Chapter 1532: Heaven's One Slash Reveals Its True Name in the World, West Wind Wilts Snow and Beautifies the Human Realm

The spring breeze and gentle rain brought everything back to life.

In the midst of this bitter cold, Xu Xiaoshou not only felt a surge of warmth but also sensed a distortion emerging within himself while trapped in the sword array.

Indeed, it was a distortion!

A power similar to the distortion light that Yan Wuse had once wielded!

Vitality was awakening...

Life force surged endlessly and wildly...

Soon, the power inside him broke through its limits, shattering the restraints and beginning to worsen!

Flesh split apart, and hair grew wildly.

Xu Xiaoshou felt his body writhing, with lumps of meat forming on his chest, starting to evolve into something unknown—perhaps hands, or feet, or even a head.

At the same time, his emotions became chaotic, with anger, greed, and fear rising like dark thoughts, invading his rational mind and trying to seize control.

“Xia Chang!”

As Gu Yu's voice shifted, the weather transformed into scorching summer.

These chaotic emotions spread like mushrooms after rain, instantly reaching their peak.

Within the sword array, Xu Xiaoshou had almost turned into a black-furred monster, his body sprouting chaotic limbs and remnants of arms, while various evil auras surged from him.

“Sheng zhi li!”

Feng Zhong Zui watched intently, his eyes fixed on the battlefield without blinking.

Compared to Di Jian Tian Jie and the second realm, if it were purely about sword dao comprehension, the Chuan Dao Jing could better analyze and transmit the battle details.

He naturally explained it more effectively:

“Gu Lao comes from the fields and once returned to them, so his Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian originates from that.”

“The five grains nourish people, but they can also harm them. This sword uses the nine-sword formation to tilt the balance of power, elevating the weight of life to its utmost, causing those in the array to suffer mental chaos and bizarre phenomena...”

“But the opponent is Xu Xiaoshou!” Feng Zhong Zui, now fully aware of Xu Xiaoshou's trump cards, shifted his tone and continued, “His heart sword technique is essentially a demon sword technique, and he also possesses the essence of life. For the power of 'life,' does Xu Xiaoshou really have no way to counter it?”

“In my view, he's just like when he fought Bei Jian Xian and Liu Jian Xian—relying on his powerful body to comprehend Gu Lao's sword!”

“So the question is, how long will it take Xu Xiaoshou to grasp Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian?”

One had to admit, these words were truly disheartening.

Gu Lao, known as the first sword immortal, had a first sword that could induce mental chaos and create life-altering distortions, making it extremely difficult to counter.

Even after just this initial test, its bizarre nature could make many future challengers think twice.

But at this moment, when Feng Zhong Zui spoke up, no one felt it was unreasonable.

There was no helping it—Xu Xiaoshou's first two battles had raised everyone's expectations of him to an all-time high!

He seemed capable of anything!

“How long can it trap him?”

Gu Yu didn't even have a clear estimate for Xu Xiaoshou, who had gained some insight.

But he thought, based on the strength this young man had shown before, even if he gained some understanding, trapping him for three to five breaths with this sword shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, this assumed a normal breakthrough, not a forceful one.

Little did he expect that in the blink of a thought, after the probe of “Chun Sheng Xia Chang,” the sword array's power had barely paused...

The long-haired, multi-armed monster that was Xu Xiaoshou, amidst the chaos, lifted his unrecognizable head without any hesitation and rasped with a mocking laugh:

“How come it stopped?”

Gu Yu's pupils dilated sharply.

Wasn't it?

He showed no signs of being affected at all?

This was impossible!!

“Received doubt, passive value, 1.”

Where was the impossibility?

As the information bar flashed like that, Xu Xiaoshou had already nearly finished deducing Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian before even fully experiencing its full intent.

There was no way around it—the Jian Dao Pan provided insights that were too powerful!

It encompassed nearly everything, analyzing ancient sword dao to its very essence at the highest level!

If sword technique mastery allowed Xu Xiaoshou to replicate the abilities of various second-realm experts without understanding them, then Jian Dao Pan at 80 was telling him the fundamental building blocks of the second realm.

In fact, it made him wonder—if he set aside these established concepts, could he combine other sword daos, sword techniques, or sword arts to recreate, perfect, or even evolve toward the third realm?

The third realm was certainly too distant for now; he could only glimpse its threshold.

To truly achieve it...

Either through time and quiet contemplation, or by continuing to risk assimilation with the great dao through point allocation.

But even so, Jian Dao Pan at 80 was more than sufficient—it was overwhelmingly excessive!

It could analyze and deduce the second realm, so something like Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian, which was merely a first-realm technique combined with basic dao applications, was no challenge.

In the past, it might have been used to test him, but now, it was like facing Sheng Di head-on, letting him strike first, only for him to foolishly throw out a “Bai Yun You You” to test the waters...

Far from bold—it was practically suicidal!

For the distortion of “life,” Xu Xiaoshou could even reverse and utilize it—his life essence might not be fully formed, but his comprehension was there. It wasn't about cheating; it was just that others had accidentally targeted his strongest area!

His wildly growing hair moved like extensions of his limbs, coiling around as Cang Ku soared from mid-air, tearing out a sharp “shii” sound...

“Nine swords form the array, Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian!”

Xu Xiaoshou's voice suddenly echoed through the space, cold and astonishing.

Feng Zhong Zui's scalp tingled, and he stumbled back with a strange cry: “This is impossible—Gu Lao hasn't even finished his sword, and Xu Xiaoshou can replicate Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian?”

Gu Yu tensed up, about to act.

But at the same time, the seasoned veteran spotted some flaws around him and laughed in exasperation:

“Brat, trying to bluff me?”

It was clearly not Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian—it was Huan Jian Shu!

Huan Jian Shu trying to deceive someone as proficient in it as Gu Yu was rather clumsy.

However...

Xu Xiaoshou was not the Xu Xiaoshou that everyone imagined.

For him, if this sword could disrupt Gu Yu's thoughts and shift his focus from the sword array to whether it was Huan Jian Shu, then even if Gu Yu reacted quickly and realized it was a feint, the control effect was already achieved!

Gu Yu's attack rhythm was broken.

From the heap of twisted flesh, Xu Xiaoshou extended his right hand, gripped Cang Ku in reverse, and pulled it toward the hilt.

This sword was incredibly fast, fast enough to leave afterimages in the void.

This sword was incredibly slow, slow enough for everyone to clearly see the waves rippling through the air as Cang Ku slashed out.

Those waves were still so slow, so slow...

Slow enough that even pushing Xu Xiaoshou's own hair took an eternity.

It was as if time had derailed under Cang Ku, needing forever to straighten out and return decently.

Gu Yu froze for a moment, his thoughts stalled for an instant, feeling as if a long time had passed.

He suddenly realized he couldn't let Xu Xiaoshou build his sword momentum—his own sword wasn't finished yet; how could it be broken?

“Qiu... Shou...”

But as the words left his mouth, Gu Yu was shocked to find it too slow.

Not an illusion!

Time was really slowing down!

Time attribute? No, Huan Jian Shu— the power of time!

In the southern domain, Gou Wuyue suddenly widened his eyes, looking up from the battle footage on Dao Qiong Cang's hand in shock.

What was going on?

He had suddenly seen his own sword in that fight?

At the same time, Chuan Dao Jing transmitted a raspy, infuriating low laugh:

“Shi Xu · Ni.”

The light and shadow shifted.

Cang Ku returned with the sword, retracting into the endless hair.

The intent of Xia Chang and Chun Sheng retreated wildly under Gu Yu's widened eyes.

The disgusting limbs and dry hair sprouting from Xu Xiaoshou's body, along with the granular flesh blocking his throat, all retreated completely!

Winter returned, and the sword array unified.

Mei Zi Yu reverted from its ethereal state and flew back to Gu Yu's hand, but the moment it touched his palm...

“Break!”

Gu Yu roared, his surging sword intent nearly shattering this “Shi Xu · Ni,” trying to mend the damage after the fact.

But Cang Ku seized the opportunity and flew out!

It soared like Mei Zi Yu had earlier, transforming into eight great intents in the air, accompanied by Xu Xiaoshou's casual laugh swirling down:

“Chun Sheng Xia Chang, Qiu Shou Dong Zang, Yin Lai Yang Xu, Zhu Jing Qing Zhang.”

“This sword of mine will surpass the original—I'm not exaggerating, Gu Lao, you'd better watch out.”

The eight swords formed an eight-sided great well, trapping the astonished old frog Gu Yu, who had never seen such a way of breaking or comprehending swords, deep within the array.

This time, it wasn't Huan Jian Shu... All the ancient sword cultivators present widened their pupils in unison. So, had Xu Xiaoshou truly replicated Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian?

“This is impossible!” Feng Zhong Zui exclaimed in shock, then thought of something and turned Chuan Dao Jing toward Mei Si Ren.

Before he could speak, Mei Si Ren turned his head angrily, “Xiao Yu challenged him on his own, and I don't even know his sword techniques—how could I have taught them to Xu Xiaoshou in advance?”

Was that really true? Then how did you know what I was going to ask... Feng Zhong Zui hesitated.

Seeing this, Mei Si Ren snapped open his fan:

“Yue Ran.”

What did that mean?

Feng Zhong Zui was briefly stunned.

The fan had “Yue Ran” written on it... Wait, Yue Ran fan? On paper?

Feng Zhong Zui's lips twitched, and he fell into thought:

“Was my suspicion that obvious?”

It wasn't just him—Gu Yu at that moment suspected if Mei Si Ren had leaked his sword to Xu Xiaoshou before the battle.

But he quickly realized, just as he wasn't skilled in Gui Jian Shu, Mei Si Ren's mastery of Huan Jian Shu was equally lacking.

He simply couldn't perform Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian, which combined the nine emotions of illusion, let alone Tian Hou Xiang!

So, Xu Xiaoshou could have at most analyzed a fragmented “Chun Sheng Xia Chang” from his earlier half-sword...

“What is life, what is death?”

“What is yin, what is yang?”

As he pondered, the young man opposite began reciting thoughtfully!

Gu Yu was amused and annoyed.

Could you really deduce autumn and winter from my spring and summer evolutions, piece together the four seasons, comprehend yin and yang, merge qi into chaos, and return to the primal sword?

“Received mockery, passive value, 1.”

“Received speculation, passive value, 4.”

“Received shock and doubt, passive value, 9999.”

Xu Xiaoshou didn't need to comprehend.

After all, he already had.

“Green sprouts for life, withering leaves for death...”

“Life and death, the cycle of glory and decay, the nine sequences of illusion...”

When the young man opposite uttered the words “glory and decay,” Gu Yu's face paled, nearly losing his composure on the spot.

No!

This kid wasn't joking—he really had something!

Using the time path of Huan Jian Shu, the order of the nine-sword array, and the withering and flourishing of plants as the sword—this was exactly the origin of Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian!

For Xu Xiaoshou to speak those two words...

Wasn't that the same as Dao Qiong Cang revealing heavenly secrets?

“Chun Sheng Xia Chang, chaos breeds evil!”

Xu Xiaoshou gripped the formless array eye Cang Ku, manipulating this Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian that now belonged to him, and shifted the weight toward the character for “life.”

Endless demonic energy exploded from Gu Yu's body, his flesh splitting rapidly, leaving him quickly weakened.

Not everyone had endless vitality to withstand the rapid depletion of body, mind, and intent.

So fragile... Xu Xiaoshou nearly laughed out loud at the sight, gaining a new understanding of the ancient sword cultivators' weak defenses.

“Gu Lao is hit!”

The spectating Feng Zhong Zui jumped three feet high, “He's wounded by his own sword—this is some ultimate technique... Wait, there's a twist!”

As soon as he spoke, a deadly intent enveloped Gu Yu. Within Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian, Mei Zi Yu split into eight swords again, forming another sword array.

“Qiu Shou!”

The weight of life was replaced in Mei Zi Yu's sword array with an intent of pervasive death.

“Dong Zang!”

Gu Yu's aura rapidly climbed back to its peak. He gripped the formless Mei Zi Yu, his vigilant gaze fixed on the young man opposite.

He no longer dared to underestimate Xu Xiaoshou!

With one sword sheathed, the power of plant flourishing and withering was fully drawn into Mei Zi Yu's blade.

“Cang Jian Shu!” Feng Zhong Zui chimed in at the right moment, “Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian is a collection of various sword techniques besides Gui Jian Shu, primarily based on the nine emotions of illusion, where you can also see traces of other sword arts...”

The sword waited for three breaths.

Seeing no movement from Xu Xiaoshou, Gu Yu could no longer contain his surging sword intent and unleashed it skyward.

“Yin Yang Po Mie!”

Buzz—

In an instant, black-and-white mixed sword light tore through Cang Ku's Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian, hurtling toward Xu Xiaoshou's face.

“Shua.”

Nine swords formed the array.

As the attacking Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian shattered, Xu Xiaoshou layered a defensive Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian over himself.

—His understanding of this sword now equaled or even surpassed Gu Yu's!

“Qiu Shou.”

The same sheathing.

“Dong Zang.”

The same returning to the sheath.

Gu Yu was horrified to find that the other side seemed to have stolen his techniques after thirty years of study—the way he sheathed the sword was identical.

Mei Zi Yu's yin-yang sword light hadn't even reached Xu Xiaoshou before it was drawn into the sheath by Cang Ku through paths of “restraint,” “storage,” “accumulation,” and “reverse,” among others.

“Seriously?”

Gu Yu was stunned.

He vaguely sensed that when Xu Xiaoshou's sword erupted, it might be even fiercer than his own.

“Yin Yang Po Nian!”

With one sword drawn, just one word different.

Amid the black and white, a crescent-moon silver light flashed.

This time, not just Gu Yu, but Feng Zhong Zui, Mei Si Ren, and others all felt a chill down their backs.

“Jian Nian!”

“Not just a perfect replication—Xu Xiaoshou added Jian Nian power!”

Feng Zhong Zui cried out repeatedly, “This second-generation Che Shen Nian—does Gu Lao, that old man, even know it? Can he keep up with the times?”

Gu Yu nearly spat blood from Feng Zhong Zui's piercing words, but the Jian Nian-enhanced attack was no joke.

“Tian Hou Xiang!”

Without hesitation, the four seasons evolved around Gu Yu, ultimately merging yin and yang, blending the turbid and clear into the phase of chaos...

“Da.”

At the same time, a sound of a spiritual sword returning to its sheath came from behind.

Before “Tian Hou Chaos” could be unleashed, Gu Yu was horrified to see Xu Xiaoshou's afterimage dissipate in front of him.

He turned his head in a daze, looking behind.

The spectating Feng Zhong Zui's reaction was just as slow; only then could he turn Chuan Dao Jing to follow, revealing Xu Xiaoshou, who had somehow dashed behind Gu Lao.

Xu Xiaoshou's Cang Ku was sheathed.

The chaotic Tian Hou Xiang behind him was also sheathed.

In his black robe, he slightly lifted his chin, his melancholic eyes gazing as he slowly reached out, catching a snowflake falling from the sky, then gently blew it away, leaving Chuan Dao Jing with a perfect profile as he said lightly:

“This sword is called 'Xi Feng Diao Xue.'”

What did that mean?

Everyone watching Xu Xiaoshou, who had been fighting and suddenly sheathed his sword to pose, felt more uncomfortable than if they had accidentally swallowed a fly mid-laugh.

Hey, what are you doing?

Gu Lao's sword hasn't been unleashed yet—you're still in the fight! Is this some kind of illness?

But Feng Zhong Zui was the first to react, his face paling in shock:

“Wait, was that my eyes playing tricks? Did Xu Xiaoshou just use 'Tian Hou Xiang' too?”

His words exploded like thunder, instantly jolting everyone awake. Gu Yu shuddered.

But as he moved, his waist shook...

“Shua shua shua!”

His upper clothing disintegrated, and brilliant sword light swirled around his neck, chest, and waist.

Blood splattered, and as his head tilted, Gu Yu clearly saw his sword-holding hand and the other arm fly off with the sword light.

That sword light carried the power of the four seasons, merging yin and yang, turning into chaotic mist after leaving his body.

—It was clearly his ultimate killing move from Zhong Gu Ba Men Jian, Tian Hou Chaos, which he hadn't unleashed!

“I... got hit?”

Gu Yu stared in disbelief.