Chapter 1591: Paid Use of Dao Qiong Cang Master, I'm Here to Be Your Dog

Nangong Youshu?

This name was not widely known.

But as for the organization he belonged to, Tianji Shenjiao, even Xu Xiaoshou and the others present had heard of it.

"Tianji Shenjiao is yours?"

Bai Zhuo turned his head in shock, his heart in turmoil like a spilled bottle of mixed flavors, unable to pinpoint his exact feelings.

He had experienced it firsthand in Nan Yu, where one day everything was calm and uneventful, and the next, after a drunken night, Tianji Shenjiao preachers had sprung up everywhere.

It was truly...

Blossoming everywhere!

Overnight, that obscure little group had become a colossal force on par with Xuyue Hui Gong and Huacao Ge.

Its influence in Nan Yu even surpassed that of Shengshen Diantang.

Various factions launched countless investigations, deploying their elite intelligence agents to uncover the truth, but they couldn't even locate the headquarters of Tianji Shenjiao.

Not to mention whether their leader was called "Zhao Youchi," "Qian Wuzhuang," or something else...

There was no reliable information at all!

Now, with Dao Qiong Cang speaking up and claiming Tianji Shenjiao as his own, even specifying the leader's name: Nangong Youshu?

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself that it made sense—there was no ancient Tianji Shu inheritance in Nan Yu; Tianji Shu had only risen recently. It turned out Dao Qiong Cang was behind it all... Bai Zhuo felt a sudden epiphany, like a genius unraveling a mystery.

"I think you're all misunderstanding something."

Faced with the group's doubtful gazes, Dao Qiong Cang slowly descended from the void, retracting all the unusual phenomena he had displayed earlier, and said calmly:

"Tianji Shenjiao belongs to my friend."

The "I have a friend" series?

Xu Xiaoshou was about to bring it up when he heard this and smirked, saying:

"Your friend— what's the nature of your relationship?"

"An independent one."

"Then what's the relationship between this 'Nangong Youshu' and 'Situ Yongren'?"

"A different one."

"How is it different?" Xu Xiaoshou didn't believe it.

"Let me put it this way, Nangong Youshu..." Dao Qiong Cang thought for a moment, his expression earnest. "He's really my friend— a real person."

A real person?

Bai Zhuo instinctively wanted to retort.

But glancing around, he saw Wuxiu, Shui Gui, Cen Qiaofu, and even Xu Xiaoshou all looking surprised, so he quickly held back.

A real person...

What's so surprising about that?

If Nangong Youshu was Dao Qiong Cang's Tianji puppet but had become human, that would be surprising!

At this thought, Bai Zhuo's expression froze, and his facial muscles twitched.

"Friend, are you joking?"

Xu Xiaoshou realized he truly couldn't tell when Dao Qiong Cang was being sincere and when he was lying.

Dao Qiong Cang didn't answer. Instead, he said seriously:

"Friends trust each other."

So, he wasn't joking...

Including his invitation for me to join Tianji Shenjiao— that was completely serious, not just offhand...

"What's the doctrine of your Tianji Shenjiao?" Xu Xiaoshou vaguely remembered Li Fugui mentioning it once, but not much.

Dao Qiong Cang put on a devout expression, raised his hands high, and proclaimed:

"Master all heavenly mechanisms and harmonize all laws."

"Redeem sins, alter fate, and seal divinity with heavenly mechanisms!"

Click—

In that instant, the image of the dignified and serious Dao Palace Master in everyone's minds shattered completely.

The five of them surrounded Dao Qiong Cang, watching him transform into a fervent believer, his face full of zeal, and they all fell silent.

He really seemed to be joking...

But thinking it through:

As soon as Tianji Shenjiao rose in Nan Yu, Dao Qiong Cang was kicked out of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan. After his sister became the new palace master, she immediately proposed a campaign to "march south"...

Digging deeper into less direct connections:

During Dao Qiong Cang's time, Shengshen Diantang was as solid as an iron barrel— the Six Departments were renowned outside, the Ten-Person Council schemed within, and everything ran smoothly and orderly.

After Dao Qiong Cang left, the Six Departments' leaders were replaced, turning from passionate elders into a bunch of young incompetents. One department was even left vacant, with the rest just holding empty positions and being useless.

The Red Garments declined, the new Moon Fox leader achieved nothing, the former White Garment leader was poached, and the new one was just a kid with connections. The Ten-Person Council saw members fall or get injured, while others slacked off...

Except for one who remained true-hearted, loving the people and guarding the home, Shengshen Diantang was riddled with holes.

From this hindsight perspective, looking further back:

Even in the Four Symbols Secret Realm plot, the Void Island plot, and the Bai Ku plot, did Dao Qiong Cang really give his all?

Was there a possibility that:

"He 'actively' pushed all this forward and then 'passively' left Gui Zhe Sheng Shan?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt that, based on the facts, "active" and "passive" should be swapped.

Seeing Dao Qiong Cang's faint smile, he knew that arrangement was correct.

Could you really collaborate with someone like this, who you couldn't dig up any sneaky moves from, only endless "logical" and "coincidental" events?

Xu Xiaoshou no longer believed in coincidences and had learned to question logic.

He flatly refused: "Dao Qiong Cang, give up on that idea. I'd rather die than join Tianji Shenjiao. Don't bring it up again."

"Friend..."

"Don't call me friend." He was starting to feel sick at the word.

"But," Dao Qiong Cang paused, "I paid the friend fee!"

Fine, fine...

What a friend fee!

So, from that moment, you planned to latch onto me like this?

Xu Xiaoshou belatedly realized how disgusting this "friend fee" concept could be.

But before he could speak, he suddenly recalled... wasn't it him who brought up the friend fee in the first place?

"Cough, cough!"

Xu Xiaoshou choked and said: "Anyway, I won't go to your Tianji Shenjiao. Either we end our ties after this cooperation, or you join my Tian Shang First Tower... Hmm, that could be considered."

"Oh?" Dao Qiong Cang hadn't considered refusal and perked up. "Tian Shang First Tower has a spot for me?"

No sooner had he spoken than Xu Xiaoshou froze, raised his hand, and slapped himself hard, his face turning red. "I didn't say anything just now."

Dao Qiong Cang hadn't even processed what happened when Xu Xiaoshou lifted the Shi Zu Ying Zhang.

He quickly grabbed it:

"Hold on, I can join Tian Shang First Tower. I don't ask for much— just make me a Great Elder."

Xu Xiaoshou turned to Shui Gui in shock and declined: "Sorry, Tian Shang First Tower isn't recruiting, and the Great Elder position is taken. You'd be at most the Second Elder if you joined."

"Second Elder works too!"

You're that desperate?

Before Xu Xiaoshou could respond, Dao Qiong Cang added:

"If not, Third Elder is fine!"

"I'd even be interested in 'Seventh Elder'— you could rank six people ahead of me, my Xu..."

These words made Xu Xiaoshou gasp, and Shui Gui felt a chill run down his spine.

No, my dear tower master, what are you even discussing with him?

Having a Great Elder like him is troublesome enough— do I have to worry about whether it's Second or Seventh Elder plotting against me?

You shouldn't have brought up joining Tian Shang First Tower from the start, right?

Well... at this point, Xu Xiaoshou realized he had really messed up.

Mainly, he never expected the Dao Palace Master to be so unreserved.

He's like a snake slithering up any stick, even a filthy one, just to climb— absolutely shameless...

"Anyway, drop it."

Xu Xiaoshou raised his hand to stop Dao Qiong Cang, signaling not to keep throwing hot faces at his cold butt.

He cut off the topic bluntly, without any euphemism, and steered it in another direction:

"Our cooperation starts with the Shen zhi Yiji and ends when we leave it. During that time, we're friends; afterward, we'll see."

"The goal is to break through the Shen zhi Yiji and get out safely together. Agreed?"

Yes.

Safety first!

Before this, Xu Xiaoshou had considered long-term cooperation after seeing Dao Qiong Cang's situation of defecting from Sheng Shan.

He had even thought about pulling him into Tian Shang First Tower!

But after reflecting on Tianji Shenjiao's rise and Shengshen Diantang's decline, he decided against it.

Dealing with someone like Dao Qiong Cang— either hand over everything to him and live comfortably, or if you compete, you'll be exhausted and might not even know how you die.

But how could you not compete?

At the most fundamental and ultimate level of the "Great Dao struggle," Xu Xiaoshou couldn't back down now.

"...Fine."

Dao Qiong Cang seemed reluctant to let the previous topic go, but after thinking, he chose not to pursue it:

"Until we leave, we're friends."

"And since we're good friends— and I've paid the friend fee unilaterally— shouldn't you all give me a bit more support?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt secretly pleased but then frowned.

The pleasure came from Dao Qiong Cang putting himself in a humble position; the frown was because he felt like the fool being pushed into the spotlight.

So annoying!

Clearly, since you paid the friend fee, it should be you below me.

Why does it feel the opposite with this smooth-talking old Daoist?

An illusion?

"Support is too strong a word." Xu Xiaoshou didn't want to be flattered so much; he preferred to keep it grounded.

"Oh, oh." Dao Qiong Cang seemed to realize it wasn't right, but he was clearly prepared, blurting out: "Guidance, guidance..."

You... Xu Xiaoshou thought, what's the difference? He barely suppressed his upturned lips and said seriously: "Just say what you want. I hate beating around the bush."

"No offense, no offense." Dao Qiong Cang first apologized politely.

"I'm new here, so I need to understand the Shen zhi Yiji situation to make any judgments." He suggested carefully, like walking on eggshells.

Seeing the once lofty Dao Palace Master showing such cautious deference toward him gave Xu Xiaoshou an indescribable thrill from head to toe.

Of course...

That thrill was mixed with a chilling unease.

Is cooperation really a good start?

How exactly do you plan to trick me, and when will it happen? Give me a heads-up, okay?

— It was unbearable!

"Just speak normally, alright?" Xu Xiaoshou was angry, pointing at him. "If you keep this up, I'll refund the friend fee. We'd be better off as enemies."

Dao Qiong Cang clutched his chest, stepping back in alarm, his pale face glancing around, his eyes welling up with a pitiful, tearful expression:

"Lord Shou, what did I do wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

"Can't I be myself in front of a good friend?"

Your "self" is way too flirtatious... Xu Xiaoshou screamed internally:

You're the Dao Palace Master!

You're the unfathomable Dao Qiong Cang!

Where's your dignity? You're no different from a sly temptress!

Then Dao Qiong Cang stroked his chin, looking at the ground thoughtfully, muttering: "So, you prefer the serious and composed type..."

Hey, hey, what dirty thoughts are brewing in that head of yours?

Am I your Tianji puppet? Now you're analyzing my preferences?

And shouldn't you keep that to yourself? Everyone can hear it!

Xu Xiaoshou opened his mouth to retort, but Sang Lao's voice echoed in his mind:

"Xu Xiaoshou, if it's not necessary, don't chat idly with him."

"You can cooperate, but remember: every word he says, no matter how casual, has deeper meaning."

"And every reaction you make will feed into his 'analysis'— serious or not, and your responses to both."

"In short, the more patterns you show, even if faked, he'll roughly guess your true thoughts."

Xu Xiaoshou felt a chill.

So, Dao Qiong Cang was doing this on purpose!

This guy was treating him like a Tianji puppet, training a data model on him?

Sang Lao's message was quick.

A saint's mental transmission was instantaneous, conveying full intent in a flash.

Xu Xiaoshou had just opened his mouth when he heard it and closed it, trying to cover the gap.

But in that split second, less than a breath...

Dao Qiong Cang pouted and shrugged helplessly: "No whispering, okay? Don't you all see me as a real friend?"

He heard it?

Xu Xiaoshou kept his expression neutral. Seeing Dao Qiong Cang glance at Shui Gui, Cen Qiaofu, and Bai Zhuo, all with blank looks, he realized the gaze had locked onto Sang Lao with resentment.

Sang Lao's lips parted, but now he truly couldn't speak.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

So, Dao Qiong Cang didn't know anything— he was just guessing, and guessing accurately?

"Don't respond."

At the same time, Shui Gui's voice rang in his mind, straight to the point:

"After the Ten Sovereigns' battle, the best way to deal with Dao Qiong Cang was passed down: don't talk to him."

"He says his piece; you say yours. If you realize you're getting pulled into his rhythm, cut it off and pull back— don't get in deeper."

This time, Xu Xiaoshou was sure Dao Qiong Cang hadn't heard Shui Gui's mental voice. No one around showed any sign of noticing.

Yet, that smooth-talking old Daoist's eyes swept past Cen Qiaofu and Bai Zhuo before fixing on Shui Gui with even more resentment:

"He said it, and you said it too?"

"Yu Mo, are we still friends?"

I was never your friend— only Xu Xiaoshou is... Shui Gui swallowed his words, looked up at the sky, and said:

"It's so blue..."

Everyone turned to look at the sky.

The sky of the Shen zhi Yiji wasn't blue at all— it was covered in a hazy gray fog, full of gloom.

Got it— so that's the method... Xu Xiaoshou learned something, thinking the senior was indeed a senior; even in pink and purple stripes, he'd eaten more salt than others had rice.

But Dao Qiong Cang pursed his lips, his resentment deepening, staring at Shui Gui like a neglected wife:

"You really said it?"

"And taught my friend to handle me that way? That would really hurt me..."

Shui Gui's stiff face showed no stiffness.

This mastermind, who had orchestrated schemes on Void Island and overturned the sky with the deep sea, was now at a loss— whether sealed or speechless, it was unclear.

Xu Xiaoshou's calm face hid no calm.

Sometimes he really wondered if the Ten Sovereigns had passive systems.

Even Aunt Xiang should have something like "strengthen when bound to a man" or "ultimate summoner."

"Then I'll guide you a bit!"

At this point, Xu Xiaoshou was exhausted and didn't want to think anymore.

He chose to be a blunt fool, taking the stairs as they came, and turned to Dao Qiong Cang seriously:

"But I don't make friends with useless people. About the Shen zhi Yiji, I can give you a couple of hints in advance."

"You're good at calculations, right? Whatever I say, you have to deduce the causes, effects, and variables from it and tell me everything, no holding back. Got it?"

With this superior owner stance, Xu Xiaoshou felt refreshed— he didn't care if it was refreshing or torturing for Dao Qiong Cang.

Make the most of everything; put talents to use— perfect!

On the other side, this firm smack seemed to leave Dao Qiong Cang at a loss, and he replied pitifully:

"But didn't I already pay the friend fee?"

"Good friends don't talk about fees; they talk about feelings— the 'qing' in feelings!" Xu Xiaoshou said flatly. "If you can't calculate it or the results are wrong, we'll part ways right here."

Part ways... Dao Qiong Cang opened his mouth, chuckling: "So, I still can't pay everything at once. Monthly payments?"

"Don't lead me astray; I won't fall for it." Xu Xiaoshou stuck to his own rhythm: "The friend fee isn't monthly; it's daily settlement."

"No! That's not accurate. Let me put it this way... I use you once, you pay once, and no resistance, got it, little Dao?"

This outrageous statement left even his own people, Sang Lao and Shui Gui, baffled, their minds struggling to bend that far.

Something's off.

Definitely off, right?

But it also felt a bit "right"— where exactly?

Everyone tried to imagine it from Dao Qiong Cang's perspective and felt themselves breaking.

Why should I, a Ten Sovereign, put up with your cold shoulder and empty my pockets to serve you? What kind of friendship is this?

But with the friend fee paid, who would be naive enough to think this friendship is normal and not twisted?

And Dao Qiong Cang didn't seem normal from head to toe. Hearing this, he didn't resist and said pitifully:

"Fine then. During our time in the Shen zhi Yiji, I'll let you use me for free."

"It's paid!" Xu Xiaoshou corrected from on high.

"Okay, paid, and I'll let you use me."