Chapter 1366: Golden Phoenix Spreads Its Wings, Heroes Gather; Among Peers, Already Invincible

Zhou Lishi realized that receiving Xu Gusheng was merely the beginning.

Suddenly, traces of Shengnu were spotted by many people. Not only Shouge, but also the storyteller, Cen Qiaofu, Haitang Er, and others had appeared across various parts of Zhongyu. This turn of events naturally raised alarms. However, after careful inquiries, each report came with its own detailed account. The descriptions were incredibly vivid, down to specifics like clothing, weapons, and personal abilities—details that ordinary Zhongyu assassins from Wangzuo Daijing or Zhandao would never have access to. So, they must have truly seen them!

Zhou Lishi met with numerous red and purple badge hunters, feeling utterly exhausted both mentally and physically, as if a storm was brewing. He even took a moment to ask other councilors at San Zhu Xiang, and they all gave similar responses. The assassins under each councilor's jurisdiction had reported all sorts of intelligence, including sightings of Shengnu and other dark forces from the Five Domains. Even Gui Shou traces were frequently active in Zhongyu!

“Have I fallen into the second world of the ancient sword cultivator...”

Zhou Lishi was bewildered, standing in a room on the second floor of San Zhu Xiang headquarters. In an instant, the world seemed completely changed. In just half a day, the oppressive atmosphere brought by Shengnu and the major dark forces entering the city was almost overwhelming.

“Drip.”

His communicator beeped again. Zhou Lishi absentmindedly looked down and, upon seeing who it was, answered it. After a long pause, he finally greeted:

“Councilor Zhao.”

“Let's cut to the chase; I'm not going to beat around the bush with you.” The voice on the other end was serious. “One of the gold badge hunters under my charge reported a sighting of Shengnu Shouge at He Ting Mountain.”

A gold badge hunter has come forward... Zhou Lishi pondered: “So, does that mean all the situations we're facing are real?”

“Yes, it's about ninety percent true! Report it, Lao Zhou—this is beyond what we can handle. Even Bai Yi might struggle; we'd need the full force of Sheng Shen Dian Tang to deal with it.”

Zhou Lishi was silent for a while: “Can I ask which one of your hunters sent the report?”

“That would be breaking the rules.” Lao Zhao refused.

“You know that circumstances can override rules. If it weren't serious, I wouldn't ask.” Zhou Lishi persisted—these reports could lead to consequences, and he needed to know exactly who to hold accountable.

The communicator crackled for a long time before Councilor Zhao let out a long sigh and said the name:

“Shuang Dai.”

“Heaven's Mechanism Technique is just too damn disgusting!”

Only when truly hiding behind the scenes and stirring up trouble did Xu Xiaoshou understand the essence of “Tianji Shu.” For the phrase “unfathomable as gods and ghosts” from “Shen Gui Mo Ce Dao Qiong Cang,” he gained a whole new interpretation. A Tianji Shu practitioner on the front lines couldn't even come close to one percent of their power when operating in secret!

Hidden in the shadows, who in the world could counter Tianji Shu? Unless someone was on the same level, no one could fully grasp how perverse this ability was!

Take San Zhu Xiang as an example... With so many reports coming in, they were completely baffled, and their higher-ups were being played like fools. The final straw that broke the camel's back—and made them fully believe the intelligence—was Shuang Dai.

Tai Xu! A gold badge hunter! Shuang Dai held an extremely high status in San Zhu Xiang, far beyond the disheveled figure fleeing on Xukong Island. Even Xu Xiaoshou's true self couldn't control him; he could only “split off” a version to muddy the waters—after all, the original had been dead for quite some time.

If Xu Xiaoshou knew about the intelligence networks Sheng Shen Dian Tang had in Yujing City, he could have manipulated some insiders to report in, which would have thrown their operations into chaos and temporarily paralyzed them. Even so, the messages passed up from San Zhu Xiang would keep Sheng Shen Dian Tang busy for a while—whether formulating countermeasures or verifying the intelligence.

For Xu Xiaoshou, this was just a casual task he could accomplish while sitting in You Gui Ge, using his second true body. Tianji Shu was terrifying to that extent!

“It's done...”

“This time, the news of Shengnu and the major dark forces entering Zhongyu and Yujing City will definitely overshadow all other intelligence.”

“In comparison, a minor figure like Xu Gusheng from Dongyu is insignificant.”

“It's a shame I didn't get much on Sheng Shen Dian Tang's actions against me—just something about the Tian Zu plan and Lord Li...”

Knowing when to stop, Xu Xiaoshou quickly transformed back into the sickly young master Xu Gusheng. Accompanied by the two women from You Gui Ge who had been waiting in the San Zhu Xiang room, he withdrew from the underground black market.

He didn't need to use San Zhu Xiang's teleportation array to leave; he simply stepped onto his space dao disk and returned to the miscellaneous goods store. Then, he strolled out the door right in front of the store owner without being noticed.

Even Li Laohan wouldn't truly see him until Xu Xiaoshou called out. The concealment of a Sheng Di Lv.0 was overwhelmingly powerful. As long as he didn't draw attention, it was as if he didn't exist in the world.

As for Yingying and Queer... The two women were just accessories for this trip. If questioned later, they would be the perfect witnesses. Of course, Xu Xiaoshou hadn't forgotten the most important part—their memories had already been fully altered through Tan Shen's San Yan Tong.

Flawless!

“Xu Gongzi, back to Ya Ge?” On the Xiang Gui carriage, Li Laohan drove while speaking in his usual tone, without a hint of extra respect.

“No!” The sickly young master, attended by Yingying and Queer, lay down, but his face showed no signs of exhaustion—only leisure as he said:

“Go to Jin Huang Street, Jin Huang Square.”

In You Gui Ge, while Xu Xiaoshou was causing trouble in the underground black market, his true self stopped calling upon “Tian Ren Wu Sui” and turned to the unexpected visitor at the door—the rude Xiang Yi:

“Pushing the door open without the owner's permission—that's your You Gui Ge's way of treating guests?”

“This is my room!” Xiang Yi rolled her eyes, showing no courtesy.

After entering, she locked the door and activated the spirit array before saying, “Something's happened.”

Xu Xiaoshou vaguely saw two stunning women, with flawless figures, standing outside the door, curiously peering in.

That kind of peering was improper! At a glance, these two weren't from You Gui Ge. Xiang Yi had gone out and brought these two women back—what was she up to?

“What is it?” Xu Xiaoshou didn't ask further and went straight to the point.

Xiang Yi didn't explain directly. Instead, she leaned over the table, hands pressed down, exuding an intense pressure as she asked first: “The San Zhu Xiang incident—was that your doing?”

Xu Xiaoshou looked up from his seat, sensing the waves of intensity, and just smiled: “Xiang Yi, your ears are sharp. Do you have people in San Zhu Xiang?”

“Hmph, I figured as much!” Xiang Yi snorted smugly, then asked with curiosity and admiration, “How did you pull it off?”

“Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed.” Xu Xiaoshou fanned himself with his paper fan.

Xiang Yi was choked up, glaring at him fiercely: “You're getting more and more like that flashy old Taoist!”

“Received disgust, passive value +1.”

“Go on, what is it?”

Xu Xiaoshou ignored the minor details and focused on her purpose. Whatever had her this anxious was clearly important, not related to the two women outside.

Xiang Yi had intended to say it outright, but now her peach blossom eyes darted around. She wasn't in a hurry anymore and sat down with her arms crossed, humming: “Guess.”

“I won't guess.”

“Guess right, and there's a reward!”

“As long as it's not those two outside.”

“You...” Xiang Yi was choked again, furious. “Xu Da Gongzi, you're so picky! These are the best two from the Xiang family—gorgeous looks, great figures—and you still don't like them?”

“Hmm.”

“You!”

“Received curse, passive value +1.”

Xiang Yi stood up to leave but thought better of it and sat back down: “I don't want to talk to you right now. Go to Jin Huang Street, Jin Huang Square, and see for yourself. That's what I came to say!”

“Fine.” Xu Xiaoshou got up and left.

Xiang Yi was stunned. He's really leaving? Aren't you curious?

“You brat, you really know how to get under someone's skin!” Xiang Yi stood up in frustration, watching the young man about to jump out the window. “Come back!”

“Huh? Didn't you tell me to go see for myself?” Xu Xiaoshou turned back, confused.

“Aren't you going to at least meet the people I brought?” Xiang Yi pointed to the door, then to herself. “You're not giving me any face?”

“This isn't right...” Xu Xiaoshou felt a headache coming on—it was like being pressured by an elder about marriage. He pointed to himself: “I'm just a clone right now. Xu Gusheng is out in public at San Zhu Xiang. What identity should I use to meet them?”

“Urgh.” Xiang Yi was choked for the third time, feeling stuck.

“Next time.” Xu Xiaoshou chuckled.

“What about Gui Mian?” Xiang Yi remembered something. “He's been waiting downstairs for you for a while.”

“I'm not Xu Gusheng; I'm just a minor guard named Jin Ren. What do I know about negotiations?” Xu Xiaoshou waved his fan. “Let him keep waiting... Or better yet, have him leave the secrets of Ba Men and Qi Su and go on his way. We shouldn't waste his time.”

“How can that work?” Xiang Yi was anxious. “He brought a big gift...”

“Oh? You've seen him? You even know about the gift? Then you two can talk it out!”

Xiang Yi fell silent, her peach blossom eyes glaring murderously at Xu Xiaoshou.

“Received angry glare, passive value +1.”

“By the way.” Xu Xiaoshou seemed to recall something, tapping his head with his fan as he smiled: “I heard there are bad elements in Gui Shen Bang. Xiang Yi, you should watch out for yourself.”

A flurry of snow swirled at the windowsill, ripples of space spreading out. Xu Xiaoshou vanished, leaving Xiang Yi alone. She reined in her emotions and sat down with a sigh.

“This kid...”

“He's just too hard to handle!”

“Has he figured out I want him to take over Gui Shen Bang and help clean up internal issues?”

Xiang Yi glanced at the door: “And how did he know I was planning to introduce those two to him? Was it that obvious?”

“But that's not right—these two are completely different from A Yao, yet they're also top-notch in looks and figure. Doesn't he like this type?”

Xiang Yi was puzzled and kept pondering. Soon, her delicate brows furrowed deeply, almost knitting together.

She stood up and walked to the window, leaning on the sill as she gazed at the wind and snow outside, taking a deep breath of cold air:

“Could it be that he's not into this at all? Did I get the gender wrong?”

The Xiang Gui carriage rolled steadily along.

Accompanied by Yingying and Queer, the second true body ate the last grape and switched back. Xu Xiaoshou's true self returned. At his current level, swapping his true body and clone right in front of Yingying and Queer, the two women noticed nothing amiss.

Even Li Laohan outside the carriage barely sensed it. Xu Xiaoshou carefully probed and found no spiritual energy fluctuations in Li Laohan's qi sea, but under his slightly disheveled clothes, bandages on his abdomen showed signs of “sealing.”

“On Xukong Island, he was indeed Tai Xu...”

“But he's hidden it so well. If attacked, he might not even have time to unseal.”

“Good one, Li Fugui—you're risking your life to play the role of a coachman!”

Xu Xiaoshou admired these dedicated intelligence operatives. He was different, with all sorts of passive skills to pull off tricks without much effort. He could effortlessly impersonate others and toy with enemies in his palm.

Li Fugui, on the other hand, relied purely on his own solid skills. One slip-up, and it could be fatal!

“Xu Gongzi, I suppose you've heard that today is the day Sheng Gong announces the trial?” Li Laohan's chatty voice came from outside the carriage—or rather, he'd been talking nonstop since they set off.

It hadn't seemed noteworthy before, but now, looking back, Li Laohan was nothing if not diligent and professional, weaving intelligence into every word.

The Sheng Gong trial is being announced? Is that what Xiang Yi meant by something big... Xu Xiaoshou, still in his sickly young master role, lay on Yingying's lap, waiting for Queer's grape as he swallowed and said:

“You know about it too?”

“Of course! I'm just an old coachman scraping by on this. The news only just spread, but on the eve of the Sheng Gong trial, everyone's heard and gone to watch.”

“Then tell me about it.”

“Sure! The announcement for the Sheng Gong trial is at Jin Huang Square. I hear this time's Sheng Gong envoy is from the Jin Zhao lineage.”

“Oh?”

“I know—it's that one called 'Hua Chan.'” Queer suddenly spoke up while pinching the grape. Resistance was futile; she'd joined the conversation and no longer dared look down on Li Laohan—he seemed to be quite to Xu Gongzi's liking.

“I've heard of her too. Rumors say she's the disciple-nephew of the Seven Sword Immortals' Xu Xiaoshou. It's all so confusing—Shengnu, Sheng Gong, Sheng Shen Dian Tang; I always feel like they're all connected.” Yingying smiled down at him, lost in his peerless features.

Li Laohan chuckled: “I feel the same. We little folks just can't understand the big shots' world.”

“By the way, Xu Gongzi, this Sheng Gong trial announcement should set the trial's date.”

“That's normal.” Xu Xiaoshou found it odd.

Announcing without a date or location—what would they announce? He vaguely remembered Xiang Yi mentioning on their first meeting that the Sheng Gong trial was about eleven or twelve days away.

“It is normal, but at this juncture, things might not stay normal... Well, that's just hearsay.” Li Laohan said.

Something's up... Xu Xiaoshou recalled Xiang Yi's words and was about to speak when Li Laohan outside sighed:

“Xu Gongzi, we're here.”

Xu Xiaoshou looked out at the bustling square, where “Jin Huang” hung in the air, realizing this was the “incident” spot Xiang Yi mentioned.

The miscellaneous goods store was actually quite close to Jin Huang Square. But their levels of prosperity were worlds apart. The former was in the capital but overlooked, while Jin Huang Square was packed to the brim with all sorts of people.

Glancing around, luxurious carriages were lined up at the edges, and inside were people of notable status and influence. Yet even they were crowded on the outskirts of the square.

At the center were over a thousand extraordinary young talents, each with an air of defiance. Their cultivations were mostly Xiantian or Zongshi, but some exuded presences that even Wangzuo Daijing couldn't match.

They wielded swords, knives, spears, halberds—each in their own style. Behind these proud and brilliant youths, faint, invisible “forces” could be sensed forming.

Just from these forces, it was clear that the hidden protectors watching over them were no weaker than Zhandao or Tai Xu levels.

“These are the top geniuses selected from the Five Domains, about to participate in the Sheng Gong trial.” Li Laohan got off the carriage and introduced.

Yes, if I tossed a “Sheng Wu Zhi Wen Zhong Zhi Shu” here, Sheng Shen Continent would be set back fifty years... Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath, knowing he and these people were no longer in the same world. While they worried about what might happen in the Sheng Gong trial, he was already thinking about how to deal with Dao Qiong Cang and turn the Si Xiang Secret Realm upside down.

Xu Xiaoshou lowered the carriage curtain, and even through the soundproof barrier, he felt the noisy waves outside. A quick “perception” sweep showed no fewer than tens of thousands of people here.

We're not from the same world, but I can still intervene in yours...

“Let's get out!”

Xu Xiaoshou flicked his fan, his bold spirit returning.

This is the kind of square a young master like me should be at!