Chapter 1346: One Body, Double Three Tears Family Pupils; Origin Mansion Hides Sword and Immediately Enters Sainthood

“Urgh!”

Xu Xiaoshou had just seen off Xiang Yi and was still unaware of the major events unfolding on Sheng Shan around the same time. He remained in Xiang Yi’s room, dry-heaving.

“Mi Zao Quan, foot-washing water…”

“Why on earth would they use foot-washing water as the base for a fine Zui Xian Niang?”

Even though Xiang Yi had explained it, saying that the Mi Zao Quan from under He Ting Shan had been used for washing feet back in the day, while Zui Xian Niang was made from spring water at the peak from a hundred years ago, and the two were completely incomparable.

And even if that spring water had been used for feet washing years ago, so much time had passed that any trace of it was long gone.

Xu Xiaoshou still felt a slight unease in his chest.

He knew, of course, that not much water in the world was truly clean, but it was better to stay blissfully ignorant—knowing too much only led to more discomfort.

“Qingyuan Shan…”

Shifting his focus, he looked at another sheet of paper with the wine recipe and read out the elegant black characters written on it.

These words were none other than from the “peerless genius” that Ba Zun An had promised him.

Of course, Qingyuan Shan wasn’t a person’s name, and that peerless genius wasn’t a mountain.

These three words were what Xiang Yi had mentioned after he asked, giving him a hint and saying that following this clue would reveal the identity naturally.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced over it, and the paper burned to ashes, leaving no trace.

He didn’t mind and wasn’t worried about not finding it.

A peerless genius, after all—if even Ba Zun An spoke of it that way, the brilliance must be dazzling, or perhaps it had reached a state of profound simplicity.

Intelligence was a must, otherwise, even Dao Qiong Cang would give it some respect.

Maybe by the time he arrived, the person would have already sensed it and be waiting.

“Qingyuan Shan isn’t far from Yujing City, but I’d have to leave the city…”

“Since it’s called a ‘peerless genius,’ they probably aren’t that old. Could they be around my age? No, probably not—that level could suppress even Dao Qiong Cang…”

“Who could it be?”

Xu Xiaoshou stroked his chin and pondered for a while, then decided not to speculate further.

Getting in and out of the city was troublesome these days, so he didn’t plan to go out right away. He’d wait until his main business was done.

After all, there was a bounty on him, and while the city guards could be dealt with, this was the emperor’s domain—if he ran into some big shot just leaving, it could lead to unexpected trouble, and that would be a huge loss.

“Once Li Fugui and the others arrive, I’ll have my own encyclopedia. I can just ask them directly, or send Jin Ren, and it’ll be easy…”

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled to himself and stopped thinking about it. He pulled out his Yuanfu and entered it.

He had some “real business” to attend to!

Once out of the room, Xiang Yi went straight into the elegant chamber across the hall.

Before long, two uneasy beauties, Que Er and Ying Ying, approached the door with light steps and knocked before entering.

The moment they stepped inside, both women felt an intense pressure.

There sat Xiang Yi at the tea table, legs crossed and chin slightly raised, her peach-blossom eyes full of scrutiny and an air of authority, completely unlike the playful demeanor she had with that certain someone earlier.

“You’re Que Er, and you’re Ying Ying?”

“Yes, Xiang Yi.” The two replied in unison.

“Relax a bit. I called you here to assign you a task: from now on, whenever Xu Xiaoshou arrives, you two will handle the welcoming and serving. Make sure it’s thorough, so he feels completely at home. Do you understand?”

The two women exchanged glances and saw the surprise in each other’s eyes.

Xu Xiaoshou was that important, to warrant special treatment? Had they just closed some big deal?

But they knew better than to ask questions they shouldn’t. Having survived in You Gui Ge for so long, they quickly nodded.

“We understand.”

“No, you don’t quite get it yet. Serve him as you would serve me… no, even more so, as if serving a god. Do you follow?”

The two women trembled, almost thinking it was a joke, but looking up, they saw only seriousness in Xiang Yi’s eyes.

Xu Xiaoshou?

A god?

No way—he couldn’t compare to “Gui Men Guan, Shen Cheng Shen.”

Yet, no matter how unbelievable, they didn’t dare defy the order: “Ying Ying and Que Er understand.”

“What about A Yao?” Xiang Yi changed the subject.

“A Yao is unwell from drinking too much and has gone to rest.”

“I see… Then go ahead with this. Que Er, find Gui Mian from Gui Shen Bang and have him prepare a generous gift. Also, have him transfer the residence on Qian Yuan Jie. Soon, bring the gift and everyone—yes, everyone!—over personally to apologize!”

Que Er froze at the words, struggling to respond.

Qian Yuan Jie—that was the most central and prosperous area in Yujing City, home to figures like the holy sons and daughters of Sheng Shan, and the leaders of various sects! The spiritual energy there was denser than in some sects’ blessed lands or cave heavens.

Naturally, the residences on Qian Yuan Jie were priceless treasures.

The one Gui Shen Bang held had been given by the Xiang family years ago to please a certain god, though it was never used.

And now, they were giving it away as an apology?

For Xu Xiaoshou?

“Any issue?” Xiang Yi furrowed her brows.

“No, no… it’s just… who to give it to, and who to apologize to…”

She still couldn’t believe that someone like Xu Xiaoshou from the Eastern Domain’s Tai Xu lineage warranted such efforts from Xiang Yi and Gui Shen Bang.

Even a semi-saint wouldn’t get this level of deference from Xiang Yi!

“To whom and for what—you know in your heart, don’t you?” Xiang Yi said, not angrily, but with a faint smile as she looked at her.

Que Er’s mind reeled, and she lowered her head, not daring to ask more. “Que Er understands.”

“Good.” Xiang Yi turned to Ying Ying and tossed her a token. “Go to the Xiang family with this. See the family head directly and ask for details on women aged sixteen to twenty-eight, with exceptional talent, high cultivation, varied personalities, and outstanding looks and figures. I want all the information, and have him send two over first.”

“Oh, and they must be virgins.”

“Additionally, have the Xiang family mobilize their forces to search based on these standards. Backgrounds must be clean, and send the full details directly to me—no intermediaries.”

Before Xiang Yi had finished, Ying Ying was already stunned, more confused than Que Er.

What was this for?

Selecting consorts? For Xu Xiaoshou?

What exactly had happened when they went upstairs? Could that sickly young man be…

“What are you thinking?” Xiang Yi asked with a smile.

“Nothing!” Ying Ying shuddered. “I’ve got it all. I’ll handle it right away!”

“No rush.” Xiang Yi paused, narrowing her eyes. “Oh, and have the Xiang family send over the details of what happened on Sheng Shan today.”

“Yes.”

After receiving their orders, the two women bowed and retreated.

As they reached the door, Que Er couldn’t hold back and hesitated, turning back.

“You want to ask why it’s you two?” Xiang Yi said with a smile, as if reading her mind.

“Yes.”

She still didn’t understand—since Xu Xiaoshou was so important, why were they the ones chosen? You Gui Ge had plenty of women more beautiful or graceful; they were just gatekeepers.

Xiang Yi smiled and said:

“Great figures have their own world; they don’t remember many names.”

“You two have this connection, and you handled yourselves decently in the earlier chaos. It’s just enough for him to remember you.”

“So, this good fortune is yours. Make the most of it, and how far you go depends on you.”

Que Er and Ying Ying were both startled, recalling how they had rushed in first during the Gui Shen Bang incident, urging that young man to leave quickly.

Was that it?

Just because he was handsome?

“Sometimes, fate comes down to a single word.” Xiang Yi rested her chin in her hand, gazing at the two adorable young women.

“Thank you, Xiang Yi!” The two finally left with hearts full of excitement.

The wooden door closed.

The smile faded from Xiang Yi’s face, returning to calm.

She stood up, slowly poured herself tea, and held the steaming cup as she looked out the window at the bustling scene.

Carriages and people, the lively marketplace.

Yujing City hadn’t changed in decades—it was the same before she returned and after. It seemed the city had always been this way and would remain eternally prosperous.

“Xu Xiaoshou, will your arrival bring fortune or disaster…”

Xiang Yi murmured to herself, leaning against the windowsill and gazing toward the distant Sheng Shan. The temperature of the teacup in her hand cooled bit by bit as she lost herself in thought.

Until dusk fell, a speck of white drifted from the sky, falling into the teacup and dissolving away.

Children on the street began cheering and jumping excitedly, though their shouts were indistinct.

Xiang Yi set down the teacup and absentmindedly extended her hand.

Soon, a few snowflakes landed in her smooth palm.

“It’s snowing…”

In the Yuanfu world, everything was lush and vibrant.

His junior sister had managed this place beautifully.

Not only had the Shen Nong Yao Yuan adapted perfectly to the new world, but the area outside the barrier had also sprouted some spiritual herbs due to the abundant life energy.

Even with the ten thousand cauldrons of Tan Shen constantly emitting high heat, greenery had encircled them.

Working on Project 007 amid this thriving foliage even made Tan Shen feel incredibly pleased!

The only regret was…

“The people are gone.”

During the final battle on the Void Island, everyone from Yuanfu had gone out.

After receiving the Tian Zu inheritance, they couldn’t re-enter, and upon waking, they had all gone their separate ways.

All that remained in the Yuanfu world were guardians like A Bing and A Huo, a dragon corpse, and some uninhabited scenic areas.

“Meow!”

Sensing its master’s presence, Tan Shen, the only companion during the Tian Zu inheritance, immediately abandoned its alchemy and pounced over.

Xu Xiaoshou grabbed the big fat cat.

Goodness, it had gotten even fatter—was this from overnutrition?

But Tan Shen had a devouring attribute; shouldn’t it digest everything it ate?

Xu Xiaoshou pondered and glanced at the Shen Nong Yao Yuan, realizing that the outer ring’s “weeds” had all been cleared out!

“You ate all those first- and second-grade spiritual herbs?” Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes flashed with menace as he shook the big fat cat vigorously.

“Meow! Meow!” Tan Shen wasn’t intimidated at all, holding its head high with a smug expression.

The clear intent it conveyed was: Your barriers can’t hold me anymore!

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

In just this short time, Tan Shen had broken through the spiritual array around the Shen Nong Yao Yuan?

Examining it closely, the aura leaking from this fat cat was already on par with a Zhan Dao Lian Ling Shi.

This was a ghost beast?

Its growth was like riding a rocket—faster than his own cheat-activated progress?

“What else did you steal? Spill it!” Xu Xiaoshou demanded.

Tan Shen let out a loud “Meow,” almost like a challenge, clearly no longer fearing its master.

It lowered its head, then lifted it, and strange lights flashed in both pupils.

“This is…”

Three eerie flower spots emerged from each of its eyes, rotating in sync before merging into the pupils.

Xu Xiaoshou paused.

He remembered Tan Shen only had one San Yan Tong Mu, with three gray flowers, matching its left eye…

But the right eye?

What were those three blood-red flowers?

“Wait!”

“San Jie Nan Yan?!”

Realizing this, Xu Xiaoshou’s scalp tingled.

Hadn’t that been given to Lei Xi Er for handling? How did it end up with Tan Shen?

But that didn’t matter now!

As a boom echoed in his ears, Xu Xiaoshou looked up and saw the incomplete rules of the Yuanfu world awkwardly forming a thick cloud.

“Damn it!”

“You troublemaking thing, shut your eyes right now!”

—It was the Jiu Si Lei Jie!

Xu Xiaoshou never expected that before he could stabilize his Wang Zuo Dao realm or even sever his Dao, this pest of a Tan Shen would summon the Jiu Si Lei Jie!

Tan Shen jolted in fright and quickly retracted the power in its eyes, huddling with its paws, looking terrified as if it knew it had caused big trouble.

Xu Xiaoshou finally understood why powerhouses like Huang Quan and Mei Si Ren couldn’t suppress their energies and had to face tribulations.

Once San Jie Nan Yan activated, even if the power was withdrawn, the tribulation cloud would form on its own and not dissipate.

Xu Xiaoshou panicked.

He had no experience with tribulations at this level; he’d only seen saint tribulations or Zu Yuan Di Jie.

But he was someone who had faced bigger scenes. Quickly analyzing, he realized this tribulation cloud was off.

First, his own Jiu Si Lei Jie couldn’t be this weak.

Second, the Yuanfu world was still unstable; even with its embryonic form, it couldn’t produce a full tribulation cloud.

In this state, the cloud seemed laughable, like it could be dispersed with a wave.

“Jin Ren…”

Xu Xiaoshou called out, then hastily stopped. “Wait!”

His second true body had dispelled its invisibility and drawn Cang Ku, freezing mid-air, clearly understanding what the original intended to try.

Cang Ku could already envision itself slashing the tribulation cloud and ascending, wriggling excitedly like a worm and chirping:

“Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!”

“Shut up.” The second true body smacked the chirping sword hard.

The original body stared at the tribulation cloud, motionless, as his aura gradually receded, returning to a state of profound simplicity.

Though the cloud was weak, it had the Jiu Si Lei Jie’s locking trait.

What Xu Xiaoshou was testing was whether his sword techniques could undo that lock.

“Cang Zi Jue!”

Sword patterns rippled through the void, then withdrew from all things, bit by bit transforming into sword force that converged into his body.

It was as if, back on Void Island outside Miracle Forest, Ba Zun An had recalled that stray strand of sword energy from him.

Yes, the technique Xu Xiaoshou was using came from Ba Zun An.

That guy was a master of hiding swords, concealing them for decades—who knew what he was planning.

In the Ba Gong, he could use a dead branch as a sword to cut through Gou Wu Yue’s inner gods and Buddhas, which Xu Xiaoshou later found inconceivable.

Such a powerful ancient sword cultivator—striking with a sword, even a branch, would rival his own “Sword Mastery” at its peak, right?

So, how had Ba Zun An suppressed his Jian Sheng Zhi Jie?

The answer was “Cang Zi Jue”!

After waking from the Tian Zu inheritance on Void Island, Xu Xiaoshou had specifically asked the sword-hiding master about this and was now barely managing it.

No problem—lacking insight, he’d use comprehension to compensate.

His Jian Dao disk spun from under his feet, entering a state of unity with heaven and earth.

Thousands of sword forces gathered into himself, forming a seal with the character “Cang,” suppressing all aura in the sea of qi, returning it to utter calm.

In the void, the second true body hadn’t even struck, and the tribulation cloud seemed to hesitate before dissipating.

“It worked.”

Xu Xiaoshou was overjoyed.

Hiding swords meant concealing that breath!

So, if the Jiu Si Lei Jie couldn’t sense it, what about the Sheng Jie?

Using the Yuanfu world’s incomplete rules and the slow formation of tribulation clouds, could he bypass it and push all his passive skills to Sheng Di level?

Xu Xiaoshou grabbed the little fat cat and held it up to his face.

“Woo woo…” The little Tan Shen was on the verge of tears, knowing it had messed up.

But its master suddenly went wild, throwing his head back in laughter and chomping down on its head for a big suck.

“Ha ha ha, you’re my little lucky star! I might just reach Sheng severing!”

Tan Shen didn’t dare move, thinking that every time its master entered the Yuanfu world, he lost his mind.

If nothing else, this was only the beginning…