Chapter 1577: A Single Shout Shatters the Twelve Saints, Sword Emerges to Behead the Snake Woman's Voice

"Are they here?"

Yellow sand obscured the sky, and eerie winds howled.

Kong Tong's vision blurred for a moment. He lowered his hand from rubbing his eyes, turned back, and shouted down into the trench valley:

"They've arrived!"

Around the plaque of Si Ming Shen Dian, a rustling sound suddenly arose.

The Tai Xu group quickly contracted into a tight circle, each heart pounding, bracing themselves.

The Shi Er Sheng Jun leaped up one by one, landing on the cliff top. Strangely, their emotions had calmed. One of them moved and spoke:

"How many?"

Kong Tong rubbed his eyes again and peered into the yellow sand, confirming he hadn't been mistaken. He immediately shouted down:

"Five."

Only five?

The Tai Xu members huddled around the plaque felt a wave of relief.

They had over a dozen Ban Sheng here—were they afraid of just five Sheng Nu?

According to intelligence, the Sheng Nu only had two true saints: Cen Qiaofu and Shui Gui.

With just those two, plus Xu Xiaoshou and two more Tai Xu, they dared to charge in?

"This is a bit funny."

It was indeed amusing. "Don't they know we have fifteen Ban Sheng here?"

But as soon as these words were spoken, no one could laugh anymore. Everyone fell silent, as if chilled to the bone.

Of course, with the Sheng Nu's power, how could they not know?

This battle was out in the open, so they must have ways to know the situation here.

And yet, with only five, they dared to rush in—what did that mean?

It meant they feared nothing!

It meant they believed Xu Xiaoshou, with his left hand pulling Huang and his right hand wielding Qingcang, plus two extras, could wipe out over a dozen Ban Sheng here!

"Arrogant!"

"Insolent!"

"But the Sheng Nu never acts without certainty, especially with Shui Gui among them..."

As they thought this, their formation began to falter.

Yet, glancing to one side at the tall, silent figure by the plaque, standing firm against the wind and rain, the Tai Xu crowd felt their hearts steady once more.

What was there to fear?

This was Taizai Ci!

Even if Xu Xiaoshou came, he'd be sent packing!

"Who is Xu Xiaoshou?"

In the howling gale and swirling dust, someone asked anxiously.

A distance of a thousand li was just a split second for a Ban Sheng. Soon, those figures grew from tiny specks to clear outlines.

Through the haze, Qin Guan bumped Kong Tong's shoulder and frowned: "It seems like there are more than two saints?"

Indeed, more than two!

Kong Tong scrutinized them carefully.

Besides the leader, whose power he couldn't fully discern, the other four were all Ban Sheng level.

"The one in the middle must be Xu Xiaoshou."

At these words, the Shi Er Sheng Jun looked over.

They saw the black-clad young man at the front, appearing to be in his early twenties, strikingly handsome and imposing, with a majestic aura as he strode like a dragon or tiger.

Each step covered miles, kicking up sandstorms, yet with a mortal body, he exuded the presence of a war god descending, his pressure no less than that of Taizai Ci!

"What kind of momentum is this?"

The Shi Er Sheng Jun felt a chill in their hearts simultaneously, their eyes drawn to the shadow at Xu Xiaoshou's feet.

It was just a normal shadow, neither large nor small, neither light nor dark, showing no sign of externalized war god power.

"Look behind him!"

Qin Guan's pupils contracted sharply, as if he'd seen something, pointing from afar.

Amid the storm, Xu Xiaoshou was small, but as he walked, a vague giant's outline formed from the sand and dust behind him.

Thud!

One step...

Thud!

Another step...

Thud!

As the Shi Er Sheng Jun witnessed this vision, they felt as if they'd been hit by an illusion, transported to another world where everything vanished except the yellow sand and storm.

The half-visible yellow sand giant took step after step, unhurried but each one stamping on their hearts, as if to crush and shatter their will.

"What a presence!"

This oppressive force was clearly meant for ordinary Ling Shi, but now it was reversed.

Who was Xu Xiaoshou, anyway?

And who were the Shi Er Sheng Jun?

This was completely upside down, defying the natural order!

"Halt at the forbidden zone ahead!"

Kong Tong's body twitched sharply, using agile energy to shake off the pressure. He squeezed through the gap, drew his long spear, and shouted:

"I am Kong Tong, the Tuan Ling Sheng Jun under the Twelve Saint Sovereigns of Taizai Ci from Si Ming Shen Dian's northern domain. By clear order, trespassers will be put to death..."

But before he could finish,

The young man in front waved his hand lightly behind him, and suddenly the wind stopped, silence falling everywhere.

Kong Tong felt as if something had lodged in his throat, his words of bolstering morale stuck and unable to come out, leaving him uncomfortably stifled.

Tap, tap, tap...

The five figures emerged from the yellow dust.

Now, the young man at the front had a mocking smile clearly visible at the corner of his lips.

He swept his indifferent gaze over the Shi Er Sheng Jun with a slight shake of his head, then looked past them to the trench below, scoffing:

"Skip the pleasantries. I don't have that much time to waste on you insignificant insects."

Total disregard!

Blatant disregard!

This look, this tone—it clearly showed he didn't take any of the Ban Sheng here seriously.

Shui Gui and Sang Lao, walking with him, twitched their expressions. Well, fine, you don't have time, but we're just these insignificant insects with time to peck at each other.

The Shi Er Sheng Jun, positioned around the trench cliff in a neat formation, waiting respectfully, now wore clear anger on their faces.

Not just a trace!

It was towering rage!

Such audacity, disrespect, ignorance of hierarchy, and brazen talk—how dare he spout this in front of the noble Shi Er Sheng Jun? Just wait until we strike back!

But before they could speak...

The black-clad young man lifted his chin slightly, smirked, and under his feet, a dazzling array diagram unfolded.

It seemed to amplify physical strength?

As he advanced, the array sank into the ground.

With a tremendous rumble, mountains and rocks shattered and flew into the air, suspending in the sky.

Behind him, the yellow sand storm transformed, like a giant glaring, turning into a ferocious apparition lunging forward, soul-shaking and thunderous:

"Taizai Ci, come out and face your death!!!"

Rumble, rumble!

Waves of powerful energy swept from the trench top, shattering the entire hollowed-out valley, sending rocks tumbling.

"Taizai Ci, come out and face your death..."

"Face your death..."

"Death..."

The explosive roar echoed through the universe, like a divine punishment, directly invading their minds with relentless impacts.

"Ahhh—"

The Tai Xu around the Si Ming Shen Dian plaque cried out in agony, collapsing to the ground, blood gushing from their seven orifices, foam at their mouths, in unbearable pain.

High above, the figures of the Shi Er Sheng Jun crumbled and retreated, blown back like dust and stones, their clothes torn and weapons destroyed, in utter disarray.

"Hah."

Taizai Ci sat unmoving on the giant rock.

From the massive shadow beneath his feet, a voice of surprise emerged:

"Che Shen Nian?"

The strength of the Shi Er Sheng Jun was well-known in the northern domain.

For Xu Xiaoshou's single roar to send them flying like sand was inconceivable!

From that shout, one could glimpse traces of Che Shen Nian.

After all, since the battle of the last Ten Venerables, all Ban Sheng in the world had studied this path, even if few mastered it, they all recognized this power.

But...

What kind of Che Shen Nian could infuse pure sound waves like this, without relying on other paths, to shatter Sheng Jun and upheave the earth?

"The Shadow Saint is awakened?"

She Furen nestled in Taizai Ci's embrace and laughed.

Seeing the war god armor flash with light without Taizai Ci moving an inch, she knew this Che Shen Nian wasn't a big deal and couldn't breach her man's defenses.

The Shi Er Sheng Jun's level was still a notch below hers.

"What a crude boy, only knowing how to go straight for the kill without appreciating foreplay. Let me go meet him first."

With that, She Furen turned into a plume of black smoke and vanished.

"She Ji, wait!"

The massive shadow on the ground stirred, crying out, but it was too late.

"Sang Lao, Shui Gui, follow me. Leave the small fry to you two!"

Xu Xiaoshou's roar had shattered the Shi Er Sheng Jun, and his aura peaked at that moment.

He paid no heed to the furious insects about to return; knowing the four saints behind him could hold off any obstacles, he leaped straight toward the trench below.

Even before approaching, his "perception" had faintly detected a powerful hidden array there.

Not a Tianji array, but a Sheng-level Ling array, extremely advanced.

It altered all visible scenery with its transformative power and concealed the location of the Zhan Shen Ling in a hazy moonlit world.

Nothing was clear!

But Xu Xiaoshou could intuitively sense a Ban Sheng aura below, extraordinarily strong!

Perfect...

Just the whetstone I need before taking on that dog!

Whoosh.

As soon as he reached the trench, black smoke rose from below, coalescing into a seductive woman in red gossamer.

Xu Xiaoshou paused, then struck out, his palm grabbing toward the woman's jade neck without mercy:

"Are you Taizai Ci?"

She Furen was startled at the words, then smiled radiantly: "I'm not..."

Before she could finish, Xu Xiaoshou had no patience for courtesy. His scaled, charred claw locked onto the woman's throat and twisted viciously:

"Die!"

Gurgle...

A strange sound emerged.

She Furen's head jerked to the side, leaving a slippery, viscous fluid, and like a snake, her head twisted free from the lock.

"You brat, why so impatient?"

Her face showed shock, her beautiful eyes coquettish as she exhaled a breath of dark purple fragrance.

Huff.

What is this?

Taizai Ci isn't a man, and you're using something so disgusting?

"Corrosion received, passive value: 1."

"Poison invasion received, passive value: 1."

"Softening received, passive value: 1."

"Weakness received, passive value: 1."

"Confusion received, passive value: 1."

Notifications popped up rapidly.

One breath of fragrance weakened a thousand strengths.

Xu Xiaoshou felt layers of negative effects stack on him instantly, even triggering his spiritual awakening.

His palm was corroded, peeling badly, with recovery extremely slow.

That unknown-grade toxin fed on Ling Yuan, spreading through his limbs and bones.

His body grew limp...

His mind grew confused...

Even his vision blurred briefly, and his steps staggered slightly.

"What poison has such effects?" Xu Xiaoshou was greatly alarmed. His current passive skills were no joke.

"Little brother..."

She Furen rested a green onion-like finger on her chin, teasingly saying:

"This is 'Huai Du,' extracted from the ancestral great Huai tree and refined with blood from various ancient sacred beasts. Even a Sheng Di could be poisoned unaware—how could you resist?"

"Huai Du dissolves into the blood like it's natural. Let me tell you the truth, sister—for now, you're just dizzy and weak in the limbs. In ten breaths, your flesh will rot and your soul corrode; in a hundred breaths, you'll... hmm."

"Not saying more. If you want the antidote, just beg sister."

She shook her head lightly, smiling slyly as she extended a finger and gently pressed it to the handsome young man's forehead, pushing forward.

In the past, no matter who—even Taizai Ci on their first meeting—fell for her trap unprepared, their bodies taken before they awoke, with no turning back.

This little guy wasn't even a Ban Sheng...

So what if his body was strong? Great, but Huai Du works from within, like a parasitic ghost beast—useless to fight it!

So what if his sword intent was strong? It solved nothing. Ancient sword cultivators were all useless, soft weaklings who neglected their bodies!

So what if his Che Shen Nian was strong?

So what if his ancestral power was strong?

What were those vague things anyway!

To save yourself, you'd need the power of a medicine ancestor or something similar.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Hah, just a mere Xu Xiaoshou."

She Furen could already envision this renowned young junior collapsing helplessly at her feet, shedding his armor and weeping in defeat.

As her finger pushed forward, her gaze shifted downward, her long, forked tongue licking her red lips, saliva sizzling through the void.

"I heard you can 'derive thousands upon thousands'?"

"Come on, then. Let me—let you experience the true bliss of the Feisheng Immortal Realm... uh?"

Her hungry words halted abruptly, and disbelief flashed across She Furen's face.

She saw Xu Xiaoshou's body shudder, a Life Dao disk forming under his feet, and from his pores, massive life mist sprayed out, faintly carrying dark purple from the Huai Du.

"How is that possible?"

She Furen paled in shock. "Huai Du has merged with your body—how could you pinpoint it so precisely?"

Useless!

Even if you found it, it's useless!

Once you're hit, Huai Du becomes your Ling Yuan, Sheng Yuan, blood, and flesh. Spraying out a bit isn't enough!

Huff.

She Furen exhaled another breath of fragrance, enveloping Xu Xiaoshou entirely.

He's not resisting?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't move, as if truly immobilized!

She Furen sensed something off—this was clearly the sign of poisoning and weakness—but his reaction made her hair stand on end, like he was doing it on purpose.

Retreat? Not possible!

Today, she had to take this vigorous young man and savor him thoroughly!

Huff.

Another breath of Huai Du.

But the dazed Xu Xiaoshou suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light bursting forth:

"Enough already?"

That pervasive Huai Du had indeed entered his body, but in an instant, it vanished like falling into an abyss.

She Furen's expression finally turned to horror.

She could no longer sense any of her poison-based power in Xu Xiaoshou's body!

"How is that possible?"

"How could you do that?"

Xu Xiaoshou just smirked.

True, Huai Du was unparalleled; if not swallowed immediately, even conversion and endless vitality would take time to dispel it.

But sorry, I have two power cores. Admit you're strong on the Qi Hai side, but that doesn't stop me from activating the Dragon Pearl!

Activate the Dragon Pearl, borrow the stored power.

Use Life Aoyi to extract all the poisoned life energy from my body and toss it into the Dragon Pearl.

I'm still me.

But I'm no longer the old me.

"It's something, but not much."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes sharpened instantly.

Heart Sword Technique: Eyes like gods and Buddhas!

Don't look directly... She Furen knew ancient sword cultivators well and instinctively averted her gaze.

But under Xu Xiaoshou's feet, an Yi Dao disk bloomed:

"Look at me, you wretch!"

Boom—

In that instant, She Furen felt like her head was struck by a sledgehammer, numbly following the command to turn and look.

No good!

Guidance power!

How does Xu Xiaoshou have Taizai Ci's guidance power? Isn't that only for Sheng Di?

Sizzle...

As her thoughts shifted, darkness fell before her eyes, and She Furen felt the world spin.

"West Wind Withers Snow."

The voice came, and her Sheng Nian swept instinctively.

Below, at the source of the sound, the black-clad young man was slowly sheathing his sword behind her headless body. The fierce light of four swords quickly faded, clicking as they returned to the sheath.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

Thick blood, mixed with the vicious aura of the four swords, gushed from the severed neck, drowning out the piercing screams that echoed to the heavens:

"No!!!"