Chapter 1296: Rao Ke'ai, How Dare You Provoke Me, Disrespect the Invincible?

Rao Yaoyao felt as though she had just endured a nightmare.

The self-explosion of the Half-Saint level Tianji Divine Envoy had not harmed her in the slightest, thanks to the "Shou Sheng Hui."

Yet, the two Shen Zhi Bi You pills had nearly derailed her path to Sainthood!

All because she had trusted Yu Lingdi—that deceitful man who had only pretended to care, luring her into willingly swallowing the poison.

After recovering from the crack opened by the red-hot Xuan Tie sword, Rao Yaoyao's initial intention was to compose herself and continue the battle on Xu Kong Dao.

With Yan Lao gone, the Sheng Shen Dian Tang could rely on no one here but her.

But then, the power of the Ci Mian Zhi Men suddenly erupted within her body.

As a dignified Half-Saint, Rao Yaoyao hadn't even truly faced her opponent before being effortlessly captured by the Tai Xu Water Ghost, who had subdued her and held her captive...

If Dao Qiong Cang hadn't intervened, she might have even lost her Half-Saint status entirely.

How could she have defended against that?

Rao Yaoyao had been completely unaware, leaving her defenseless against the Water Ghost's impersonation of Yu Lingdi and his hidden strike.

Even though she was reluctant to admit it, she tried to imagine it once.

If time could rewind, she would still take those two pills...

Because at that moment, "Yu Lingdi" had seemed so "sincere," charmingly insisting they were his "last" Shen Zhi Bi You, yet generously offering them to her...

Who could refuse?

Just think of such genuine affection!

In all the world, which woman could say no?

Back then, Rao Yaoyao had even secretly noted this favor from her younger brother-like figure, Yu Lingdi, planning to repay it someday.

Later, when the Ci Mian Zhi Men lost control in Yan Lao's hands and failed to protect her, "Yu Lingdi" had rushed forward in a frenzy, demanding answers.

Beneath the spatial rift, the outside world was impossible to see clearly.

Yet, she had heard "Yu Lingdi" shout the Saint's name directly: "You killed my Rao Yaoyao—I'll slaughter you!"

Rao Yaoyao had heard it from afar and witnessed that heart-shaking scene:

Yu Lingdi's veins bulging, charging at the Half-Saint Yan Wuse in a rage with his Zhan Dao realm power, all for the sake of avenging her.

Rao Yaoyao's heart trembled, filled with emotion.

She had truly believed that her younger brother-like Yu Lingdi had developed feelings for her.

She had truly believed that Lian Ling Zhi Guang Yan Wuse was the traitor of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang.

Little did she know!

The situation reversed in an instant. "Yu Lingdi" pulled out the Golden Beast Mask, struck down Yan Lao, and turned to suppress her, intent on seizing her Half-Saint status like killing a clam for its pearl...

What was "humiliation"?

When the power of the Ci Mian Zhi Men manifested inside her and she saw "Yu Lingdi's" true face...

In that moment, Rao Yaoyao broke down.

Like a red-nosed clown possessed, she, Rao Yaoyao, had been played by the Water Ghost from start to finish.

Even on the brink of death, she had still thought the Water Ghost was a good person and harbored resentment toward Yan Lao.

That was "humiliation"!

Thankfully, she awoke from the nightmare, and the worst didn't happen.

Rao Yaoyao's Half-Saint status remained intact; she had only sustained injuries.

When the Water Ghost chose to undergo his tribulation and couldn't attend to her, thanks to Dao Qiong Cang's casual intervention, she recovered somewhat.

Her Half-Saint status was no longer coveted, and it returned to her body, restoring her power.

Now, all Rao Yaoyao thought about was vengeance!

A gentleman avenges a wrong after ten years, but Rao Yaoyao was no gentleman—she couldn't live with this humiliation even for a night!

The thought of the Water Ghost impersonating "Yu Lingdi" and successfully toying with her, possibly laughing about it in his mind, made her tremble with rage.

So, even as she awoke from the dream and sensed the battlefield's power imbalance, something feeling off, Rao Yaoyao charged in without hesitation.

Dao Qiong Cang was right there!

The situation was wrong, but she didn't need to think—she just had to be that sword.

Dao Qiong Cang would handle the mess.

A humming sound rose as the sword's resonance began, and plum blossoms descended from the depths of the abyss, projecting an illusion of the Zhan Yi Dian battlefield.

In the next second, space-time shifted, reality and illusion merged, and Rao Yaoyao arrived on the battlefield with her sword.

"Water Ghost, today is the day you die!"

Dressed in tattered, bloodstained skirts, with one arm and sword in hand, Rao Yaoyao appeared, gritting her teeth.

What shocked her most wasn't the wild bombardment of the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie, nor the strange Water Ghost aura emanating from Dao Qiong Cang's body.

It was that figure standing on a sea of white flames spanning thousands of miles, exuding an aura that swallowed mountains and rivers, like the descent of the Yan Lord himself.

"You are..."

Rao Yaoyao paused, racking her brain to match this figure with someone from her memories.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

At that, she froze.

Had this dream lasted a thousand years?

Had the Water Ghost become Dao Qiong Cang?

Had Xu Xiaoshou reached the Sheng Di realm?

What on earth had happened in the world during her time of being out of control?

"Rao Yaoyao, calm down." Dao Qiong Cang's body first spoke in his own voice.

"Rao Yaoyao, I didn't expect you to pull through, but I'm in a ghost-beast parasite state now, and Xu Xiaoshou is in full ghost-beast transformation. With your abilities, can you fight two at once?" Dao Qiong Cang's body then spoke in the Water Ghost's voice, using the crudest provocation.

These words might be useless against outsiders, but the Water Ghost knew Rao Yaoyao all too well.

He didn't need clever tricks; just a little confusion, and she would fill in the blanks herself.

"Ghost-beast..."

Rao Yaoyao's expression changed instantly.

Had the inner island been unsealed once already?

Could even Dao Qiong Cang not withstand the Water Ghost's ambush?

It was pointless!

Stop!

With Dao Qiong Cang here, she didn't need to think—just follow his lead.

"Rao Yaoyao, stay calm. Xu Xiaoshou is only borrowing external power temporarily; it won't last. Ignore the Water Ghost's nonsense—just hold out until his time runs out." Dao Qiong Cang spoke again.

He was glad to see her join the fight.

A Half-Saint level ancient sword cultivator's combat power far surpassed that of an ordinary Half-Saint, even if she was newly ascended.

With him as her external strategist, her strength would be maximized and she wouldn't be manipulated again.

Xu Xiaoshou might be insane with Sheng Di power,

But external forces were still just that—he could barely unleash one or two ten-thousandths of it.

If Rao Yaoyao went all out, she might block his attacks, and she didn't even need to clash head-on—just use a kite tactic.

Meanwhile, he and the Water Ghost would keep each other in check, wearing the other down.

This way, on both fronts, the situation would spiral out of control, forcing the Ba Zun An to exhaust their skills.

And with Si Wu Zhen on Xu Kong Dao, no matter how chaotic things got, Dao Qiong Cang was confident he could clean up.

So, seeing Rao Yaoyao enter the field, his heart settled.

"I'm very calm."

Rao Yaoyao took a deep breath, her beautiful face returning to composure.

She appeared furious, but in reality, she was extremely vigilant—after all, too many past lessons had taught her not to act recklessly as before.

One wrong move could lead to disaster.

Rao Yaoyao was confident, but not arrogant enough to think she could replace Dao Qiong Cang as the tactical leader.

Just then, Xu Xiaoshou finally turned his gaze to her, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement:

"Rao Cutie?"

That single address ignited Rao Yaoyao's body with white flames and made her heart flare with anger.

"Xu Xiaoshou, you're asking for death!"

Rao Yaoyao's sword intent roared, nearly overwhelming her as she fought the urge to draw her sword.

The two most detestable and vile men in the world—the Water Ghost and Xu Xiaoshou—were both right in front of her.

If not for the constant reminders in her mind to stay composed, she would have charged forward and cleaved this white-flame figure in two with one strike!

"Heh, asking for death..."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled lightly, looking down as Rao Yaoyao's body vanished into the void, yet even the Great Dao around her was set ablaze.

A dignified sword saint, yet she couldn't immediately shake off the Zhi Zhao White Flame.

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, casually dispelling the Sheng Jie, and sneered:

"Rao Cutie, before this, I might have respected you as a sword saint."

"But now, even Dao Qiong Cang wouldn't dare speak to me like that. Who do you think you are to spout off in front of me?"

His words started soft and faint, but by the end, each syllable was emphatic, laced with Sheng Di intent, roaring like thunder.

In an instant, a towering momentum surged like tidal waves crashing ashore, even more ferocious than the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie, leaving everyone on the field dizzy and pale with shock.

"This kid..."

Dao Qiong Cang was stunned and hadn't spoken yet when the Water Ghost inside him could barely stand it.

The once timid Xu Xiaoshou without power was now striking hard with his fists.

"Small-minded villain" didn't even begin to describe it—this guy knew how to make both enemies and allies despise him.

"Passive value from resentment: 1221."

"Passive value from fear: 866."

"Passive value from glaring: 231."

As the information panel popped up, Rao Yaoyao across from him was so furious her chest heaved, her face flushing red and white.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

But her composure was too strong; for a moment, she couldn't find any words to retort to such a loathsome person and could only glare with wide eyes, sword at the ready. "Fine, you Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Hold on."

Yet, as the sea of white flames surged, Xu Xiaoshou extended his hand, pushing forward with an air of unyielding composure.

Rao Yaoyao instinctively lowered her hand, sheathed her sword, and suppressed her anger.

It was as if nothing in the world mattered more than what Xu Xiaoshou was about to say.

"This..."

Realizing in an instant that Xu Xiaoshou had influenced her with just his presence, Rao Yaoyao grew even more furious and ashamed.

But then, Xu Xiaoshou spoke.

Standing atop the white sea of flames, bolstered by his ever-ascending, supreme aura, he truly seemed like a Sheng Di incarnate, noble and powerful:

"Rao Cutie, don't say I didn't give you a chance. Back off and leave Xu Kong Dao now, and I won't lay a hand on you."

"But remember, I'm sparing you not because you're truly cute, but because of your surname Rao."

"And because you let my teacher go before, I'll return that favor. Step down."

Xu Xiaoshou looked down from on high, chin slightly raised, his left hand resting on the flowing white flames, his right hand casually waving the Ming Jian Yan Meng, perfectly embodying arrogance.

He was just short of summoning the Tian Shang First Tower, conjuring a moon, and leaving the world with his solitary back.

Yet, only Xu Xiaoshou knew the pain he was enduring internally—even his body under his robes trembled slightly!

But in this moment, Xu Xiaoshou held his ground steady, controlling even his muscle twitches with "Transformation."

If he let on that he was actually weak, he'd be afraid the Wu Da Sheng Di families' Rao clan would make him eat his words—literally!

"Too arrogant! This guy's too arrogant—if I were him, I couldn't take it!"

"But he's a Sheng Di now, even if just temporarily. If he's not arrogant, who will be? If I had Sheng Di power and survived, I'd be a hundred times more arrogant!"

"True that. If I achieved half of Xu Xiaoshou's feats at twenty, I'd walk without eyes—just nostrils leading the way!"

"It's over. The fairy Rao can't handle this. Xu Xiaoshou's provocation is clumsy, but damn effective..."

Not just the Lian Ling Shi below who saw through some of it, even the Water Ghost inside Dao Qiong Cang felt ashamed of his earlier thoughts.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't losing his mind!

He was still clear-headed!

With such power, anyone else would get cocky, but he knew to rile up Rao Yaoyao, making his enemies easier to deal with...

Would Rao Yaoyao fall for it?

At that thought, the Water Ghost nearly laughed out loud.

Xu Xiaoshou provoking Rao Yaoyao? Spot-on every time!

Only Dao Qiong Cang knew Xu Xiaoshou was dancing on her landmine.

The "Rao" background could be discussed behind her back, but who dared mention it to her face?

But now, the situation was against her—acting rashly could kill!

Dao Qiong Cang quickly interjected: "Rao Yaoyao, don't charge in..."

The Water Ghost, using his body, cut in: "Xu Xiaoshou, with that smug villain look, if I were her, I'd beat you too..."

However, before they finished, Xu Xiaoshou turned with a cold rebuke:

"Shut up!"

"You insignificant pests, chattering endlessly, annoying me to no end. I..."

"Did I give you permission to speak?"

Standing on the sea of flames, he flicked a finger, unceremoniously sending a compressed white fire seed hurtling toward them.

For a moment, even the Water Ghost nearly lost control and wanted to surface for a fight.

How irritating!

This strike carried a bit of personal grudge, didn't it?

Dao Qiong Cang was left speechless by the kid.

But this wasn't a Wang Zuo Dao realm attack—it was stronger than a full Half-Saint blow.

Since the body was his, he didn't dare slack off and hastily dodged.

The fire seed grazed past, but it wasn't set to explode on contact—in Xu Xiaoshou's cold laugh, it suddenly expanded, its energy bursting forth.

Dao Qiong Cang's pupils shrank as Tianji Si Nan activated on its own.

"Da Nuo Yi Shu!"

Boom!

The fire seed vanished from beside him.

Far away on the abyss, a massive black hole tore open, releasing destructive energy that shattered everything.

The ground there was like a Sheng Jie that had been seized and hurled, nearly obliterated, leaving no intact stone or tree.

The earth shook, dust rolled, and everyone gazing at the distant massive mushroom cloud felt their lips dry and teeth chatter.

Xu Xiaoshou had truly changed!

He wielded power that could shatter the abyss in one strike!

"Are you insane?" Before Dao Qiong Cang could speak, the Water Ghost's furious voice rang out. "Do you want to kill me too..."

Xu Xiaoshou swept a cold glance.

The Water Ghost fell silent, and Dao Qiong Cang stepped back half a pace.

"Passive value from cursing: 1."

"Passive value from brooding: 2."

Rao Yaoyao's gaze shook as she looked toward the abyss.

If she hadn't emerged from there and was still recovering, stabilizing her Half-Saint status...

Given an ancient sword cultivator's fragile body, would that strike have buried her in the abyss?

Rao Yaoyao finally understood Dao Qiong Cang's warning and grasped the foundation of Xu Xiaoshou's current arrogance.

After dealing with that, Xu Xiaoshou's detestable, nauseating voice returned:

"Rao Cutie, I'll forgive your ignorance of power earlier."

"Now that you've seen my one finger, you should know I'm unbeatable. So, why don't you quickly scram from Xu Kong Dao?"

As soon as he finished, Rao Yaoyao's eyelids twitched, her red lips pulled tight, and the hand gripping her sword trembled from the strain.

Who taught him this?

Where did Xu Xiaoshou learn to talk like that?

Rao Yaoyao was too angry to even mock his pompous words.

In a rage, she struck with her sword through the air.

"Xu Xiaoshou, today I'll rip that mouth off you—I won't be called Rao Yaoyao if I don't!"

Wang Jian · Tian Zi Zhu!

The red and pink sword light tore through the white flame sea, ripped open the black space, and slashed toward Xu Xiaoshou's head.

The strike wasn't perfectly focused—Rao Yaoyao was so angry her hand shook.

Even the leaking Hong Chen sword intent made countless Lian Ling Shi below feel dazed, as if refined by Hong Chen.

But on the opposite sea of flames, Xu Xiaoshou merely blinked, his Jing Shen Awakening triggering to snap him back.

Under the Sheng Di power's enhancement, he didn't even need Jing Shen Awakening to ignore the Hong Chen sword intent's effects.

In the past, such an unstoppable Half-Saint frontal attack would have required him to rely on allies like Ji Ren Junzi, Mo Di Hei Long, or Tianji Divine Envoy to counter.

But now...

So slow!

So insignificant!

So easily extinguished!

Xu Xiaoshou simply tilted his head.

The sword light's whistling wind rushed past his ear.

He raised his left hand, fingers together in a clamp, and the red and pink sword light was effortlessly caught by his white-flame-covered fingers!

The sea of flames shook, parting to reveal a visible path.

The Lian Ling Shi below looked up and saw the sword light stalled at Xu Xiaoshou's fingertips, erupting in an uproar.

"It's over..."

Everyone's hearts tightened, worrying for their own lives, for Xu Xiaoshou, or for Rao Yaoyao.

Under everyone's gaze, Xu Xiaoshou lightly exerted force with his fingers.

With a bang, the sword light turned to energy and was incinerated by the white flames on the spot.

He remained in the pose of extinguishing the sword, unmoving, but his sleeves suddenly fluttered, pieces flying like decaying leaves in the wind.

Beneath them, his arms, covered in cracks and overflowing fire, withered inch by inch, turning charred and black like rotten wood.

Xu Xiaoshou stared at Rao Yaoyao, his gaze turning icy, a thick Bing Jia in his mouth.

He spat out the pointless Bing Jia, and beneath his feet, a magnificent Bing Lian bloomed. White flames erupted from his back, transforming the exploding Sheng Di power into vast wings, while Yan Meng let out a thunderous sword cry as he raised his hand.

"Rao Cutie, I gave you a chance, but how dare you provoke me? Disrespect the invincible!"