in the Jin Zhao lineage, Jin Zhao Bansheng Long Rong Zhi, wouldn't exert such overwhelming pressure, even if present in person.

Glancing up at Xu Xiaoshou in the sky, radiating like the lord of flames and exuding an aura that made all things tremble with just a hint of its release, the crowd had no choice but to accept this absurd guess:

"Xu Xiaoshou, has he become a Shengdi?"

—This has to be some kind of joke!

Perched at the pinnacle of the void, gripping the named sword Yanmang, Xu Xiaoshou endured the excruciating pain of his body fracturing wildly. He paused briefly, his mind wandering.

He stared blankly at the sword strike he had unleashed—the one devoid of any ancient sword techniques, merely a pure venting of energy that had cleaved the Tianzu light. His thoughts surged like a tide:

"I! Xu Xiaoshou! A Shengdi?"

"Doesn't that make me invincible in the world?"

In the next second, intense pain jolted him awake from his daydream.

This immense power wasn't his own—it absolutely came from the ancestor of all ancestors, Jin Zhao Lao Zu!

Unlike the time in Tiansang Spirit Palace's Tianxuan Gate, when Feng Tian Shengdi Feng Yu Jin used the gray fog dragon to attempt possession, this infusion of Shengdi power carried only raw energy, no will behind it. Thus, it didn't trigger the passive system's resistance to erase it.

"Is this Ba Zun An's backup plan?"

"By leveraging Jue Jin Huo Yu, a weak point in space, he connected to the inner island of Xukong Island."

"Then, using the Jin Zhao lineage's heavenly fire, Jin Zhao Heart, he let me briefly attain Shengdi power while barely allowing me to control it?"

"But damn, it hurts like hell!"

Xu Xiaoshou's face twisted in agony, his skin cracking open.

From the ruptures came not blood, but searing white flames and overflowing Shengdi energy.

He had become like a human-shaped treasure elixir.

Any fire-attribute refining master nearby could gain enlightenment or break through just by licking or sniffing it.

"Thud!"

Mu Lin was exactly like that.

His An Shen Huo, which he had struggled to control, now behaved impeccably, as if in the presence of the king of all fires.

Moreover, under the supreme sacred tribulation earlier, his shattered body had rapidly healed upon contact with the fire-attribute Shengdi energy radiating from Xu Xiaoshou.

Like parched earth soaking up rain, Mu Lin's body automatically absorbed this energy.

Realizing something, he quickly opened his black dan cauldron and released Bai Zhi.

Sure enough, the barely alive Bai Zhi let out a contented groan the moment he touched this Jin Zhao aura.

His eyelids fluttered, and he soon opened his eyes, awakening fully, then greedily gulped down large mouthfuls of the Jin Zhao power.

"What is this?"

As Bai Zhi swallowed, he gazed at the figure standing on a sea of white flames, exuding even greater might than his master ancestor Long Rong Zhi.

So familiar...

How was this person wearing Xu Xiaoshou's skin?

"Don't ask, just swallow!"

Mu Lin wasted no words. He knew Xu Xiaoshou couldn't contain this power, so not swallowing it would be a waste.

Of all the Jin Zhao lineage present, only he and Bai Zhi remained, and this massive opportunity was beyond anyone else's reach.

Heaven's gift, if not taken, invites disaster!

"Oh my heavens..."

Those watching the battle through various means felt their scalps tingle.

In an instant, Mu Lin's injuries from the sacred tribulation healed completely.

Bai Zhi went further—thunder boomed above his head, summoning the final tribulations of the Nine Deaths Thunder Tribulation.

And all this was merely from tasting a bit of the overflow from Xu Xiaoshou.

It was hard to imagine what was happening inside Xu Xiaoshou's body or how he had become the vessel for such vast power.

"Ghost beast possession?"

"I once heard that the predecessor of Bai Ku, Jin Zhao Prison Sea, one of the Seven Broken Bans, birthed a terrifying ghost beast..."

"No, no! Look, Xu Xiaoshou's self-will seems intact. Maybe it's not possession—perhaps symbiosis?"

"You're all too naive. On Xukong Island's inner island, the Eighth Sword Immortal is the lord of the black and white lineages—surely you know that?"

"Those ghost beasts are under his command. How dare they possess or parasitize Xu Xiaoshou? This is just a simple borrowing of power!"

"Nonsense!" Li Fugui flushed with anger and retorted, "From our perspective, this is Dao Dianzhu manipulating Si Wu Zhen to secretly break the inner island's seal, letting ghost beast power leak out to possess Xu Xiaoshou... Dao Dianzhu's scheme is truly masterful, hiding it from the heavens!"

Amid the discussions, which Xu Xiaoshou couldn't hear, he felt as if he had returned to the state when he first swallowed the fire seed by Goose Lake in Tiansang Spirit Palace.

"Under attack, passive value +1."

"Under attack, passive value +1."

Notifications kept popping up as his body endured the scorching.

He could clearly feel himself as just a container, riddled with cracks.

Power poured in like a tide but constantly leaked out, impossible to contain.

Yet the white pearl kept transmitting more power!

As long as the inflow outpaced the outflow, this container could briefly sustain Shengdi level, allowing him to act.

"What should I do..."

"Yes, I must do something. I'm this strong now—even Ba Zun An would have to kneel..."

Unable to resist this power, Xu Xiaoshou chose to accept it. His blazing white eyes turned instantly toward Dao Qiong Cang.

Whoosh!

The void along his gaze tore open a white, scorching scar, cracking space itself.

"Oh my heavens..."

As Bai Zhi underwent his Nine Deaths Thunder Tribulation, witnessing this scene, his newly restored eyes widened.

Jin Zhao Tian Fen?

What level of Jin Zhao Tian Fen was this?

Was this still Xu Xiaoshou?

With just a glance, as Xu Xiaoshou focused, Dao Qiong Cang's body ignited, erupting in white flames.

—Xu Xiaoshou hadn't even used the Jin Zhao Tian Fen spirit technique; it was all triggering passively.

"I can't suppress the fire anymore!"

He roared, charging at Dao Qiong Cang with his sword, like a madman.

In that moment, all onlookers saw dual fears flash in Dao Qiong Cang's eyes.

"Xu Xiaoshou, calm down—protect me while I cross my tribulation first!" Shui Gui's voice timely emerged, tinged with tremor.

"Xu Xiaoshou, don't make a mistake. This power isn't yours—it will run out. Si Wu Zhen can suppress everything on the inner island. Can he not suppress you?" Dao Qiong Cang's voice rang out simultaneously.

"Roar!" Their only response was a furious roar.

"Yu Mo brother!" Dao Qiong Cang shouted in alarm, "You know what to do, right?"

The Tianzu power came from Si Wu Zhen and was targeted, but when eliminating Shui Gui, it left Dao Qiong Cang a thread of consciousness.

Xu Xiaoshou had gained this Shengdi power, even stronger than Tianzu power, yet lost his reason.

In his frenzied state, he clearly wouldn't hold back.

If this strike hit, it would likely take out both Dao Qiong Cang and Shui Gui!

At that moment, Dao Qiong Cang realized with surprise that he had to team up with Shui Gui just to survive.

"I'll unseal you. In exchange, get me out!" Shui Gui, ever shrewd, knew this was the time for the holy slave and Shengshen Hall to cooperate against the mad Xu Xiaoshou.

Without hesitation, within Dao Qiong Cang's body, Shui Gui activated the Gate of the Secondary Realm, temporarily halting the inner island's forbidden seal on Dao Qiong Cang.

"Agreed!"

Dao Qiong Cang responded, sensing his qi sea's holy energy loosen as Xu Xiaoshou's sword struck. Tianji Siman whirred into action.

"Tianji Thirty-Six Styles: Great Yin Mie Shu!"

Tianji starlight soared forth, directly confronting Xu Xiaoshou.

"Roar—"

But Yanmang's sword strike came without any form, and with a furious roar, Xu Xiaoshou split the technique in two.

The entire Xukong Island fell into dead silence, save for the thunder's roar.

Dao Qiong Cang swallowed hard, both shocked and assessing Xu Xiaoshou's power limits.

He had known this technique couldn't stop Shengdi-level Xu Xiaoshou, so while attacking, he manipulated Si Wu Zhen on Xukong Island.

Three hundred sixty-five spiritual lights and nine great holy pillars intersected, shifting mountains and filling seas.

Suddenly, Dao Qiong Cang's body emitted the aura of ancestral source power—he could still borrow Tianzu power!

"Break!"

With a finger thrust, under the enhancement of Tianji Dao principles, Tianzu power transformed into a faint light, targeting Xu Xiaoshou's sword.

Crack!

Yet, with a shuddering sound, it only halted Xu Xiaoshou for a moment before shattering.

Yanmang was upon him!

"Da Nuo Yi Shu."

Dao Qiong Cang ducked low, like a lazy donkey rolling, and vanished in a flash, reappearing fearfully above the Sin One Hall.

Xu Xiaoshou's sword struck empty air.

The entire Jue Jin Huo Yu was instantly pulverized by Shengdi power.

Ten thousand li of magma erupted amid the debris, only to be incinerated by Jin Zhao power.

One strike.

One of the nine great forbidden lands was destroyed!

"Urgh..."

Above the Sin One Hall ruins, everyone no longer needed spiritual mirrors to watch—they just looked up to see Dao Qiong Cang still burning with fierce white flames overhead.

In that instant, everyone was more terrified than when they saw the Decaying Body.

"Don't come any closer!"

The refining masters scattered in panic.

If Dao Dianzhu had come, would the deranged Shengdi Xu Xiaoshou be far behind?

If he struck here with a sword, wouldn't it bury hundreds of Zhan Dao and Taixu in Sin One Hall?

"Run!"

"Dao Dianzhu, that's not fair!"

"Have you all finally seen the true face of Shengshen Hall? Dao Dianzhu's plan is brilliant..."

"Brilliant my foot—shut up!"

The supreme sacred tribulation shifted, targeting Sin One Hall.

Xu Xiaoshou, standing on a sea of white flames, shifted his gaze toward Sin One Hall.

The battlefield suddenly moved from Jue Jin Huo Yu to the beleaguered Sin One Hall ruins.

"What incredible power..."

Xu Xiaoshou appeared wild, but his mind was crystal clear.

He felt the Shengdi energy in his qi sea and, without even using Space Dao Disk, simply borrowed a thread of power. With a thought, he moved.

A sea of white flames spanning tens of thousands of li spread across the Sin One Hall ruins' sky as Xu Xiaoshou instantly appeared, standing atop it.

"Run!"

Everyone in Sin One Hall was in total chaos.

Yet, no matter how hard many tried with all their might, they couldn't escape the battlefield quickly.

Zhan Dao and Taixu, without space attributes or instant teleportation, needed time to flee.

But Xu Xiaoshou was all about space attributes now. If he wanted to wipe them out, it would take just one breath.

"Give up..."

Realizing this, the crowd stopped fleeing and looked up to watch.

Whether they lived or died was out of their hands—it depended on the holy war's creators above, if they might spare them.

"Dao Qiong Cang, let me out!" After Shui Gui lifted the seal, he discovered the flashy old Daoist hadn't kept his word and still confined him, roaring in anger.

His plan had been perfect.

He entered Dao Qiong Cang's body, used the supreme sacred tribulation and Gate of the Secondary Realm to seal Dao Qiong Cang's power, weakening him.

With Xu Xiaoshou in Jue Jin Huo Yu triggering the Jin Zhao Heart to receive Shengdi power.

Shui Gui for control, Xu Xiaoshou for output.

Even if Dao Qiong Cang had reserves, as long as he was controlled for a moment, he could be slain in Jue Jin Huo Yu.

Even if just his body!

After this battle, Dao Qiong Cang would be greatly weakened.

His enigmatic reputation would be shattered, and those on the fence worldwide would know how to choose.

The Xukong Island situation would be perfectly resolved!

Xu Xiaoshou's fame would soar, renowned across the five domains—just as Ba Zun An wanted!

But who could have thought...

After accepting the power, Xu Xiaoshou lost his mind!

He wanted to kill both Dao Qiong Cang and Shui Gui, forcing the two to team up briefly.

And Shui Gui, parasitizing a human, had fallen completely into a disadvantaged position, at risk of being controlled.

One misstep, and the whole game was lost.

"Snap out of it, Xu Xiaoshou!" Shui Gui shouted, his tone laced with reluctance, hoping Xu Xiaoshou remembered the favor he owed.

Ba Zun An had said Xu Xiaoshou's mind was firm enough to handle Shengdi power.

And the Jin Zhao lineage was known for enduring pain—Xu Xiaoshou might be weak, but as Ba Zun An's chosen successor, he shouldn't buckle under this.

So, was there still a chance?

Under everyone's gaze, Xu Xiaoshou's body trembled in pain amid the endless white flames as he opened his mouth:

"Who said I'm not calm?"

The Nine Heavens Supreme Sacred Tribulation mutated again, locking onto and striking Xu Xiaoshou, but with a casual slant of Yanmang, the sword light shattered the thunder into countless fragments.

Thunder light sparkled like falling stars, a breathtaking sight.

"Even the Supreme Sacred Tribulation can't touch Xu Xiaoshou..." The onlookers below were horrified.

This suddenly berserk Xu Xiaoshou was worlds apart from the coward before.

One a god, the other an ant.

"You have your wits about you?" Shui Gui was stunned.

Dao Qiong Cang was equally surprised—it was better if they could communicate. "Xu Xiaoshou..."

"Shut up!" Xu Xiaoshou snapped, silencing both Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang, making the crowd's hearts skip.

The moment he heard outsiders speak, his head throbbed.

The power inside was leaking again—he couldn't afford to stop.

Xu Xiaoshou cut to the chase, pointing his sword at Dao Qiong Cang, and said calmly:

"Shui Gui, wait a bit. Once I cut down this flashy old Daoist, I'll protect your tribulation... Don't worry, I'm invincible right now."

Shui Gui was aghast.

Just from that statement, do you have your wits? You're talking nonsense!

After you cut Dao Qiong Cang, you'd split me in two too, right?

"I'm still inside him!"

"Don't worry, I have measure."

"Bullshit measure—get me out first!"

Shui Gui was completely panicked.

He hadn't been this flustered even when beaten as a "son."

Ba Zun An had said to rely on Xu Xiaoshou, but not entirely, because the guy was unreliable.

Shui Gui hadn't understood before—Xu Xiaoshou was easy to handle, right?

Now he got it.

The kid swelled up too easily!

Before, he could be managed because his power and cards were limited.

Once he held power beyond limits, his rebellious streak emerged, and no one could control him!

Shui Gui didn't want to stick to the plan anymore.

He just wanted to get out of Dao Qiong Cang's body first—plans could wait; life came first.

If Xu Xiaoshou struck with a sword, he'd become the biggest joke in the world—a Ou Yi Bansheng killed by a Wangzuo Daojing!

As they stalemated, a sword light suddenly slashed from the Abyss of Depravity, accompanied by a furious voice:

"Shui Gui, how dare you insult me?"