Chapter 1684: Two Realms Accompany to Welcome You, Vicissitudes Cause a Shift in Affection

“Mo Mo, of course I want her.”

“But Dao Qiongcang cannot be ignored either.”

Without a doubt, this guy’s intelligence is off the charts.

During their lightning-fast exchange, Xu Xiaoshou had actually kept “Idea Deprivation” active, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to seize the initiative every time.

And as soon as he activated it, he indeed discovered an astonishing secret!

When “Idea Deprivation” accidentally picked up the “beep beep beep” and “alarm alarm” sounds from the opponent’s brain, Xu Xiaoshou panicked for a moment.

He suspected that the flamboyant old Daoist also had a system.

Yes, how could one person be so intelligent, almost to the point of being infallible?

Even when forced into a desperate situation, that phrase in his brain, “I awaken from chaos,” somehow gave the impression that he was about to switch from a strategic general to a reckless brute.

Is that even possible?

That’s impossible!

But if he had a “Tianji System” installed in his mind, everything suddenly seemed to make sense.

However, as Xu Xiaoshou continued to use Idea Deprivation, he noticed something was wrong.

The flamboyant old Daoist actually didn't have a system; those "beep" reminder sounds he experienced when affected were entirely due to the passive operation of his Tianji Arts.

Great Memory Art, Great Anomaly Art, Tianji Calculation, Tianji System?

This guy didn't have a system, but he had created a system-like existence for himself!

When Xu Xiaoshou realized this, cold sweat broke out.

He even considered turning back to the Relic of the Gods, cultivating for another thirty years, and then re-emerging.

Unbelievable!

Is this the kind of brain a Ten Honored Master possesses?

But soon, he was glad that he had come to find Mo Mo as soon as he discovered something was amiss.

If he had waited another half-day or day, for Dao Qiongcang to finish his current tasks before dealing with Mo Mo.

Mo Mo might still be retrievable.

But by then, would Mo Mo truly still be Mo Mo?

Xu Xiaoshou was even more grateful for the decision he made from the very beginning, after using the Art of Divine Descent:

“Dao Qiongcang is undoubtedly very intelligent. Even though my Idea Deprivation and Li Guo Chi Ren are very strong, if I use them in front of him, I’m afraid only the first time will work. If I try to use them a second time, he will likely already have a countermeasure. Yi Shi Du Li is a prime example.”

After solidifying this thought, he was fine facing people like Wei Feng, but as soon as he confronted Dao Qiongcang, he had to maintain Idea Deprivation, even if it meant exhausting Tianzu’s power.

At the same time, he maximized the power of the Will Dao Plate, as well as the circuitous guidance, and even the intimidating aura of Qi Tun Shan He, striving to create the effect of the Blood World Pearl.

His goal was to prevent Dao Qiongcang from quickly noticing that he had been affected by “Idea Deprivation,” so that he could better uncover some of his secrets.

Three times!

Under such a full-throttle, invisible offensive, Dao Qiongcang still noticed "something strange" three times.

The first two times, Xu Xiaoshou successfully bluffed him, diverting his thoughts elsewhere.

This third time…

That is, when Dao Qiongcang had finished his deep contemplation, bowed his head in apparent remorse, and respectfully uttered "Master Shou" and "You" and so on.

Xu Xiaoshou unconsciously relaxed his guard ever so slightly.

And then Idea Deprivation picked up a long sigh:

‘It’s just Mo Mo, Master Shou, you could have come by yourself. Why did you bring him along?’

The ‘him’ in Dao Qiongcang’s tone carried a strong sense of apprehension.

Without even needing to think, Xu Xiaoshou immediately connected it to "Ba Zun’an."

Coupled with Dao Qiongcang looking up and glancing behind himself after speaking, Xu Xiaoshou’s attention was drawn as well, and his spiritual sense swept behind him.

At this point, he knew something was wrong.

The information bar reminded him, "Guided," but it was too late...

He realized that the last sentence just now was not a spiritual transmission through the Lingxi Art, but Dao Qiongcang’s mental sigh, but it was too late...

His spiritual sense scanned a plain "handshake" symbol behind him, and seeing no sign of Ba Zun’an, Xu Xiaoshou was about to try to salvage the situation by saying something, but it was too late...

Idea Deprivation transmitted Dao Qiongcang’s few remaining thoughts:

‘Beep beep beep!’

‘Alarm! Alarm!’

‘Stop yelling, they already know someone is listening, why are you still blabbering?’

After that, all sounds of Tianji Calculation disappeared from Idea Deprivation. Xu Xiaoshou couldn't even extract half a thought from Dao Qiongcang.

The last thing he heard was Xiao Qi’s voice:

“Second brain, activated.”

“Mo Mo?”

The hidden battle of blades and shadows was invisible to the Five Regions.

Everyone in front of the Preaching Mirror, when they saw Dao Dianzhu truly bowing to Master Shou, and even taking out a piece of soul fragment that seemed to be "human."

Everyone was like bears smelling honey, rushing forward, their eyes burning with intense flames.

“It’s not ‘Mo Mo’ (touching), nor ‘Mo Mo’ (silently), but Mo Mo!”

“Unbelievable, it’s a person’s name, and it sounds like a cute girl?”

“So, Master Shou made such a grand display this time, suddenly coming from the Central Region to the Southern Region, for her?”

“Ooh-ooh-ooh!”

“Is it to reclaim her soul fragment from Dao Dianzhu?”

“Ooh-ooh-ooh!”

“Dao Men Guan, Shou Cheng Ye?”

“Ooh-ooh-ooh!”

The cries of apes on both banks never ceased; in front of the Preaching Mirror, the mongeys, fearing nothing short of chaos, became utterly thrilled.

This was truly extraordinary. Since Master Shou rose to prominence, there had been very few rumors of his romantic entanglements in the jianghu.

The girl closest to him was merely his junior sister, named something like Leizimu?

But too close!

Some people were optimistic, some were not.

Later, it was rumored that his junior sister was also a shapeshifter, capable of transformation, which sounded quite terrifying, so not many people were optimistic about that relationship.

Now, suddenly, an unfamiliar name has emerged, yet it has incited Master Shou's wrath, directly confronting Dao Dianzhu.

This is a divine descent!

What is a divine descent?

A divine descent represents justice!

“What’s the point of all this fighting and killing? This is good, I want to watch this.”

“Feng Tiantian, hurry up and explain! We don’t know who Mo Mo is, but you surely do, right?”

“Hiccup—”

Feng Tiantian had already crashed.

She was severely battered by the aftermath of the battlefield, covered in injuries after smashing through the Mist Forest.

She owed her survival to the residual medicinal power of that Divine Blessing pill from Wuyue Jianxian just now.

But her waist, which had been bent with exhaustion after an entire preaching session, finally gave out when she heard Dao Dianzhu utter the two words "Mo Mo."

“Mo… Mo…”

Others might not know who Mo Mo was, but how could Feng Tiantian not know?

When she learned about Xu Xiaoshou, she began to want to understand Xu Xiaoshou, and also tried to get close to Xu Xiaoshou…

What was the first step?

Of course, it was to start with the women around Xu Xiaoshou!

“Rustle, rustle, rustle…”

Feng Tiantian, almost on the verge of collapse, pulled out a pile of documents from her spatial ring.

She grabbed out and then discarded one portrait after another, the papers fluttering rustlingly.

She was completely unaware that she had accidentally exposed half of her body in front of the Preaching Mirror, and the direction the papers flew was also directly towards the Five Regions.

Thus, the people of the Five Regions pressed their faces against the mirror screen, seeing beautiful portraits of women and reading the names written on them:

“Su Qianqian, Mu Zixi, Jiao Tangtang, Rao Yinyin, Yu Zhiwen, Di Xiner, Rao Yaoyao, Yi…”

The Five Regions erupted in an uproar.

So Master Shou was such a playboy?

He had secretly been in contact with so many girls behind everyone’s backs?

“No, what the heck is Rao Yaoyao? Didn’t Rao Jianxian die under Master Shou’s sword? Is this even allowed?”

“Who is Di Xiner? I’ve never heard of her at all.”

“Wait, am I seeing things… Yi?”

Everyone seemed to be witnessing a moment of shattered dreams, a scene of a collapsing house.

The faces of the people in the falling portraits, however beautiful they were, reflected the distortion in the expression of the half-exposed girl in front of the mirror, who was scarred physically and emotionally.

Until a half-body portrait of a woman, clad in a snow-white dress, with a tranquil expression and the temperament of a secluded orchid, floated by.

At a fleeting glance, the Five Regions held their breath.

Not because the facial features of the person in the painting were astonishingly beautiful, but because the name on this portrait read "Mo Mo."

With a crumple, Mo Mo’s portrait was snatched back by Feng Tiantian.

“No…”

“It’s not…”

“It shouldn’t be like this…”

The person in the painting had her face slightly turned, her gaze as tranquil as water, giving off a contradictory feeling of being curious yet not wanting to get close, thus keeping people at arm’s length.

She was very beautiful.

Actually, taken individually, her features weren’t the most perfect.

Compared to other women who had appeared in previous portraits, such as Lei Xi'er, Yu Zhiwen, Rao Yaoyao, and others, there was still some distance.

However, her unique features, when combined, gave her a temperament completely different from other girls.

She was like a solitary being.

She seemed to always shrink into her own world, displaying a detached attitude towards everything within her sight.

She was like a porcelain vase that wasn’t the most exquisite but had unique patterns. If it remained hidden in a corner, untouched, it would be fine. The crucial thing was that she was now suspended in mid-air…

Such a person, if unseen, would be left to shatter.

But once noticed…

What could be more perfect than a unique, exquisite porcelain vase? Of course, it was her, about to shatter!

Feng Tiantian had never imagined that one day she would glean new insights, so much, from that portrait she had initially overlooked.

“It shouldn’t be!”

Her hands trembled, her eyes blurred with tears.

She grabbed at the ground again, pulling out a Yu Zhiwen—this was the one she was most concerned about!

“That’s not right…”

“Impossible…”

“How could this be?”

She was completely unaware that her murmurs were amplified before the Five Regions.

She tossed Yu Zhiwen aside and looked back at Mo Mo, suddenly realizing:

“No, she wasn’t that beautiful, she didn’t look like this before…”

The Five Regions fell silent.

Hard to comment.

Feng Tiantian, however, was very serious. She pulled out another Mo Mo from the pile of portraits in her hand.

This Mo Mo on the portrait was even more ordinary; it was a painting from a distant perspective.

In the painting, she was also wearing a white dress, holding a small bronze furnace. Still young, her temperament was not yet apparent, and from a distance, she looked very much like an ordinary person.

“This is Mo Mo!”

The Five Regions fell silent again.

It was indeed hard to comment.

How should one put it, does jealousy make one ugly?

Everyone was a Spirit Cultivator; everyone knew perfectly well.

As cultivation levels increased and impurities were removed from the body, people would generally become more beautiful.

Except for certain individuals who practiced special cultivation methods.

If Feng Tiantian were to be believed, Master Shou wasn't this handsome before, and his height was more than a head shorter than it is now!

Who doesn't have a past?

Even if we take a step back, even without spiritual cultivation, girls change a lot as they grow up.

How could one define her future, once she has chosen her path and decided to shine brightly, with a simple sketch from her past, when she was green and uncertain?

“I, I…”

As soon as Feng Tiantian spoke, she seemed to realize that she had appeared overly ugly.

But she couldn’t control herself.

She felt so strange to herself.

She couldn’t accept the "truth" she was seeing and had acknowledged. Her thoughts were in turmoil:

“I, I think I can’t speak anymore… boo-hoo-hoo!”

Not a single sound could be heard anymore.

Dao Qiongcang’s mental fluctuations, after the activation of what was called the “Second Brain,” became stagnant.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately realized that Idea Deprivation might no longer work on this terrifying individual who could “create his own system.”

But it was enough!

In just this short half an hour, he had learned more about Dao Qiongcang than he had in the past few months or even years.

This second awakening was incredibly profitable.

“The Dao of Memory, can it be used like this?”

“Self-made passive abilities, self-made spiritual awakenings, self-made a Tianji spirit Xiao Qi, and even self-made a ‘second brain’…”

Xu Xiaoshou pondered briefly and understood what the second brain was.

Dao Qiongcang’s true body should still be here, but he had given up thinking, allowing another brain, possibly in the Western or Northern Regions, to do the thinking.

In this way, he could directly halt all powerful "mind-reading-like techniques," but definitely limit the range of spiritual skills’ prying.

This method was as fantastical as using someone in a foreign country to block Bei Huai’s grieving ability, yet very practical.

My other self…

Xu Xiaoshou sighed with emotion, feeling a bit of hero-to-hero appreciation.

Looking at the soul fragment of Mo Mo in Dao Qiongcang’s hand, he did not reach out to take it.

Because he could no longer guarantee that Dao Qiongcang, after realizing he had been "mind-read," would collapse and feel humiliated, then throw caution to the wind, as he had just done when affected by the Art of Divine Descent.

So he chose a conservative approach, retreating to advance, waiting for Dao Qiongcang to voluntarily return Mo Mo.

Clearly, even though he appeared calm, Dao Qiongcang could not remain completely unruffled after discovering the existence of Idea Deprivation.

He must have been recalling how much he had just revealed, and after a long pause, he still hadn't handed over Mo Mo.

The Five Regions were unaware of the many hidden events unfolding on Huifang Peak, only hearing that after the name of the woman Mo Mo appeared, the conversation between Xu and Dao, the two men, became very strange.

Dao: "I didn't expect you to be waiting for me here."

Xu: "I also didn't expect you to have already successfully tricked me."

Dao: "We agreed that you'd name someone, and I'd give you the person. How is that tricking?"

Xu: "Then thank you. Thanks to you, I've comprehended the true meaning of 'circuitous'."

With Dao Dianzhu’s silence, the first round ended.

The people of the Five Regions were scratching their ears and cheeks, feeling their scalps itch.

Too disjointed!

Four sentences, perhaps more than four things were said. Is this how masters exchange blows?

“Completely incomprehensible!”

The Preaching Mirror broadcasted it directly, and they spoke openly, yet not a single person understood what it all meant.

“The true meaning of ‘circuitous’…”

Until a Xiantian master stood up: "I get it! Master Shou went around in a big circle, bypassing all the passers-by in his life, and finally found his true love, which is Mo Mo!"

On Huifang Peak, after a brief silence, the second round quickly began.

Dao: “So there is indeed a range limit, right?”

Xu: “It can be there, or it can be gone, depending on whether I want to move you.”

Dao: “I have already left, but you did not pursue. This time, your failure to pursue means you will never catch up to me, never understand me.”

Xu: “Perhaps, interpret it as you wish.”

Dao: “Admit it, Xu Xiaoshou, you’re just playing dumb now. You no longer dare to respond to my thoughts. You, you’re scared!”

Xu: “I don’t care about any of that, I only want her.”

The second round was put on hold.

Dao Dianzhu fell silent again.

And Master Shou’s finger pointed from afar at the soul fragment in Dao Dianzhu’s hand.

“Wow!”

The Five Regions completely boiled over.

If no one understood the last time, this time everyone could understand.

“Holy crap! What did I just hear? Is this really something we’re allowed to hear?” Someone stood up abruptly, their face showing a crazed expression.

“Let me sort this out. ‘Distance limit’… Yes, there must be a distance limit. For me, long-distance relationships are definitely out of the question; they cost too many spiritual crystals.”

“But Master Shou’s attitude is aloof, he hasn’t even ‘moved’ him, so Dao Dianzhu is the one making advances to a cold shoulder? Wow!”

“It’s over, it’s already a tragedy. Dao Dianzhu said that Master Shou will never catch up to him, nor understand his heart, he doesn’t understand his heart.”

“What about Mo Mo? What’s going on with Mo Mo? Is she a latecomer, or is she ignorant? Is Master Shou’s change because of her… hmm, how should I put it? I’m a bit confused.”

“But Dao Dianzhu was pursuing Xu Xiaoshou across the entire continent before, they were enemies, and they even fought in Qingyuan Mountain. How could they… fall in love with him?”

“Damn it! Don’t put it so directly! What if we’re wrong? Embellish it, embellish it, do you understand?”

“Hmm, a forbidden love?”

“Get lost!”

In front of the Preaching Mirror, Feng Tiantian’s eyes were dazed, her whole body trembling.

Compared to the unacceptable fact that Xu Xiaoshou chose Mo Mo.

The fact that Xu Xiaoshou and Dao Dianzhu already had a past together was downright terrifying!

“I must be crazy.”

“Yes, they should be healthy. It’s my thoughts that are unhealthy.”

“But the words just now, besides an unhealthy interpretation, what other healthy explanation could there be?”

Feng Tiantian shivered and decided to remove Xu Xiaoshou from her mind.

He wasn’t worth it.

Indeed, ancient sword arts were better; at least ancient sword arts would never shatter her dreams, never betray her.

“Wuyue Jianxian…”

“That’s right, help everyone find Wuyue Jianxian, where is he, he’s… here!”

The Preaching Mirror searched for a moment, and soon Gou Wuyue’s figure appeared in everyone’s eyes.

He had already returned, standing not far from the battlefield on Huifang Peak, still holding the Voice of Nulan.

But clearly, his body had been stiff for a while, his face full of shock, doubt, collapse, incomprehension… to the point of despair, as if cadaveric spots were about to appear in the next breath!

Feng Tiantian felt she couldn’t understand Xu and Dao, but at this moment, she understood Senior Wuyue. She murmured silently:

“Senior Wei Feng, it’s really not worth it…”

On Huifang Peak, after a short silence, the final round of exchanges quickly began.

This time, it wasn't Dao Dianzhu who started, but Master Shou who made the first move.

“My Dao, come and help me. Ai Gou needs your stimulation… I think he already knows you are here.”

“Xu Xiaoshou, Mo Mo is yours, stop talking.”

Dao Dianzhu seemed to glance at the Preaching Mirror, perhaps knowing that their previous words had led to much speculation.

In short, he was now acting as if avoiding a plague, not even calling him "Master Shou," as if trying to evade their past intimate relationship.

He handed over the soul fragment, and Master Shou accepted it.

But Master Shou was greedy; clearly, Mo Mo couldn't satisfy him, he still wanted to "chase back" Dao Dianzhu.

“My Dao, if you don’t come, I will suffer a crushing defeat.”

“Xu Xiaoshou, shut up!”

“My Dao, Ai Gou has reached his limit with me; he will set a trap to kill me. Can you bear to see me put to death and do nothing?”

“Master Shou, our relationship doesn’t seem that intimate, does it?”

“Alright, alright, Dao Qiongcang, you really changed as soon as you left the Relic of the Gods. Your heart has changed, and you’ve forgotten the happy times we fought side by side!”

Dao Qiongcang glanced at the Preaching Mirror, caught sight of Feng Tiantian’s wide, round eyes, and thought, “This is bad.”

He simply walked away.

Ignoring even Gou Wuyue, he was about to leave the Xuyue Gray Palace by himself.

This Xu Xiaoshou fellow wanted to drag him into trouble; he had ill intentions. After reading his mind, he still wanted to slander the Tianji Divine Cult.

But as the Spatial Profound Meaning shifted, Dao Qiongcang took a step, yet remained in place, and Xu Xiaoshou opposite him spoke again.

“Dao Qiongcang, you’re very tsundere, aren’t you? You will help me, won’t you?”

Dao Qiongcang trembled, not daring to speak.

Now, with the Five Regions watching, if he said yes, it was wrong; if he said no, it was also wrong.

The Preaching Mirror, it turned out, was Xu Xiaoshou’s open scheme. Damn him!

“Gou Wuyue, cut him down!”

The Preaching Mirror in Feng Tiantian’s hand turned at that moment, and when the picture appeared, Gou Wuyue pursed his lips, stepped back half a pace, and shook his head bitterly.

His gaze…

“So resentful!” Feng Tiantian exclaimed, as if some shackles had been broken, explaining loudly, “There’s a feeling of being deceived, of being let down…”

With a whoosh.

Gou Wuyue disappeared.

Feng Tiantian shivered with fright; after just explaining that look, she had the illusion that she was about to be killed.

But was it important?

Not important at all!

Now, Feng Tiantian felt nothing!

She felt she had already died once; she didn’t care what happened. If she didn’t even love Xu Xiaoshou anymore, what was there to fear?

The Preaching Mirror turned back to Huifang Peak, and Feng Tiantian found that focusing on preaching could also be very enjoyable—was this the joy that Feng Zhong Zui enjoyed?

She now held the reputation of two Ten Honored Masters!

“Xu Xiaoshou is still trying to keep Dao Qiongcang, but Dao Qiongcang doesn’t want to talk at all. He pouts, indicating he doesn’t want to bother with Xu Xiaoshou…”

“Xu Xiaoshou has no shame at all, pulling Dao Qiongcang’s hand. Yikes, Dao Qiongcang wants to run, Spatial Profound Meaning activates again…”

“Dao Qiongcang committed suicide on the spot. Is it really that terrifying? Is this ‘love’? Hahahaha, I get it, I get it… Those without love cross the river, unstuck by the mortal world.”

In front of the world watching through the Preaching Mirror, Feng Tiantian actually closed her eyes, and the aura of the Dao swirled around her.

Too crazy!

The Five Regions were completely bewildered.

The situation was already so complex, so chaotic, yet one could still sit down cross-legged and comprehend something?

Feng family, you truly are something!

In the final round of their exchange, Master Shou provided too much information, which no one had been able to digest yet.

And just as the people of the Five Regions were dumbfounded, Master Shou in the Preaching Mirror waved his hand at the distant, disappeared figure of Dao Dianzhu:

“You will help me.”

“You will definitely help me. Take care and I won’t see you off!”

Everyone was shaken by this great and altered relationship, whether it was friendship, love, or kinship.

With a whoosh, Master Shou appeared from the distant Huifang Peak, next to Feng Tiantian, who was still in the midst of comprehending the Dao.

“He said.”

He startled the people of the Five Regions, but then leaned in, pressed his face to the mirror on his own, and in a deep voice, said:

“Do not worry. If you leave this Relic of the Gods and find yourself in a desperate situation, no matter who the opponent is, I, Dao Qiongcang, will personally rush to your aid.”

“Mountains may lose their ridges, heaven and earth may merge, only then dare I part with you.”