Chapter 1364: Rumors First Break People's Hearts, Then Invite the Plague God to Descend on the City Gate

“Have you heard? The Ran Ming site is about to emerge!”

“What’s the Ran Ming site?”

“You’ve never heard of the Ran Ming site? You’re so out of touch! What about the God-Slaying Officer Ran Ming? Do you know him? Rumors say his power rivals that of the Ten Ancestors, and he wields dual axes—one called God-Slayer and the other Demon Hunter—which can sever the Ancestral Source Force!”

“What’s the Ancestral Source Force?”

“You… Forget it, my mom told me not to talk to fools.”

“Hey, don’t be like that! I’m curious too—tell me more!”

“Get lost!”

“Your news is totally unreliable—who knows where it came from. I’ve got something even bigger, and it’s from a very reliable source. Want to hear it?”

“Oh? Go on, then. I don’t believe there’s anything more explosive than the Ran Ming site emerging lately. It’s on par with the descent of the Sky City in the Dong Yu region!”

“Heh, I’ll blow your mind… You know about He Ting Shan, one of the Three Mountains, right?”

“Of course. Back in the day, He Ting made his name with the Five Fiends of the Demonic Affection.”

“Then have you heard of Fen Qin, the former king of the intelligence world?”

“Fen Qin boils the crane, and the holy slaves have no sleeves—who doesn’t know that?”

“You’re quite knowledgeable. Well, do you know the latest rumors from He Ting Shan? Apparently, someone there obtained the inheritance of the Jin Zhao lineage.”

“Oh? The inheritance of the holy slaves Wu Xiu and Shou Ye? Legend has it they have invincible physical bodies, rivaling even the gods.”

“That’s right. Someone got a fire seed from the Cang Qiong Divine Tree on He Ting Shan—the Jin Zhao Prison Fire—and cultivated an ultimate physical body. They also received an improved version of the second-generation Che Shen Nian Long Rong Shao, which is Sheng Nu Wu Xiu’s signature technique…”

“Wu Xiu’s Red Scorched Hand?”

“Exactly! And not only that, it’s said that after the battle between Bai Yi and Fen Qin, many peak Tai Xu fell there, each with the potential to become saints. Now, people who go to He Ting Shan are often led into various shattered Tai Xu worlds, but they can gain all sorts of benefits!”

“Is your info reliable?”

“It’s probably legit. Lots of people are heading to He Ting Shan for opportunities. Someone even spotted Quasi-Seven Sword Immortal Shou Ye there!”

“Shou Ye from Hua Lai Bei Tian Ying? Are you sure? I’m a big fan of him…”

“Who else could it be? A ton of ancient sword cultivators from Dong Yu and Nan Yu have gone to He Ting Shan, all wanting to make a name for themselves and earn the title of Sword Immortal!”

“Pfft, chasing fame like that—risking their lives? Shou Ye has slain a Sword Immortal… er, Sword Saint, and I bet his strength goes beyond just the seventh Sword Immortal.”

“Who knows? Anyway, I want to go to He Ting Shan and join the fun. With so many people there, even if I don’t see the Sword Immortals duking it out, I can probably catch some battles between Dao-Severing experts and Tai Xu. Want to come along?”

“Sure, why not? I wonder if we’ll see someone undergoing tribulation. I really want to watch how to survive the Nine-Death Thunder Tribulation—I’m not confident about it at all.”

“You’re only at the Zong… ahem, anyway, what about your Ran Ming site? Where’d you hear that from?”

“There’s not much info on the Ran Ming site—it’s super secretive. I only got what I know by paying a hefty price. Apparently, it emerged once before, but the Sheng Shen Hall suppressed it.”

“They wanted to hog it all?”

“Who knows?~”

“Hiss! Your story sounds even more credible. Where’s the Ran Ming site? I want to check it out too.”

“You? You’re not qualified!”

“Bullshit, I’m almost at the Wang Zuo level. You’re just entering the Zong Shi Xing Si realm—how dare you judge me?”

“The Ran Ming site will open in the Si Xiang Secret Realm.”

“Ah? This…”

It was as if invisible hands were stirring the pot in Yu Jing Cheng, fanning the flames behind the scenes.

Now, everyone’s casual conversations revolved around He Ting Shan and the Si Xiang Secret Realm.

In the city’s streets, elegant pavilions, taverns, and teahouses, that was all anyone talked about.

Even the underlings of major sects, families, forces, and secret organizations were buzzing about the Jin Zhao inheritance and the Ran Ming site.

The former needed no explanation—first came Sheng Nu Wu Xiu, then Sheng Nu Shou Ye. The power of the Jin Zhao lineage was undeniable.

To get such an inheritance through official channels, you’d have to fight your way into the Sheng Gong trials, come out on top, and then get selected by the Jin Zhao lineage.

But sometimes, an entire era might see only one person chosen by the Sheng Gong’s Jin Zhao lineage.

There are so many talents in the world—who knows when it’ll be your turn?

That’s why the Jin Zhao inheritance on He Ting Shan tempted so many.

After all, it produced Fen Qin the Crane-Boiler, who later became Sheng Nu Wu Xiu, so its authenticity was high.

It was credible enough to alarm even the Sheng Gong.

More than one person had seen it—a woman suspected to be from the Jin Zhao lineage, carrying a massive bathtub, had been searching for someone on He Ting Shan a month ago, seemingly trying to reclaim the Jin Zhao inheritance.

Once that news spread, He Ting Shan was thrust into the spotlight.

Some even wanted to challenge that girl named Hua Song to prove their own inheritance wasn’t inferior to the Jin Zhao lineage.

But word has it they found her, and the one who went looking got refined…

True or false, no one could say for sure.

As for the Ran Ming site, most below the Wang Zuo level were clueless or didn’t take it seriously.

Only mid-level figures in various forces had gotten the intel and knew about the Ancestral Source Force. They could tell this rumor seemed fabricated but was actually more reliable.

“Someone’s trying to poach from the Sheng Shen Hall…”

Smart people quickly realized that in today’s world, only one force had the guts to openly challenge the Sheng Shen Hall.

The Sheng Nu!

It had to be the Sheng Nu spreading this news.

They were targeting the Ran Ming site in the Si Xiang Secret Realm, which had indeed been suppressed once before—that much was known to the heads of major powers.

The Sheng Nu needed support from all sides, just like with the Dong Yu Sky City incident, to stir the waters completely.

“Support?”

That wasn’t even a question.

Compared to the Sheng Shen Hall’s domination, where they didn’t even leave scraps for others, the Dong Yu Sky City battle saw the Sheng Nu leverage many forces and people, using blood to carve out a perfect victory for themselves.

But who among those who held out till the end at Sky City didn’t gain something? Some gains were huge!

Even in the postwar cleanup, the Sheng Nu could have sealed off the exits and taken everything, but Ba Zun An didn’t do that.

His character had earned trust over the decades.

With a wave of his hand at Sky City, Ba Zun An sent everyone who survived back to the outside world, without holding them accountable or even glancing at what they’d taken.

Whether you entered was your choice.

Whether you lived was your fate.

As for what you could grab inside and whether you could keep it, that was up to you.

It was very much in the spirit of ancient sword cultivators!

Everyone was game for that!

The battles for the Dao were what they were, but at least you didn’t have to fear retaliation for snatching opportunities.

In this regard, Dao Qiong Cang’s reputation couldn’t compare to Ba Zun An’s. The former used any means necessary, while the latter stuck to his principles.

As long as you didn’t cross Ba Zun An’s lines, you might even chat with him shoulder to shoulder about the Dao.

There’s a joke going around: if Dao Qiong Cang targets you, you might dodge the first strike but not the fifteenth—you’re done for.

But if Ba Zun An targets you, throw down your weapon in front of him, and you’ll live.

Ba Zun An doesn’t kill the unarmed.

Of course, that’s just a joke, with the addendum “except for ancient sword cultivators.”

Ancient sword cultivators who drop their swords die even faster—there’s no such thing as a spineless ancient sword cultivator.

The rumors in Yu Jing Cheng were wildly exaggerated.

In just half a day, some people were sick of hearing them.

Some went to He Ting Shan multiple times and found no inheritance, while others started eyeing the Si Xiang Secret Realm…

Some claimed they got the news three days ago, others said it’d been circulating for half a month.

Even more outlandish, some said they’d been preparing for the Ran Ming site for over a year, carrying a key called the “Zhan Shen Order.”

The Yi Bu was the first to pick up on these rumors.

But with rumors spreading from Yu Jing Cheng across the entire Zhong Yu region and even to the five domains of the continent through secret intelligence networks, the Yi Bu couldn’t contain it.

No doubt, the Sheng Nu was making a big push.

When the new Yi Bu leader, Xi, received word that the situation was unstoppable, it was already half a day after the first rumor surfaced.

He mobilized all the forces at his disposal.

But the Yi Bu was just one of the six departments under the Sheng Shen Hall.

The Sheng Nu came prepared.

Their intelligence operations inherited Fen Qin’s traditions, never losing to any force in the world, not even the Sheng Shen Hall.

Of course, there was also the factor of “a rumor spreads with one mouth, but debunking it takes a broken leg to run.”

“Bloody storms ahead!”

“I’m starting to believe the Ran Ming site is really emerging.”

“Gather the three Zhan Shen Orders, summon the Zhan Shen Guan, the inheritance is mine, and the treasures are for all to enjoy…”

“Weild the Demon-Cleaving Axe and the God-Slaying Axe, dual axes united, the world under one…”

“The Sheng Hall falls, the Sheng Nu rises, the seas unite, all things at peace…”

In the Yi Bu, someone stared at the endless reports, muttering obsessively: “Is this really intel from half a day ago? It feels like I’ve heard it for half a year.”

“And there’s even wilder stuff! To verify the authenticity of Xu Xiao Shou on He Ting Shan and the strength of the Jin Zhao lineage, Nan Yu erupted in a Xu Xiao Shou craze overnight, almost overshadowing Ba Zun An. They say…”

“What do they say?”

“Uh, they say… ‘Matchless in the world is not Xu’s father, but with a thousand sons, Xu can’t be everywhere, hard to tell if his techniques are righteous or evil.’”

“Pfft!” Someone who was drinking tea spat it out.

“What a line—‘with a thousand sons.’ Who came up with that? So vivid! Now I see an ancient sword cultivator and wonder if it’s Xu Xiao Shou. I can’t take this life anymore.”

“Same here.”

“Me too…”

“I’ve dealt with so much about Xu Xiao Shou lately, I dream about him. I wake up and find two in my bed, then realize it’s a dream within a dream…”

“I don’t know who started it, but there are only a few intel outfits in Nan Yu. And you won’t believe this—there’s even wilder stuff!”

“Spill it!”

“This describes our Shou Ye’s power, tied to his eventful life. Ahem, listen up… ‘The Sheng Gong’s four sons nurture a genius, not entering the inner court brings the old eighth, slaying through five domains and thirteen generations, daring to open the gates of Jiu You!’”

As soon as that was said, the entire Yi Bu fell silent, and it took a while before someone tsked.

“Outrageous.”

“Totally out of line!”

“In my view…”

“Enough.” Xi, who had been forgotten in the shadows, suddenly appeared. “Forgotten your real work?”

The Yi Bu went quiet as a grave, and everyone returned to their duties.

“Slaying through five domains and thirteen generations, daring to open the gates of Jiu You…” Xi muttered to himself as he sipped from his subordinate’s cup.

Having worked in intelligence for so long, he knew these outrageous pieces of info spread the fastest.

The masses could turn lies into truth.

Especially now, it could easily lure too many high-level folks to He Ting Shan for the so-called Jin Zhao inheritance.

“The Sheng Gong is getting involved again…”

“But isn’t the Sheng Gong cooperating with the Sheng Shen Hall this time? Or is it the Jin Zhao lineage acting on their own?”

Xi held a portrait, deep in thought.

The portrait showed a girl carrying a large cauldron, cute yet eerie.

On the surface, it was Sheng Gong’s Hua Song.

But through the three-legged bathtub, it was confirmed to be Sheng Nu Wu Xiu’s cauldron “Dragon and Phoenix in Harmony”—this was Xu Xiao Shou disguised.

Unfortunately, no one noticed that detail back in the Yun Lun incident.

“So, this is my opponent…”

Xi genuinely admired Xu Xiao Shou but was also eager for the challenge.

The stronger the enemy, the more excited he got.

“Beep.”

The Tian Zu exclusive communication device activated, and Xi connected directly to Dao Qiong Cang.

“Dao Hall Master, the public opinion in Yu Jing Cheng and across the five domains…”

“I know all about it, but it’s spreading this fast, even beyond the Yi Bu’s control?”

“Yes.”

“You reported it promptly. That’s commendable.”

“Then what should we do next? Please give instructions, Dao Hall Master.”

“No need to be so formal, young one.”

“Yes, Dao Hall Master.”

“Do nothing.”

“Yes, Dao… Ah? What did you say, Dao Hall Master?”

“I don’t like repeating myself. That’s the order now and for all future ones.”

“Yes, Dao Hall Master, but may I ask why? We can still fight; we can’t give up.”

“Your curiosity is strong. But the Yi Bu’s inaction doesn’t mean we’ve given up. The Tian Zu isn’t just the Yi Bu, and the Sheng Shen Continent isn’t something the Sheng Nu can control entirely.”

“Yes, Dao Hall Master, but I still want to ask…”

“Just wait.”

Dao Qiong Cang didn’t explain and cut off the communication.

Xi hesitated but chose to trust him, raising his hand to everyone: “Halt all suppression of rumors about ‘He Ting Shan’ and ‘Ran Ming site.’”

“Ah?” His subordinates exclaimed in surprise. “Why?”

Xi’s face was expressionless as he turned to look out at the dim room, seeing the blue sky beyond: “This isn’t Sky City. No matter how much the Sheng Nu stirs things up, they won’t make big waves.”

“The sky over Yu Jing Cheng bears the surname Dao!”

“Dao Xuan Ji?”

In the You Gui Pavilion, Xu Xiao Shou held the jade slip, gazing at the falling snow outside the window, lost in thought.

He had been frozen in that stiff pose by the window for quite some time.

He didn’t think much of the new six departments individually.

Except for Yu Zhi Wen’s appearance, which was a slight surprise, the rest weren’t important.

He didn’t know any of them, after all.

They were probably just minor foes he could take down in one move.

Based on the previous six departments’ strength, perhaps the Xu Xiao Shou from Dong Tian Wang Cheng days would have been cautious.

But the one after Void Island had no fear, let alone now, after a series of upgrades.

Anyone below Semi-Saint wasn’t worth his attention.

Of course, he still needed to be cautious.

The only wildcard in the new six departments wasn’t them themselves, but that they were pieces moved by Dao Qiong Cang in his game—maybe they could pull off something unexpected?

Unclear.

What Xu Xiao Shou truly cared about was the highlighted red name “Dao Xuan Ji.”

If he remembered correctly, this was the mastermind behind the destruction of the Lei family, and now one of the Three Emperors.

“Still surnamed Dao…”

“Still so heartless, with no principles…”

“This one’s even more terrifying than Yan Wu Se!”

“Yan Wu Se at least used the entire Void Island scheme, step by step eroding everything until the very end, when he realized it was too late, to truly kill.”

“How to deal with this Dao Xuan Ji?”

Xu Xiao Shou felt troubled. His first thought was of his junior sister, and he immediately grabbed Han Ye.

“Where’s your Aunt Mu? I haven’t seen her.”

“She, she, she…” The little white weasel stammered.

“She dared to make you lie to me!” Xu Xiao Shou glared angrily. “And you—dare to lie to me?”

The little white weasel’s eyes filled with terror, as if asking how he had mind-reading powers, and it quickly said: “She probably went to find that orange-faced guy from the Yan Wang. Ba Zun An told me to pass that on to you.”

Ba Zun An?

Xu Xiao Shou calmed down a bit.

If Ba Zun An knew about it and didn’t stop her, it should be relatively safe.

The orange-faced guy could only be Tian Ren Wu Sui. Lei Xi Er really went to find him because of that conversation?

Damn! He should have pulled out Tian Ren Wu Sui’s tongue back then, or let the water ghost kill him without pleading for him…

No! Blame that damn Tian Zu inheritance—it wasted a month of his time, or Lei Xi Er wouldn’t have dared to wander off…

Overthinking was useless.

Xu Xiao Shou shook his head to clear it, wanting to know how Lei Xi Er would react once she learned this intel.

With her smarts, as long as she hadn’t regressed to Mu Zi Xi, she probably wouldn’t charge in blindly.

But a vendetta of extermination…

Xu Xiao Shou narrowed his eyes, recalling Tian Ren Wu Sui’s promise to Lei Xi Er on Void Island:

“If you’re in trouble, just call my name… Tian Ren Wu Sui!”

Did she call?

Couldn’t he, Xu Xiao Shou, call too?

“Tian Ren Wu Sui!”

“Tian Ren Wu Sui!”

“My dear Tian Ren Wu Sui~”

“You son of a bitch Tian Ren Wu Sui, get your ass out here!”

Xu Xiao Shou never waited passively. He stayed in the room and shouted “Tian Ren Wu Sui” in every way he could think of.

Calling out a saint’s name directly was disrespectful, but it was also a clever way to notify.

Tian Ren Wu Sui was, after all, someone he’d shared life-and-death experiences with, so Xu Xiao Shou had a sliver of trust in him.

Better to have Lei Xi Er stick with this disaster magnet than wander off and meet a grim fate. Might as well invite this plague god into the game while Yu Jing Cheng was in turmoil.

First, that would keep Lei Xi Er from going too far.

Second, with that guy’s cursed luck, just hanging around Yu Jing Cheng would give Dao Qiong Cang headaches with one problem after another, without him lifting a finger.

Thinking of that, Xu Xiao Shou’s eyes lit up, and his shouts of “Tian Ren Wu Sui” grew louder.

Soon, with a “creak,” the door was pushed open.

Thank you to “Dian Xiao Er” for the generous reward. With the typhoon coming, everyone please stay safe.

(End of chapter)