Chapter 145: A Big Shocking Revelation

"Xu...Xiao...Shou!" Luo Lere's beautiful face was etched with fury. She clutched her chest and swallowed a pill, her complexion improving only slightly.

She had initially thought that since she was the one who went back on her word, they could have a proper discussion, even if it meant paying a price. She had other treasures on her, and was prepared to exchange one for another, or even several for one. But then, before she could even make a move, this guy struck first?! He hit so hard, and still claimed he "didn't hit women"?

"Pah, men's words are worthless lies!" she scoffed. However, she was quite alarmed. She was very familiar with the strength of most of the newly appointed thirty-three disciples, finding them utterly vulnerable. Her journey to the Heavenly Profound Gate was supposed to be without any real challenges. But this Xu Xiaoshou... Not only was his physical strength so formidable, but how could his sword techniques also be quite advanced? Compared to Brother Shuangxing... Pah, that's not a fair comparison.

"Xu Xiaoshou, are you looking for death?!" She rekindled her anger, glaring at him furiously.

"'Suspected, Passive Points, +1.''Cursed, Passive Points, +1.''Targeted, Passive Points, +1.'"

"Targeted?" Xu Xiaoshou quickly broke out of his profound state of soaring swordsmanship, effortlessly defeating enemies with two fingers. "How did I get targeted?" He wasn't afraid of curses; he was only afraid of being targeted, especially by a woman. Every time this word appeared, nothing good came of it. The last time it showed up, it was because of that masked man! Xu Xiaoshou shivered involuntarily.

"Hold on, I have no intention of 'looking for death'," he said, gesturing for her to calm down. Then he continued, "You snatched my sword sheath, and I gave you a strike. We're even, so let's go our separate ways. You go your own way, and I'll go mine."

Luo Lere nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. *What did he mean, "You snatched my sword sheath, I gave you a strike"? You gave a strike, but where's my sword sheath? It's easy for you to talk big when you're not the one suffering!*

*Hold it in!* This kid's strength is a bit off; he's probably like me. Those sent as undercover agents are never easy targets. He must be trying to provoke me. *Endure!*

Seeing her silent and just gasping, Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stunned. "So weak? Even after taking a pill, she hasn't recovered?" he wondered. "Are you dying?" he asked. "I have a medicinal liquid here, just developed. Want to try it?" He paused, smacked his lips, and added, "It should be quite tasty."

"I..." Luo Lere's beautiful eyes widened; she couldn't believe her ears. *"Are you dying?"... Is that something a person says? And don't you see who hit me?!* She finally couldn't hold it in and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"'Cursed, Passive Points, +1.''Resented, Passive Points, +1.'"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a little panicked. He certainly hadn't intended to kill anyone. Even if this person was sent by Zhang Xinxiong, she seemed different from the others... more polite, perhaps? The type who talked tough but never followed through; she'd threaten to kill but never made a move. It almost made Xu Xiaoshou feel awkward about silencing her.

He pulled out a bottle of medicine. "Try it? It's very sweet." Surprisingly, thanks to his "Culinary Mastery," the "Crimson Gold Elixir" he refined was sweet, but not overly so. Xu Xiaoshou still had several jars of it, which he would drink like syrup in his free time. This time, he could test its effects on someone else, and perhaps even promote it a bit?

Luo Lere wiped the blood from her lips, her gaze growing dark. "Hmph..." she thought. *I'll endure!* In all these years, this kid was the first person to make her so angry she spat blood. Usually, she was the one infuriating others!

"Xu Xiaoshou, stop pretending. We're all the same," Luo Lere said, finally deciding to be direct. "To be frank, we also really need this sword sheath. Sell it to me!"

"We?" Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow. His spiritual sense swept the area, but he found no one. *A feint?* "Heh, you think I only have spiritual sense?" He fully activated "Perception," but still couldn't find anyone. Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. *Something's going on!* He admitted he was taken aback. *Invisibility? "Perception" manifests in all directions, without blind spots, yet he couldn't find anyone... Or was she just bluffing? Invisibility should be impossible here. It might work outside, but this was the Heavenly Profound Gate, where there were only ten people in total! Those guys couldn't possibly escape "Perception's" grasp. As for bluffing... who couldn't do that?*

Xu Xiaoshou's expression turned disdainful; he lifted his chin. "Alright, let's be direct then!" he said. "We also really need this sword sheath, and with so many people, one sword sheath won't be enough to go around." *You're alone, right? I have many invisible people here! Who doesn't know how to bluff? Back then, I, Xu Xiaoshou, used an "empty fort strategy" to kill two assassins. You're trying to bluff the master of bluffing.*

Luo Lere was stunned. She had thought he was just part of a small faction, but judging by his tone, were they also planning something big? "Are you sure?"

"'Do you know about the Great Heavenshifting Mirror?'" Luo Lere scoffed. "The moment this sword sheath leaves its seal, people outside will sense it. When the time comes and the Heavenly Profound Gate opens... you'll be greeted by the major figures of the Spiritual Palace!"

*What in the world is she talking about?!* Xu Xiaoshou was bewildered by her words. *What is all this? Is she even on the same page as me? This girl must be crazy...* Before he could finish his internal monologue, he heard Luo Lere continue from afar, her voice laced with mockery:

"Don't steal the sword sheath only to lose everything—both yourself and the treasure—when you exit the Heavenly Profound Gate. That would be a complete loss."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart sank. *Steal... steal the sword sheath?* He instantly felt a chill down his spine. *So... this girl really wasn't on the same page as him from the start? She was here to steal the sword sheath?* "What the heck!!!" Xu Xiaoshou was utterly shocked, his face drained of color. He took a deep breath, forcing his pounding heart back down from his throat into his chest, and spoke clearly, trying not to let his words be misunderstood: "Zhang Xinxiong... do you know him?"

"Zhang Xinxiong?" Luo Lere laughed dismissively. This kid was indeed absurd, abruptly changing the topic mid-conversation. "Of course I know him. He's an old-timer in the inner court; who wouldn't know him?" she replied. "What about him?"

*Like hell you do!* Xu Xiaoshou was already cursing inwardly. Judging by her demeanor... so she really wasn't sent by Zhang Xinxiong! He felt things had gone off track, possibly in a terrifying, life-threatening way. At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou forced his mind to focus, his thoughts racing. When facing serious matters, he never hesitated. Quickly, he replayed every word and action of Luo Lere, from their first encounter to this moment. Pulling her out of his own "channel" and placing her on the "sword-stealing" side, everything this girl had done clearly showed she was here with a premeditated plan, solely to steal the sword! Xu Xiaoshou's heart turned cold. *Damn it, how did he manage to run into such trouble just by entering the Heavenly Profound Gate? So this sword sheath was a hot potato after all?*

He didn't reveal any flaws, his mind switching "channels" in a flash. He casually said, "As for what happens outside, there are naturally arrangements. I'm not afraid... But you, you're not afraid either? I'm very curious, who exactly are you?"

Luo Lere rolled her eyes. "There's no need to reveal our true identities, is there? If I asked you this question, would you dare answer?" Her lips curved into a smirk as she tilted her head. "You don't even introduce yourself, yet you dare ask me? Which organization do you belong to?"

Since he decided to bluff her, Xu Xiaoshou naturally didn't hold back. "I'm afraid telling you might scare you..." He clasped his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment, and proudly declared: "Saint Servant!"

The Saint Servant... was naturally the faction the masked man belonged to, a terrifying organization that single-handedly overpowered the Tiansang Spiritual Palace! Xu Xiaoshou meticulously observed the girl's reaction through his "Perception." The expected fear and trepidation didn't appear; instead, she looked utterly surprised. "Saint Servant?" Luo Lere said in disbelief, "You're also a 'Saint Servant'? How come I don't know you?"

Xu Xiaoshou: "???"

*Thump!* The "Hidden Suffering" under his feet tilted, and he plummeted directly from mid-air.