Chapter 1578: Empty Rejection Shadow Holy Whip Shatters the Python, Taizai Heads the Discussion on Snake Soup

"Snake Lady has been defeated?"

The battlefield of the Twelve Sheng Jun had barely begun, yet screams were already echoing from nearby—how could it have ended so quickly?

Qin Guan, Kong Tong, and the others were all stunned. After a quick scan with their sacred senses, they quickly identified the key point:

"Xu Xiaoshou, you’re not poisoned?"

The guy had just beheaded Snake Lady with a single sword, and now he was striking a dashing pose next to the headless corpse, which was spraying blood everywhere.

This was no sign of poisoning—it looked more like he’d taken some kind of stimulant.

But…

Something was off!

Snake Lady’s high status among the Twelve Sheng Jun wasn't just due to her connections; her strength played a bigger role.

Her poison was potent enough to take down even Tai Zai Ci directly, acting so fast that no one could react, and nearly impossible to guard against.

If the fight dragged on, even a dozen or so semi-saints ganging up might not beat her.

If someone kept her alive and let the poison effects stack, she could even try facing off against a Sheng Emperor!

And now…

In just one encounter, her head was chopped off by Xu Xiaoshou?

She’d even used Huai Du, her poison that counters all semi-saints, and yet she was countered by Xu Xiaoshou?

What kind of freak was that guy? Did he really have the power of the Medicine Ancestor?

"What are you thinking!"

Amid the shocking thoughts, Kong Tong realized a massive blood tumor had formed on his back.

It burst open, transforming into a figure made of blood and water, one hand pushing a mask and the other gripping a Feng Yuan Qiang, thrusting it down toward his head.

"Your opponent is me!"

Rumbles echoed from all directions—winds, thunder, fire, water, and all sorts of bizarre techniques erupted in the semi-saint battles.

Surprisingly, even though it was twelve against four, the Sheng Jun divided their forces wisely, with no one daring to encroach on Xu Xiaoshou’s battlefield.

It was as if everyone silently agreed: soldiers against soldiers, kings against kings.

Since Xu Xiaoshou seemed even more unpredictable and troublesome than Snake Lady, he was clearly left for Tai Zai Ci to handle.

"Hiss…"

Blood gushed before him.

The ferocious demonic energy from the Four Swords engulfed Snake Lady’s entire body.

But strangely, Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t detect any sign of her life force diminishing.

Or perhaps…

"One body dies, but another remains!"

Viewed through the essence of life, Snake Lady’s demon-possessed body had clearly been abandoned.

After some writhing, her chest burst open, and a head covered in thick, sticky fluid emerged from within.

—Another Snake Lady!

"A semi-saint avatar?"

Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes showed surprise.

This was his first time seeing someone summon a semi-saint avatar inside the Shen Zhi Yi Ji.

Those entering the Shen Zhi Yi Ji could only bring their true bodies; avatars couldn’t enter, and summoning one here meant refining it on the spot.

Theoretically, it was possible, but in practice, few semi-saints could pull it off.

Because everyone knew, refining a semi-saint avatar came at a steep cost.

First, you had to split off most of your own power; second, the resources required were immense; and finally…

Time was the real challenge!

Generally, refining one took decades at the longest, or at least three to five years at the shortest.

Xu Xiaoshou had once witnessed the fastest method—Huang Quan had publicly given "birth" to one, using the power of time to accelerate and forcefully condense a semi-saint avatar to barely escape with his life.

So, if you found a treasure spot in the Shen Zhi Yi Ji that could speed up time, churning out an avatar in a few days wasn’t impossible.

But doing so would inevitably drain your vital energy in the short term, leaving both your true body and avatar far from peak condition.

After all, not everyone had a full set of passive skills.

In the Shen Zhi Yi Ji, whether this was a good or bad move depended on perspective.

"Hiss!"

Her snake tongue flicked out.

Like shedding skin, the newly emerged Snake Lady was completely unaffected by her old body’s injuries, freeing herself entirely from the demonic energy.

However…

"You’re too slow!"

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head in disbelief.

He’d been prepared ever since his life essence revealed a new life form inside her.

If she’d reincarnated from her flying head, even a bit farther away, she might have had a slim chance to survive.

But spitting yourself out right in front of me? Did you think I’d let that happen?

"Clang—"

The Four Swords rang out as he drew them, their tips aimed straight at that disgusting face covered in foul mucus.

"Don’t!"

Snake Lady’s eyes, just breaking through the mucus, were filled with terror. "Xu Xiaoshou, spare me…"

Of course, Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t going to spare her.

And she seemed to know that all too well. At the same time, the head that had been flung into the sky let out a soul-piercing scream:

"Tai Zai Ci, save me—"

The Four Swords struck something hard.

But it wasn’t Snake Lady’s head—it hit a shadow extending through the air.

"A shadow…"

As his senses swept out, Xu Xiaoshou realized that the distance between him and Snake Lady had somehow been stretched, as if someone had pushed them apart from the middle.

But that wasn’t quite right.

Because if anything went against his will, like some kind of guidance, he would have noticed.

The strangeness lay in that "shadow"!

Ever since stepping into this Tian Qian land, Xu Xiaoshou had noticed that the ground was completely shrouded in a massive shadow.

It was as if a giant stood there, casting its shadow over everything.

The Water Ghost had once said:

"Zhan Shen is the god of ancient martial arts, extremely martial!"

"Tai Zai Ci masters the Zhan Shen power, and its manifestation is that massive shadow on the ground, representing his ability to giantize—or perhaps he himself is an ancient martial giant, impossible to suppress."

"But the shadow isn’t just Tai Zai Ci’s alone; by his side is a semi-saint who’s like a dragon unseen, called ‘Ying,’ also known as ‘Ying Sheng.’"

"Ying Sheng is from the San Zhu Xiang killer origins; his legends date back over a hundred years, and all related records were destroyed and forgotten after he achieved sainthood. The Sheng Nu, formed in the last few decades, knows nothing about him."

"The only certainty is that fighting Tai Zai Ci means fighting two saints at once, both the strongest in their respective paths at the time, because Tai Zai Ci and his shadow are inseparable!"

Lowering his gaze in recollection, Xu Xiaoshou remembered the most peculiar thing he’d nearly forgotten:

"The shadow didn’t attack me; it just extended the distance between the Qian Gu and Snake Lady."

"As a projection, the actual distance was pulled apart, separating us?"

That was the most logical guess.

It also meant that Tai Zai Ci’s side not only controlled the Sheng Emperor’s guidance power but also the forgetting power, from Ying!

But this forgetting power was far inferior to the Still Thought Dagger; with his resistance and Intent Dao Disc at 90, Xu Xiaoshou could recall it instantly.

"Interesting."

Xu Xiaoshou looked up, knowing the real main opponent was about to appear.

The Snake Lady who had escaped lifted her head and, without a second thought, transformed into a massive dark-purple python.

She didn’t turn back to attack; instead, she shot toward the horizon, trying to flee.

"But my prey isn’t getting away that easily."

Xu Xiaoshou gripped the Four Swords, his eyes flashing with killing intent. He absolutely couldn’t let Snake Lady escape!

For her, instant kill was the only option.

If the fight dragged on, he couldn’t guarantee he’d stay immune to her poison. If it started affecting him, the balance would tip, and he might not even handle Tai Zai Ci.

No semi-saint was weak.

Underestimate them, and you’d be the one capsizing in the gutter.

"One body dies is death; two bodies die is still death. Can’t your will to survive be any weaker?"

Grinning like a devil, Xu Xiaoshou stepped onto the Sword Dao Disc, locking onto the python vanishing into the void, ready to unleash Sword of Heavenly Abandonment.

But just then…

"Locked on, passive value, 1."

An alert popped up, and Xu Xiaoshou felt a chill on his back, as if someone had targeted his heart!

Ying Sheng?

He swung his sword back, but that piercing sensation vanished abruptly.

Ying Sheng seemed to have just glanced at him, not even showing his face, using a strategy of attacking the enemy’s ally to save his own—allowing Snake Lady to escape.

"As if you could get away!"

Xu Xiaoshou’s face twisted into a fierce smile.

With his mastery of multiple essences, if that poisonous snake slipped into some unknown place and kept stacking negative effects on him, that would be a real joke.

"Buzz…"

The Space Dao Disc unfolded, and without needing seals, Xu Xiaoshou mobilized the spatial forces around him.

"Zhou Tian Shift!"

The near was pushed away, the far was pulled back.

Within his sight, the space essence array vanished invisibly, actually merging into the surrounding space and extending infinitely.

In that moment, Xu Xiaoshou became like the Great Dao itself, but with his own intellect intact, unlike the out-of-control Infant Saint Plant.

—In an alternative way, he’d pushed the space essence into super daoization, with his foundational three discs powerful as ever!

He clearly located the lurking Ying Sheng, who could be anywhere in this Tian Qian shadow;

And he found Snake Lady, hidden in the void, forming seals to poison all living beings in this vast land.

"Snake returns, oh snake returns,"

He quipped with a laugh, and with a thought, space surged like a curtain.

The omnipresent shadows were pushed away from all sides, still connected to Xu Xiaoshou’s shadow but with their power rejected outward layer by layer.

Ying Sheng could no longer invade!

As for Snake Lady, who had escaped far away, she realized her seals were forming more smoothly, but she was getting closer to the battlefield.

Until the figures of the Twelve Sheng Jun came into view, she sensed something was wrong.

She hadn’t moved.

The space had.

It was like rowing against the current—if you don’t advance, you retreat. Was she heading to her own doom?

Yes, being pushed toward Xu Xiaoshou, a fragile spellcaster like her was definitely seeking death.

"Hungry Ghost Path!"

"Fist of Nine You!"

If you’re going to kill, do it thoroughly.

Xu Xiaoshou had no intention of mercy and didn’t believe Snake Lady could regenerate again.

Summoning the gates of hell with Ghost Sword Technique, while Ying Sheng was pushed away, he channeled Tian Zu power and Long Zu power into his fist and thrust it through the ghost gate.

Turning the real into the virtual, flesh into soul.

A massive ghost arm emerged from the hell gate, infused with the two ancestral powers that could harm the soul, and smashed viciously toward Snake Lady’s dark-purple python form.

In that instant, the python’s red eyes filled with utter horror!

"Tai—Zai—Ci—save—"

"Enough!"

A dragon’s roar suddenly tore through the sky, manifesting as a towering halberd.

The halberd blade blocked the ghost arm and slammed it into the ground, its momentum unstoppable as it shattered the ghost gate Xu Xiaoshou had summoned.

"Boom boom boom…"

The shockwave from that moment leveled the entire Qian Gu and tore apart the battlefields of the Twelve Sheng Jun and Sang Shui Cen Bai.

Everyone looked on in shock, turning to the main battlefield.

There, between Xu Xiaoshou and the python, stood an extraordinarily tall figure.

He wore a pheasant plume crown, armored in Zhan Shen gear, and wielded a dragon-painted halberd, his gaze overlooking the Tian Qian Mountains. Just standing there, he exuded an aura of one man holding the pass against ten thousand.

"You’re Tai Zai Ci?"

It was Xu Xiaoshou’s first time seeing someone whose presence rivaled Shen Yi’s, and this man was even taller!

Through the essence of life, he clearly saw the surging vital energy in the other’s body, surpassing any semi-saint he’d encountered, rivaling even Kun Peng Shen Shi Yu Lao.

"Is this talent? The unattainable bloodline regression of Zhan Shen descendants that others envy…"

"Water Ghost said he could rival a Sheng Emperor…"

At first, Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t fully believed it.

After all, many mastered ancestral powers, but among "humans," few reached Sheng Emperor levels besides Yue Bei Hua and Rao Dao.

This Tai Zai Ci probably had some real skills.

And as the "gatekeeper hound" of Sheng Shen Hall in the Northern Domain, he wasn’t like some old slacker who just fooled around.

Tai Zai Ci’s rugged face was half-hidden under an iron helmet. After appearing, he slammed his dragon-painted halberd into the ground and, instead of attacking, said:

"This one only has orders to receive you all, not to execute. So, you have an opportunity now…"

He ignored everyone else, his crimson gaze hidden under the helmet’s shadow fixed on the decision-maker, Xu Xiaoshou, and said gravely:

"Retreat or wait—it matters not."

"Advance, and die."

With those words, the intense battle between the Twelve Sheng Jun and Sang Shui Cen Bai paused instantly, as all eyes turned to Xu Xiaoshou.

The situation was clear: without the big bosses’ war ending, whoever won here was pointless. Better to stand down.

How domineering… Xu Xiaoshou didn’t detect any arrogance in Tai Zai Ci’s words, only absolute confidence in his strength.

But wasn’t that also a form of contempt from someone long in power?

In the past, Xu Xiaoshou would have avoided clashing with Sheng Shen Hall if possible.

Moreover, Tai Zai Ci wasn’t officially part of Sheng Shen Hall on the surface, and he seemed to recognize Xu Xiaoshou’s strength, not wanting a full-blown fight with the Sheng Nu.

But…

Times have changed, my Tai Zai Ci.

Today’s Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t intimidated by such warnings; in fact, he found them a bit amusing.

"What if I say I must have a taste of snake soup today?" Xu Xiaoshou pointed at the massive python.

Tai Zai Ci remained unmoved, his massive Zhan Shen shadow still covering the space, his voice steady as iron:

"The one this one protects, no one can touch."

The dark-purple python writhed behind him, emitting sounds of joy and triumph, its gaze toward the battlefield full of provocation.

Xu Xiaoshou lowered his head with a smile and said casually:

"But the one I want to kill, no one can save."

"What’s to be done?"

He looked up, shrugging helplessly:

"It seems one of us has to lose face today."

"How about this—if you win, spread my embarrassment across the Five Domains; if I win, you grant me one condition."

The shadow on the ground writhed instantly.

The dark-purple python’s massive eyes gleamed.

The surrounding Twelve Sheng Jun all showed panic.

"Tai Zai Ci, Lord Li’s first warning is never to engage in dialogue with Xu Xiaoshou…"

Before the words finished, Xu Xiaoshou vanished in a flash—fine, no talking, let’s fight.

The ground exploded with a massive boom.

At the same time, Tai Zai Ci reacted to the sneak attack and charged in.

Before the python’s eyes, two tiny figures suddenly appeared, both unleashing world-shaking power.

Xu Xiaoshou thrust a fist forward.

Tai Zai Ci swept his dragon-painted halberd sideways.

"Bang!"

Space shattered like a mirror, Great Dao rules whipped apart, and the terrifying aftermath of ancestral powers clashing instantly pierced the python’s eyeballs.

"Hiss ahh—"

The python writhed in agony, its long body lashing at the void as it retreated far away.

"Tai Zai Ci, you can’t stop me!"

In that moment, Xu Xiaoshou reappeared in front of the python’s other eye.

Don’t fight on my face!

Snake Lady was on the verge of breakdown; she couldn’t keep up with these two monsters’ speed. Before she could retreat, Xu Xiaoshou’s whip kick came flying.

"This one commands you to scram!"

Tai Zai Ci was clearly angry too, his halberd striking first despite being later, aiming for Xu Xiaoshou’s side.

Seeing Tai Zai Ci only attacking him and ignoring Snake Lady, Xu Xiaoshou went all out.

"Human Path!"

"Hungry Ghost Path!"

With Ancient Martial Six Paths dual-activated, all surging power channeled into his right leg.

"Shatter for me!"

He ignored his own safety, kicking straight toward Snake Lady’s python.

Boom—

Xu Xiaoshou was violently flung away by the dragon-painted halberd.

This was the first time since reaching Sheng Emperor Lv.0 with his passive skills that he’d been sent flying so brutally.

A deep wound tore open his ribs, exposing bone, with Zhan Shen power surging in, carrying a flavor of "escalating fury" and "growing stronger in battle."

But with Devouring Power activated, it all got consumed.

As for Snake Lady…

Without Tai Zai Ci’s protection, Xu Xiaoshou’s kick exploded her python head into pulp.

"Bang bang bang!"

The sky-swallowing python, starting from its snake eye, blew apart on the spot, the explosion ripping through its body, past the seven-inch vital spot, until half its form was destroyed, and the force finally stopped.

The remaining half-tail couldn’t maintain the python shape, reverting to a half-bodied Snake Lady who was hurled into the distant sky.

Hiss…

Blood sprayed wildly as Snake Lady collapsed, unable even to scream.

"Hiss!"

Onlookers shivered, feeling an echo of that kick’s pain from flesh to soul deep in their hearts.

Especially since, after the kick, Xu Xiaoshou turned back, uncovering his ribs to reveal…

The wound had healed!

What kind of injury heals that fast? The Twelve Sheng Jun’s eyes bulged.

And that guy, even now, could squeeze out a cheeky smile, wagging a finger at Tai Zai Ci:

"I told you, you’re not up to it."

Tai Zai Ci was furious!

Truly furious!

Right in front of his dragon-painted halberd, Xu Xiaoshou had disregarded his own safety to kill his Snake Ji—this was an unparalleled provocation.

"This one retracts what was said before…"

With a thunderous roar, Tai Zai Ci’s Zhan Shen armor glowed blood-red, his body inching taller, his eyes blazing red:

"Today, you will undoubtedly die!"

All the saints felt the atmosphere plunge to freezing, the overwhelming Zhan Shen intent like a mountain flood or tidal wave, nearly overwhelming everyone’s minds and forcing them to their knees.

Xu Xiaoshou was unaffected.

He calmly looked past the now hundred-zhang-tall Tai Zai Ci, red-gold dragon scales emerging across his body. With a scoff, he said:

"Then I’m different from you."

"My words are set in stone."

"I said I’d have snake soup today—even if the heavenly king or the old lord came, they couldn’t stop me!"