Chapter 1690: Saint Mountain Peak Touchstone, Invincible Wu Peng Awaits Ten

Chapter 1674: Touchstone on the Summit of the Holy Mountain, Peerless and Unrivalled, Awaiting the One Who Reaches Ten

"Even Aunt Guiji of Nine Sacrifices is being controlled?"

Everyone in front of the Preaching Mirror was dumbfounded. First Beibei, then Qiugu, and now even the spirit body of Guiji of Nine Sacrifices, one of the Nine Ancestral Trees, couldn't defend itself?

"What kind of evil art is this, Master Xu? He's controlling people so easily from across an entire region?"

"Puppet strings... Is Dao Master's art truly that terrifying? He can control anyone he wants?"

"There must be some limitations, right? Otherwise, he could just control Emperor Cangsheng directly. Perhaps Master Xu looks relaxed on the surface, but it's actually incredibly draining?"

"Is it through the Profound Truth of Life? Master Xu controls the Great Path of Life, after all. Or is it mind control?"

"Can it forcefully twist a person's self-will... *hiss*! That's a bit terrifying!"

"Heheheh..."

"Brother, what are you laughing at?"

The spectators in front of the Preaching Mirror, shocked by the power of the puppet strings, began to ponder the Great Paths involved in this technique. It must be said that the customs of each region are indeed different.

Compared to orthodox regions like the Eastern and Central Domains, Spirit Refiners revere the Great Path and diligently delve into its intricacies, always seeking to understand fully. However, the evil cultivators in the Southern Domain, after seeing the puppet strings, quickly remarked that Master Xu's technique wasn't very effective.

But it's not his fault. The mistake lies in Master Xu being born in the Eastern Domain. If he had been born in the Southern Domain, his evil arts would have truly flourished. Many pondered, and many had wicked intentions, but those who could truly see through the puppet strings, or even learn them by just observing... were almost nonexistent!

Even Ai Cangsheng himself, activating his Eye of the Great Path at this moment, found the puppet strings unfathomable and truly worthy of Dao Qiongcang's skill.

"The Great Path of Intent..."

First, without a doubt, Xu Xiaoshou's control over the Great Path of Intent is in no way inferior to the Great Path comprehension of any of the Ten Venerates. Secondly, relying solely on the Great Path of Intent wouldn't allow for seamless manipulation of the Nine Sacrifices Envoy. At most, it could guide or influence, but not instantly take over another's physical body, spirit body, and consciousness.

"The Profound Truth of Space..."

The invisible spiritual threads controlling people extended from spatial nodes, actually originating from the Southern Domain.

"The Profound Truth of Heavenly Secrets..."

The spiritual threads formed as threads of heavenly secrets, subtly aligning with the Path of Spirit Arrays, and could even borrow the power of the Heavenly Dao. This was Dao Qiongcang's usual auxiliary method when using Heavenly Secret Arts.

"The Profound Truth of Life..."

Moreover, the threads that had just connected to Qiugu and the Nine Sacrifices Envoy's spirit bodies precisely and lightly pricked into the body's acupoints, seemingly capable of temporarily altering life essence and causing a brief separation of body, spirit, and consciousness. This gave Xu Xiaoshou ample opportunity to manipulate a Semi-Saint!

From Beibei to Qiugu to the Nine Sacrifices Envoy, Ai Cangsheng observed three individuals in succession, but could only deduce this much information. Even so, Xu Xiaoshou had subtly revealed four Profound Truths. Not to mention the other secrets operating covertly when these puppet strings were used, which he couldn't perceive.

"His understanding of the soul might already surpass that of Beihuai and Hua Changdeng thirty years ago."

"His understanding of life and the human body, in this era, perhaps only Shen Yi can truly suppress him."

"And his Heavenly Secret Arts..."

Ai Cangsheng's brows furrowed slightly. It wasn't a feeling; he could clearly see that the Dao Xu Xiaoshou used when employing "Heavenly Secret Arts" was completely different from Dao Qiongcang's. The Dao he used to mend and alter the patterns of life, thereby changing human will and forcing others to act against their own desires...

"The Path of Weaving?"

Ai Cangsheng shook his head, not daring to be certain. The Eye of the Great Path sometimes sees too clearly, and sometimes it becomes confused. At least when he reached this conclusion, he felt that all the ancient Daoist texts he had borrowed and read in the Holy Divine Palace over the past few decades had been for naught.

Further thought was useless. Watching the Nine Sacrifices Envoy still randomly explaining something below, Ai Cangsheng had no interest in discerning who was right or wrong. Anyway, he didn't have a good impression of Qin Duan either.

"Silence!"

With a soft command, the small commotion on the square instantly ceased. The Spirit Refiners in front of the Five Domains Preaching Mirror were also subdued by Emperor Cangsheng's majesty, holding their breath.

"Everyone, proceed immediately to the Dead Sea. Without my imperial order, you are not to leave until Xu Xiaoshou is seen."

As soon as this order was issued, everyone, both on Guizhe Holy Mountain and among the spectators, understood that Emperor Cangsheng was responding to Master Xu's actions! The implied message was: You want to go to the Dead Sea to pick someone up, and you're afraid of being worn out before you do. Fine, my target isn't Wuxiu, it's you. So, the battlefield will be the Dead Sea, and the time will be after you've picked up your person. Before that, I can relax in the Southern Domain, and you can come to the Dead Sea for sightseeing. We won't interfere with each other. But once you've picked up your person...

Feng Zhongzui quickly explained the intent behind Emperor Cangsheng's words, then precisely seized the crucial point: "Therefore, once Saint Slave Wuxiu appears in the Dead Sea, and Master Xu picks up his person, it signifies the full commencement of the great battle!"

"The Dead Sea forbids spiritual power, so Master Xu's Profound Truth of Space won't work. His Profound Truth of Life will only be useful in terms of Dao principles. Heavenly Secret Arts might have some use in active offense without prior ambush, but certainly not much."

"What he'll have left are his various Dao principle comprehensions, his Semi-Saint level physical body, and his Void Giant Clan abilities. These are largely passive and too limited."

"Even the mighty Shen Yi, during the war with Shen Ai, was reportedly suppressed by a barrage of arrows because he didn't want to trade lives. Can Master Xu transcend this? Honestly, I'm not optimistic."

"Defense alone is useless. Only a fearless offense, coupled with a do-or-die determination, has a chance to break through the supreme onslaught of a Ten Venerates level opponent."

"So, in the Dead Sea, what protective means will Master Xu have left? Only one, my friends!"

The world in front of the Preaching Mirror listened with surging excitement, vaguely understanding what Feng Zhongzui wanted to say. Soon, Feng Zhongzui clenched his fist abruptly and declared the answer in everyone's minds: "Ancient Sword Art!"

At this moment, the world seemed to light up. Everyone's eyes were shining, and Feng Zhongzui's too, his voice becoming even more fervent: "Master Xu can grow large, but the abilities of the Void Giant Clan, even if they can tear apart Qilin, are ultimately just auxiliary in front of Emperor Cangsheng—he'll seize a weakness, and one arrow can shatter it!"

"Relying solely on close-quarters combat, even the Six Paths Shen Yi found it difficult to break through Emperor Cangsheng's offense. What truly gives Master Xu hope of winning against Emperor Cangsheng isn't actually himself..."

"But the Ancient Sword Art, which has no upper limit!"

Having carried the Preaching Mirror and broadcasted the Spirit Refining War for so long, Feng Zhongzui felt like he was almost becoming a Spirit Refiner himself. At this moment, he rediscovered the meaning of the "Ancient Sword Dao Preaching Mirror" and found an opportunity to promote Ancient Sword Art, proclaiming passionately:

"Ancient Sword Art has never had limits!"

"It is synonymous with instantaneous success, the battle anthem for a desperate comeback, the dawn of rebirth from ashes!"

"How strong Ancient Sword Art is never depends on how strong the sword is, or how much one comprehends the Dao, but on the wielder's current state, their desire, their hunger for life!"

"Yes, the threshold for Ancient Sword Art is very high, and it demands great talent. To achieve what I've just described is incredibly, incredibly difficult... but that's for everyone else!"

Feng Zhongzui manipulated the camera, and the scene changed. In the eyes of the Five Domains, the image in the mirror at this moment was no longer two separate frames, but Master Xu's face, formed by their superposition.

"The Seven Sword Immortals have yet to be unveiled, but Master Xu is already the undisputed First Sword Immortal!"

"He once said, 'In a hundred generations, there is no genius like me; in ten thousand years, no one higher can emerge.' He was right!"

"In my opinion, if there is anyone in this world whose sword Dao talent surpasses the Eighth Sword Immortal, and it's not Master Xu, then no one in the Five Domains has any hope!"

"In the Dead Sea, even if Master Xu has a thousand schemes and ten thousand evil methods, he'll be out of options! The only way he can break this stalemate is with Ancient Sword Art!"

Just bet everything on Ancient Sword Art, and take him on!

The Five Domains listened with boiling blood, and Feng Zhongzui spoke with frothing enthusiasm. After getting himself and everyone else excited, he swallowed hard, then continued to shout hoarsely:

"This is precisely why Emperor Cangsheng will accept the challenge! He's too clever; he's set up an ambush for Master Xu that can only be broken by stepping right into it."

"But can't Master Xu see this? No! The First Sword Immortal naturally possesses the pride of the First Sword Immortal! Emperor Cangsheng believes he can control Master Xu, but our Master Xu also believes this situation... can be shattered with a single sword!"

Feng Zhongzui manipulated the main Preaching Mirror, zooming in on the image. Half of the screen showed Ai Cangsheng, the other half Xu Xiaoshou. The screen shook violently, as if sparks and electricity were flying, making it seem like the two were locked in intense opposition, as he shouted:

"Will the unbeatable combination of the Eye of the Great Path and the Wicked Sin Bow, which weaves a net spanning heaven and earth, prevail? Or will the First Sword Immortal, foremost in sharpness throughout history, boldly tear through this blockade in the name of 'Hidden Suffering'?"

"Let us wait and see!"

Feng Zhongzui had excellent eloquence. After receiving the order, the people on Guizhe Holy Mountain were about to head to the Dead Sea, but were completely drawn in by Feng Zhongzui's voice. Everyone looked up, staring at the Preaching Mirror and the young man from the Feng family, feeling as if this person was born to preach.

"He's got me all excited..." Zhong Yuanzi gestured with his fists and feet, feeling that if Old Yu heard these words, he would willingly roll over. Everyone turned to look at Emperor Cangsheng in his wheelchair, their eyes full of anticipation, all wishing to see "Master Xu"—no, just Xu Xiaochong!—scrambling under the Wicked Sin Bow, eventually shot into a bloody mess, no longer able to talk tough.

"Interesting."

Ai Cangsheng, in his wheelchair, smiled inwardly as he listened. Feng Zhongzui spoke well, making it sound as if everything he said was truly accurate. But what was the reality? As for ancient sword cultivators who rise with every setback, comprehend with every adversity, and find answers with every death, he had only seen one in all these years: Ba Zun'an. And that was only Ba Zun'an during his time as a Ten Venerate. After encountering Hua Changdeng, he couldn't do it anymore.

Ai Cangsheng lowered his head, stroking the Wicked Sin Bow, speaking with a touch of youthful fervor: "I am not Hua Changdeng, but I can be the terminator."

Feng Zhongzui, carrying the Preaching Mirror, couldn't hear the internal thoughts, but seemed to sense a change in Emperor Cangsheng's mood. He hesitated, then fearlessly descended to the Holy Mountain, asking from a distance: "Emperor Cangsheng, I have a question on behalf of the Five Domains."

The spectators in the Five Domains were taken aback. "We're being represented just like that?" "No way, has this kid suddenly gotten so bold? Directly intervening on the main battlefield to ask Emperor Cangsheng a question?"

"Speak."

Ai Cangsheng was surprisingly amenable. In reality, Emperor Cangsheng's character was indeed very good. Not everyone, constantly called "dog-lover," could maintain composure without losing control. Did you not see how a certain "little bug" caused the Holy Mountain to lose control just by being called a "bug"... It was precisely because he saw these things, and noted the detail that Emperor Cangsheng didn't interrupt Master Xu's previous speech—his tracing of the meaning of "Saint Slave"—that Feng Zhongzui dared to land on the Holy Mountain and ask this question now:

"Emperor Cangsheng, the 'Saint Slave' in the broad sense that Master Xu just mentioned includes ghost beasts, experimental subjects, red and white-clad individuals, Five Domains Spirit Refiners, and even you and I..."

At that moment, everyone surnamed Feng in Feng Family City, including the sword immortal Feng Tingchen, the old head of the Feng family, almost collectively wet themselves. "You brat, you've overstepped your bounds!" "You're just a small, broken preacher, what right do you have to ask questions?" "If you dare to ask, my Feng family's nine generations won't be able to withstand the Wicked Sin Bow's answer!"

But the youth, with his spirited nature, could traverse the world like a knight. Feng Zhongzui was chosen to carry this main Preaching Mirror and hailed as the benchmark for the next generation of the Feng family precisely because he had "no gods or Buddhas in his eyes"! He was also unrestrained, and at this moment, casting aside the older generation's family views and ignoring the distant curses and insults from his family members, he sought an answer. An answer to a question he might not dare to ask the Dao Master, nor even utter a half-sentence to the Xuanji Master, but one he felt hopeful of receiving a direct answer from Emperor Cangsheng.

"Emperor Cangsheng, from the perspective of all living beings, do you think Master Xu is correct?"

Ai Cangsheng gazed with surprise, looking up to this young man. This fellow didn't even fear Yue Beihua Raodao; his mindset was even lighter than his own. Not only him, but all the Saints on Guizhe Holy Mountain, the people in front of the Five Domains Preaching Mirror, and even Xu Xiaoshou himself were surprised.

"It's not puppet strings," Feng Zhongzui voluntarily explained, though it looked more like Master Xu had told him to explain. Ai Cangsheng knew it wasn't.

But how could he answer? This was an answer meant for the Five Domains! Under the gaze of countless eyes, Dao Qiongcang, the master of equivocation, suddenly flashed into his mind, and he understood the answer that the flashy old Daoist would give if he were here:

"'As if.'"

But Ai Cangsheng was not Dao Qiongcang. Facing such a courageous young man, he was unwilling to give such an ambiguous answer, one he himself disliked. Ai Cangsheng smiled and said, "He is right, because I used to think the same way, which is why I didn't stop or interrupt his speech."

Feng Zhongzui's hands trembled with excitement; he had indeed received an honest answer. The image on the Five Domains Preaching Mirror wavered, not because he was shaking, but because a wave of commotion instantly erupted in front of the mirror.

"Emperor Cangsheng!!!"

"Holy cow, he actually answered?"

"Emperor Cangsheng, your talent and broad mind truly qualify you for the position of Dao Master!"

"Dog-lover, oh dog-lover, I actually want to support you, but unfortunately, you also support our Master Xu. Supporting you is like supporting Master Xu, so I'll just stick with supporting Master Xu... Master Xu, go go go!"

Feng Zhongzui suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked again, "That was then, what about now?"

"Now, I anticipate Xu Xiaoshou's success more than anyone else."

Feng Zhongzui was stunned. This answer was unexpected. The Saints on the square were startled, and the Five Domains suddenly fell silent. Ai Cangsheng's words were astonishing, but he seemed unaware, merely sighing lightly, "Unfortunately, this is just my personal view on 'right and wrong.' My answer cannot represent 'all living beings,' nor does it represent 'truth' or 'correctness.'"

"But you believe Master Xu's Dao is correct, and the Eighth Sword Immortal is also deeply practicing this Dao. Does this not imply that the Saint Slave's path is the right one?"

Feng Zhongzui's question was very insightful, articulating the expectations of everyone in the Five Domains and the concerns of the Saints on the square. Ai Cangsheng, he has a rebellious heart! A gentleman is open and broad-minded. In Ai Cangsheng's lexicon, there seemed to be no word for "taboo":

"'He is right,' 'I anticipate his success,' and my personal opinions of him—none of these mean that the Saint Slaves' Dao is correct."

Ai Cangsheng paused, then retorted, "If that is the prevailing trend, does that mean the prevailing trend is correct?"

Feng Zhongzui was stumped by the question. He sensed that Emperor Cangsheng's words had a hidden meaning. First, the Saint Slaves were not the prevailing trend in the Five Domains; they only represented the will of the Eighth Sword Immortal, the First Sword Immortal, and those behind them. On the contrary, Emperor Cangsheng seemed to be talking about... the Holy Divine Palace?!

Feng Zhongzui, unable to respond, threw out his last prepared bold question: "Emperor Cangsheng, if the overall situation changes in the future, from the perspective of all living beings, is it possible that you would become Master Xu's friend rather than his enemy?"

At this question, even Xi showed a look of astonishment, silently giving a thumbs-up for his younger brother's audacity. The spectators in the Five Domains had their curiosity instantly piqued. After all, judging from Emperor Cangsheng's previous answers... If Master Xu invited him, would he really join the First Heaven Tower? Was his strong opposition to Master Xu actually just to get his attention?

Ai Cangsheng calmly shook his head: "You don't need to speak with every sentence 'for the sake of all living beings.' An individual can never replace all living beings. As for your question..." He paused, then pointed to the ground beneath him: "I have sat here, atop Guizhe for over thirty years, unaffected by external joys or sorrows... not because of Dao Qiongcang's invitation, but because of myself."

"I am no one's friend—Holy Divine Palace? Saint Slaves? Nor am I anyone's enemy—Xu Xiaoshou? Yue Beihua Raodao? If I were truly to describe myself... I am merely a self-proclaimed 'Protector of the Dao.'"

"Protector of the Dao?"

Feng Zhongzui looked confused, and the Five Domains were even more bewildered. No one asked a question; Ai Cangsheng evidently hadn't finished. He then looked towards the Preaching Mirror, as if observing everyone in the Spirit Refining World with his Eye of the Great Path, and said calmly:

"In the struggle of the Great Dao, there is no right or wrong. Historically, the victors speak, and this often gives rise to wolves and tigers, leading to immense problems."

"I sit here, using my bow and arrow to define the boundary between right and wrong, serving as a touchstone for the brave at the highest point, protecting the bottom line."

"Kings don't meet kings... If there is someone whose ideals surpass mine, whose courage is stronger than mine, whose power exceeds mine, let them defeat me and step over my corpse. That person will succeed in proving their Dao, and the world will cheer for them."

"If they cannot pass, then the Wicked Sin Bow will claim another soul. This has been commonplace for thirty years."

Shifting his gaze, Ai Cangsheng looked at Feng Zhongzui, giving his final answer to the courageous young man: "Dao Qiongcang dares not say he is right. Ba Zun'an does not know if he is right. The Holy Divine Palace and the Saint Slaves might all be wrong."

"But I am right!"

Ai Cangsheng spoke this sentence with absolute certainty. Under the astonished gazes of everyone on the Holy Mountain Square, he calmly continued:

"I cannot guarantee that I am absolutely right. I have achieved relative correctness for seven or eight tenths, at least protecting seven or eight tenths of the Five Domains."

"I have sat here on the Holy Mountain for over thirty years, waiting for someone to reach eight or nine tenths, or even... ten."

"He who surpasses me can be 'Ten'!"

"Heh, there has been none."

With that sigh, Feng Zhongzui felt something stripped away from his heart, leaving it hollow. He looked at Ai Cangsheng in the wheelchair before him; he wasn't tall. Sitting in his wheelchair, which was on the steps, he was barely a little taller than Feng Zhongzui himself. Feng Zhongzui rubbed his eyes and looked again. Emperor Cangsheng was as high as the clouds!

Feng Zhongzui carried the Preaching Mirror, which transmitted Ai Cangsheng's Dao to the Five Domains. Ai Cangsheng finally cast his gaze towards the mirror. He seemed to be looking at Master Xu. More so, he seemed to be looking at all the young Spirit Refiners in the Five Domains.

"The Wicked Sin Bow has only a bow, no arrows; it can only launch, not retrieve."

"And I am only myself, without friends or enemies... but I still hope that 'Ten' will appear, appearing by stepping over me. I hope it is you, and it had better be you."