Chapter 1301: Heaven's Mandate is in My Hands, Who Cannot Be Executed?

Such power...

As the forces of the Sheng Di Finger and the Huan Mie Finger overlapped completely, the entire Xukong Island trembled violently.

"Does Xu Sheng Di truly intend to kill?"

"Rao Xianzi won't be easy to kill—her backing..."

"Young Master Xu, you're being reckless! This is madness; it will bring disaster!"

The majestic power rippled outward, striking fear into all who sensed it.

Dao Qiong Cang wanted to intervene, but Xu Xiaoshou was too swift, timing his attack perfectly to kick Dao Qiong Cang away and strike at Rao Yaoyao's side.

At that moment, the Tian Ji Si Nan was not even in his hands!

Dao Qiong Cang was sent crashing into the ground with a kick, his final sight filled with flames engulfing the depths below.

Like a sun plummeting to earth.

"Ming Yi..."

His fingertip trembled as Dao Qiong Cang formed a phantom zipper pull, poised to act, but ultimately he hesitated.

Before setting out, he had cast a divination for himself.

The hexagram was not favorable—in fact, it was disastrous, much like the scene before him: the sun falling to earth, symbolizing defeat.

In such a situation, the wisest course was to protect oneself and stay out of harm's way.

Otherwise, while he might not end up like Yan Wuse, more humiliation was inevitable.

"The variable..."

Only then did Dao Qiong Cang realize the truth.

From monitoring the battle on Xukong Island to the end, when Xiao Qi collected all the combat data.

Regarding that "variable" which even he could not foresee before the situation unfolded, he had many speculations.

At first, it was Xu Xiaoshou—undoubtedly the most disruptive card of Ba Zun An.

Later, when the Tian Ren Wu Shui entered with the Xue Shi Zhu, altering the battlefield, Dao Qiong Cang changed his mind and thought it was that.

Then, Shui Gui revealed himself, slaying Yan Wuse and seizing the Ban Sheng Wei Ge, and Dao Qiong Cang believed that was what he had missed.

But now, it seemed...

All of that was still within controllable limits—the worst possible outcome he could have anticipated when dispatching Yan Wuse and Number Two.

The true variable he could not calculate had never changed from the beginning.

"It's Xu Xiaoshou!"

This most obvious target had been the thread running through the Sheng Di's century-long scheme, hidden since Bai Ku, even deeper than Shui Gui.

Until now, it was finally revealing its edge.

What sealed the fate of Sheng Shen Hall was Ba Zun An and Shui Gui, and that had never changed.

Yet, what caused his divination to show the Ming Yi hexagram was Xu Xiaoshou—this sole unknown variable!

Dao Qiong Cang hesitated only for a moment before crushing the spatial zipper and letting out a long sigh, lying obediently in the deep pit, no longer resisting.

He had been actively guiding the situation's development since his appearance.

But Xu Xiaoshou was utterly unreasonable!

This kid was clever enough not to leave the final strike to himself, knowing he still had trump cards.

Instead, he chose to force him out of the battle and hand the killing blow to Rao Yaoyao, who was fully exposed and not yet fully fledged.

If that finger had been aimed at him, Dao Qiong Cang would have acted.

But aimed at Rao Yaoyao...

His earlier divination had made it clear: light damaged, so conceal and nurture.

Dao Qiong Cang dared not interfere further; he could vaguely see the consequences of more involvement.

But was Rao Yaoyao really so easy to kill?

"Xu Xiaoshou, oh Xu Xiaoshou, you're still young and don't understand the depths of a Sheng Di family's heritage..."

"Stop!"

With the finger fully condensed, Xu Xiaoshou hadn't expected Dao Qiong Cang to intervene and was somewhat puzzled.

But an unexpected figure appeared!

Shui Gui, enduring the near-final stage of his Zhi Gao Sheng Jie, flashed into view and shouted loudly.

"Xu Xiaoshou, don't be impulsive—just take her Ban Sheng Wei Ge!"

Why?

Because of her surname Rao?

Did that single character "Rao" suppress even you, Shui Gui, and you, the great demon king Yu Mo?

So, that's why you dared to kill Yan Wuse earlier but not touch Rao Yaoyao, only wanting to take her Ban Sheng Wei Ge?

"Get lost!"

Xu Xiaoshou blasted Rao Yaoyao away again, the power of his finger not weakening but growing stronger, even forcibly merging the two forces using the Jin Zhao Ning Dan technique to form a lethal strike.

This finger was no longer just the Sheng Di Finger or the Huan Mie Finger.

Xu Xiaoshou named it the "Xing Shen Ju Mie Finger"!

Under the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie, Shui Gui clearly saw the contempt in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes, wrapped in white flames, and he nearly fainted with anger.

Killing the heir of a Sheng Di family—such a massive karma—was not something a brat like you could bear!

You only need to seize her Ban Sheng Wei Ge; afterward, Ba Zun An can handle her, or at worst, I will.

Why show off in this sacred war?

Do you really think you're invincible just because you have the Sheng Di power?

That's only one part; once it's gone, you won't have it anymore, and can you even grow under the Sheng Di family's scrutiny?

"You're only at Dao Realm!" Shui Gui roared.

This seemingly random and nonsensical statement left all the spectators baffled.

Even Xu Xiaoshou was briefly stunned.

But Shui Gui had no time for more explanation, and Xu Xiaoshou had no time to listen.

Based on their mutual trust in each other's intellect, they conveyed the essence in shorthand.

Glancing at the sudden "concern" notification in his info panel, Xu Xiaoshou realized Shui Gui's deeper meaning.

"I'm only at Dao Realm, and it will take a long time to reach Ban Sheng while jumping realms to fight Sheng Di."

"So, Rao Yaoyao shouldn't be killed by me—she should be killed by him?"

At that thought, Xu Xiaoshou caught a glimpse of Rao Yaoyao, whom he had kicked away, her head bloody and broken, with a hint of mockery in her eyes.

She said nothing, clearly still somewhat clever, knowing that speaking out now might provoke a change.

But her expression, showing that the tide had turned and she had no cards left, yet still fearless—as if she was certain that Shui Gui's appearance meant he wouldn't dare kill her...

Xu Xiaoshou saw it all clearly!

An inexplicable surge of malice rose in his heart, like the bestial desires that constantly assaulted his reason when he transformed into the Frenzied Giant.

"Even at Dao Realm, I can't kill a Sheng?" Xu Xiaoshou raised his brows high, his eyes blazing with fierce white light.

He could even sense with his spiritual thoughts that Dao Qiong Cang, buried in the ground, had given up on stopping him.

As if he too was certain that Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't dare directly challenge the Sheng Di family's prestige.

"Xu Xiaoshou, enough—stop!" Shui Gui knew the kid understood his point, but why wasn't he stopping?

"A half-saint of the Dao Realm, and you're afraid of the Sheng Di family?" Xu Xiaoshou scoffed, his fingertip trembling as the white and dark green powers intertwined and merged into one.

Glancing sidelong, he saw hundreds of thousands of spiritual masters on the ruins of Sin One Hall wearing mocking expressions.

The hall master hadn't come out to stop him, but his own ally Shui Gui had—now that was quite the spectacle... That must be what the spectators were thinking.

"Xu Xiaoshou, your actions will bring..." Shui Gui's heart raced; the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie hadn't scared him, but Xu Xiaoshou did.

"Bullshit!" But his words were cut off by Xu Xiaoshou. "I fought Feng Kong Shao Yi the day after tomorrow, slew Zhang Tai Ying the day before, toyed with Jiang Bu Yi as a grandmaster—what makes you think I can't execute Rao Yaoyao just because she bears the surname Rao?"

Under the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie, Shui Gui felt his scalp tingle.

This kid was used to battling above his level; did he really think he could defy the heavens?

Yet before Shui Gui could speak, Xu Xiaoshou threw his head back in wild laughter, his gaze like that of death staring straight at Rao Yaoyao:

"If the end of the Dao is blocked by Sheng Di..."

"Then this Dao—are you, Shui Gui, going to cultivate it or not!"

With a boom, Shui Gui's mind went blank, his pupils trembling.

The Xin Jie brought by the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie hadn't caused a single ripple in his heart.

But Xu Xiaoshou's thunderous words nearly shattered his Dao foundation, almost leading to demonic possession under the sacred tribulation.

This kid...

Only then did Shui Gui see something different in Xu Xiaoshou.

He was a genius, the next Dao Realm half-saint.

But geniuses were plentiful in the world; true ones who could cultivate the complete Dao and fear no law—there was only one right now.

Going further back, only the young Ba Zun An.

"Xu..."

Shui Gui wanted to persuade him but couldn't find the words.

How could he stop something that was like his own past inner demon?

Seeing Shui Gui's momentum falter, Xu Xiaoshou's heart swelled with boundless heroism.

In the midst of this great battle, having defeated Rao and struck Dao, his momentum reached its peak. Under the endless boost of his aura that swallowed mountains and rivers, Xu Xiaoshou truly felt like a descending Sheng Di, fearing nothing!

With a single glance, his aura alone suppressed the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie from punishing him further and made the myriad beings on Xukong Island tremble in silence.

"Xu Xiaoshou!" Rao Yaoyao's eyes finally showed a trace of alarm, as if she saw his intentions and his lawlessness.

But all that met her was another kick and another massive Taotie beast head.

The power of the Sheng Di blood finally dissipated completely.

The Qi Yun Golden Dragon vanished bit by bit amid repeated "feasts."

One bite for ten years.

Not only was the qi of Sheng Shen Hall stored in the Xuan Cang Divine Sword nearly depleted, its protective power was useless, leaving Rao Yaoyao almost defenseless.

She felt her fate turning disastrous, with only darkness ahead.

"Rao Yaoyao!"

Xu Xiaoshou roared, the power at his fingertip unstoppable.

With his spiritual thoughts extended, the two figures in Miracle Forest could no longer hide from his gaze.

Mei Si Ren and Ba Zun An!

They were both here, both watching!

Back in the ancient Worry-Free Tower, Old Eight had said that his benchmark shouldn't be Jiang Bu Yi, or Rao Yaoyao, or Shui Gui, or Yan Wuse, or even Ba Zun An himself—he needed to surpass them.

So, if it were Ba Zun An in his position now, would he fear the Sheng Di family behind Rao Yaoyao?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't even pause to look, afraid he might hear Ba Zun An say something to stop him like Shui Gui had, and quickly withdrew his gaze.

He entrusted only his absolute will to battle and the judgment between life and death to that final finger.

Let the answer unfold before Rao Yaoyao and all on Xukong Island.

"Xu Xiaoshou, how dare you?"

"You wouldn't dare!!!"

Rao Yaoyao could no longer suppress the panic in her heart; even if she didn't want to speak, fear forced the words out, trying to halt Xu Xiaoshou's attack.

But...

Among the myriad beings, life is equal.

Xu Xiaoshou clenched his left hand in the air, and Long Rong Jie boomed like thunder, as if grasping the heavenly mandate of the Dao.

With his right hand, he pointed through the air, carrying cold resolve, straight at the stunned Rao Yaoyao.

"Heaven's mandate is in my hands—what do I dare not do?"

In a calm voice and a serene finger, the light shot from his fingertip was the annihilating force of the Sheng Di, the radiance of soul extinction.

It tore through the void, exploding with a roar like a heavenly furnace bursting.

Even the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie halted, and Long Rong Jie cracked.

That dazzling light started as a line, instantly becoming a shockwave that swept half the sky.

It was like the imprisoned Ge Lake of heaven and earth, gathering thousands of furies, reflecting in the calmest way Rao Yaoyao's pale face, Shui Gui's shocked eyes, Dao Qiong Cang's astonished gaze, and the countless incredulous expressions of the spiritual masters on Xukong Island.

Whoosh!

After that sound, the world fell silent.

Outside Miracle Forest, in the vacuum, Mei Si Ren could hear nothing, his face flushing with anxiety.

"Ba Zun An! Xu Xiaoshou's gone mad—you won't stop him... Why are you clenching your fist?"

As he transmitted his message and turned back, he never imagined Ba Zun An could remain so calm, even extending a... fist?

"He's looking at me," Ba Zun An said, extending his right hand with fingers tightly together, not a tremor in sight.

"You can see that?"

"I can't see it."

"Then why..."

"This is my stance."

"What stance?"

"Si Ren, Mister, can't you see?"

"What?"

"My thumb is up."

"Die!!!"

In the high sky, from the moment the Xing Shen Ju Mie Finger formed, it meant Xu Xiaoshou had no way out.

He wouldn't leave Rao Yaoyao for Shui Gui, because that guy might only dare touch the Ban Sheng Wei Ge and not kill.

Xu Xiaoshou was going all in today.

So what if the Sheng Di power was gone?

So what if the Huan Mie Finger's charge was depleted?

If Ba Zun An didn't have the will to war against the Sheng Di family, could he have declared war on Sheng Shen Hall?

The person was right there on Xukong Island, and he said he'd cover it, so he would.

In that case, what did Xu Xiaoshou have to fear?

Boom!

After a brief silence, the world erupted in thunderous roars.

The vacuum tore everything apart, and the atmosphere reformed.

As the light of the finger reached Rao Yaoyao's face, this ancient sword saint, who had always been indifferent to life and death under the great tree, finally tasted mortal fear.

"Rao..."

She opened her mouth, but unexpectedly, no sound emerged, unsure what she meant to beg for.

Yet, a voice still drifted down from the heavens, from Dao Qiong Cang.

—He might not act, but he couldn't just watch Rao Yaoyao die.

"Rao! Wang! Ze!"

With that cry, Long Rong Jie enclosing Xukong Island shattered with a boom, and even the Zhi Gao Sheng Jie seemed cowardly, as if trembling.

Xu Xiaoshou saw the finger's light pause at Rao Yaoyao's nose tip, and he was briefly dazed.

Rao Wang Ze?

Who was that—a name?

Along with Xu Xiaoshou, the countless spiritual masters on the island were filled with endless confusion.

Suddenly, the sky darkened.

An immense pressure arose from nowhere, like an invisible hand of a god condensing in the air, pressing down from above to subdue everyone.

Crack!

Xu Xiaoshou's knees exploded with blood and fire, his spine bending sharply, nearly breaking.

He spat out blood, his face changing drastically.

Pressure!

Sheng Di pressure!

"Rao Wang Ze..."

With a series of cracks, countless spiritual masters on Xukong Island were forced to their knees, their hearts filled with terror and submission.

As they murmured the name again, it was as if something erased from their memories stirred up dust.

It was clearly a name they had seen or heard before but forgotten.

"Wang Ze Sheng Di!"

"Rao Wang... This is the true name of a Sheng Di!"

"Xu Xiaoshou has angered the Rao family's Sheng Di—this time, it's a real Sheng Di acting; he's doomed beyond redemption!"

In the deep pit, Li Fugui prostrated fully, unable even to lift his head, his body mangled by the Sheng Di pressure.

He murmured soundlessly, only managing a bitter laugh:

"Young Master Xu, you shouldn't have acted... Beating is one thing, but killing—truly not..."