Chapter 1396: Telepathic Connection with a Smile, The Inhuman Uke Gathers Herbs

"What the hell is going on!"

"Sheng Di Bei Huai got punched flying by Shen Yi?"

"Shen Yi is a body cultivator, right? How can he harm a soul body? And this Hungry Ghost... is he actually a soul cultivator?"

"Are you nuts? Forgot about 'Gui Men Guan, Shen Cheng Shen'? How could he have become a god in that battle without the ability to hurt soul bodies? That's the E Gui Dao!"

"What's the E Gui Dao?"

"I don't know, but he just said the words 'E Gui Dao' earlier, so it must be related..."

"Damn!"

Shen Yi's punch was nothing short of shocking.

In the minds of most spectators, Sheng Di was a term that had almost been forgotten.

But when Bei Huai materialized his true form, bringing his soul body into visible reality, everyone felt only awe toward him.

They recalled why the realm of Sheng Di was what it was.

It was practically synonymous with "invincible."

Yet now, this uninvited intruder suddenly charged into the battlefield in human form, passed through Gui Men Guan, transformed into a Hungry Ghost, and with one punch, sent that invincible Sheng Di flying!

"Shen Yi is just too fierce..."

"But guys, haven't you noticed the big issue? He's standing on the side of the Sheng Nu!"

Once the first person snapped out of the battle's climax and looked toward the one who orchestrated it all, the others quickly came to their senses too.

Gazing up, the sky held only a golden, domineering throne.

On the throne, Sheng Nu Shou Ye sat there boldly, legs crossed, one hand petting a cat and the other playing with two massive Long Xing Zi fruits.

He leaned back lightly, chin slightly raised, one corner of his mouth quirked up in a smirk, his eyes full of cold mockery and amusement.

He was so full of himself!

He even manipulated the golden throne in the void to slowly rotate.

As Bei Huai was sent flying by the punch, Shou Ye tried to steal the spotlight that belonged to Shen Yi, as if he were the true star of this battle.

He made sure every spectator could see even a single nose hair in his nostrils.

And when Bei Huai was indeed blasted away by Shen Yi's Hungry Ghost punch, Shou Ye suddenly stood up from the golden throne.

A flash of excitement crossed his face before he casually sat back down, recrossing his legs, with the Long Xing Zi in his hand now mimicking something else.

The world suddenly dimmed.

In the darkened sky, a light appeared, drawing everyone's eyes.

What perfect timing!

This light fell precisely on Shou Ye in the golden throne, carrying his slightly disdainful, indifferent voice across the entire scene:

"Sheng Di Bei Huai, I'm waiting for someone. What are you waiting for?"

"Waiting to die?"

In an instant, everyone's scalp tingled.

Who could remain unfazed when a Sheng Di's strike was imminent, and then so heartlessly kick them while they were down after they were punched away?

Across the whole world, Xu Xiao Shou might be the only oddball like that!

"Sheng Nu, Shou Ye..."

"Turns out they didn't get the nickname wrong— he really is a 'ye' through and through!"

"But how does he dare? He's just on that throne! After today, he probably won't even sleep peacefully, always fearing a sudden death!"

"Don't forget, he's around our age, or maybe even... uh, younger. By normal standards, he should be going through the Sheng Gong trials with us right now..."

This murmured comment from somewhere plunged everyone into silence.

Yeah!

They almost forgot!

This guy was really just from the younger generation...

"Under scrutiny, passive value: 635."

"Under fear, passive value: 526."

"Under admiration, passive value: 568."

"Under concern, passive value: 1."

Yu Zhi Wen stared blankly at the young man on the high throne, who had stolen all the glory from the battle with a single beam of light...

She suddenly laughed.

The laughter irritated her wounds, and Yu Zhi Wen coughed heavily, pain etched between her brows.

Yet she kept laughing.

And she was laughing joyfully.

Yu Zhi Wen covered her lips with the back of her hand, laughing and coughing, blood spilling from the corners of her mouth...

But she was still laughing!

On that solemn Sheng Mountain, Yu Zhi Wen had seen far too many so-called holy sons putting on airs, acting superior and valiantly refined.

They would even smooth out every wrinkle in their clothes, always showing their most composed and confident side to others.

They upheld holy words, carried holy mandates, floating high above, never displaying any vulgar, smug, or petty expressions.

Even the higher-ups on Sheng Mountain were masters at maintaining their demeanor.

Some were silent and sparing with words, issuing commands in half a sentence and leaving the rest for others to guess—if you guessed wrong or messed up, you'd be punished.

Others were dignified and self-righteous, claiming to embody justice, though what they were really like in secret, Yu Zhi Wen hadn't figured out and didn't want to.

But their outward justice was just rules made for their own benefit, the justice of a few, or even not the majority!

They were all proper and polished, never acting like clowns in public, seeking attention, or doing something as "offensive" as what Xu Xiao Shou was doing right now.

Yet Yu Zhi Wen watched Xu Xiao Shou's every "offensive" move and felt utterly delighted!

Growing up on Sheng Mountain, she had seen far too much that was "holy."

It wasn't until she escaped Sheng Mountain and entered the mundane world that she saw many real "people."

It was an indescribable feeling...

Yu Zhi Wen knew Xu Xiao Shou was putting on an act, showing off, flaunting his charm, and seeking attention!

She used to hate people like that.

But now, as she watched, what she saw was authenticity—the long-lost kind of "I'm going to build my happiness on your suffering, and I want you to know I'm doing it out of pure malice" authenticity.

This vibe couldn't be replicated by anyone else, even if they copied Xu Xiao Shou's every action right now.

It was uniquely his!

In the sky, Xu Xiao Shou on the golden throne suddenly turned to this side.

He stopped showing off with his nose in the air and seriously lowered his gaze, looking carefully at something below.

"Thump thump..."

Yu Zhi Wen's heart skipped a beat.

He's looking at me!

She was absolutely certain that this guy was staring right at her in front of everyone!

The faint smile at the corner of his lips suddenly vanished.

Yu Zhi Wen's expression turned flustered. She blinked rapidly, pretending nothing was amiss as she shifted her gaze elsewhere and reached out to pick up a strangely shaped stone that had been blasted into a perfect six-sided form, as if carved by hand.

But then the world disappeared!

Vanished without a trace!

That overwhelming sense of loss, like losing a treasure, forced Yu Zhi Wen to calm herself and turn her eyes back upward.

She looked over casually.

The guy on the throne seemed to blink quickly, or maybe not, then calmly shifted his gaze away.

The world returned.

But the sense of loss grew even stronger.

He wasn't looking at me... The smile on Yu Zhi Wen's face faded and never returned.

The smile hadn't actually vanished; it had just shifted.

When Xu Xiao Shou saw Xiao Yu laughing, he knew that the deep grudge Bei Huai had given her was now avenged on her behalf.

"She must feel pretty great, right?"

"I'm feeling pretty great too, but saying that out loud would be so cringy..."

Tsking, Xu Xiao Shou glanced at his greatly replenished passive value pool, uncrossed his legs, and turned his attention back to the battlefield.

After that strike, Shen Yi didn't press the attack. His state plummeted from its peak.

He retreated into Gui Men Guan.

When he emerged again, he was back to his bald, bare-chested form, landing beside Xu Xiao Shou on the throne.

Xu Xiao Shou was already quite tall, with a well-proportioned and slender build, especially on such a flashy golden throne.

But next to the burly, ox-like bald man, the throne lost its luster, looking like a shabby little stool.

Shen Yi didn't even turn his head as he said indifferently:

"Little ghost, what was that about closing the gate and letting something out?"

"Under shock, passive value: 1."

Xu Xiao Shou hadn't sensed any chill in Shen Yi's eyes, but now he felt as if his spirit had been bitten by an ant, a coolness creeping up his spine.

"Spare me, spare me..."

He quickly stood up, shoved the throne under Shen Yi's butt, and said, "Big bro, you sit, please sit..."

Shen Yi turned sideways, glared at this disrespectful kid, and with a thud, stomped his foot onto the golden throne—it was pure force.

"I'm not in my true body, so E Gui Dao can't stay open constantly."

"Bei Huai is a Sheng Di now, not like during the Ten Zun Seats era. Otherwise, that punch would have shattered his entire soul body."

Tsking, Shen Yi raised his fist, his words carrying a hint of regret:

"But damn, that felt good. During the Ten Zun Seats war, I only missed punching him—I've decked everyone else."

Xu Xiao Shou eyed the golden throne under Shen Yi's foot, which was shaking as if about to break, and shrank his neck.

Alright.

Now that's a real boss!

He was also stirred by Shen Yi's words, looking up toward the horizon.

On the horizon, Bei Huai's massive soul body was completely misaligned, his head turned toward his back.

His soul body was fully cracked, with dark green blood seeping from the dense wounds, only to be slowly reabsorbed.

He was embedded face-first in the barrier wall of the Soul Detention Realm that he himself had opened in the Si Xiang Secret Realm, yet his eyes were fixed dead ahead.

Or more precisely...

They were fixed on Xu Xiao Shou the whole time!

"Under lock-on, passive value: 1."

Xu Xiao Shou took a deep breath, hiding his shocked expression.

Just one punch, and Bei Huai wasn't dead yet!

If it were anyone else, even the reincarnation passage would have been shattered by Shen Yi!

Was this the strength of a Sheng Di's intent avatar? And it was just an avatar!

Glancing at Shen Yi, Xu Xiao Shou felt relieved.

Bei Huai was only a Sheng Di intent avatar, but Shen Yi was merely a projection too.

The Ten Zun Seats truly had no weaklings!

"Is there any way you can maintain E Gui Dao in this state?" Xu Xiao Shou asked hurriedly.

"There is."

"What's the way?"

"But it's expensive."

Expensive?

Xu Xiao Shou was briefly stunned. What kind of method was this?

"In the Six Paths, 'E Gui Dao' can reverse spirit and flesh, turning all my output and damage into a soul path state."

"But to open it, I need to consume a lot of soul-enhancing spiritual medicines—ideally Sheng Yao. Otherwise, it will devour my own soul to boost power."

"That punch earlier consumed about as much as a hundred years of a Tai Xu world's family foundation."

"But Xiang Er isn't here, and I didn't take any Sheng Yao, so I could only throw one punch. Any more, and I'd damage my core..."

"Hmm, she wouldn't allow me to do that anyway."

Shen Yi paused, then looked over with a meaningful add-on: "So in the ancient martial path, talent seems primary, but actually, it's secondary—Xiang Er is the most important."

This isn't about Xiang Er being important—it's about Ling Jing being important!

Xu Xiao Shou's eye twitched, already feeling the pain before any blood was shed...

As expected, beasts weren't easy to command—they came at a steep price!

But watching Bei Huai on the horizon gradually regaining his mobility, he sighed:

"Sorry, Shen Yi, but I might have to offend you a bit."

"What?"

"From now on, until the battle ends, you can treat me as your Xiang Er."

Shen Yi's brows shot up, nearly decking this kid on the spot.

Soon, he realized he had misunderstood.

With a flip of his hand, Xu Xiao Shou produced a Sheng Yao in his palm.

From its aura, it was clearly a soul-enhancing one—the very thing needed for E Gui Dao!

"You..."

Shen Yi was stunned for a moment.

He had just been talking; he hadn't tasted many Sheng Yao before.

Even Xiang Er wasn't this generous, pulling out Sheng Yao on a whim just to keep him eating and powering up the Six Paths.

In the past, when Shen Yi used E Gui Dao, it was by swallowing a bunch of third- or fourth-grade Wang Zuo spiritual medicines that enhanced the soul path.

After all, those who cultivated the soul path were rare.

But Xu Xiao Shou...

The expression on his face right now was clearly...

Xiang Yao Yao in her ultimate form!

Xu Xiao Shou dangled the Sheng Yao in his hand, feeling his confidence return.

He shoved Shen Yi's foot off the golden throne, plopped his butt down, and lifted his chin: "With this, how many punches can you throw?"

Shen Yi's eyes ignited with flames; he no longer cared about the gate or the throne: "If it's Sheng Yao, punches like the one before... one per stalk."

"What about now?" Xu Xiao Shou's eyes lit up as he crossed his legs, flipping his hand to reveal three soul Sheng Yao.

"Three punches!"

"And now?"

"Ten punches!!"

"Hit him with ten solid ones—buy ten get one free. Chew on the extra for fun, and if you enjoy it, I've got more!" Xu Xiao Shou said his most extravagant words while feeling immense heartache, standing up and offering eleven soul Sheng Yao with both hands.

He didn't dare throw them over.

If he overdid it, Shen Yi's fist on his own head would be a real headache—two big ones!

Shen Yi's pot-sized hands couldn't even hold all eleven variously shaped soul Sheng Yao, which included even a tree!

He didn't even know the fancy names of these eleven strange yet surely delicious items, but Xu Xiao Shou had conjured them like magic.

Shen Yi's breathing grew heavy and ragged.

He thought of the penny-pinching Xiang Yao Yao, then looked at the incredibly generous Shou Er...

"Xu Xiao Shou."

"Hmm?"

"This is a bit wasteful. If you had a lot of Wang Zuo spiritual medicines..."

"No need."

"Why not?"

"My Xing Jie doesn't keep trash!"

Shen Yi fell silent. Looking at this glowing kid, he spoke again:

"Xu Xiao Shou."

"Hmm?"

"You're a real man!"

Xu Xiao Shou was stunned on the throne.

He suddenly stood up, stomped heavily on the golden throne with a thud, and thumped his chest in a gorilla-like voice:

"Real men speak with Sheng Yao!"

Shen Yi swallowed one of Xu Xiao Shou's hearts... wait, no, one soul Sheng Yao in one gulp!

His ecstatic expression, enamored gaze, and eager eyes for power even made Xu Xiao Shou's throat bob.

Was it really that delicious?

Maybe I should try a bite?

"Shen Yi."

"Hmm?"

"If, and I mean if, you swallowed the Zu Shu..."

"Shut up!!!"

Before Xu Xiao Shou could finish, the Long Xing Zhi Ling in Xing Jie was already roaring like mad, full of shock, fear, and panic: "Say one more word, and I'll blow up Xing Jie right now!"

Goodness...

That was just a metaphor, Xing Bao. A figure of speech, you know?

I hadn't even said anything yet—don't take it personally, okay?

"Just a branch, that's all. I wasn't thinking of letting him swallow you whole, and besides, he doesn't seem to like munching on branches..."

"Xu Xiao Shou! Is that a no?"

The Long Xing Zhi Ling was going insane. How did it end up with such an owner? "Would you chop off an eight-clawed octopus's tentacle, wait for it to regrow, and chop it again?"

Xu Xiao Shou covered his mouth in surprise. "I don't have such cruel ideas, Xing Bao."

"You do!!!"

"I'm just heartbroken for the spiritual medicines in Shen Nong Drug Garden—they grow so slowly, after all."

"Have you ever been heartbroken for me???" (End of chapter)