Chapter 1373: One Person at a Table Subdues a Hundred Heroes; One Tea and One Array, Yet a Sword Immortal

"Number One True Vision, Ao Sheng's clone is in position."

"Number One True Vision, they're here! I see Han Tian Zhi Huo, Xu Xiaoshou, and another woman... She looks familiar. Let me check."

"Number One True Vision, they've stopped above the cliff. I'm down at Hei Shui Jian now, Dao Dianzhu, I request to engage. Let me go out and test them first!"

"Zhu Que Mai, Yu Zhiwen is in position. Ao Sheng, return. Xu Xiaoshou is not someone you can handle alone."

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position! Ao Sheng's clone, stay put and wait for support. Don't try to take them on by yourself..."

"Number One True Vision, I've engaged! Han Tian Zhi Huo can't take me out quickly. I'm using rock-element arcane meaning. If I hold them off a bit longer, we can get support from the red and white robes."

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position! Ao Sheng's clone, please wait..."

"Bang!"

"What was that sound?"

"Hmm? What happened? Was that an explosion?"

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position, everyone remember to report your position before speaking, otherwise it's too chaotic... Number One True Vision, report in! Number One True Vision, report in!"

"Zizi..."

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position, Ao Sheng's clone, speak up!"

"Zizi..."

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position, Ao Sheng, what happened? Speak!"

After these two urgent questions, the Tian Zu combat communication channel fell silent.

Everyone was waiting for the Ao Sheng clone, who had gone to "test" them, to respond, but even Ao Sheng's true self had gone quiet.

On Qing Long Mai, atop the Qing Long Jin Ta.

The newly appointed Ling Bu head, Ao Sheng, suddenly had his eyes bulge wide, veins throbbing on his forehead, and blood burst from his seven orifices.

"Ah!!!"

He clutched his head, letting out a piercing scream, his body curling like a boiled shrimp as he rolled down from the tower's peak.

With a boom, he crashed into the ground, then writhed desperately, still gripping his head as if suppressing unbearable agony.

Aside from his heavy breathing, he clenched his teeth and refused to utter another sound of pain.

But that earlier scream...

No one in the Tian Zu combat channel was deaf—they all heard it!

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position, Ao Sheng, speak! Are you hearing me?"

"Zhu Que Mai, Yu Zhiwen is in position, Ao Sheng, are you okay?"

At the base of Qing Long Jin Ta, Ao Sheng activated his communicator, quickly pulling it away as he coughed up a mouthful of blood, then brought it back closer.

His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in rage, but his tone was deceptively calm:

"Qing Long Mai, this is Ao Sheng."

"No major issues... My dragon clone... Well, it's been destroyed. They had three people... Cough."

The Tian Zu combat channel fell silent again.

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position, Ao Sheng, why are you speaking so haltingly?"

"Zhu Que Mai, Yu Zhiwen is in position, he must have been backlashed, right?"

"Bai Hu Mai, Xi is in position, Ao Sheng, don't force yourself. You're the only one who's encountered Xu Xiaoshou so far—quickly share the intel on him. Don't leave out any details."

At the base of Qing Long Jin Ta, Ao Sheng wiped the blood from around his eyes and gazed into the distant sky, still shaken.

He swallowed hard, letting the power of a pill take effect, which eased his pain somewhat, before he struggled to say:

"I'm Ao Sheng. My clone has been destroyed."

"Xu Xiaoshou used some kind of special technique. There was no Ling Yuan fluctuation at all, but he instantly drained my dragon clone's dragon pearl power and Qi Hai Ling Yuan completely."

"He absolutely has the power to one-shot a Tai Xu!"

"Xi! Your Yi Bu intel is way out of date. I almost got killed because of you. Unless a Ban Sheng shows up, no one can stop Xu Xiaoshou!"

"So how did you die?" That was Xi's voice.

Ao Sheng's body shuddered: "He—he not only sucked dry my Ling Yuan, but also pulled my dragon clone toward him... And I couldn't control it..."

"Then what?" Yu Zhiwen's voice chimed in.

"Then..."

"Ao Sheng, everything you say now could affect the lives of thousands in Sheng Shen Dian Tang. We all regret your clone's sacrifice, but it wasn't in vain. We desperately need the most accurate first-hand intel on Xu Xiaoshou." Xi's voice was deadly serious.

Ao Sheng stood quietly in front of Qing Long Jin Ta, his eyes utterly vacant.

He stared into the distance, his mind replaying the image of Xu Xiaoshou's finger pressing against his forehead.

That scene would likely haunt his nightmares from now on.

After a moment, his lips moved, and he said: "Xu Xiaoshou used one finger..."

"Did he use that special spiritual technique that destroys the soul? Or something else... A Sheng Wu? The Ten-Stage Sword Finger?" Xi waited impatiently, trying to guess.

"No." Ao Sheng suddenly grew irritable. How could he explain this? It was impossible to put into words.

"Ao Sheng! Speak! Has your spirit been broken by your clone's death?" Xi's voice rose sharply.

"Shut up! You're too noisy!" Ao Sheng roared. "Xu Xiaoshou didn't use any spiritual technique. He just used one finger!"

"Then what!" Xi was angry too. Where was the rest of the intel? Who sacrifices like this and then holds back key details?

"That's it!" Ao Sheng's fury was about to erupt from his eyes. "Damn it..."

"Everyone, shut up!" Dao Dianzhu's voice cut in suddenly.

"Xi, stop asking. Maybe that's all there is to it." Yu Zhiwen's voice followed, as if she had just realized something.

That's all?

In front of Bai Hu Jin Ta, Xi was stunned for a moment.

He carefully recalled everything Ao Sheng had said and summed it up: "After Xu Xiaoshou drained your clone's Ling Yuan, he just used one finger—nothing else—and crushed you?" Xi's question was full of disbelief.

He didn't get a yes or no in response, only a string of curses involving ancestors for eighteen generations.

"I damn... Bleep, bleep, bleep—"

Once the offensive swearing was muted by Dao Dianzhu, Xi realized what a foolish question he'd asked.

Sorry, it wasn't intentional...

But as the Yi Bu head, his work wasn't done yet.

After the "bleeps" stopped, Xi hesitated before asking again: "Ao Sheng, I'm sorry, but I have to ask one more intrusive question. How much of your true strength was in that dragon clone?"

Ao Sheng had calmed down a bit after venting and knew he couldn't take his frustration out on others, so he hesitated before responding: "Thirty percent."

"Thirty percent? Are you out of your mind, or am I? What are you hiding at a time like this?" Xi couldn't hold back.

The Tian Zu combat channel went quiet for a moment, unusually so, with no angry outburst from Ao Sheng.

After a while, a hoarse and faint voice finally whispered: "Ninety... ninety percent."

The world fell completely silent.

In front of Bai Hu Jin Ta, Xi opened his mouth wordlessly and pulled out a black gold bounty from his robes.

The portrait showed Xu Xiaoshou with a sly smile.

This was an early black gold bounty from the Yun Lun Mountains period, which Xi had kept.

Back then, his combat rating was only Zhan Dao, but now...

One finger...

Ninety percent strength...

Xi took a long breath and had no more questions.

People don't recognize the towering tree until it reaches the clouds.

"Drip."

"This is Dian Tang Dao Qiong Cang. All Tian Zu operation members, attention."

"Number One True Vision, the new Ling Bu head Ao Sheng's clone encountered Sheng Nu Xu Xiaoshou and was destroyed in three breaths."

"All personnel below Tai Xu, do not form arrays. Report any enemy encounters immediately. If possible, evacuate first—do not hold back."

"That is all."

In front of Qing Long Jin Ta, Ao Sheng listened to the message for all members and felt his legs go weak, nearly collapsing.

Xi was one thing—the channel only had a few listeners.

But how...

Even you, Dao Dianzhu, are stabbing me in the back?!

At Hei Shui Jian.

Xu Xiaoshou had taken out Ao Sheng with one move, as effortlessly as crushing an ant, feeling no pride or joy.

He had already fought Tian Ji Shen Shi and Yan Wuse.

If he had to waste any more energy on someone like Ao Sheng, all his recent cultivation would have been for nothing.

After testing his power, he switched his consciousness back.

Whatever came next, as long as no Ban Sheng showed up, his clone should handle it.

"What do you plan to do?"

Mo Mo had already withdrawn from the battle, surprised by that unknown "absorption technique."

But Xu Xiaoshou didn't explain, so she didn't ask.

Her question now was about Xu Xiaoshou suddenly dancing his fingers in midair, as if setting up a Ling Zhen.

"A surprise." The clone didn't look back, sounding a bit excited.

He had let the main body experience the first thrill after the upgrade, which was only fair, but it still left him unsatisfied.

The unexpected bonus was that the main body promised: from now on, unless a Ban Sheng appeared, everything would be under his control.

Now it was time for him, the clone, to show his talents!

All that knowledge he had—finally, a chance to use it!

"Whish, whish, whish..."

Ling threads shot from his fingertips, weaving a complex array in the air.

Since Dao Dianzhu was a Tian Ji master, the clone didn't show off but stuck to the basics, setting up a proper Ling Zhen on the array path.

In just a few breaths, a massive array covered the cliffs and surroundings of Hei Shui Jian.

It had tens of thousands of array eyes in a nested structure, incredibly intricate.

The array left 13,600 spots empty, like it was missing a soul.

"Pop..."

The clone chuckled, clenching his fingers to produce five compressed fire seeds, which he refined into explosive source seeds.

Five-Finger Seal Technique!

It wasn't at the Sheng level, but with his abnormal internal power, even a Tai Xu caught off guard would be severely injured by one.

"What's this?" Mo Mo still didn't understand.

Beside her, the small white weasel saw those familiar explosive source seeds and shuddered instinctively, sensing trouble.

On Xu Kong Island, in Zui Yi Dian, this thing had crippled Jiang Buyi!

But the clone wasn't satisfied with that.

He had Sheng Di-level regeneration, endless vitality, and abundant Yuan Qi.

If not for worrying that a "Sheng Five-Finger Seal Technique" might damage Hei Shui Jian and reveal unknown variables in Ran Ming's ruins, he wouldn't settle for less.

Since he compromised on quality, he'd maximize quantity.

"Pop, pop, pop..."

In just a few breaths, using the Five-Finger Seal Technique as the base, he created over ten thousand explosive source seeds.

They were stable and quiet, as harmless as tempting candies waiting to be eaten.

With a wave of his hand, the clone sent the ten thousand-plus explosive source seeds into the 13,600 empty spots in the array.

Instantly, the array lit up like a galaxy over Hei Shui Jian.

"Hide."

The clone formed seals with his hands.

The starry array vanished into the void principles, invisible to the naked eye or spiritual sense.

Mo Mo watched, her eyelids twitching, vaguely understanding Xu Xiaoshou's plan. This explosive enthusiast was as devious as ever.

"This kid is too underhanded!" Feng Yu Jin couldn't help but exclaim, his voice laced with shock.

The small white weasel trembled and jumped into Xu Xiaoshou's arms.

From now on, in Hei Shui Jian, he wouldn't take a single step without Xu Xiaoshou leading the way.

"Wait a moment, I'll take you down."

The clone smiled at Mo Mo, then pulled a table, a chair, a pot of hot water, and a fine tea set from his spatial ring.

"What a shame."

"If Xiao Wanfeng were here, that would be perfect."

The clone sighed up at the sky, realizing time was short. He summoned a lifelike portrait clone of Xu Xiaoshou from the Xing Jie and placed it on the chair.

"Who will be the first lucky one?"

He gazed into the distance, sensing countless approaching auras, then turned.

"Let's go!"

The clone led Mo Mo and Han Tian Zhi Huo, weaving through turns every three steps and backing up every five, leaping down below the cliff.

"Hold on!"

At Hei Shui Jian, before the broken peak, Bai Yi Cheng Huan waved his hand to stop his companions.

He was a Tai Xu.

At a glance, he saw that a battle had occurred here.

And Dao Dianzhu had just announced on the channel that Sheng Nu Xu Xiaoshou had appeared at Hei Shui Jian.

The new Ling Bu head Ao Sheng had been destroyed in three breaths.

They had to be cautious!

"Lao Cheng, is that someone over there?" Someone pointed to the cliff edge, spotting a figure in the swirling black mist.

Cheng Huan's heart tightened. He scanned with his spiritual sense and saw everything clearly.

On the cliff edge, amid the howling cold wind, a wooden table and a cup of tea sat with a figure lounging arrogantly, legs crossed on the table.

He leaned back in the chair, balanced precariously on its two back legs, casually sipping his hot tea and blowing on it.

The wind carried away the steam and revealed the youth's smug face.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

Cheng Huan recognized him and paled in shock.

This Sheng Nu second-in-command was waiting alone at Hei Shui Jian's cliff edge!

"No, he's not waiting for me. I don't qualify..."

Cheng Huan glanced at his companions and realized neither he nor they did.

They weren't worthy.

Cheng Huan immediately reported in.

"Number Eighteen True Vision, Bai Yi Cheng Huan is in position."

"I'm at the cliff edge and spotted Sheng Nu Xu Xiaoshou. He's... uh, drinking tea."

"Number Eighteen True Vision, requesting support!"

Whoosh!

Whoosh, whoosh...

One by one, figures landed.

The area went from two people to seven, then eighteen, twenty-three, thirty-six...

These included people in white robes, red robes, and special department personnel in other colors.

But without exception, after landing, either stopped by Cheng Huan or realizing the situation themselves, no one dared advance.

They froze at the cliff edge, keeping a safe distance of thirty zhang from the table and figure.

They stared wide-eyed, gasping in shock, then whispered among themselves.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Sheng Nu second-in-command?"

"What's going on? How dare he wait alone for us?"

"Huh? That's Xu Xiaoshou? He's taken down Rao Yao Yao and even Ao Sheng's clone. What wouldn't he dare?"

"You should ask why so many of us are standing here waiting. He hasn't even bothered to speak to us."

"Shh, don't boost his morale and undermine ours. Just wait for reinforcements!"

"Damn, this Xu Xiaoshou is so smug..."

Amid the murmurs, someone couldn't hold back, stepped back half a pace, and shouted: "Xu Xiaoshou!"

The scene fell silent instantly.

The group of Zhan Dao and Tai Xu formed arrays, on high alert, cold sweat dripping into their eyes without them daring to blink, cursing the one who shouted in their hearts.

Could Xu Xiaoshou be stopped by an array of Zhan Dao and Tai Xu?

"Hoo..."

The cold wind howled.

On the cliff, the only sounds were the rustling of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang members' clothes.

The figure at the table didn't move, still blowing on his tea and drinking leisurely.

"Damn it!" someone muttered.

Suddenly, the wind at the cliff edge picked up, and the temperature seemed to drop...

"Retreat!!!"

Cheng Huan's scalp tingled. He reacted quickly with a roar.

As the most exposed in the front, he wanted to pull everyone back.

The group instantly withdrew fifty zhang.

The wind died down, and the temperature returned to normal—it had just been a gust, nothing more.

They realized it was a false alarm.

Xu Xiaoshou was still drinking tea, never having made a move.

"Sheng Nu second-in-command..."

"The pressure is really that intense?"

Cheng Huan's right eyelid twitched wildly, gripping his spear tightly, his back soaked in cold sweat.

Everyone felt ashamed of their reaction, but Cheng Huan saw a youth imposing immense pressure on veterans twice his age.

"Hah..."

Cheng Huan secretly exhaled, easing the tension.

As a new Bai Yi, he couldn't help but think: if this new Sheng Nu second-in-command was like this, what about his master Wu Xiu?

On He Ting Mountain that year, when Gou Wu Yue led the charge to shatter Fen Qin, how terrifying was that?

As fellow Tai Xu, was the gap between him and the retired Gou Wu Yue that vast?

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

More red and white-robed figures arrived.

The newcomers were clueless but retreated hundreds of zhang under the veterans' scolding.

The line stretched long, like queuing for tea at the cliff edge.

Someone raised a doubt:

"That Xu Xiaoshou looks a bit fake?"

"His cultivation realm is undetectable, like it's just a Ling Qi avatar?"

Instantly, that person was overwhelmed by rebuttals:

"Yi Bu said Sheng Nu Xu Xiaoshou's realm is hard for even Ban Sheng to see through."

"He can transform anything, masters disguise and strategy, excels in clever warfare."

"Now he's like this, alone and waiting with a table—isn't he luring us in?"

One hour passed.

In this tense standoff, nearby young trial participants wandered in, stunned by the scene.

Over a hundred Zhan Dao and Tai Xu, forming arrays against one person?

Who was that? He looked young—was he a trial participant too?

Wait, that seemed to be Sheng Nu Xu Xiaoshou!

Before they could ask more, batches of trial participants were escorted away by the Bai Yi.

Two hours passed.

At Hei Shui Jian, Sheng Nu Xu Xiaoshou with his table and tea held back over a hundred Zhan Dao and Tai Xu.

Outside Hei Shui Jian, curious trial participants stopped hunting Yi Gui and just watched from afar.

This made the Bai Yi and red robes panic, as the scene spreading would be disastrous.

Finally, their wait paid off.

Sword energy streaked across the sky as Bai Yi Zhi Dao master, the near-Seven Sword Immortal Bei Bei, descended on Hei Shui Jian!

"What's the situation?"

Bei Bei's voice was crisp, and she looked younger than all the Bai Yi and red robes present.

Anywhere else, she'd be mistaken for just another trial participant.

But this Bai Yi female sword immortal carried an enormous coffin sword case, her aura extraordinary.

"Xu Xiaoshou is right there."

No one spoke, but Cheng Huan swallowed hard and stepped forward with a respectful bow, sneaking a glance at this superior who was about his granddaughter's age.

Bei Bei set her sword case down with a thud, creating a crater in the ground.

"You're Xu Xiaoshou?" Her big eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at the somewhat ethereal youth figure ahead.

Two elders smile at Liu Fu Yu, flowers come from Bei Tian to welcome Xu Xiaoshou.

In the Seven Sword Immortals ranking, the person before her was only one spot below.

Of course, that was without fighting.

The youth at the table, with his carefree air, finally moved.

Hundreds of Bai Yi tensed up as they saw Xu Xiaoshou stand from behind the table and smile slightly at Sword Immortal Bei Bei, setting down his teacup and waving:

"Care for a drink?"

With a flip of his hand, wine cups and tea cups appeared on the table for her to choose.

Bei Bei's delicate face showed a strange expression.

Regardless, Xu Xiaoshou's appearance and fearless demeanor were impressive.

Seeing he wanted to talk rather than fight, Bei Bei set down her sword case and approached the table alone.

"Bei Jianxian, be careful!" Cheng Huan couldn't help but call out.

"No problem."

Bei Bei waved it off and reached the table, finding no abnormalities around.

Instead, Xu Xiaoshou seemed off—this didn't feel like the real person?

"What do you want to say?" Bei Bei feared nothing, but when she tried to sit, she noticed Xu Xiaoshou hadn't politely prepared a chair for her.

Across the table, the youth, now standing, was a head taller than her.

He slowly picked a new cup, poured fresh tea, and handed it over.

Bei Bei reached out to take it.

The youth suddenly blew hard on the cup.

In a splash, the hot tea poured all over the unprepared Bei Bei, staining her sword immortal white robes with dark brown spots.

Bei Bei froze, her eyes widening.

Her hands were still in the air—she had even extended both to receive it, a sign of respect among ancient sword cultivators.

But she caught nothing, only a shattering shock.

In that moment, the over a hundred red and white robes behind her felt their hearts turn cold.

They wanted to pretend they saw nothing, but it was impossible.

After all, there were over a hundred people here.

And outside, some young onlookers were hiding...

The silence on the cliff edge was deafening.

"What I wanted to say is..."

The youth across the table crushed the cup in his hand and chuckled: "Everyone here is trash."

His gaze finally focused, landing on Bei Bei's tea-splattered face.

"Including you."

Bei Bei's eyes trembled, her body shook, and her entire being quaked.

She lowered her head and saw the conspicuous brown stains on her pure white robe embroidered with blue cloud patterns.

"Ah!!!"

She finally screamed, summoning her sword case with a wave.

"Style."

But at that moment, the youth leaped up, transforming into an array eye.

With one command, the starry array lit up in an instant, covering everything from the mountains where the white and red robes stood, to the distant trial participants watching boldly, and even Bei Bei at the cliff edge and the skies above Hei Shui Jian below...

"Save them!"

Bei Bei's pupils dilated as she shouted, realizing something was wrong and trying to dodge.

She hadn't even grabbed her personal sword case yet when the fading shadow of Xu Xiaoshou laughed one last time: "Explode!"

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...