Chapter 1443: Great Flattery Technique Invites Thunder Punishment, Speaking Filth and Getting Criticized One by One

This old Daoist...

For a moment, everyone was speechless.

It wasn't entirely unexpected, but it wasn't completely surprising either.

Only now did Jin Ren realize that Dao Qiong Cang had calculated one of his possible destinations as Qingyuan Shan Changde Zhen.

But that was where Jin Ren had stopped.

Little did he expect that Dao Qiong Cang was a man of action.

Once he thought of something, he would immediately block the enemy's path.

In the current situation, that meant Dao Qiong Cang had set something up here in advance.

"What are you after?" Jin Ren had no other curiosities now; he only wanted to know the flashy old Daoist's purpose.

"You," Dao Qiong Cang replied flatly.

An answer that was beyond emotion but within expectation... Jin Ren, controlling the Tianji Kuilei, calmly responded, "Then what you're after is quite insignificant."

After all, to capture Shi Zun Zuo Xiang Yi just to go after someone like the mere Xu Xiaoshou—wasn't that putting the cart before the horse?

If he were after Ba Zun An, that would make sense!

"No," Dao Qiong Cang shook his head. "You're not insignificant. The world underestimates you, but this hall does not."

What kind of bold and aggressive words were these?

Should I feel flattered?

Jin Ren didn't respond. Instead, after scanning his surroundings, he suddenly struck.

From his palm, weaving spirit threads shot out, pulling Zhu Yi Ke over and sealing him into the wide-open abdominal cavity. Quickly, he spat out the Ba Zi Ling from Lao Zhu's ring.

"Buzz!"

At the same time, weaving spirit threads bloomed under the feet of the Tianji Kuilei and Xiang Yi.

The two figures vanished together, reappearing at the doorstep of the Cao family blacksmith shop.

"Greater Teleportation Technique?"

Dao Qiong Cang's expression turned strange.

He truly couldn't remember when he had taught Xu Xiaoshou these things.

And if his memory wasn't failing him...

This kid had only glimpsed his Tianji Thirty-Six Styles a few times and stolen the knowledge?

"Woo—"

A howl like a malicious ghost echoed from the sky.

In the dimness, nine massive ghost gates opened in the air, from which flew out pieces like heads, torsos, and limbs...

These fragmented, sealed pieces of malignant spirits quickly assembled in midair, forming a ferocious ghost over ten zhang tall, with a green face and fangs.

As the ghost emerged, a surge of holy power erupted from it.

The entire ghost tide in Changde Zhen let out frightened tremors, all kneeling and prostrating.

Red-Word Ghost Contract, semi-saint level spirit, Bai Nie Yan Zhu!

Clearly, after being toyed with, Xi had murderous intent and even brought out his trump card spirit.

He stood atop the Bai Nie Yan Zhu's head, speeding over from afar like a whirlwind.

Arriving in Changde Zhen, he saw the Dao Hall Master reappear, confronting a dilapidated Tianji Kuilei.

Even though the Tianji Kuilei had moved, the Dao Hall Master didn't follow up, choosing instead to observe quietly.

"Dao Hall Master!"

Leaping down from the sky, Xi didn't dismount from the Bai Nie Yan Zhu's head; he only bowed slightly.

He had been burned by Xu Xiaoshou before.

In his gaze, there was shock and suspicion.

At one point, Xi even doubted...

Could this old Daoist also be a ploy by Xu Xiaoshou, meant to toy with him further?

"Stay your hand," Dao Qiong Cang glanced briefly at the semi-saint level spirit burning with pale, translucent flames, then indifferently looked away.

Xi thought for a moment and suppressed the impulse to seize the moment and strike, asking, "Where is Xu Xiaoshou?"

"There," Dao Qiong Cang pointed across the street.

"We..." Xi inquired, whether he should make a move.

"I said, stay your hand," Dao Qiong Cang said with confidence, gazing into the distance. He pulled out his signature Tianji Compass and chuckled, "Cao Yi Han won't help him."

"He didn't pursue us?"

Xiang Yi glanced back, the street packed with dense, pale flames.

But that flashy old Daoist had actually allowed her and Xu Xiaoshou to reach the Cao family blacksmith shop.

What was he thinking?

Was he really that confident?

However...

Recalling how Zhu Yi Ke had tried to enter the blacksmith shop and ended up collapsing on the spot, she didn't hold much hope for this place.

Even if Shen had come, perhaps Kui Lei Han would give him some face, given their good relationship.

But with just her and the junior Xu Xiaoshou, Cao Yi Han probably wouldn't even bother to see them.

Just then, Xiang Yi saw the Tianji Kuilei slap a hand on the blacksmith shop's wooden door.

"The junior Xu Xiaoshou pays respects to Senior Cao!"

Xiang Yi's eyebrows shot up in alarm.

With Zhu Yi Ke's example fresh in mind, was Xu Xiaoshou still not giving up?

Sure enough, from inside the blacksmith shop came a voice of clear rejection:

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"Get out, all of you!"

Anyone else would have been scared off by that and fled without another thought.

Not Jin Ren.

Aside from having no way out, from that voice of Kui Lei Han, he heard something different.

"He knows me!"

Not being attacked like Zhu Yi Ke had been, Jin Ren knew Kui Lei Han was aware of the name "Sacred Slave Xu Xiaoshou" and was giving him due respect.

Of course!

Even if this man secluded himself in such a mundane place, he wouldn't be completely cut off from the world.

If he tried to isolate himself, the Sacred God Hall and the Five Great Sacred Emperor Families wouldn't allow it.

After all, he was a dangerous figure who could explode at any time; they couldn't ignore him.

And someone as talented as Kui Lei Han, once targeted, would surely think of ways to escape.

The more he struggled, the tighter they watched; the tighter the watch, the more he struggled.

This would create a vicious cycle!

So, to break free...

First, submitting would be impossible—that much was obvious even with your toes.

Second, fierce resistance was the only option.

But that didn't seem likely either, given Kui Lei Han's current situation of self-imposed seclusion in the blacksmith shop.

One could imagine how heavy the constraints on him were!

In an instant, Jin Ren's mind analyzed many things:

"Eliminate the one-in-a-million chance that Kui Lei Han truly wants to hide here, as someone like him would never accept mediocrity."

"Then, his knowing me means he's still paying attention to the Linglian Realm, waiting for an opportunity to re-emerge..."

"Dao Qiong Cang not stopping me means he's confident that Kui Lei Han won't help me, dooming me to be just a clown..."

"So, whether this door opens or not isn't just about my life and death—it could affect the Linglian Realm's patterns for a century..."

The Cao family blacksmith shop was right there, the wooden door just ahead.

The Tianji Kuilei's movement hesitated for a brief moment, as if the door were made not of wood, but of Shattered Jun Shield.

But...

There was no way back!

What controlled the Tianji Kuilei now was just a strand of Jin Ren's spirit sense.

Without Kui Lei Han's help, only "surrender and be killed" or "fight and be killed" remained.

Surrender was simple, fighting was simple too.

The cost of either was at most just this strand of spirit sense.

But choosing that would mean "admitting defeat," which wouldn't do!

Since the price of failure was only a strand of spirit sense, why not try?

Back when he saved the Greedy God in Qilin Realm and decided to fight Sacred Emperor Bei Huai, Xu Xiaoshou had already transformed his mindset:

He no longer wanted to cower and hide behind names like "Zhou Tian Can" or "Xiao Shi Tan Ji."

He wanted the name "Xu Xiaoshou" to echo across the five domains of the Sacred God Continent, from the great rivers to the north and south!

"Thud."

The Tianji Kuilei knocked on the Cao family blacksmith shop's door for the second time.

This time, it used the Ba Zi Ling from Ba Zun An.

At the same time, Jin Ren's voice rang out, carried by Ling Que force, not only into the blacksmith shop but also across the street:

"I have heard that Senior Cao is a prodigy of heaven, a genius in spirit refining!"

"In the battle of Shi Zun Zuo, you sat in meditation and enlightenment, and in mere breaths, achieved a world-shaking Divine Insight."

"Later, Senior Cao passed this technique to Ba Zun An, allowing him to comprehend sword insight and create the Sword Observation Technique, earning the title of 'Eighth Sword Immortal'..."

The Cao family blacksmith shop remained silent.

Across the street, Dao Qiong Cang's expression shifted, becoming odd.

He hadn't expected Xu Xiaoshou's way out to be through the all-purpose flattery technique!

And the content of this flattery twisted the facts with special flair, just to elevate the person higher...

It wasn't over yet!

The rainbow of praise across the street grew even more extravagant:

"...What is Ba Zun An? Just a common sword wielder. Divine Insight is a feat on par with Ancestral Source Power, perhaps even surpassing it!"

"Ba Zun An instructed me to bring this token to visit you, saying, 'Senior's talent soars a zhang above the heavens, Senior's virtue stands as high as mountains; the favor of teaching insight in the past, I come today to repay.'"

"But on my way to repay the favor, I was blocked by that flashy old Daoist. This man is of poor character! He obstructs my path! Summons ghosts to bar the way! He's no better than a mangy dog!..."

Xiang Yi was stunned.

Cursing like that—are you trying to master the second realm of verbal swordplay?

Besides, the flashy old Daoist is right behind us!

Xiang Yi couldn't help but glance back.

On the street behind, even Xi's face twitched at the words, barely holding back the urge to act.

Lowering his head, he saw the Dao Hall Master with a serene smile, as if he'd heard the most perfect praise in the world.

How could he endure this?

Xi felt the gap between himself and the Shi Zun Zuo.

If it were him, with that ability, he'd have cut out the brat's tongue by now!

The Cao family blacksmith shop was still quiet.

Perhaps because the Tianji Kuilei had presented the Ba Zi Ling, Kui Lei Han hadn't attacked, but he hadn't responded either.

Xiang Yi couldn't take it anymore and snapped:

"Cao Yi Han, are you mute, or have your ears gone deaf? Can't you hear anything?!"

Jin Ren silently gave her a thumbs-up in his mind.

With a "rumble," thunder echoed from the nine heavens in response.

Finally, Kui Lei Han's voice came from the blacksmith shop, not addressing the flattery at all, but casually asking:

"How do you plan to repay the favor?"

Oh, so you're really holding a grudge for favors?

Back then, didn't Ba Zun An research Divine Insight with you and then self-realize sword insight? You're acting like it's all your doing?

Though he thought this, Jin Ren didn't dare say it aloud. He just said seriously:

"Ba Zun An said that if Senior Cao sees me today and lends me a hand..."

"He'll exchange it for the Subplane Gate of Void Island. From now on, you'll be the lord of Void Island!"

"Additionally, he'll offer a personal favor... but with a condition! You can't make him deal with the Yue clan right now!"

Xiang Yi turned in astonishment, almost dumbfounded.

She looked at the Tianji Kuilei, which seemed to be spouting nonsense, in complete disbelief.

Using the Subplane Gate to bring Kui Lei Han in...

That personal favor, even down to details like Nu Er's sister, didn't sound like something Xu Xiaoshou could make up...

Had Ba Zun An really said that? Xiang Yi was full of doubt.

Across the street, atop the Bai Nie Yan Zhu, Xi's hands trembled at the words; his focus was on: the Subplane Gate was on that Tianji Kuilei?

"Dao Hall Master..."

Xi instinctively turned, seeking instructions on whether to intercept it.

Dao Qiong Cang's face also changed, growing slightly grave, clearly affected by the "Subplane Gate."

In the end, though, he waved it off, deciding against it.

"What is he waiting for?"

Xi was completely baffled by the Dao Hall Master's intentions.

Xu Xiaoshou was at his wit's end, and Kui Lei Han was holding back.

Weren't they going to seize Xiang Yi and the others? If they let Xu Xiaoshou convince Kui Lei Han, there'd be no turning back!

"You may leave," Kui Lei Han sighed from the blacksmith shop:

"For the sake of your respect and the Ba Zi Ling, I won't harm you."

"But I won't interfere in your troubles today at all."

The Subplane Gate doesn't move you?

Being lord of Void Island isn't enough for your ambitions, Kui Lei Han?

What's so great about this rundown blacksmith shop that you've stayed hidden here for years? Have you grown mushrooms and become too shy to show your face?!

Jin Ren truly wanted to smash the wooden door and storm off to his death, but he knew he absolutely couldn't.

"Sigh..." The Tianji Kuilei sighed deeply, turning its gaze to Xiang Yi, and said quietly, "I must have misjudged you."

Xiang Yi hadn't yet recovered from her thoughts and looked puzzled.

Why are you talking to me?

Even without a face on the Tianji Kuilei, she stared at it, glanced at the blacksmith shop, and caught on.

"Oh? Misjudged? What do you mean?" she played along.

"I originally thought Kui Lei Han was a hero..."

"Oh? Originally thought?"

"Yes, originally!" Jin Ren manipulated the Tianji Kuilei to shrug helplessly and sigh:

"Though I look down on Ba Zun An for hiding in the shadows, skulking like a rat, only doing sneaky things—unlike me, who acts openly and directly, even daring to fight Sacred Emperor Bei Huai with Wang Zuo Dao realm cultivation!"

A clanging sound suddenly came from the blacksmith shop, as if something had been knocked over.

Followed by a burst of noise, then silence.

The Tianji Kuilei didn't glance sideways, sneering, "Yet I respect Ba Zun An! Because he once said this to me..."

"What did he say?" Xiang Yi swept her eyes toward the seemingly stirred blacksmith shop, genuinely curious.

Jin Ren flung his hand dramatically, nearly dislodging the Tianji Kuilei's parts, and imitated Ba Zun An's tone firmly: "To me, Dao Qiong Cang is nothing but a pile of dog shit!"

"Outrageous!"

Dao Qiong Cang didn't move, but Xi roared, unable to listen further.

If this was a test from the Dao Hall Master, he had to act now.

If it escalated to a Shi Zun Zuo battle, the best he could do was bow out early—to avoid the death penalty!

Thus, the ten-zhang-tall Bai Nie Yan Zhu burst into karmic flames, ignoring the Dao Hall Master's restraining gaze, and charged forward with a sense of loyalty.

It leaped over the long street, stomping down on the two outside the Cao family blacksmith shop.

Xiang Yi looked up, her pupils shrinking.

She saw the raging Bai Nie karmic flames crashing down, enveloped in holy power.

If that hit, with her Forbidden Martial Order body, she might die on the spot.

Jin Ren remained unmoved, as if certain of something.

"Boom!"

Sure enough, thunder exploded from the nine heavens above.

The Cao family blacksmith shop's window suddenly shattered, and in the dimness, purple lightning tore through the sky in a flash.

"If you're going to fight, take it elsewhere—don't dirty my shop!" Kui Lei Han thundered.

No one saw how he struck.

The semi-saint level Bai Nie Yan Zhu shuddered violently; its karmic flames were blasted away, and its spirit body was hurled high into the air.

"Hmm?"

A surprised sound came from the blacksmith shop, as if wondering why a single strike hadn't killed the weak spirit.

"Boom!"

In the high sky, another explosion rang out from within the Bai Nie Yan Zhu.

The overflowing purple lightning crackled, having somehow entered its body earlier.

It caused secondary damage, not only blasting the Bai Nie Yan Zhu out of Changde Zhen's range but also shocking Xi on its head, making him spit white foam, convulse, and faint.

"So, this is the Divine Punishment Tribulation?"

Jin Ren was horrified; it was the second time he'd seen Kui Lei Han act.

Yet, he still couldn't fathom the essence of the Divine Punishment Tribulation or even glimpse what true Divine Insight looked like.

And just with that bolt of purple lightning...

It had shattered the Bai Nie karmic flames in one strike!

Blasted a semi-saint level spirit away in one blow!

If Kui Lei Han were willing to face Dao Qiong Cang, the flashy old Daoist would probably turn and run.

What he should consider is...

What kind of force could keep a figure like this confined to a small blacksmith shop?