Chapter 1543: Ascending the Sacred Mountain to Question All Existence, Placing in a Dead End to Achieve Rebirth

"Fu Gui, is Ai Cangsheng's Da Dao Zhi Yan the same as the Lei Jia Tong?"

"Yes, but not in the way you think, Shou Ye."

"How so?"

"This Ai Cangsheng, before he loved the common people, he also loved a beauty. Back then, he wasn't yet one of the Ten Venerables; he was still wandering in the Nan Yu. He met a woman who was just entering the jianghu, named Lei Xiaoxiao."

"Then what happened?"

"They fell in love, there was an accident, and death... It seems Lei Xiaoxiao fell during an exploration of a ruins site. Before she died, she gave him the Lei Jia Tong, and he obtained the Xie Zui Gong there too."

"I see. Is there a possibility that he killed her to get the Xie Zui Gong, gouged out her eyes, and then faked it as a tragic love story?"

"Uh, Shou Ye, there were other people there at the time, so that's not possible. They even returned to the Lei family together, and they were about to get married."

"Oh, that's a shame. I was being petty; just pretend I never said those vicious words."

"Understood, Shou Ye."

"Fu Gui, why is Ai Cangsheng always sitting in a wheelchair? Who could have broken his legs? Does the Sheng Shen Dian Tang pay so little that he doesn't have spirit crystals to buy a Fu Qu Dan?"

"It's not like that, Shou Ye. You might have heard that Ai Cangsheng could stand up before."

"If you're saying that, I've heard many versions about Ai Cangsheng. Some say he was born disabled, others say his legs were broken by his parents when he was naughty as a child, and some say Ba Zun An used ancient martial arts to snap them off for refining pills... I want to hear your version."

"It's like this: Ai Cangsheng was indeed born disabled, but before becoming one of the Ten Venerables, he cultivated to the point where he could stand. Later, he sat back in the wheelchair, seemingly because of..."

"Because of what?"

"Because of the 'Xie Shen Zhi Li'!"

"Tell me more."

"Ai Cangsheng was born disabled because his legs contained evil power. The Nan Yu where he was born is a land of sin, where many people are born with a trace of Xie Shen Zhi Li aura, which can cause deformities or damage to spiritual intelligence..."

"So he's special, able to use that power?"

"Yes! The ruins site where he and Lei Xiaoxiao went was also where he received the inheritance of the Xie Shen Ancestor. The Xie Zui Gong is one of the divine artifacts once held by the Xie Shen, full of Xie Shen Zhi Li."

"So, he was born as the embryo for the inheritance of the Shu Zu, and by chance or fate, he reached that site, found the Xie Zui Gong, and... well..."

"Not gouged!"

"Oh, okay, no gouging... Before the Ten Venerables, he mastered the Zu Yuan Zhi Li, just like innately comprehending Che Shen Nian, charging forward invincibly. Is that what you mean?"

"Mm."

"Fu Gui, what kind of person is Ai Cangsheng?"

"Powerful, decisive, calm, wise, benevolent, compassionate..."

"Hold on, the way you're describing him, it sounds like we're the villains and we have to fight him."

"Good, Fu Gui, you're clear-headed and bold enough to criticize me directly. We indeed are. Go on."

"Shou Ye, the Sheng Shen Dian Tang has many shortcomings, and the Hong Yi is rotten to the core from the start, but there are still a few admirable people, like Yan Lao, Ai Cangsheng..."

"Fu Gui, if you're going to criticize, remember to do it in moderation. I'm not very tolerant. In the Ba Gong, he shot Sang Lao, you know that, right?"

"Ai Cangsheng does have some commendable traits in loving his people, but his personality is too stubborn. I think that's one of his weaknesses!"

"Alright, alright, go on and tell me more."

"Let's consider the Sheng Shen Dian Tang and the Five Great Sheng Di Families as the 'Sheng Shen Pai', and the forces represented by the Sheng Nu as the 'Sheng Nu Pai'. These two factions have their own ideologies and each claims to hold the true 'justice'."

"Mm, and Ai Cangsheng?"

"Ai Cangsheng is stubborn and forms his own faction. He's not purely 'Sheng Shen Pai'; he's the 'Pure Justice Pai' that stands with the majority."

"What do you mean?"

"When the 'Sheng Shen Pai' is in control of the era, Ai Cangsheng of the 'Pure Justice Pai' will definitely protect and support the 'Sheng Shen Pai'!"

"Why?"

"Because if the 'Sheng Nu Pai' tries to overthrow the 'Sheng Shen Pai's rule, it would involve a long process with bloody storms and innocent sacrifices."

"... Fu Gui, why do I feel a sense of guilt listening to you?"

"Shou Ye, Fu Gui hasn't finished. The 'Pure Justice Pai' isn't absolute justice; it's relative. For example, to guard the gate of the 'Sheng Shen Pai' and maintain their position, Ai Cangsheng will turn a blind eye to some things."

"Like the Hong Yi?"

"Yes!"

"Like the corruption inside the Sheng Shen Dian Tang?"

"Yes!"

"Then I get what kind of person he is—if there's a runaway carriage that will crush five innocent people lying ahead, but there's a fork in the road with one person on the other path, and you only have the choice to steer it or not..."

"Yes, Shou Ye, you've described it perfectly. Ai Cangsheng would hesitate without a second thought, choosing to sacrifice the minority to save the majority, even if the difference is just one person!"

"What about you, Fu Gui?"

"Me? Shou Ye, you know I work in intelligence; I should be cold-blooded... I think those five were fated to die, but that one wasn't, so I would choose not to steer."

"As expected. Your choices reflect your names."

"What about you, Shou Ye?"

When that gaze from Ai Cangsheng fell upon him from afar across the war-torn, desolate pit,

In Xu Xiaoshou's mind flashed all the intelligence about Ai Cangsheng that he had discussed with Li Fu Gui over wine under the trees.

It even went into details like how Ai Cangsheng always had two attendants by his side—one for morning, one for afternoon, their only job being to push his wheelchair.

Hua Cao Ge was already this formidable!

Li Fu Gui was already this outstanding!

It's hard to imagine how terrifying Fen Qin must have been, operating right under Gui Zhe Sheng Shan's nose back in the day.

Now, looking back...

Ai Cangsheng, said to only observe and not act, had used that arrow to bully the weak on that day—perhaps there were signs all along?

Under the Da Dao Zhi Yan, the distance between Gui Zhe Sheng Shan and the distant ruins of Yu Jing City was almost negligible.

Likewise, with the mastery of space mysteries, even high in the clouds, Xu Xiaoshou only needed to lift his eyes to erase the distance.

One was of the heavens, the other of the earth.

One a saint, the other mortal.

Two people, differing as vastly as clouds and mud in every aspect, bridged the gap of eras and distance in a long, fateful stare, as if sparks might fly in the void.

Until Cao Er Zhu scratched his head and asked in confusion:

"Xiao Shou Ge, what about shooting? I didn't shoot anything?"

Xu Xiaoshou stumbled, turned back, and glared at the big fool. "I wasn't talking to you!"

"Oh."

"If I disappear later, whatever you hear me shout last, you shout the same, got it?"

"Got it, Xiao Shou Ge."

After instructing him, Xu Xiaoshou ignored Cao Er Zhu, flicked his sleeve, clasped his hands behind his back, and ascended step by step.

"Buzz!"

Before the protective array of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, a brilliant space mysteries array suddenly unfolded.

That array covered the sky and blocked out the sun, vast enough to engulf the entire inverted mountain in its glow.

This time, it was visible to the world, drawing everyone's attention.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

"The Shou Ye of Tian Shang First Tower, not Sheng Nu!"

"He... he's finally attacking the sacred mountain!"

On Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, from the base to the waist to the peak, countless people looked up in shock, whether lowly mountain guards or the Ban Sheng of the Ten-Person Council, all with expressions of astonishment.

After many days, everyone knew the bold words Shou Ye had left when he ascended Yu Jing.

Now, the city wasn't destroyed but even more desolate, emptied out.

His bold words had been half-fulfilled!

Some guessed Shou Ye would stop here; even he had limits, after all, Gui Zhe Sheng Shan was the place closest to the "Heavenly Ladder" in the world.

Others said that during the Sky City era, Shou Ye had faced Sheng Di head-on, and outside the Si Xiang Secret Realm, he had torn apart the Sheng Di Qilin, so he feared nothing.

And now, as the space mysteries bloomed at the peak of the sacred mountain...

Everyone's hearts eased.

Not with relief,

But with resignation.

He was here!

Finally, no need to live in suspense!

"Quick, quick, quick!"

"Shou Ye is attacking the sacred mountain; hurry over to see!"

"If you have blood escape, use it; if not, you're out of luck, ha ha ha..."

Those who had gathered around Yu Jing City earlier, participated in Zhong Lao's lecture, or came later after seeing the transmission mirrors, now followed Cao Er Zhu's footsteps toward the sacred mountain.

"Brothers, I'm loyal, right?"

From afar, in the wind, Feng Zhong Zui held the transmission mirror, filming himself—he hadn't left yet!

"I know you have some complaints about me."

"Actually, this is my first time hosting a transmission mirror; it's normal to be a bit nervous, so don't scold me."

"But now it's different. Now my family head isn't here, and the Feng family members aren't here; they've all run off first, but I haven't. Why?"

"Because I know what you want to see the most..."

Feng Zhong Zui finished calmly, turned the transmission mirror, and let out a heart-wrenching roar:

"First Sword Immortal, Shou Ye!!!"

As the people of the Five Domains were nearly deafened by the roar, they saw in the mirror the outline of that space mysteries array unfolding outside the inverted mountain in the sky.

In that moment, all who were about to head home stopped, turned around, and rushed to secure spots.

"Damn!"

"Feng Zhong Zui, you're a real man; you've got guts!"

"Good, good, good—charge ahead, Feng Zhong Zui, and we'll back you up from behind!"

"You can dig that up? Just for this, I'll go to Feng Family City to buy you drinks from now on!"

Feng Ting Chen passed by a transmission mirror and found that the sword immortal battle was over, yet these people hadn't left.

On the contrary, they were even more excited.

Why?

Feng Ting Chen had already run to the southernmost part of Zhong Yu and couldn't help but get closer.

Before he even saw the image, he heard Feng Zhong Zui's voice, hoarse from shouting for days but still full of passion:

"Back in the day!"

"The battle between Hua Jian Xian and the Eighth Sword Immortal was called the 'World's First Battle'!"

"But no one knew the process, and the result was quite suspicious, becoming the 'World's First Regret'... Why?"

"Because back then, I, Feng Zhong Zui, wasn't born yet! I didn't get the transmission mirror! But now it's different; the era is different!"

What? How does he dare say all that?

Feng Ting Chen listened in a daze, not keeping up with the younger generation's rhythm, when he heard a hysterical shout:

"Heaven doesn't produce me, Feng Zhong Zui, and the transmission of ten thousand ages would be like a long night!"

"Who will win between Ai Cangsheng and Shou Ye, Sheng Shen Dian Tang and Sheng Nu?"

"Brothers, come to Feng Family City's Hua Yue Lou to treat me to drinks; I'll go transmit it for you right now!"

The people around the transmission mirror erupted.

"Good!"

"Hua Yue Lou, right? I'll remember. As long as you dare transmit, I'll dare treat."

"A few spirit crystals for drinks? Brothers, charge! Let's keep this guy soaked in wine forever, pickle him into a wine man."

"Ha ha ha, wine man? More like Wine Sword Immortal! Sounds better—I see this guy has the makings of a sword immortal..."

Feng Ting Chen instinctively wanted to turn back and drag that reckless boy home.

Suddenly, he stopped.

What Feng Zhong Zui said wasn't without truth.

How many ancient sword cultivators regretted not witnessing the battle between Hua Chang Deng and Ba Zun An?

As long as he wasn't there, and the Feng family elders weren't there...

Feng Zhong Zui knew how to call it his own willfulness; in the end, it was just kids being naughty—what consequences could there be?

None!

Wasn't the purpose of the transmission mirror to let the world watch and gain enlightenment?

Exactly!

So, should Feng Zhong Zui's actions be stopped?

No!

Feng Ting Chen wiped his face, changed his appearance, leaped onto a treetop, gazed at the distant transmission mirror, and smiled.

"Not bad, my Feng family's boy—got spirit!"

"Ai Cangsheng!!!"

Thunderous sounds descended from the sky, echoing over the world-watching Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, shocking all:

"On that day in the Ba Gong, I was innate level, you were Ban Sheng, separated by a domain and several realms, yet you dared to shoot me with the Xie Zui Gong, causing my master Sang Qi Ye to be struck by an arrow, go berserk, and be taken back to the sacred mountain by you."

"Good! As a Ban Sheng, sneaking an attack on an innate level cultivator—never mind where your cultivated rites, righteousness, integrity, and shame went—I only ask you..."

"Did you ever think that in less than a year, this young master would return with mysteries, step on the sacred mountain, and smash your damn turtle shell array with one hand?"

With that, the giant appeared!

Amid the dazzling golden light, the violent giant's hands turned black and withered, manifesting red-gold dragon scales, and he slammed down with a palm!

"Boom!!!"

No elaborate weaving.

Pure violence in its beauty.

Without a Sheng-level Tian Ji sorcerer to control it, and with the mountain guards dead, the protective array was full of flaws in the eyes of another Sheng-level Tian Ji sorcerer!

That palm strike blasted a massive hole in the protective array!

In the Xing Jie, all who saw this from Yu Jing City were stunned.

They remembered that day when Shen Yi had opened the paths of heaven, humanity, and asura, along with ancient martial arts, barely seizing an opening before the sacred mountain's array activated.

In the end, it didn't damage the array at all; Shen Yi was erased by various forces.

But now...

Shou Ye ascends the mountain!

Yu Jing City's shackles were the first he removed.

Dao Xuan Ji, who could manipulate the sacred mountain array, was slain in two.

All that remained was Jiu Ji Gui, unskilled in combat, and Ai Cangsheng, stuck in his wheelchair, just staring.

Could they really stop this madman's advance?

"Splash!"

Before the transmission mirrors, as they saw Shou Ye smash the Gui Zhe Sheng Shan's protective array with one punch, the onlookers completely exploded.

They didn't understand all the intricacies.

They only knew that the holy land of Lian Ling Realm had been punched open by Shou Ye.

This was more impactful than the invisible "Ghost Gate, Shen Cheng Shen," more stirring than the legendary "Hua Ba War"!

"This guy..."

At the Sheng Huan Dian ruins, Yu Lao subconsciously frowned and stepped forward, as if he couldn't hold back.

He suddenly realized no one around needed him to pretend.

Dao Xuan Ji was dead.

The Judge had fled.

This was time to lay low, not stand out.

"... He's a bit impressive; be careful, Ai Cangsheng." Yu Lao warned and stepped back.

Ai Cangsheng gazed remotely at the golden giant in the sky, his eyes calm and unruffled, not even retorting or raising his bow to silence him.

"Dumbstruck?"

"Nothing to say?"

Xu Xiaoshou was pushing his luck; "saints are not to be insulted" wasn't in his dictionary—he'd trample it when he should.

"Good! Let me ask our Ai Cangsheng one more thing!"

"The grand Sheng Shen Dian Tang, proclaiming itself the army of justice, set rules that humans can't mingle with ghosts and beasts, and those above Wang Zuo level must open a realm to fight."

"Yet internally, you harbor ghosts and beasts to harm the Hong Yi, and externally, you break your word, bullying the weak..."

"I ask the original Hong Yi leader, Fang Wen Xin, are my words wrong? Dare you search your conscience and ask if Xu Xiaoshou is spouting nonsense?"

On the mountain and below, countless gazes turned to the visible or invisible Fang Wen Xin.

At the Sheng Huan Dian ruins, Fang Wen Xin sighed deeply, speechless.

"Silence means agreement!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked back at Ai Cangsheng. "I ask you, Ai Cangsheng, what is this so-called 'great love for the common people'? How is it fair, and how is it favoritism?"

The young people on the mountain didn't quite understand, but the elders broke out in cold sweats.

Xu Xiaoshou's mouth was too terrifying; it hit the mark, pointing straight to the core of every issue.

Ai Cangsheng pushed his wheelchair forward without a word, slowly raising the Xie Zui Gong.

"Buzz!"

Xie Shen Zhi Li gathered.

A black-red arrow of the Xie Zui Gong quickly formed on the bow, causing the surrounding space to tremble layer by layer.

"Lock-on detected, passive value: 1."

Xu Xiaoshou laughed instead of panicking, bursting into laughter:

"As expected of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang's style—can't solve the problem, so eliminate the one asking it!"

"Good one, Sheng Shen Dian Tang!"

"Good one, Ai Cangsheng!"

"Good..."

Twang!!!

The transmission mirror screen suddenly zoomed in, from the base of the mountain to the peak, but in the same instant, lost sight of the Xie Zui Gong arrow.

No one could keep up with Ai Cangsheng's Xie Zui Gong arrow!

From release to hitting the target to killing, it took less than half a breath!

Dao Xuan Ji had already proven this with his life at Sheng Huan Dian.

But this time!

Bei Bei, Xi, and others saw just how much the title of "ancient sword cultivator" constrained Shou Ye!

"Roar—"

As the Xie Zui Gong string vibrated, a dragon's roar followed, and a red-gold dragon shadow suddenly appeared in the sky.

In an instant, the shadow vanished like an illusion.

What everyone saw, and what the transmission mirror captured, was on the other side...

Shou Ye!

Xu Xiaoshou in human form!

With one hand, he grasped the Xie Zui Gong arrow!

His sleeve was long gone, his charred hand covered in red-gold dragon scales. The arrow shook wildly in his grip, as if alive and resisting.

Yet the Xie Shen Zhi Li within it gradually dissipated over time, and the Xie Zui Gong arrow ultimately turned to nothing.

Xu Xiaoshou's expression was purely indifferent. After slowly lowering his arm, he chuckled:

"As an innate level, you only sneak attack."

"As a Wang Zuo, you still only sneak attack."

"Ai Cangsheng, you seem to know well how to bully the weak. Don't worry, I'm not here to fight you."

Xu Xiaoshou stood proudly at the peak of the sacred mountain, even inside the protective array.

He surveyed all around, looking down on everything, and said coldly:

"I'm just here to inform you."

"The initiative at the Zhan Shen Guan ruins—you lost it, and you'll never catch up to the others."

"I've now ascended the sacred mountain; use all your means, set up your traps everywhere. When I return, I hope the one bullying the weak is still you!"

The Xie Zui Gong arrow suddenly reformed.

Ai Cangsheng seemed to know what Xu Xiaoshou intended.

But in that same instant, divine light descended from the sky, enveloping Xu Xiaoshou, and he vanished.

"Shen Guan Si Ming, equality for all... Ran Ming!"