Chapter 1480: Hitting It Off with Zhong Yuanzi, Distant Friends Arrive with the Leg Whip

Outside Yujing City, at the south city gate.

As soon as Fang Wenxin made his entrance, the Xueying Tongqian restrained the Tan Shen.

No matter how the Tan Shen struggled, the massive copper coin's vibration frequency changed instantly to stay in sync.

It was blocked when charging forward and blocked when retreating.

Even when it tried to dart back into the spatial fragments, the Xueying Tongqian seemed to anticipate it, countering the movement and pulling it back.

"Roar!!"

The Tan Shen roared in agony, mouth wide open.

From an outsider's view, once the copper coin clamped down, it was as if the creature had been cursed with immobility, unable to budge an inch!

"What kind of person is this?"

The second true self was stunned beyond words.

The old man in red robes was completely unfamiliar; he was certain this figure wasn't in his memories, and Xiang Yi had never mentioned even a word about him.

"Fang Wenxin..."

Mei Yiren glanced over briefly, showing a hint of surprise as he said:

"The original Red Robe, Fang Wenxin, has a very special refining spirit attribute—it's the 'vibration' attribute that can resonate at the same frequency as all things."

"He possesses nine Baiying Tongqian, which store the souls of all the ghost beasts he has slain in his lifetime. They can amplify the weapon when stored and release the souls when needed."

Baiying Tongqian?

The second true self looked on in shock—where were any white shadows? The copper coin was clearly covered in ferocious blood shadows of ghost beasts!

Mei Yiren easily spotted his student's confusion and confirmed that the boy had no clue about the Xueying Tongqian, so he quickly added:

"The Baiying Tongqian is one of the ten anomalous weapons, capable of restraint and attack, with immense power."

"When it reaches full capacity with stored souls, it evolves into Xueying Tongqian, its combat strength... beyond measure!"

Beyond measure?!

The second true self felt a chill run down his spine.

What did "beyond measure" even mean? And for someone like Mei Yiren to use such words?

And then...

Full capacity?

The original Red Robe?

Just linking those two terms together, the second true self seemed to envision a lifetime of slaughter, an endless path of blood.

Most importantly...

Was the original Red Robe connected to the "original Liu Xu" that Li Fugui had casually mentioned on Void Island—the original ghost beasts?

Could it be that this old man had been battling creatures on the level of the original Liu Xu back in the day?

With that thought, when the second true self looked back at the white-haired elder, still vigorous and full of killing intent in his eyes, everything felt different.

Wasn't this the kind of person who could pull the heavens with one hand and the earth with the other, needing only a spark of youthful madness to shoot down the wolves of the north?

"What's the 'full' in full capacity mean—how many?"

The second true self swallowed hard.

"For ordinary beings, it's not counted, but for the Xueying Tongqian to reach this level, even at rest it echoes with ghost howls and wolf cries—it must have slain no fewer than four thousand ghost beast souls..." Mei Yiren's eyes grew serious. "Perhaps even more."

Four thousand, or even more, high-level ghost beasts... What rank—Zhan Dao, or Tai Xu?

Are you kidding me?

I've never seen that many ghost beasts in my whole life!

Does the inner island of Void Island even have that number?

The second true self suddenly found himself speechless; maybe other questions didn't matter anymore. He cut straight to the point:

"How does this Fang compare to you, Teacher?"

Mei Yiren shook his head slightly and said no more, just lowering his gaze to the Tai Cheng Sword in his hand, then glancing at the Xueying Tongqian that had accompanied Fang Wenxin for a lifetime and been refined to perfection.

Once again, the second true self felt what the "era of refining spirits" truly meant.

It turned out that even someone like Yan Wuse wasn't the limit of refining spirits, and there were figures like this hidden on Sheng Mountain?

"He hasn't come down from the mountain in a long time..." Mei Yiren sighed suddenly.

The second true self fell into thought—was this about Fang Wenxin's edge having dulled with age, or about him having trained for a thousand days and now ready for use?

Or maybe, both?

"Roar!!"

The Tan Shen's roar once again snapped everyone's scattered focus back to the present.

"Tian Ren..."

The second true self came to his senses, about to call on Tian Ren Wu Shai for help, since this one's stance was the least stable here.

But as he turned, the person had vanished.

Tracing with his perception, he realized that as soon as Fang Wenxin had thrown the Xueying Tongqian at the city gate, Tian Ren Wu Shai had slipped away.

"That sneaky bastard!"

The second true self's face paled as he cursed, left with no choice but to face the enemy.

Fang Wenxin was one thing, but behind him stood Xiang Yi's documented Kunpeng Divine Envoy, Yu Kunpeng—an ancient powerhouse who hadn't moved in ages.

His last appearance was in the Yunlun Mountains, where he just showed his face symbolically, with unknown combat strength.

And then there was the Elemental Divine Envoy, Zhong Yuanzi—another ancient figure, with even less intel; no recorded battle history, described only as a "refining spirit research scholar" with "full attributes."

Full attributes!

The second true self was stunned.

This was the first full-attribute refining spirit master he'd encountered besides himself, and still a Ban Sheng!

What was his main attribute? Completely in the dark!

As for the so-called "refining spirit research scholar"...

Oh, that was familiar!

Way too familiar!

His own full attributes weren't even fully understood yet—just grasped a few, and already experimenting with attribute fusion, even creating that unreliable Explosive Domain.

"Research scholar" sounded way too polite—this translated to a straight-up "explosive genius," right?

Even if his mind couldn't wrap around it, just look at that explosion-scorched, frizzled hair, and that simple but heavily patterned protective suit, plus that kindly yet maniacal face...

Could this be someone with a good temper?

A pushover?

If so, why would he be called here to hold the line against the out-of-control Tan Shen?

"Xu Xiaoshou—"

Even before the fight started, the second true self was desperately calling out to his true self in his mind, though their connection was fading.

This was going to be a brutal battle!

Relying on just himself isn't enough.

Counting on Ye Xiaotian and Mei Yiren, at best it would be two against two, evenly matched, but what about the extra one on their side?

Hand it over to Tian Ren Wu Shai?

He'd already run off...

Good riddance!

He shouldn't have been here in the first place.

If he stayed, the Sheng Shen Hall could gain five more Ban Sheng seats tomorrow, and that wouldn't be impossible.

Whoosh... Whoosh...

Swish swish swish...

As the second true self frantically called to his true self, the commotion outside Yujing City seemed to disturb nearby recluses.

One after another, figures arrived, some retreating, some lingering, others keeping their distance to watch safely.

The grand formation of Yujing City's capital seemed to have a breach?

Normally, no external noise could reach inside the city, but now everyone heard the ghost beast's roars like thunder.

The bold and curious crept closer, while the timid and cautious bolted their doors and windows shut.

The snow and osmanthus cooled in the wind, hearts grew urgent and panicked.

"Aren't you all going to back off?"

At the south city gate, Fang Wenxin waited a moment, seeing that the outsiders were drawn in and none of the people around the ghost beast intended to leave.

He seemed to read the situation, his brows furrowing slightly.

After rubbing his old, blurry fish eyes, Yu Kunpeng stretched his neck to size up the group opposite, then pointed at each one:

"Mei Yiren, the Sword Saint, masters the Heart Sword Art—you've never met him, right? See that sword? The one that chopped through Shen Bai Liu that day... Yes, yes, Yu Tu's—it's the Tai Cheng Sword!"

"Ye Xiaotian, this one's from the Sheng Palace, probably snuck out; the palace isn't that reckless... A Ban Sheng of profound meaning... Yes, you heard right, and it's space profound meaning. That talent's way above you two!"

"And this young one..."

Yu Kunpeng suddenly widened his eyes, pointing frantically at the young man from afar, his tone growing excited: "This one's definitely Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Xu Xiaoshou?" Fang Wenxin glanced sideways with a hint of curiosity.

"Come on, Fang, old brother, you haven't even heard of 'Lord Shou'? You're so out of touch, completely missing the younger generation's vibe!"

"He doesn't look like a Ban Sheng?"

"Not a Ban Sheng, but better than one!" Yu Kunpeng had heard this name so often his ears were numb, mainly because he'd taken precautions and looked into the info. "That Dao kid mentioned him too... He's got the Ten Venerable Seats' potential!"

The elders from that era seemed to have a crystal-clear concept of the Ten Venerable Seats.

Upon hearing this, Fang Wenxin's gaze shifted, as if facing an equal opponent—a junior, treated as a dire threat!

"Anything else is fine, but take that Xu kid for me, don't kill him, just hand him over," Yu Kunpeng rubbed his hands, barely containing his excitement.

"You have a grudge?" Fang Wenxin didn't even turn his head, not daring to lose focus. "Planning to feed him to the fish?"

"Feed what fish!" Yu Kunpeng jumped up as if a nerve had been struck. "If you don't know what you're talking about, shut up! Just capture him and give him to me. That's all!"

Fang Wenxin got the picture.

The ghost beast, these people were behind it.

Their stance, no need to debate—they were enemies of the Red Robe.

His gaze remained half-lidded, killing intent barely suppressed, but at that moment, Dao Xuanji's task flashed in his mind...

A new official's three fires—Fang Wenxin didn't want to be fuel for any of them.

"You all."

As soon as these two light words left his lips.

A hum echoed, and sand and snow flew up at the south city gate.

Everyone's vision blurred, feeling as if they'd been transported to another world, with blood-shadowed ghost eyes gazing from the sky and ghost beast illusions materializing around them.

A Sheng Domain?

The second true self realized—Fang Wenxin had locked onto everyone present, with no intention of letting them go.

"No need to leave; I have just one question for you..."

Fang Wenxin paused, his gaze sweeping over the three in the distance:

"Who is the main culprit?"

Dao Xuanji said the ghost beast's emergence suggested internal betrayal, but these three weren't from the Sheng Shen Hall.

So, had they colluded with someone on Sheng Mountain?

Ye Xiaotian said nothing.

Mei Yiren also turned his gaze to the young man at the front.

With just this small action, Fang Wenxin saw that this young one was no simple figure—Yu Kunpeng hadn't been exaggerating.

Otherwise, why would two Ban Sheng defer to a youth?

As expected, the young man named Xu Xiaoshou stepped forward, standing tall amid the biting wind, snow, and dense ghost energy, defying the crowd.

Suddenly, his demeanor shifted; his mouth quivered, tears welled up, and with a face full of grief, he pointed at the Tan Shen and said:

"Fang, old senior, please seek justice for me!"

"This—this is that damn Dao Qiong Cang's doing! He turned the Tan Shen into this mess; he's a pervert!"

"The lord of the Sheng Shen Hall's main hall, colluding with ghost beasts, knowingly committing crimes—that's a capital offense!"

After speaking, the young man glanced around, then unexpectedly stomped out a profound meaning array underfoot, pulling all the distant observers closer.

He roared at everyone, from all angles:

"Capital offense!!!"

The countless bewildered observers hadn't even had time to panic before being sent back to their original spots.

Among them were Wang Zuo Dao realm experts, Zhan Dao, Tai Xu...

After a moment of shock, everyone's faces turned pale!

What the hell?

Had they just brushed against the gates of hell?

While Fang Wenxin was still puzzling over the name "Dao Qiong Cang" and speculating on Dao Xuanji's true intentions...

Zhong Yuanzi, who had been hanging back to hold the line with a somewhat dazed expression, as if disinterested in the world, suddenly became agitated:

"You you you..."

He stammered "you" for a while, then vanished in a flash.

The second true self's pupils contracted, and Zhong Yuanzi's figure appeared right in front of him.

What was this?

Without thinking, he swung a palm.

Zhong Yuanzi acted as if he saw nothing, excitedly grabbing the young man's hand with both of his.

A terrifying force, mismatched with a human form, surged in!

Zhong Yuanzi just reacted instinctively, his body twisting like a snake to shake off the force.

He still held the young man's hand, pulling it toward the ground, pointing at the faded space profound meaning array, and exclaiming in astonishment:

"Young friend, what was that just now?!"

What kind of character was this?

The second true self was completely baffled.

He watched as the old man Zhong Yuanzi let his palms bleed without a care, solely focused on prying into others' secrets—the Great Dao Disk, the ultimate secret!

Facing a Ban Sheng opponent with unknown strength and temperament, who was an enemy and now clutching his hands...

The second true self valued his life and dared not engage much.

"Get lost!"

Golden light burst from him.

With a boom, the explosive stance blasted Zhong Yuanzi's hands away, exposing his defenses.

He formed his palms into fists, sleeves withering and scorching.

Without hesitation, he unleashed a simplified Wuxiu·Chi Jiao Hand, skipping the sleeve robe turning to ash and the Dao principles burning, and struck straight for Zhong Yuanzi's chest.

Sizzle!

Zhong Yuanzi clearly lost control briefly, but at the moment of impact, he suddenly transformed into scattered snowflakes, reforming behind the young man.

"You don't have profound meaning, do you!" he said.

"That thing you just used wasn't profound meaning; it was a profound meaning prototype, right!"

"Who taught you? Or did you..."

Zhong Yuanzi, like a child with a new toy, slapped the young man's shoulder hard. "Yu Kunpeng said you have the Ten Venerable Seats' potential—did you figure it out yourself?"

Snow attribute...

This was a major player, able to switch attributes freely based on the environment?

And that wriggling force dissipation earlier—what attribute or spirit technique was that?

The second true self had never encountered such a freak and didn't dare relax, stepping up and sinking his shoulder to break free, then circling behind Zhong Yuanzi...

Whoa!

At the south city gate, the wind and snow paused briefly.

In that instant, Zhong Yuanzi forgot what he was about to say and why he was standing by the ghost beast.

In Ye Xiaotian and Mei Yiren's sight and memory, the name "Xu Xiaoshou" was forcibly erased.

Yu Kunpeng and Fang Wenxin's vision lost focus simultaneously, forgetting this key enemy in the standoff.

Both, veterans of battle, realized something was wrong at the same time.

"Watch out, Zhong Lao!"

"Zhong, old brother, mind your back!"

A chill hit Zhong Yuanzi's spine; he spun around and saw a completely unfamiliar young man behind him.

The young man stood on a fire system Great Dao diagram he'd studied for ages, using the Chi Jiao Hand from the Sheng Nu Wuxiu.

For some reason, it seemed directed at him, full of hostility?

"You you you..."

The stammering returned without finishing.

Sizzle!

The Wuxiu Chi Jiao Hand pierced through his heart.

Zhong Yuanzi hadn't processed what happened when searing pain flooded his mind; he tilted his head back and spat out a fine mist of blood.

Snowy day, white osmanthus heads, red mist rising.

"What the heck?"

The second true self frowned, quickly ending the isolation from the world.

He didn't understand the situation and didn't dare go for the kill, remembering Sang Lao's advice that absolute power could break an elemental body. After withdrawing the Wuxiu Chi Jiao Hand, he flipped and charged up another attack.

"Explosive stance!"

Golden light scattered as he whipped out a leg, striking the wound dead-on.

Zhong Yuanzi shattered, but the pieces remained connected by Sheng force, pulling his fragmented body toward the south city gate.

With a slap, the old man hit the wall plaque awkwardly, like a ink-soaked brush, sliding down and leaving a bloody streak on the wall.

As his body hit the ground, the plaque clanged, smashing into his head like a chestnut, burying his shattered skull in the snow pile.

"Roar!!!"

The Tan Shen, maddened by blood, briefly broke free from the Xueying Tongqian's daze and lunged, extending a long tongue to lap up a mouthful of the Ban Sheng's blood.

The second true self wasn't exempt; he quietly wiped a drop, but his furrowed brow didn't ease.

What kind of person was this? It felt off...

The world fell silent!

Not just Fang Wenxin and Yu Kunpeng holding their breath.

The observers on the distant hills, their exclamations cut short, stood up in shock, eyes wide with horror.

In just one exchange...

Xu Xiaoshou punched through the chest and took down the Elemental Divine Envoy of the Ten-Person Council?