Chapter 1416: Scheming with the Tiger for the Blood World Pearl, A Startling Glance Frightens the Heavens and People

"Zhi..."

In Bailie Beast Mountain, amidst vast piles of ancient bones that seemed to have been dead for over a thousand years, their spiritual energy completely dissipated, there were also the scattered remains of several search teams' skeletons.

These skeletons were clad in white robes or red robes.

Shattered Tianzu communicators lay to one side, stubbornly trying to connect to Tianji, emitting faint signals.

"Zhi..."

"Zhi..."

Yet, no actual content came through.

"Bailie... Mountain..."

"Cheng... received..."

"Please respond..."

From the only relatively intact communicator, intermittent calls echoed.

But before the voice could fully emerge, a foot stomped down on it.

"Chi!"

A gray mist billowed out.

The communication pearl instantly corroded, its Tianji Dao patterns surfacing as if to record the image of the one who destroyed it.

It halted abruptly.

The faint trace of Shengli within vanished without a trace, as if drained.

Stepping over the skeletons, the figure moved forward.

Beneath the orange mask, Tianren Wushuai's expression showed no fluctuation as he pulled out his trembling communication pearl.

Upon activating it, Yanwang Huangquan's voice came through:

"Two matters.

"First, Lei Xier has passed the assessment. From now on, take her with you on missions. Keep her mask black as is, and be cautious of that Daoist figure.

"Second, the newly sealed spatial Ouyi Ban Sheng is likely Ye Xiaotian. Find him and bring him here."

Like avoiding a plague god.

Once the business was done, the communication ended with a single beep, without waiting for a response.

"Understood..."

Tianren Wushuai replied after a pause, lifting his gaze to the sky.

On the horizon, remnants of Shengli lingered, faintly carrying the scent of divine soul power from Shengdi Beihuai.

More prominently was the deep blue wind-element Shengdi power from Wangze Shengdi.

Lowering his eyes.

The entire mountain was deathly silent, eerily still.

Lost in thought, Tianren Wushuai soon summoned his "Ban Sheng Bitan."

"Weng..."

A subtle crimson light swept across the whole of Bailie Beast Mountain, fading into the unknown edges of Zhongyuan Realm.

The mountain was windless, the branches leafless, not even rustling.

Tianren Wushuai was startled.

He recalled this scene—fragments he had seen atop Jiaofeng and Lingfeng before entering the Sixiang Secret Realm.

He had thought it was in Qilin Realm.

Little did he know, this desolate graveyard was in Zhongyuan Realm.

"Was it my fault?"

Tianren Wushuai's eyes showed a hint of confusion, mostly numbness.

He knew it wasn't his doing—it stemmed from the great war between giants and Shengdi.

The most devastating impact on the continent came from Shengdi Beihuai's frenzied remnant soul in the final moments, affecting far more than just Bailie Beast Mountain.

His only connection to that war...

In it, Tianren Wushuai had accompanied Lei Xier, silently watching the entire event unfold.

But he never intervened.

That was all.

Even if his "watching" linked him to the war, it was influenced by the "Xueshi Zhu."

Tianren Wushuai was helpless.

By the time he realized he needed to use Xueshi Zhu to communicate, it had already devoured all the residual Lingli from the corpses in Bailie Beast Mountain.

The energy it fed back had even stabilized his unsteady Ban Sheng realm.

I never intended to kill, yet I'm cursed as a lone star of calamity.

Gazing at the Xueshi Zhu rotating above, emitting a demonic red light, Tianren Wushuai fell silent.

To this day, he still hadn't obtained a true Ban Sheng Bitan to replace it.

He had long schemed on Xukong Island and acquired Jiang Buyi's Ban Sheng Bitan, with ascension imminent.

But then, the water ghost appeared, and Tianren Wushuai lost everything.

"Yan Wuse is on the water ghost, Rao Yaoyao is with Xu Xiaoshou."

"Jiang Buyi's Ban Sheng Bitan fell to the Shengnu, and it's likely been used by Cen Qiaofu..."

Rumors say Xukong Island has the foundation for ascension, and now it seems true.

At least there, Tianren Wushuai encountered several ascension opportunities and ultimately ascended.

Yet, back on Shengshen Continent, he couldn't find any trace of a replacement Ban Sheng Bitan or other items.

"Xueshi Zhu..."

The pearl above his head looked even more demonic than before. Tianren Wushuai stared at it for a long time before slowly saying:

"You've eaten your fill, so it's time to help me once.

"If you only take and never give, even I won't want to use you—better to shatter than remain as is. Do you understand?"

Xueshi Zhu vibrated with a "weng", projecting a scene.

Tianren Wushuai saw a majestic mountain peak, where a profound giant gate stood, and before it, a white-haired Daoist child.

Ye Xiaotian?

Tianren Wushuai recognized him and shook his head. "That's the spatial Ouyi Ban Sheng. It was manageable before, but now, even I can't guarantee I can force him down.

"Huangquan wants him too, so I can only approach indirectly, not act aggressively.

"So, he's not my opportunity."

Xueshi Zhu retracted its light and continued rotating, offering no more scenes.

Tianren Wushuai fell silent.

This thing had devoured countless spirits and powers from the entire Bailie Mountain range, giving back only a little, from which he had gained greatly.

At least for the next few months, he wouldn't need to worry about replacing the Ban Sheng Bitan.

It was clear how much it had consumed!

But...

Could he keep relying on Xueshi Zhu?

The root of disaster, the guide of death—Xueshi Zhu was a weapon that showed its holder visions of their death.

It only presented partial scenes, luring the heart.

If one truly followed its lead to that place, they'd likely encounter unimaginable terror and meet their end.

Tianren Wushuai had considered relying on himself.

Now, he possessed the Tunshi Body, the Bumi Body, and the Shuibai Body.

To stabilize his realm, he could have devoured Bailie Beast Mountain's power himself.

But he didn't want to use the Tunshi power excessively, as it would expose him and bring him into certain people's sights.

Xueshi Zhu had no such concerns.

It devoured freely and guided recklessly. If someone traced it back, killed Tianren Wushuai, and took it...

That was one of Xueshi Zhu's goals!

It would gain a stronger holder to guide death better!

On Shengshen Continent, a Ban Sheng acting openly would inevitably clash with Shengdi.

Even with his three supreme bodies, Tianren Wushuai didn't want to face Shengdi so soon.

So, in the end...

Choices seemed nonexistent?

He still needed Xueshi Zhu's power, making a pact with the devil, scheming with the tiger.

But under caution and wariness, how to cooperate was another matter for negotiation.

"Xueshi Zhu's current holder is Qishu Dadi, master of guidance power.

"Now that you have it, you've invisibly become Qishu Dadi's pawn.

"No Shengdi would submit to another, even if that one is Bazun An, so Qishu Dadi has his own plans."

This was the warning Tianren Wushuai received from Yanwang Huangquan after leaving Xukong Island—the all-knowing Huangquan's advice.

After learning this, and having barely fed this bottomless pearl, and with Xueshi Zhu still trying to toy with him as before...

Tianren Wushuai chose to speak openly.

He stared at the blood-red pearl, flickering with a joyful hue, and said directly:

"Qishu Dadi, let's meet face to face!"

It vibrated with a "weng", but its rotation didn't stop, the crimson light unchanging, as if unheard.

Tianren Wushuai continued: "I have the three supreme bodies: Tiansha Guxing, Black Night Walker.

"You're trapped in Xukong Island's inner island, bound by Bazun An, unable to reach Shengshen Continent.

"We can only win together through cooperation!"

Tianren Wushuai fixed his gaze on the pearl: "So, think it over.

"You won't find anyone more suitable to be your right hand.

"I can accomplish for you what you can never finish on Xukong Island—things you need done on Shengshen Continent."

Xueshi Zhu vibrated with a "weng" and kept rotating, as if listening or ignoring.

Without a response, Tianren Wushuai wasn't discouraged and pressed on: "I need a Ban Sheng Bitan. This is life-or-death; no room for debate.

"As for Xueshi Zhu, I can promise to keep holding it, since I need its power.

"And I might be the only one who won't be led by it to 'death'.

"In this, even you can't compare to me."

Tianren Wushuai said calmly. As one of the five supreme bodies, the Bumi Body countered Xueshi Zhu perfectly.

Shengdi?

Even if a Shengdi held Xueshi Zhu, what of it?

Its essence was to guide the holder to death, regardless of whether they were Xiantian, Zongshi, Ban Sheng, or Shengdi.

Qishu Dadi had held Xueshi Zhu for so long without dying, probably because he was a master of guidance power, achieving mutual balance and greater gains.

But purely in terms of indestructibility, Tianren Wushuai didn't yield to anyone.

"Weng..."

Xueshi Zhu continued rotating.

Tianren Wushuai took it as tacit agreement and stated his conditions: "Give me the opportunity for a Ban Sheng Bitan.

"No tricks—I want to see the full scene!"

Xueshi Zhu projected another image.

This time, it still showed a white-haired Daoist child.

But now, a sacred, pure white dragon was added.

Facing the dragon was a cyan storm atop the mountain peak, the two locked in battle.

Tianren Wushuai fell silent.

Two Shengdi!

Not just Wangze Shengdi, but also the white dragon from Shenggong Shengxuan Gate!

If he had followed the guidance to take Ye Xiaotian, he'd have walked right into the scythe of death!

The Bumi Body didn't mean immunity to possession, capture, sealing, deprivation, or experimentation...

"Something else."

Tianren Wushuai didn't want to pursue that task anymore. Huangquan hadn't specified a deadline, so now he only wanted other Ban Sheng Bitan opportunities.

Xueshi Zhu shifted the scene.

This time, it showed a strange space with a cat refining pills, and two people inside the Dan Ding.

Pills flew out, each brimming with massive life spiritual energy.

Tianren Wushuai paused.

He recognized the naked, weakened figure in the Dan Ding.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Xueshi Zhu shifted the focus to a treasure mountain in that space, cluttered with various items.

Spears, shields, small towers... a pile of spiritual energy, with the highest being Yiwenbei Shenqi!

Ancient texts, jade slips, pills... martial arts, spiritual skills, medicinal herbs, ores, countless, all plundered from Xu Xiaoshou's various enemies.

Among this mess, a crystal-gem-like Ban Sheng Bitan lay humbly between two four-pin spiritual energy.

It should have been a treasure coveted by all, capable of sparking a bloodbath on Shengshen Continent with too many Taixu and Ban Sheng fighting over it.

In this space, it seemed less prestigious than the three-pin pills flying out of the Dan Ding.

"All of it!"

Tianren Wushuai knew he was seeing Xu Xiaoshou's secret world.

This was Xueshi Zhu's power—its projected scenes could bypass all world barriers.

But Tianren Wushuai knew this wasn't the full picture; Xueshi Zhu must be hiding something.

Sure enough, as the scene enlarged.

Above one of the nine ancestral trees, Longxing, a dazzling golden spirit coiled and glared angrily, peering through the boundaries to find the intruder.

"Beng."

Tianren Wushuai stepped back in shock.

Even the ancestral tree Longxing couldn't harm him through Xueshi Zhu's projection.

Xueshi Zhu even kindly released a wisp of light to feed back to Tianren Wushuai, perhaps to soothe his fright—it seemed friendly, likely hoping for another feast like Bailie Beast Mountain.

"I won't touch his things."

Tianren Wushuai said gravely, knowing that was probably Rao Yaoyao's Ban Sheng Bitan, and he didn't want to invite karma.

"Something else..."

Then, Tianren Wushuai thought of the unconscious Xu Xiaoshou in the scene.

"Is there a way to contact him?"

Xueshi Zhu vibrated and, as if swallowing and spitting out people, ejected a branch.

This branch wasn't a projection—it was real.

It wasn't a Xueshu Yin branch; instead, it matched the color of the ancestral tree Longxing—golden yellow.

"Longxing tree branch?"

Tianren Wushuai took the lifeless golden branch and pondered briefly, gaining some insight.

Directly contacting Xu Xiaoshou was probably impossible.

But contacting Longxing could work. Longxing was an ancestral tree, and Qishu Dadi's true form was the Xueshu, also an ancestral tree.

Ancestral trees should be able to communicate.

In other words...

This Longxing branch would be useless in anyone else's hands.

But in his, through Xueshi Zhu, he could communicate with Qishu Dadi, then reach Longxing's spirit, and through that, call to Xu Xiaoshou?

"Other opportunities for Ban Sheng Bitan."

Tianren Wushuai put away the Longxing branch and returned to the main topic.

Xueshi Zhu seemed displeased, having given two chances, especially the second one within easy reach if he just asked.

But having eaten from him, it short-handedly projected another scene.

This time, it showed a prosperous city...

"Yujing Cheng?"

Tianren Wushuai's eyes turned cold, instinctively thinking Xueshi Zhu was toying with him again.

Not to mention now with Xueshi Zhu, even before with just the Shuibai Body, he disliked such bustling places.

One misstep, and the whole Yujing Cheng could end up like Shujin Gate, rivers of blood—that would burden him with heavy sins!

Tiansha Guxing was no joke.

Even Lei Xier...

If not for knowing Lei Xier had divine ability to resist the influence, Tianren Wushuai wouldn't have invited her to leave Xu Xiaoshou and join him.

After all, even Huangquan feared him.

Tianren Wushuai was used to being alone.

But soon, as the scene manifested, Tianren Wushuai realized he had misunderstood.

In Xueshi Zhu's projection, it specifically showed an average-looking woman, neither tall nor short, with an ordinary build.

At the same time, a smaller scene appeared below.

The woman slapped the ground in the Sixiang Secret Realm, summoning a bald figure.

Tianren Wushuai didn't recognize the woman.

But that bald figure was the one he had witnessed in the recent battle—fierce Shen Yi!

And the one who could summon the Ten Zun Seats' Shen Yi...

"Xiang Yaoyao?"

Tianren Wushuai grew more expectant of this Xueshi Zhu projection.

Xiang Yaoyao of the Ten Zun Seats had a Ban Sheng Bitan, which made sense, and her strength was weak...

Even if she could summon Shen Yi, if it was just an exchange without fighting, it could be an opportunity.

Subconsciously, Tianren Wushuai wanted to follow his instincts and go to Yujing Cheng to find her.

But he quickly snapped back and added: "The full scene."

The image enlarged.

It turned out Xiang Yaoyao was immobilized!

In front of her, over a hundred white-robed figures stood in formation, solemn and ready.

On the ground lay a dozen burly black-clad bodies, their acupoints glowing but barely alive.

And dozens more in white plain clothes with shattered masks—these were clearly dead warriors trained by some great family or force...

Yes, all dead!

Tianren Wushuai frowned, his gaze falling on the figure at the front of the white-robed formation.

This should be a person, right?

The figure's face was blurred, even their body completely obscured. Even the hem of their robes fluttering in the wind was covered in gray-white patches.

"Who is this?"

Tianren Wushuai couldn't help but ask.

He was a Ban Sheng with three supreme bodies, wielding Xueshi Zhu, and had just formed a cooperation with Qishu Dadi, witnessing Longxing's spirit without being detected.

Across the world, few could make him wary now—unless it was a Shengdi with strong senses.

But why would a Shengdi personally intervene to capture the Ten Zun Seats' only weakling?

This person was at most a Ban Sheng!

And its projection was so obscured—what was Xueshi Zhu up to? Was the Ban Sheng Bitan actually on this person?

"Enlarge it."

Tianren Wushuai commanded.

The obediently rotating Xueshi Zhu didn't act immediately, as if refusing.

"I said, no tricks—show it clearly!"

"If I don't know who this is, I won't risk going. You know I value my life."

Xueshi Zhu stopped rotating.

The gray-white patches on the projection slowly faded.

For no reason, Tianren Wushuai's heart tightened.

But this was just viewing through Xueshi Zhu's projection—even Longxing couldn't find him earlier...

Realizing Xueshi Zhu might be up to something again, Tianren Wushuai suppressed the urge to look away or flee, and stared intently.

In the scene, the star-patterned white robe, jade belt, Tianji Sinan, and finally that middle-aged face with perfect contours gradually appeared.

Tianren Wushuai paused, feeling he'd glimpsed something important but overlooked it.

Quickly, his pupils contracted, focusing on the object in the middle-aged man's hand.

"Tianji Sinan?!"

Tianren Wushuai exclaimed.

At the same time, in the scene, the middle-aged man seemed to sense something and turned his head.

He smirked slightly, his eyes showing surprise, and his voice clearly emerged from the otherwise silent projection:

"Oh, a new friend?"

Tan Shen: "Meow meow meow..."

"Want some pills? Made by my master."