Chapter 1369: Inviting the Monarch into the Urn at Bow Sheep Mountain, Moth to the Flame at the Heavenly Tower

Dao Qiong Cang has made his move!

A thunderous strike that caught everyone off guard.

"It's been advanced by a full ten days or so. According to Aunt Xiang's intelligence, this couldn't possibly be a unilateral decision from the Sheng Palace."

"From the end of the lecture to the start of the trial, there's only one hour... Who in their right mind would come up with rules like that?"

"What if some trial participants are still vacationing in the East Region, or delayed by other matters and can't make it in time?"

"This must be the handiwork of that flashy old Daoist!"

Xu Xiaoshou was deeply alarmed.

He had thought he had plenty of time!

According to the original plan of more than ten days, he could have arranged everything methodically, progressing smoothly like a fish in water on Void Island:

First, stir up trouble at San Zhu Xiang to create confusion;

Then, target the intelligence departments of the Central Region's Sheng Shen Hall, thoroughly muddying the waters;

In between, he could send his second true body to Qing Yuan Mountain to invite out the "peerless genius" that Ba Zun An mentioned;

While causing chaos, he would wait for the members of Tian Shang First Building to gather and even participate in the Seven Sword Immortals War to build his reputation!

Xu Xiaoshou had planned everything perfectly, but he had overlooked the most crucial points:

He was no longer on Void Island, but in Yu Jing City of the Sheng Shen Continent.

His opponent was no longer Rao Yao Yao, but the unfathomable Dao Qiong Cang.

"The Sheng slaves on Void Island were the ones setting traps, but that flashy old Daoist saw no chance of winning, so he gave up the game and conceded defeat outright."

"In Yu Jing City, he holds the initiative, and I have no choice but to respond. Am I really going to let him lead me by the nose?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a bit uneasy.

The thrill he felt kicking Dao Qiong Cang off Void Island was now replaced by this irritation.

This enemy seemed to have x-ray vision, ignoring all the smoke screens Xu Xiaoshou had laid out, and with a single strike, he hit the sore spot of Tian Shang First Building.

Coincidence?

Looking up, the crowd on Jin Huang Square had already scattered like birds and beasts.

Once Wei An left, the trial participants rushed forward, each using their own abilities to head toward Gong Yang Mountain, where the Si Xiang Secret Realm was located.

Some used escape techniques.

Others took teleportation arrays.

Some were picked up by their guardians, riding along...

Reaching Gong Yang Mountain in one hour was tough for innate cultivators, but with various tools, it became feasible.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the choices most people were making and saw many Dao Slashers and Tai Xu guardians carrying their trial participants, merging into the Dao and speeding off in the same direction.

From those young people, he saw vibrant energy.

Gazing further into the distance, even though Gong Yang Mountain was still out of sight, it felt like a blinding lantern in the night, radiating a deadly allure.

"Moths to a flame..."

"Am I the moth?"

In a daze, Xu Xiaoshou saw a figure appear on the distant horizon—a handsome man in luxurious robes, elegant and refined.

He held a Tian Ji Si Nan in his left hand and formed seals with his right, with countless shadowy figures standing behind him.

The man looked over with a warm, smiling gaze and gestured "please" toward the direction of Gong Yang Mountain.

"An invitation into the trap?"

"Shocked, passive points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou blinked hard, and the illusion vanished.

He felt uneasy, unsure if his premonition would come true.

"Maybe it's just the time being advanced?"

"They aren't worms in my belly—how could they know I still have so much undone?"

Jin Huang Square soon emptied out.

Those from major forces with trial participants all hurried to the Si Xiang Secret Realm, likely waiting outside from the start to the end of the trial before picking up the examinees.

Xu Xiaoshou frowned, led the two women into the carriage, and followed the crowd, quickly blending into the masses and disappearing.

"Dao Hall Master, Emperor Ai Cang Sheng."

On Gui Zhe Sheng Mountain, as soon as Wei An entered Sheng Huan Hall, he felt the place was unusually quiet.

The vast council hall had only two people seated.

He had heard that the Ten-Person Council and the new Six Departments had just undergone a major reshuffle, and the subordinate institutions had been completely overhauled from top to bottom.

Shouldn't they be holding various appointment ceremonies, or gathering to hand over affairs?

"Wei An, my friend, it's been a while."

"Come, please have a seat quickly!"

Dao Qiong Cang stood to welcome his guest, the face of the Sheng Palace, and offered him a seat on the Ten-Person Council's position, which outsiders at the Semi-Sage level could never occupy.

"I heard there was some disruption at your Sheng Palace trial lecture—someone causing trouble?" Dao Qiong Cang chuckled.

"It's just minor issues, nothing serious." Wei An didn't want to dwell on it.

"That person is surnamed Xu?"

"Oh? Does the Dao Hall Master know him?" Wei An was surprised, recalling that the troublemaker had a fan inscribed with "Xu Gu Sheng."

"The Moon Palace's Li Ti mentioned it in passing..." Dao Qiong Cang replied casually, handing over a portrait. "Is it this person?"

Wei An recognized at a glance the man who looked like he had just recovered from a serious illness.

In the portrait, he appeared more refined, without the messy jam stains, and seemed like a decent person.

"Yes. Is there something wrong with him?" Wei An asked.

Dao Qiong Cang slowly rolled up the portrait and smiled. "Indeed there is."

Indeed there is?

What did that mean?

Several forces had caused trouble on Jin Huang Square, but Wei An had no time to deal with them. He quickly changed the subject back to the main topic:

"I've agreed to your request. The trial time has been advanced to one hour from now—that's an unprecedented concession."

"You know, before this, the Sheng Palace trial couldn't be rushed like this—it would make us miss out on many talents."

Dao Qiong Cang responded,

"Not valuing the Sheng Palace trial and not hurrying to the Central Region in advance—such talents will only show more disdain for the Sheng Palace in the future, just like Sang Qi Ye."

"Fate is predetermined. People like that, the Sheng Palace is better off without."

Wei An listened quietly without adding insult to injury about the traitor from Jin Zhao's lineage, and calmly said,

"I've done what you wanted. What I want is clear too."

"The Sheng Palace trial is for the Sheng Palace's affairs; the Sheng Shen Hall handles its own. We'll stay out of each other's way."

"Your matters can't affect the trial participants at all—that's my promise to them... Can you ensure that?"

"Of course." Dao Qiong Cang nodded solemnly. "I'll do my best."

"Just do your best?" Wei An narrowed his eyes.

"Nothing is absolute; I can't guarantee against any unforeseen events. What I can promise is my utmost effort." Dao Qiong Cang smiled.

Wei An stared deeply at this enigmatic master of heavenly secrets, who exuded complete sincerity.

He sighed and stopped pressing, looking around. "Gui Zhe Sheng Mountain is quite deserted. Where are your people?"

"They've all been dispatched."

"Where to?"

"Naturally, to the Si Xiang Secret Realm to protect the trial participants."

Wei An didn't buy these excuses—they were probably all sent out for their own tasks.

He turned to the silent Ai Cang Sheng and said thoughtfully, "Emperor Ai Cang Sheng, it's been decades since you've left the sacred mountain, hasn't it?"

"Twenty-eight years." Ai Cang Sheng had a black cloth over his legs, his hands resting on the Xie Zui Bow, his voice calm and emotionless.

Wei An nodded and looked at Dao Qiong Cang. "Why not let Emperor Ai Cang Sheng go out? Staying in one place for so long isn't good for a person."

Dao Qiong Cang smiled and pointed. "His legs are inconvenient."

"You know that's not what I mean." Wei An shook his head.

"You should know that's not what I mean either." Dao Qiong Cang smiled and shook his head in return.

Wei An fell silent.

After not seeing this flashy old Daoist for decades, he still spoke in that pleasing way that made one want to grab something and smack him over the head.

Dao Qiong Cang was still courteous to the Sheng Palace and added,

"We can't have everyone rush into the Si Xiang Secret Realm all at once, can we?"

"Someone needs to keep watch outside to prevent any accidents."

Wei An looked at Dao Qiong Cang and saw he wasn't joking.

He then glanced at Ai Cang Sheng, who stared straight ahead at the sky outside the hall, his expression unchanging.

As soon as Wei An's gaze fell, he noticed the quietly slumbering Xie Zui Bow.

The black-red bow was surrounded by demonic energy and lingering souls, evidence of the powerful beings it had hunted while awake.

The entire Sheng Shen Hall was sending out all its forces for a small Si Xiang Secret Realm.

But for the vast Sheng Shen Continent, it was left to Emperor Ai Cang Sheng alone to guard, right?

Wei An's eyes sharpened, as if trying to pierce through the black cloth and see Ai Cang Sheng's legs on the gui wood wheelchair.

"Anything wrong?" Ai Cang Sheng turned his head slightly, looking over indifferently.

Wei An blinked and then smiled, lifting his head directly. "Emperor Ai Cang Sheng, how long have you had that leg issue? I remember when you were among the Ten Venerables, you didn't need a wheelchair."

"Forgot."

Forgot?

How could that be forgotten?

But upon second thought, Wei An really couldn't recall how Ai Cang Sheng had gone from a normal person galloping as one of the Ten Venerables and shooting down the Broad Cold Moon to ending up in this wheelchair, severely impaired.

He didn't dwell on it and quickly moved on, turning back to Dao Qiong Cang: "What's your success rate?"

Dao Qiong Cang just smiled without speaking.

"Give me a straight answer, Dao Hall Master. We're cooperating now; I promise not to leak any information to anyone."

"Including Mu Lin?"

"Including! No one else will know except me!" Wei An was genuinely curious about how much this enigmatic Dao Hall Master was grasping.

"Except you..." Dao Qiong Cang's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Can I trust you?"

Wei An was taken aback. "You suspect I'm a Sheng slave? You're suspecting even me? Dao Qiong Cang, have you lost your mind?"

Dao Qiong Cang's eyes were profound. After a long pause, he relaxed his stern expression and parted his lips, his words vague as if answering some question:

"Just in case."

When the carriage returned to You Gui Pavilion, Xu Xiaoshou dismissed the two women, Ying Ying and Que Que, and secretly gave Old Man Li a jade talisman for accessing the Apricot Realm.

He didn't care if Old Man Li could find it; he just asked him to pass a message to Ba Zun An:

"I might not be able to handle the Si Xiang Secret Realm—you need to send more people, or in the worst case, come yourself for support."

And another message:

"It's best if all the Sheng slaves come."

After that, he boldly went upstairs in full view and hurriedly pushed open Aunt Xiang's door.

With "Concealment" active, no one noticed him going up.

"Who are you?"

As the door opened, the lovely young girl inside, who was fixing her makeup in the mirror, left Xu Xiaoshou stunned.

He quickly backed out, thinking he had entered the wrong room.

But the room was correct, and he hadn't fallen into an illusion or been hit by any technique.

The girl somewhat resembled one of the women Aunt Xiang had brought, but clearly wasn't.

"Did I not recognize you after I dolled myself up a bit?" The girl turned around, covering her mouth with a light laugh, pure and charming.

Xu Xiaoshou was struck like lightning, his scalp tingling. "What kind of sorcery is this?"

His "Perception" showed that Aunt Xiang hadn't used any human skin mask or additional spiritual tools for disguise.

She was still the same person as before!

But her every smile, every gesture, had completely changed!

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't have believed that this young girl was essentially an old aunt.

"Makeup technique."

Aunt Xiang stood up and approached, her figure still graceful, though she had clearly bound her chest to make it smaller.

Like a butterfly, she held the hem of her green skirt and twirled. "How about it? Can't recognize me now, right?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt dizzy. "Your voice hasn't changed..."

"What about this?" Aunt Xiang adjusted her tone, sounding like an eighteen-year-old girl.

Xu Xiaoshou no longer trusted what he saw.

This was practically on par with a Sage Emperor-level transformation!

Were all intelligence experts this formidable, with two faces like Old Man Li?

"Now, I'm called Xiang Xiang, a innate trial participant about to enter the Si Xiang Secret Realm in one hour."

"I've suppressed my cultivation and will breakthrough to King Seat Dao Realm without holding back, just to get a good ranking in the Sheng Palace trial."

"For the entire operation, I can't show myself; I can only provide mental analysis for you. Maybe you don't even need it, but it's better than nothing."

"Only summon me if you're in a life-or-death situation."

Aunt Xiang listed everything out, then took a star diamond earring from the wooden box on the table.

She turned, holding the earring, and handed it over. "Use this to contact me. Crush it before you die, and I'll send Shen Yi to save you."

Pausing, the young girl's expression turned extremely serious, her tone more solemn:

"I have only one warning."

"Never, ever underestimate that flashy old Daoist!"

Xu Xiaoshou took the star diamond earring—it was small and unassuming, but felt as heavy as a mountain.

Why was everyone piling on so much pressure?

Was Dao Qiong Cang really that strong?

"I've got it."

He reverted to his true appearance as Xu Xiaoshou and put the earring on his earlobe—it was just a tiny point, not noticeable.

Without Aunt Xiang explaining, he instantly understood its purpose.

It didn't even need spiritual energy; it could absorb a bit of heaven and earth spiritual energy on its own to maintain communication.

"What a exquisite Tian Ji shielding technique. This is clearly to guard against the old Daoist. Does your Xiang family have someone who can make this?" Xu Xiaoshou touched his earlobe and asked with a smile.

The girl version of Aunt Xiang shrugged. "It's from Ancestor Wu Ji."

Xu Xiaoshou's smile vanished.

Was it that serious?

Even an earring had to be made by Wu Ji—I can do this, right!

"I need to go, or I'll miss the crowd. I'm a legitimate trial participant with a badge." Aunt Xiang flashed her trial jade badge, looking adorable.

Xu Xiaoshou could hardly believe this was just from simple makeup. Maybe it was the essence of simplicity in the great Dao. He waved his hand. "Go ahead!"

"What about you?" Aunt Xiang asked before leaving.

"I'm just smuggling in; it doesn't matter." Xu Xiaoshou put away his paper fan, pulled a face with his original features.

If he was discovered on this trip, his whereabouts would be exposed.

If not, it wouldn't matter whose face he wore.

The alias Xu Gu Sheng was meant to have a short lifespan anyway, and Dao Qiong Cang had just cut its life short by more than ten days, so it could end its role now.

Xu Xiaoshou thought carefully and realized he had gotten used to being Zhou Tian Can, Xiao Shi Tan Ji, Chen Shu...

He had become many different people, but it had been a long time since he was himself.

"Is Xu Xiaoshou's face really that ugly, or does everyone want to hunt me down?" Xu Xiaoshou touched his cheek and mocked himself.

"Maybe." Xiang Xiang laughed, pumped her fist, and waved it. "Take care."

"Take care." Xu Xiaoshou replied.

With a bang, a burst of fragrance bloomed, and Xiang Xiang vanished.

The smile on Xu Xiaoshou's face also disappeared, his eyes turning extremely serious.

No time for more preparations—he had to respond.

Fortunately, the biggest preparation was already done, and the people who needed to enter the Si Xiang Secret Realm had arrived.

The rest was up to the future!

"Xiao Han."

He called softly, and the little white weasel emerged from somewhere, crawling into his clothes.

"Feng Yu Jin?"

He looked up, and the gray mist on the beam, which had appeared at some point, descended and transformed into a woman in white.

The wind and snow outside the window reflected on her, as she smiled serenely like a orchid in an empty valley.

She held her small copper furnace and nodded slightly:

"Xu Xiaoshou, long time no see."

With a hiss, gray mist gathered behind Mo Mo, forming a ferocious ghost face.

Feng Yu Jin's voice came from Mo Mo's throat, cackling eerily with a hint of chill:

"Xu Xiaoshou, even when Tian Xuan Gate and I couldn't kill you, I knew you'd be extraordinary."

"But I never imagined you'd reach such heights so quickly."

Xu Xiaoshou ignored Feng Yu Jin and waved at Mo Mo. "Mo Shi Mei, long time no see, though it's really just a month or so."

Mo Mo softly acknowledged and turned her head to look at the white snow outside the window.

"A month? But she..."

"Shut up."

Feng Yu Jin's words were cut off by Mo Mo.

What was going on between these two? Could they coexist harmoniously now? Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled but didn't ask.

Feng Yu Jin had volunteered to come, probably under threat from Ba Zun An, so there was no need to poke at sore spots now.

The space Dao disk spun under his feet, and Xu Xiaoshou extended his hand:

"I'm teleporting; don't resist."

"Mm."

Mo Mo reached out and gently placed her hand on his. Her palm must have touched snowflakes outside earlier—it was cold and damp.

Xu Xiaoshou grasped her hand, paused, then shouted loudly:

"Space! Great! Shift!"