Chapter 1482: Blatantly Questioning the Newcomer, Devoting to the Greedy God and Ultimately Bathing in Fire

At the back of the crowd, under the Jin Gui tree, Cao Er Zhu stared blankly at the group of people engaged in their heated discussion, finding it hard to join in.

Lian Ling Jie truly lived up to what his old man had said—it was a place teeming with great talents! Even just at the city gate of this Kyoto, without even entering, there were no fewer than a handful of Ban Sheng experts. These people were clearly enemies of one another, yet in the face of true knowledge, they could turn swords into plowshares and calmly delve into academic discourse.

Was this Lian Ling Jie? It was utterly captivating!

Cao Er Zhu really wanted to reveal his Lei Xi Ao Yi Zhen Tu and jump into the discussion to ask that Zhong Yuan Zi senior for advice. Anyone with eyes could see that this old senior with the surname Zhong was incredibly formidable!

Er Zhu had a belly full of questions, but he couldn't voice them, because his old man had warned him that the Ao Yi Zhen Tu could be seized by others and must never be exposed. He kept suppressing himself.

Until this moment, when Xiao Shou Ge stepped forward!

Even though the crowd up front was arguing fiercely, their discussion steered to an extreme by that Yuan Su Shen Shi Zhong Yuan Zi, our Xiao Shou Ge still dominated the scene. He could even point at Zhong Yuan Zi and flatly declare that the other was wrong.

This sight made Cao Er Zhu's blood boil with excitement, almost too stirred to contain. His whole body trembled, just like that night on Qing Yuan Shan. Unlike a great battle, this kind of Ban Sheng-level Lian Ling discussion was a clash of minds and wisdom—intangible, yet it made one's scalp tingle.

Cao Er Zhu recalled Xiao Shou Ge's teaching from that night: If you can't hold it back, then don't!

So, he hunched his back, clenched his fists, and toward the crowd ahead, let out a heart-wrenching roar: “Terminate errors, rewrite eternity!!!”

The world suddenly fell silent.

In a flash, nearly a hundred gazes turned toward him. Cao Er Zhu's excitement had vented, but his face flushed red like a monkey's bottom, feeling a bit... out of place?

But soon! He realized Xiao Shou Ge was right! Not many people paid attention to him at all. Even though he was so abrupt, after a brief pause, they quickly turned back to their discussion.

“Who is this?”

“I don't know what he's up to...”

“What he said had some flavor, but his insight seems a bit off track. We're discussing Lian Ling, aren't we?”

“Don't mind him, Shou Ye, carry on!”

The second true body flinched in surprise. This bystander was spot on—Zhu Bao might be a treasure, but sometimes he was just too eccentric! This guy almost shattered the lively discussion atmosphere... Glancing around, he noticed Fang Wen Xin and Xi looking alert, sensing something was amiss.

“Er Zhu, what is the motto of our Tian Shang Di Yi Lou?”

Suppressing the heated debate, the second true body redirected everyone's attention back to Cao Er Zhu. Cao Er Zhu had just relaxed a bit, but now under all eyes, he tensed up again. Still, he knew this one—from Qing Yuan Shan.

“Terminate errors, rewrite eternity!!!”

Oh, he actually shouted it... The second true body twitched at the corner of his mouth, enduring the surging embarrassment, and quickly shifted his gaze to Zhong Yuan Zi:

“Zhong Lao senior, I know you have many questions, but we don't have time for more.”

“Your research direction aligns perfectly with our Tian Shang Di Yi Lou's, but clearly, you've hit a dead end.”

“So to put it simply, when you have time, come to our building for tea, and we'll discuss it at length.”

Upon hearing this, Xi suddenly snapped back to sobriety. What was Xu Xiao Shou up to now? Daring to poach someone right in front of so many from Sheng Shen Dian Tang, even targeting a senior from the Shi Ren Yi Shi Tuan?

Fang Wen Xin saw Zhong Yuan Zi's gaze flicker slightly and thought the same—something was off—and was about to speak. But the second true body seized the initiative twice over, building momentum and quashing any objections, interrupting everyone:

“Zhong Lao, let's not dwell on that. I have another question for you.”

“Oh?” Zhong Yuan Zi looked at this kindred spirit and waved him on eagerly. “Go ahead, go ahead.”

“It's not exactly a Lian Ling attribute question—it might involve the spiritual or soul level...”

“Oh? That's perfect!” The surrounding crowd immediately perked up with excitement. Fang Wen Xin had words right on the tip of his tongue, but now they were stifled by the eager Lian Ling masters and the even more intrigued Zhong Yuan Zi.

“The spiritual and soul level—that's the advanced realm of Lian Ling, Shou Ye, spill it.”

“Does Tian Shang Di Yi Lou research this too? Where is Tian Shang Di Yi Lou?”

“Young friend, speak up, speak up.”

The second true body caught a glimpse of Fang Wen Xin and the others who were alert, took a deep breath, ignored them, and quickly adopted a sorrowful expression:

“Zhong Lao, you might not know, but I have a friend...”

“He's incredibly talented. He even cultivated an external incarnation before, but his main body fell into a coma after a great battle. He's taken plenty of Ling medicines, and his body has fully recovered, but strangely, he just won't wake up!”

“My friend consulted me, and I feel it's an issue with his spirit and soul, like he's trapped in a dream, but not quite...”

“Dare I ask, Zhong Lao, what are your thoughts on this? Have you researched it before?”

“Or, you could just give a direct answer on how to wake him—my friend is quite urgent about it...”

Xi was stunned for a long while upon hearing this. His first reaction was: Xu Xiao Shou's friend? Why does this sound familiar? Do I know him too? Soon, he realized—this so-called "friend" might actually be Xu Xiao Shou himself! Comatose after battling Sheng Di... His physical body perfect, but his spirit not returning... So, the one here now is just Xu Xiao Shou's incarnation, while his main body is stuck in this predicament?

“Zhong Lao!”

Xi shouted loudly, trying to stop the Yuan Su Shen Shi senior, but no one paid attention to this outsider, an ancient sword cultivator. Xi was frantic, turning to Fang Wen Xin and trying to signal with his eyes for the old red robe to intervene. Fang Wen Xin was utterly confused. Who was this young man, anyway...

Zhong Yuan Zi pulled himself away from thoughts of "one hundred percent," "errors," and "Tian Shang Di Yi Lou"—topics that could keep anyone awake all night—and focused on his young friend's dilemma. He declared firmly: “I've researched this.”

“Oh?” The second true body's eyes lit up instantly.

Xi's face turned green as he shouted: “Zhong Lao, you can't reveal...”

“Roar!!!”

Gui Shou Tan Shen threw back its head and roared, seemingly adapting to the confining power of the Xue Ying Tong Qian, and stamped a claw down. The crowd scattered in panic but reluctantly regrouped. Zhong Yuan Zi shot a reproachful look at Fang Wen Xin. Fang Wen Xin felt a bit apologetic. Xi was left speechless.

Pausing for a moment, just as he was about to speak up again, a sudden, explosive shout from the distant rear crashed into the crowd, full of passionate intensity.

Xi was utterly despaired. If even that went unnoticed, who would care about a minor ancient sword cultivator like him? This world was sick...

At the south city gate, Zhong Yuan Zi's impromptu class continued:

“Your friend's situation? I've tested it countless times!”

“He must have overexerted himself, just like me. Every time my element fusion research fails, it's the same...”

“I've had my main body blown up over thirty times. Sometimes blood attributes pull me back, but even if the body exists, the spirit scatters—exactly like your friend.”

“Each time, I have to use my Ban Sheng incarnation to call out and stimulate. At first, it's unfamiliar, but you get used to it.”

“The key is 'external intervention'—Xu Xiao friend, do you understand? 'Stimulation' is crucial!”

“Oh?” The second true body humbly sought advice. “I've thought of that method myself... and mentioned it to my friend. He tried it...”

“How did it go?” Zhong Yuan Zi beamed, feeling that this outing had connected him with more than one like-minded soul.

“My friend blew up his incarnation! But his main body still didn't wake...” The second true body sighed helplessly.

“Damn, your friend is ruthless!” The nearby Lian Ling masters jumped in shock, finding the topic too intense for ordinary folk. After all, not everyone had a Ban Sheng incarnation or an external one.

Zhong Yuan Zi chuckled and shook his head: “The approach was wrong.”

“Oh? Zhong Lao, please explain. This junior is all ears... and you all should listen too—it might come in handy someday!” The second true body successfully piqued everyone's curiosity, including Fang Wen Xin's.

Yu Lao suddenly lifted his head from someone's neck, snapping back to awareness. From his high vantage point, like a god overlooking the chaotic scene, he felt something odd. What was odd about it? Yu Lao scratched his head, a flash of crimson in his eyes, then dove back into the discussion. It was quite entertaining—not much different from fishing.

“Your friend not only got the method wrong but also reversed the priorities!” Zhong Yuan Zi explained smoothly:

“In cases like this, I usually just kill the main body and rebirth on the Ban Sheng incarnation—that's the easiest.”

“The downside is wasting a ton of heavenly treasures to reform a Ban Sheng incarnation.”

“But your friend's case is special. If it's the main body you want to wake, then kill the incarnation!”

“And this incarnation can't just die—it has to die in a 'special' way!”

“How exactly is that special?” When Xu Xiao Shou asked this, Ye Xiao Tian, Mei Si Ren, and others also regained their senses, exchanged glances, and kept silent.

Fang Wen Xin felt something was off but couldn't pinpoint it. He had to listen while controlling Gui Shou Tan Shen's struggles to keep the Lian Ling discussion going, even though it had strayed from their original intent...

Wait! It had strayed!

Fang Wen Xin suddenly looked up, then down at his robe, now stained with dirt and some unknown grass ash... When had that happened? Glancing around, everyone seemed a little off. Some were sweating profusely, their body odor strong; others scratched incessantly, drawing spots of blood on their arms; still others did chest expansions... Even more bizarre, one person was happily going wild under a tree, venting endless energy:

It wasn't normal, yet it was normal enough—Lian Ling Jie was vast, with all sorts under the sun!

As Fang Wen Xin pondered, Zhong Yuan Zi had already given the answer:

“For your friend's incarnation, it has to die by the hand of a close kin—or someone who can trigger a massive emotional response in your friend's main body...”

“And not just that—if possible, before death, have you practiced willpower switching?”

“Like transferring willpower between the main body and Ban Sheng incarnation. Some Ban Sheng with strong spirits naturally master it upon sealing, others have to train...”

“Just before the incarnation dies, switch the willpower so the main body takes the impact.”

“The raw feel of death, intense emotional surge, powerful external stimulation... Combine the three, and it's highly likely to wake the person.”

Zhong Yuan Zi paused: “Of course, that's my personal method—it might not work for everyone.”

The onlookers felt a chill run down their spines. What a savage approach—researching even death and using one's own main body as a test. Truly worthy of a scholar!

“What's the success rate? How many times have you tried it? If it's effective, I'll suggest my friend try it...” The second true body's speech quickened, as he “sensed” Fang Wen Xin detecting the anomaly. He used his own momentum, with Sheng Di Lv.0's “devouring mountains and rivers,” to steer everyone's emotions as he wished.

Fang Wen Xin broke through the influence and stepped forward, his expression changing: “Yu Lao, Zhong Lao, something's wrong—this is... Tian Ren Wu Shui symptoms?”

Yu Lao glanced at him with a “hmm” and went back to listening. Whoosh—he suddenly raised his head, shocked: “Yes, it's Tian Ren Wu Shui—he's already sealed saint!”

Zhong Yuan Zi, oblivious to unrelated topics, was still helping Xu Xiao Shou's friend: “The rate's pretty high. I've done it seven or eight times, failed once...”

Fang Wen Xin clenched the Xue Ying Tong Qian, unleashing holy power to interrupt Zhong Lao and blast the crowd away, roaring: “Everyone, get out of here!”

“Zhong Yuan Zi, snap out of it!”

“What are you doing...” In that instant, the second true body vanished, unaffected by Fang Wen Xin's holy power. Reappearing, he looked at the overturned crowd and grumbled. The space Dao disk under his feet had vanished, and he raised the Shi Zu Ying Zhang he'd just borrowed from his main body, tapping it toward Fang Wen Xin's forehead.

“Time, reverse.”

Fang Wen Xin stared at the grass ash on his robe, lost in thought. He nearly got hit by the guy doing chest expansions beside him and frowned. Suddenly, a roar echoed in his ears: “Terminate errors, rewrite eternity!!!”

This guy... How many times had he shouted?

The second true body quickly interjected, barely pausing: “Zhong Lao, I know what you mean—it's about switching willpower before the incarnation dies, all three elements for a high success rate.”

“The key is, what's the exact probability?”

The surrounding crowd was briefly stunned. Their notes were still there—recorded on jade slips—and they hadn't zoned out... But how had they lost the thread? What were they even talking about?

Zhong Yuan Zi was overjoyed—this young friend truly understood him, knowing exactly what he wanted to say.

“About ninety percent!” he said directly. “One failure, but the main body's willpower doesn't die—it can be revived on the Ban Sheng incarnation with some effort, or you wouldn't see me now, right?”

So that meant... One hundred percent?

At that moment, Fang Wen Xin snapped back: “Something's not right!”

He turned to warn Yu Lao. But as he did, he met Xu Xiao Shou's suddenly turned face, smiling coldly.

“This is Tian Ren Wu Shui symptoms!”

“..., Tian Ren Wu Shui symptoms!”

The two spoke in unison, with identical tone, emotion, and even subtle pauses in their speech. Fang Wen Xin's arm hairs stood on end, a chill running down his spine.

Yu Lao, having just lifted his head, glanced over and saw Xu Xiao Shou's smirking face. The two stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, speaking together: “Yes, it's Tian Ren Wu Shui—he's already sealed saint!”

“Yes, it's Tian Ren Wu Shui—he's already sealed saint!”

Their delivery was identical in feeling and inflection, except for the voices—it was like they were cast from the same mold!

After parroting Yu Lao, Xu Xiao Shou's fish eyes nearly popped out, ready to leap onto the other's nose. He incredulously covered his mouth: “How could you...”

The nearby crowd was shocked—how had it turned so eerie? Zhong Yuan Zi was equally moved. Xi backed away in terror... It was over! It was Xu Xiao Shou for sure! Now, he was gaining momentum, starting to make his move...

But it wasn't done! This Xu Xiao Shou, as disgusting as the Dao Hall Master and even mastering parroting skills, finished with the left, then the right, and after the right, looked back at Fang Wen Xin. As Fang Wen Xin opened his mouth and unleashed his aura, Xu Xiao Shou teleported through space, evacuating everyone.

“Everyone, get out of here!”

“Everyone, get out of here!”

Again, in unison! This time, sand and snow flew at the south city gate, but no one fell— they'd all been sent away.

Pausing, the second true body glared and barked: “Zhong Yuan Zi, snap out... Uh, no, that line's not right. Damn it...”

Well, Zhong Yuan Zi didn't need waking—he was wide awake!

Fang Wen Xin stared in disbelief at this oddity scratching his head sheepishly. He couldn't figure out why Xu Xiao Shou was suddenly reading minds. Then, as the other finished scratching and straightened up, he soared into the sky amid everyone's astonished gazes.

At the south city gate, the crowd looked up. Amid the swirling wind, snow, and Gui fragrance, Xu Xiao Shou's robes fluttered, sleeves whipping as he hovered high, hands behind his back, looking down with a demonic and Gulyi demeanor:

“Gentlemen, the show's over!”

He turned to Zhong Yuan Zi, who had regained his daze: “Zhong Lao, I really don't want to 'threaten' you like this, but I have to remind you—you're too absorbed in your research.”

“Secretly meeting with a Sheng Nu, privately sharing the rebirth method of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou's master—if I don't mention it, that flashy old Daoist will use it to charge you.”

“As you think, Sheng Shen Dian Tang isn't a good place for scholars. I'll put it this way—when you have time, come to Tian Shang Di Yi Lou for tea. I'll receive you as a student and serve you for life.”

With that, Xu Xiao Shou leaned back and tilted, his body cracking with wounds that emitted a fragrance more nourishing than any Sheng medicine. He leaped like a fish upward, then dived elegantly downward.

“Roar!”

Gui Shou Tan Shen's eyes blazed red, hesitating only a moment before succumbing to the blood's lure. It burst free from the briefly uncontrolled Xue Ying Tong Qian and charged toward the blood feast.

Bang!!!

Fangs clamped shut. The body was bisected. Amid the crowd's stunned silence, faint white flames flickered around Gui Shou Tan Shen's mouth as it swallowed its master.

(End of chapter)