Chapter 1520: Shen Ai's Great War at the Chaotic Site, Dao Lu is at His Wits' End and Asks for Wei An's Help

In Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, within Sheng Huan Dian, an invisible gloom seemed to cling to the air these days, making the hall feel cold and foreboding.

Everyone who passed by had to take a deep breath before daring to step inside. Xi was no exception. After mentally preparing himself and reviewing his notes, he steeled himself and entered the hall.

"Report!"

Dao Xuanji had become like an empty, mechanical puppet of destiny, as if nothing in the world could stir her anymore. She spoke flatly, "Speak."

Xi clasped his fists, not daring to pause, and reported methodically, "Yu Zhi Wen is unconscious and was escorted back to the mountain by Yu Lao, now out of the battlefield. Bei Bei suffered a major defeat and fell unconscious. Di Jian Tian Jie was broken, but Tian Shang Di Yi Lou's Xu Xiaoshou emerged unscathed. After his victory, Xu Xiaoshou used Ye Bansheng's blood and the imitator to comprehend the essence of space, leading to his breakthrough in Zhan Dao. His breakthrough was effortless and smooth, likely because his mastery of ancient sword techniques far exceeds his Lian Ling abilities."

Dao Xuanji listened with her eyes closed, thinking to herself, *As expected. Bei Bei, how could you possibly defeat Xu Xiaoshou? It was just a delaying tactic. However, mastering two major essences and breaking through Zhan Dao so fluidly? That was intriguing...* As the leader of the top force in the Lian Ling world, Dao Xuanji took this very seriously. Even if she was reluctant to admit it, Xu Xiaoshou’s talent was undeniable. This concerned the future of the Lian Ling world. If his method could be replicated, it would benefit many Lian Ling masters.

"How did you arrive at that last deduction?" Dao Xuanji asked.

Xi responded solemnly, in a strictly professional tone, devoid of any emotion, "It’s the result of analysis from the foreign department. Mastering two major essences, life and space, should make cutting the Dao foundation and forging the Lian Ling path extremely difficult. But Xu Xiaoshou used a forceful method of Zhan Dao, condensing a sword with intent to directly sever his Dao foundation. Ancient sword cultivation emphasizes intent, from innate sword intent to master sword intent, and then to the sword Dao throne—all centered on cultivating this intent. Xu Xiaoshou had long ago reached the level of a Bansheng and even a Sheng Di in some aspects. His energy, intent, and momentum are unparalleled in the world. With such a commanding presence, condensing a sword to cut away the mere essence Dao foundation of Lian Ling was as natural as flowing water. That concludes it."

Dao Xuanji pondered for a moment, then said gravely, "So, your foreign department believes that combining ancient sword cultivation with Lian Ling masters is the correct future path for Lian Ling?"

"We thought so before," Xi nodded.

"And now?"

"Now I’ve thought it through..." Xi took a breath and sighed helplessly, "First, most people can’t cultivate two major essences. Second, dual cultivation of sword and spirit would exhaust most people before they even reach the throne level. Third, under equal conditions, ancient sword techniques have a higher threshold. It’s more likely that someone who reaches the throne in Lian Ling is just starting out in ancient sword techniques... Conversely, if someone shows talent in ancient sword techniques, most won’t choose Lian Ling, because at the same level, ancient sword cultivators are indeed stronger. And, well, cooler too. Finally, even if all those limitations are overcome, only Xu Xiaoshou in this world can, before reaching the Zhan Dao realm in Lian Ling, possess sword intent on par with a Bansheng or Sheng Di, allowing him to sever the essence Dao foundation. Even the former Eighth Sword Immortal never reached such heights."

After speaking, Xi sighed silently. One era had ended, and another had begun. Unknowingly, the legend of "three breaths of innate ability, three years to sword immortality" had become a thing of the past. Xu Xiaoshou had risen powerfully! His talent had fully manifested—he was like a madman, charging ahead on the path of cultivating multiple Dao like a wild horse with no reins, even leaving everyone else in the dust. All his peers were left far behind, unable to catch up.

"Shou Ye..."

Dao Xuanji fell silent after hearing this. In other words, as long as someone at the throne level masters sword intent comparable to a sword saint, their Zhan Dao would flow like water, without any hindrance. It wasn’t the strength of "dual sword and spirit cultivation." It was the strength of that freak called "Shou Ye"!

Sheng Huan Dian fell quiet, with only shallow breathing remaining, until even that faded away. After a while, Dao Xuanji snapped back to attention, "You said Ye Xiaotian’s blood, plus the imitator, led to Xu Xiaoshou’s space essence?"

"Yes, and probably his own talent too."

"But that’s still too fast!" Dao Xuanji dismissed the idea without thinking. "Xu Xiaoshou’s comprehension of space isn’t that high..."

Xi paused, tilting his head in recollection. He understood the pains of being a worker—all it took was one word from above, and he hurriedly organized the relevant information in his mind, then analyzed, "Yes, Xuanji Hall Master. The records show that when Xu Xiaoshou was born, he didn’t seem to awaken any space attributes. Up until the Wang Cheng trial in Yun Lun Mountains, when he obtained the space source stone, he hadn’t shown much talent in the space path. But there’s one exception—he could 'teleport' very early on." He paused, thought for a moment, and continued, "I attended Zhong Lao’s lectures outside Yu Jing City. Combining his ideas on the 'Great Dao Diagram,' factors like the diagram’s brightness, complexity, and authenticity can measure how deeply a Lian Ling master comprehends a path. Compared to Xu Xiaoshou’s 'Life Great Dao Diagram,' his previous 'Space Great Dao Diagram' was only about one or two tenths as bright, complex, or authentic..."

At this point, Xi stopped. Interestingly, as he thought about it, he spotted the blind spot too. Even with Xu Xiaoshou’s talent and external aids—like the imitator and saint blood—could he comprehend such a vast gap in space essence during the short interval of Zhan Dao? This world was full of possibilities. With precedents like Cen Qiaofu and Kui Lei Han, no one dared to rule out "possibility." But the chances were really too slim! Saying one in ten thousand was overestimating Xu Xiaoshou—it clearly required some other assistive means. After all, his previous performance in the space path didn’t match up at all...

Xi looked up at Xuanji Hall Master.

Dao Xuanji parted her lips, "Everyone has secrets..."

Xi sighed inwardly but didn’t show any disappointment in his eyes. In the past, at times like this, Dao Hall Master would flash that mischievous expression and give an answer... Ah, well. Pretending not to know when you do, or truly not knowing—the gap was that big!

On the main seat, Dao Xuanji wasn’t curious about Xu Xiaoshou’s secrets at all. If he didn’t have any, that would be the real surprise—a person with the potential of ten thrones having some extraordinary traits? Why not? Kui Lei Han, Ba Zun An, Shen Gui Mo Ce Dao Qiong Cang—who didn’t have talents beyond ordinary people, or secrets they couldn’t reveal? To investigate those, the prerequisite was capturing the person first. But whether they could be captured was another issue entirely. And that issue was the real priority!

"How’s Jiang Na Yi’s progress?" Dao Xuanji’s eyebrows furrowed.

"The progress is worrying." Xi summarized first, then added a touch of concern as he elaborated, "According to reports from those who escaped Pu Xuan Jiang clan in the Northern Domain, the interior of the Zhan Shen Guan site is a bloodbath. It seems the information that people who die inside the site don’t truly die—they just leave the site—has spread. Now, everyone is acting without restraint. They’re all fighting over the 'Fate Star of the Gods' and the rewards from the 'Ancestral God List.' If there are old grudges, they’re settling them inside too. After all, dying doesn’t mean real death, and it lets them test their opponent’s strength for revenge back on the mainland..."

"Get to the point!" Dao Xuanji interrupted.

Xi was startled and quickly moved on, "Shen has engaged Cang Sheng Da Ren in battle at the Zhan Shen Guan site. The fight for the ten thrones is unfolding there, and they’re locked in an intense clash that no one else can approach. Jiang Na Yi is just a minor Taixu built up with spiritual medicine. Even a ripple from the Shen Ai battle could shatter him. Even if he locates Cang Sheng Da Ren, he can’t get close or send a message... Not just him—the moment Cang Sheng Da Ren sets up his arrow formation with arrows like flying rain, even Bansheng can’t get through, and Shen is struggling to approach. So the battle is at its peak now."

Dao Xuanji fell silent again. The person was found, but the battlefield couldn’t be approached? As expected, relying on this Jiang Na Yi was more trouble than he was worth!

"He at least found the person, so bringing Ai Cang Sheng back will save some hassle." Dao Xuanji forced herself to find a non-advantage as an advantage, then paused and said, "I’ll handle it myself, using Xuanji Xing Shi..."

"Heaven’s Mechanism Puppet can’t enter the site, even with intelligence." Xi said. This was something Dao Hall Master had tried—those that went in were destroyed, no different from not entering.

Dao Xuanji raised an eyebrow, then realized that Zhan Shen Guan Ran Ming was an existence rivaling the ten ancestors, making it easy to distinguish real people and accept the inheritance. "Are there so many of our people in the site that none can approach the battlefield?" she asked.

Xi shook his head. He hadn’t entered the site, so he didn’t know the situation inside. But from what those who’d witnessed it described, the Shen Ai battle was like the end of the world, far more terrifying than the ten thrones war by tens of thousands of times.

"They say a curious Taixu got a little too close, got shot full of holes and didn’t have time to go mad before being shattered by Shen’s fist wave from miles away, body and soul destroyed..." Xi pondered and added, "I wonder if their consciousness dies when they return to Sheng Shen Continent..." This was something Dao Hall Master hadn’t tested—well, she was merciful.

Dao Xuanji was speechless. "Can’t they ask a Bansheng for help? Yue Gong Li... isn’t he in the site too?"

Xi nodded, "Jiang Na Yi thought of that and tried it. He invoked your command to ask Yue Gong Li Da Ren to commit suicide and return, but he lost an arm..."

Dao Xuanji pressed a hand to her forehead. Hearing the word "command" and that Jiang Na Yi had used her name, she knew this path was blocked.

Xi glanced at Xuanji Hall Master’s expression and thought to himself that the rumors of her discord with Yue Gong Li Da Ren must be true!

"Yue Gong Li won’t listen to me," Dao Xuanji stated bluntly.

Xi nodded and continued, "Jiang Na Yi tried other methods too, like asking Yue Gong Li Da Ren to at least escort him to the battlefield so he could respectfully invite Cang Sheng Da Ren to commit suicide. Then he lost a leg..."

"Enough!"

Dao Xuanji couldn’t listen anymore. Yue Gong Li knew Jiang Na Yi was her person, so how could he obey? Not killing Jiang Na Yi was already lenient! Did this Jiang fellow ever use his brain?

Dao Xuanji issued the order directly, "Have him find Wei An. Say that Ye Xiaotian from the Bai Lou lineage achieved essence Feng Sheng, and Bai Long Da Ren personally came out to welcome him; when Xu Xiaoshou attacked Yu Jing with space essence and broke through Zhan Dao, Ye Xiaotian was right beside him. That’s enough—don’t add unnecessary details. If Wei An still cares about Sheng Gong and his past ties with Ye Xiaotian, he’ll come out and clarify things with me. At the very least, he can escort Jiang Na Yi to right under Ai Cang Sheng’s nose without issue."

Xi was stunned. Then a chill ran down his spine. What a cunning scheme—every sentence was true, yet every one was a trap... Bansheng Wei An would find it hard to extricate himself now!

"Yes."

"Also, have Liu Fu Yu and Gu Yu Ding step in to buy a little more time."

"Yes!"

"Anything else?"

"Uh... yes! Before Bei Bei’s defeat, he made a bet with Xu Xiaoshou..."

"Heh, Yu Jing City is right at the foot of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan. Let him have it. Once Ai Cang Sheng returns, Xu Xiaoshou won’t escape even with wings!"

"...Yes."

Xi hesitated, then thought better of it and bid farewell, leaving Sheng Huan Dian.

The storm in Ran Ming’s site...

The deliberations on Gui Zhe Sheng Shan...

And across the five domains, people shaken by the dual-essence Zhan Dao of Shou Ye, while Lian Ling masters pondered the feasibility of "sword and spirit dual cultivation"...

None of this concerned Xu Xiaoshou. After Zhan Dao, the path ahead was bright—all that was left was to prepare for the nine-death thunder tribulation and reach the Taixu realm. Feng Sheng was just around the corner! But that was for later. The most important thing right now was to take advantage of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan’s vulnerability and plunder it thoroughly.

Pulling out Zang Ku, Xu Xiaoshou looked regretful. This first wave of massive "fame" had fueled his breakthrough in Zhan Dao and counted as another "fame" boost for You Si Jian... What a pity for Zang Ku—it had only gotten a sip of the soup! Xu Xiaoshou just sighed about it, then sheathed the sword with a flip of his hand. Everyone had their own opportunities, and swords were no different. If Zang Ku couldn’t absorb this vast "fame" nourishment, it just wasn’t fated for it. After all, Bei Bei under Di Jian Tian Jie, combined with several great sword styles, might even impress Si Ren before he sealed as a saint—let alone a mere Zang Ku! The only way would’ve been to bring out You Si Jian, or go solo, but that would’ve wasted the ancient sword cultivation ritual. Xu Xiaoshou valued Zang Ku, but he wouldn’t stop his progress in other swords, Lian Ling paths, or massive passive values just for one sword.

"Gain it and I’m lucky; lose it and it’s fate. Zang Ku, keep striving."

Glancing back at Yu Jing City, Ye Xiaotian’s true self had left for the eight palaces, letting go of this great city. The people in the city, those from Sheng Shen Hall, including the Bansheng... Each one kept silent, as if by doing so, something would be forgotten.

Meanwhile, Gu Yu’s ear twitched, and he sighed as he looked at Liu Fu Yu. "Is it you or..."

"I’ll go."

Liu Fu Yu rarely spoke up first. Ancient sword cultivators grew stronger with age—geniuses could suppress a generation or even the previous one... But how many like Ba Zun An were there? Gu Lao was from the era of You Tu and Mei Si Ren. Among famous ancient sword cultivators, or those who could stand alongside the older generation of sword immortals, none were mediocre. Liu Fu Yu was confident in his own strength but knew that ancient sword cultivators were often deceptive, and this old man beside him was far from as simple as he appeared. Having him hold the line was best. Besides, fighting Xu Xiaoshou was his biggest wish since entering Yu Jing City.

"Huff..."

Gu Yu exhaled, brushed the snow from his nose, rubbed his frozen red hands, and nodded slightly. As Liu Fu Yu was about to leave, Gu Yu pulled him back worriedly and advised, "Liu girl, be careful. Xu Xiaoshou is very strong. Bei Bei might not have a deep grasp of the second realm, but he definitely does. From the earlier battle, Huan, Wan, and Xin are his main sword techniques. As Si Ren’s student, he must know Banruo and has used it. The second world and Da Hong Shen Zhi Nu are probably just at the threshold... Sigh, actually, I estimate he’s at least six or seven out of ten. At minimum, with the three second realms, plus You Si Jian’s Tian Jie and Yan Mang Dai Tian Jie, Liu girl, don’t let things escalate—you two might not be able to hold back."

By the end, Gu Yu’s expression was extremely serious. Xu Xiaoshou’s talent was, in his view, the strongest he’d seen aside from Ba Zun An. At such a young age, mastering various sword techniques to this level made the old man feel not excitement, but sheer embarrassment.

As for Liu Fu Yu... A sword obsessive was rare; a successful one even more so. Losing either of these young people would break Gu Yu’s heart.

"Isn’t escalating a good thing?" Liu Fu Yu furrowed his brows.

It wasn’t good—it was unnecessary. Since it was just for others’ use, there was no need to fight to the death... But Gu Yu couldn’t explain such worldly matters to a sword obsessive, so he said, "The future is long, and Xu Xiaoshou isn’t inherently bad."

"Thank you, I won’t kill him." Liu Fu Yu nodded and stepped into the air.

"Sigh..."

Gu Yu sighed again, irritably glancing at the sky, accidentally meeting the sudden gaze of his old friend Mei Si Ren. He felt guilty, his hand trembled, and he quickly looked away. He could fight Si Ren. But fighting his student... Sigh!

"Xu Xiaoshou, have you rested enough?"

Just as the five domains thought the sword immortal battle was over and it was time to go home and digest, another wave rose. Liu Fu Yu soared like a sword immortal, standing mid-air, strikingly elegant!

"What?"

At that moment, everyone in front of the Chuan Dao Mirror was stunned, their eyes gradually heating up. Daring to step up? Even after Shou Ye’s state and Bei Bei’s defeat, someone still dared? Even Feng Ting Chen and Feng Zhong Zui were thinking of packing up and heading home, but when they saw Liu Fu Yu really draw his sword...

"Awoo—"

Feng Zhong Zui let out a wolf howl. "Xiao Wan Feng, are you watching? The second of the seven sword immortals is here too? Learn! Learn from it!" He hurriedly aimed the Chuan Dao Mirror at Shou Ye—this boss who had just won the sword immortal’s first battle, showcasing Xiong Jian Tian Jie and Xin Jian Shu’s intent image Tian Jie!

"Rest?"

"Just from dealing with Bei Bei, does this young master need rest?"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, ignoring Liu Fu Yu and glancing toward the Sheng Shen Hall people, especially Zhong Yu Zi, with a meaningful smile, "It seems everyone’s forgotten—we still have an unfinished gentleman’s agreement, regardless of whether there’s a second seven sword immortals battle?"