Chapter 1703: Gui Zhe Holy Mountain Has No Tigers, Lord Zhe Gui Halberd Shovels Soil

“Brothers, it’s time. I really must leave the Sacred Mountain.”

Outside Guizhe Sacred Mountain, Feng Zhongzui was genuinely shocked by Bei Bei’s grotesque face.

The term “cute dog” spilling from the mouths of the Sacred Mountain disciples, no matter how many times he heard it, still felt utterly outrageous.

He silently moved the mirror to the side, capturing other shots, not daring to embarrass Bei Bei.

Even after Bei Bei realized what she had done after barking, her face flushed crimson with shame, wishing she could bash her head against the mirror.

Why was Sword Immortal Bei behaving this way again?

And why had she just uttered such wild words?

Everything seemed predestined, all because of contact with Master Shou and the Five Heavenly Decays.

These two scourges: one could directly control people.

The other, as long as a person wasn’t dead, left remnants of the Decay Force and the Blood World Pearl’s power, which would then remotely guide people towards death.

Previously, Feng Zhongzui had carried the mirror, passionately broadcasting, finding the Sword Immortal battles fresh and exciting.

Now that the novelty had worn off, he began contemplating the philosophical questions of life and death.

“Feng Zhongzui, was it? Come here.”

But before he could bid farewell to Sword Immortal Bei and leave, Master Shou beckoned from nearby, freezing Feng Zhongzui’s just-raised foot.

A bad premonition flashed through his mind. Turning his head, he quickly interjected, “Master Shou, this next part shouldn’t be a Sword Immortal battle, and it involves too many things. Our Feng family is not authorized to broadcast it.”

*Now* you remember you’re a Feng family member?

The Five Domains were amused. Ever since Master Shou ascended the Sacred Mountain, your various remarks haven’t seemed to consider the Feng family’s survival, have they?

What, now you’re showing concern?

The crowd, eager for more drama, never thought the matter too big.

Even though they knew Feng Zhongzui couldn’t hear the voices from beyond the Transmission Mirror, everyone was shouting out at him:

“Don’t go, Feng Zhongzui! You’ve been so bold for so long, why are you getting cold feet at the crucial moment?”

“Exactly! You were so passionate just now—*that* was the real Feng Zhongzui! Being shifty isn’t you; you’re being manipulated!”

“Forget Emperor Cangsheng for a moment. Master Shou is going to the Dead Sea next! Won’t you broadcast that for us too, let us broaden our horizons?”

“The Dead Sea, huh? I heard that’s the Sacred Mountain’s biggest secret. Can that really be broadcast…?” Some showed concern, knowing that sometimes it was best not to know too many secrets.

Yet, in the end, there were more who weren’t afraid of death.

To put it plainly, the law doesn’t punish the multitude. Ordinarily, there was no chance to glimpse the Dead Sea, and no one was bold enough to even think about it.

But now, with Master Shou leading the way and Feng Zhongzui carrying the large mirror, taking the brunt of the “damage” upfront, those watching from behind would simply be “passing by and accidentally glancing.”

Just a quick look—it wouldn’t cost them anything.

If they were afraid of *this*, what was the point of cultivation?

“No, please, I beg you…”

Feng Zhongzui pleaded in a low voice.

How could he not know what Master Shou meant by calling him over? But he was an ancient sword cultivator, not a spirit cultivator; he was genuinely terrified!

The Dead Sea genuinely couldn’t be broadcast!

Even across a domain and through the mirror, he had received strict telepathic warnings from his old family patriarch, repeatedly stressing that he *must* refuse Master Shou and absolutely *not* enter the Dead Sea.

Once he stepped into that pit, whether the Feng family was actively or passively involved, they wouldn’t be able to wash away the stain even by jumping into the Mizaoren Spring.

But seeing Master Shou’s enigmatic half-smile…

Feng Zhongzui’s face became so miserable he looked like he was about to cry. Who could refuse Master Shou?!

“Xu Xiaoshou, I’ll kill you!”

Sword Immortal Bei, ashamed beyond words, her indignation erupting uncontrollably, raised her Emperor Sword and cleaved down directly.

But to the current Xu Xiaoshou, Bei Bei was truly just a “little Bei Bei,” hardly worth mentioning.

With a gentle push to the side of his left hand, he didn’t even turn his head, still presenting a dashing profile to the Transmission Mirror.

With Liguo’s Blade opening and closing in an instant, Bei Bei, who had charged in angrily like a calf sharpening its horns, let out an “Ouch” and inexplicably floated upwards.

“Is she challenging me now?”

On the Transmission Mirror’s screen, Master Shou spread his hands helplessly. “She’s Sword Immortal Bei, and I’m the First Sword Immortal. Doesn’t the Transmission Mirror care at all about the battle that’s about to happen between us?”

Feng Zhongzui’s face turned liver-colored.

Could Sword Immortal Bei possibly defeat you? In that last battle between you two, she even lost the entire Jade City.

“Well then, it’ll be just like before.”

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t want to make things difficult for Feng Zhongzui. Waving his hand, he smiled, “You’ve been kidnapped by me.”

The Five Domains then saw the Transmission Mirror reluctantly follow behind Master Shou, lining up once again alongside Sword Immortal Bei.

This scene felt somewhat familiar.

Earlier, when Master Shou ascended the Sacred Mountain, he had also “abducted” Feng Zhongzui and Bei Bei.

Was everything still going according to his plan?

So, despite all that had happened in between, even with Emperor Cangsheng making an appearance, the situation couldn’t be reversed?

“No…”

Outside the Sacred Mountain, the Saints were filled with dread.

The cosmic order had indeed been reversed, but it was the cosmic order of Guizhe Sacred Mountain.

The heavens themselves were shattered!

The Sacred Mountain was collapsing!

Controlling Bei Bei with a single word, binding the Feng family to the Heavenly First Floor’s pirate ship with another… Xu Xiaoshou was no longer the same as before.

At this moment, after Emperor Cangsheng had gone south, who could possibly stop him?

“What should we do next?”

The Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy in her palace gown and long skirt, her beautiful eyes hesitant, looked at Fang Wenxin.

The Saints of the Outer Aid faction, and Xi, the sole remaining representative of the Six Divisions, also turned their gaze to Elder Fang.

Emperor Cangsheng was absent.

Zhong Yuanzi had accompanied him south.

At this moment, the only one left on the Sacred Temple’s side who could fight was Fang Wenxin, the First Generation Red Robe.

Elder Fang was very strong. During the previous defense of Jade City, he, like Elder Yu, had not used his full power.

Elder Fang wielded the “White Shadow Copper Coins,” one of the Ten Great Psychic Weapons, and had manifested “Blood Shadow.”

If he went all out, he could still give Master Shou a good run for his money!

As everyone thought this, they found a small measure of comfort.

Inadvertently catching a glimpse of Master Shou’s subtly smiling gaze, their hearts all sank.

The Painted Dragon Halberd, Shattered Steel Shield, Four Swords of Existence, Blazing Serpent…

Sword Intent, Sleeveless Scarlet Charred Hand, Giant Transformation, Dragon Ancestor’s Power, Heaven Ancestor’s Power, Devouring Power…

Arcana, Arcana, Arcana…

Countless!

Simply incalculable!

Fang Wenxin might give Master Shou a *little* bit of trouble, but if Master Shou went all out, the Saints present wouldn’t even get a fighting chance!

The Transmission Mirror panned over.

The Saints unconsciously huddled closer together.

This scene made the Five Domains roar with laughter, because it looked as if the Saints’ true forms had been revealed—a flock of lambs cowering together for warmth, targeted by a big bad wolf.

Fang Wenxin glanced at the Transmission Mirror, then at the Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy, who had slightly shrunk behind him, his face turning pale then green.

“Why are you hiding behind me too?”

He lowered his voice, but the old man clearly wasn’t keeping up with the times, unaware that lowering his voice was useless; the Transmission Mirror could still pick up everything:

“You are the Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy.”

“You are currently the only member of the Ten-Person Deliberation Council on the Sacred Mountain. You are the one who should make decisions.”

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus froze upon hearing this, a flicker of panic in her beautiful eyes.

I can make decisions too?

The Nine Ancestral Trees each had different functions. The one primarily responsible for battle was never her, the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus, but rather those like the Blood Tree or the Sword Hemp.

Therefore, the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus had never been the “First Tree.”

She had always only offered suggestions, never learned to make definitive decisions.

On the Sacred Mountain, her sole responsibility was to nurture fortune, suppress the Great Dao, gather dragon qi, and ensure the long-term stability of the Sacred Temple.

This sounded mysterious and profound, but in reality, the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus was born knowing all of this; she didn’t need to do anything extra. As long as she lived on the Sacred Mountain, simply existing was enough.

This made her seem idle.

Previously, the Dao Palace Master, unable to stand her idleness, had assigned her an additional task: managing the Sacred Mountain’s great formation.

She was also diligently learning, striving to become a Heavenly Machine Arcanist.

That was all.

The Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus was quite the slacker.

She knew it herself; unlike Elder Yu, who chose to be a slacker, she had no choice.

She was born this way, her destiny was such, unchangeable.

Her greatest hobby was watching the children of the Sacred Mountain grow up, eating her osmanthus cakes.

As the Ancestral Tree with the deepest roots in the Five Domains today, her strongest combat abilities were creating battlefields and banishing spaces.

Just like before, Emperor Cangsheng commanded her to banish the Southern Domain, using it as a battlefield for him and Xu Xiaoshou.

But she didn’t do it, because she couldn’t abandon this land.

And now, a tree that had only ever concerned herself with whether children’s daily lives were in order, and whose Heavenly Machine Arts had shown no significant progress over decades, remaining unremarkable, was expected to make a decision?

“I…”

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus glanced back.

Which of the Saints present wasn’t more powerful than herself?

Even young Xi had summoned that terrifying White Calamity Yama Lord.

Make a decision?

I can’t do it!

“Presumably, this is the esteemed Lady Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus, whose beautiful name is known throughout the world, thriving in this age of prosperity… ah, I mean, Her Excellency the Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy, correct?”

“This humble one, Xu Xiaoshou, pays his respects.”

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus trembled upon hearing his voice. Looking up, she saw the elegant Xu Xiaoshou gracefully bowing with hands cupped to his chest in a respectful greeting.

It was too terrifying!

The calmer he appeared, the crazier he was inside!

With one glance, the Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus seemed to see the depravity hidden beneath the calm surface of this Five Domains’ foremost villain.

His gaze was too aggressive.

He looked as if he was about to pick her up and carry her away in front of all Five Domains, hiding her in some forgotten corner.

“Ugh…”

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus was very mature, yet at this moment, she behaved like a child.

Not only did she not dare to step forward, but she also timidly shrank even further behind Fang Wenxin, her beautiful eyes betraying uncontrollable panic.

“A beast in human clothing…” For some reason, as Feng Zhongzui watched this scene, this phrase automatically popped into his mind.

Of course, he wouldn’t dare interpret Master Shou that way, assuming he had misjudged.

He could only follow closely behind Master Shou, attempting to explain Master Shou’s intention in singling out the Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy for a greeting among all the other Half-Saints:

“It’s a very normal greeting, brothers, wouldn’t you agree?”

“If I were Master Shou… I’ve already met Elder Fang. As for the others, I wouldn’t pay them much mind, except for Sword Immortal Bei and Brother Xi, who are both ancient sword cultivators—I’d take a few extra glances.”

“The only ones left are the Ancestral Trees!”

Feng Zhongzui spoke with newfound clarity, even beginning to educate some of those in front of the Transmission Mirror: “Perhaps not everyone is familiar with the Ancestral Tree, the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus. Let me tell you, the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus…”

His explanation hadn’t even truly begun when he was shocked by Master Shou’s words, which, after only a moment of politeness, completely descended into depravity:

“Your Excellency, Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy, Guizhe Sacred Mountain has been shot down and destroyed by the ‘cute dog.’ The geomancy here is clearly unfavorable for long-term residence.”

“I have an Apricot Realm, and within it, there is a flourishing city, accompanied by an Ancestral Tree. Even the Dao Palace Master frequently visits. I wish to invite you to move there for a candlelight dinner…”

“Would you, perhaps, grace me with your presence?”

“Presumptuous, Xu Xiaoshou, how dare you!”

At that instant, the spectators in front of the Transmission Mirrors across the Five Domains erupted.

At first, everyone found Master Shou’s teasing of “Auntie Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus” amusing, as her extreme fear made it quite entertaining.

But they never expected…

Master Shou actually wanted to dig up the tree!

He wasn’t human; he was a beast!

That was the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus! That was an Ancestral Tree!

She suppressed not only the Sacred Temple’s fortune but also that of the entire Sacred Continent! Digging her up and planting her in your “Apricot Realm”…

Wouldn’t that fortune become exclusively yours?

Oh, no wonder Master Shou rose so quickly. So, behind every successful Master, there’s an Ancestral Tree planted?

“The city… right, the city Master Shou mentioned, that’s the Jade City he moved, isn’t it? How shameless, speaking so eloquently.”

“I heard his minor world was newly formed from chaos, and it already has an Ancestral Tree, the Dragon Apricot. How can Master Shou have such a large appetite? The Dragon Apricot isn’t enough; he wants the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus too?”

“Damn it, I also want to enter the Apricot Realm! I want to be invited by Master Shou to live in his world! Why wasn’t I in Jade City back then?!”

“It seems there are tickets out now. Rumors just spread, but they’re selling for a very high price. Apparently, one also needs to pass ‘Sir Li’s Realm Entry Assessment’…”

“Sir Li? Who is that?”

“I don’t know, but to be able to resell entry tickets to the Apricot Realm, their identity and status are probably not simple. It’s possible it’s the Dragon Apricot’s incarnation, playfully wandering the mortal world!”

“Hiss, looking at it that way, it’s also an opportunity… The Sacred Continent has lost its vigor; it’s cages everywhere. Pioneering a new world—I like that!”

“Hey, now that you mention it, it really does seem like it, doesn’t it?”

Some discussed enthusiastically.

Some frowned at the enthusiastic discussants.

But more people participated with considerable interest in the discussion about the “Apricot Realm.”

Indeed, across the Transmission Mirrors in the Five Domains, at the same time Master Shou was pointing his sword at the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus, many individuals with “inside information” coincidentally appeared.

A gentle whisper began to spread.

News such as “Apricot Realm entry tickets for sale,” “prices are absurd,” “expensive things must have a reason,” “the most suitable world for spirit cultivators to reside,” and “no need to ascend the Sacred Mountain, two Ancestral Trees will guide your cultivation,” quickly spread like wildfire.

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus clearly hadn’t anticipated that her mere timid shrinking would result in her being listed as one of the two great Ancestral Trees in the Apricot Realm by a certain Sir Li.

As for Xu Xiaoshou’s question, “Would you, perhaps, grace me with your presence?” she didn’t even dare to respond.

One can be unskilled.

But good advice must not be forgotten.

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus deeply trusted Dao Qiongcang. She remembered Dao Qiongcang once saying that when encountering Xu Xiaoshou, it was best to simply remain silent.

While she could remain silent, Fang Wenxin and the other Half-Saints could no longer pretend to be deaf. At that moment, he sternly called out, attempting to awaken Xu Xiaoshou from his rebellious intentions:

“Xu Xiaoshou, what are you trying to do?!”

From behind, a group of Half-Saints from the Outer Aid faction, unable to bear it any longer, also spoke up:

“She’s an Ancestral Tree!”

“She suppresses the fortune of the entire Sacred Continent!”

“Presumptuous, you little thief! Do you truly intend to forcefully abduct her? Do you really believe there’s no one left in our Sacred Mountain?”

Feng Zhongzui slapped his forehead.

Sometimes, he genuinely didn’t know if these Half-Saints were being manipulated by Master Shou and acting, or if they were just instinctively accustomed to their noble demeanor.

If there were *anyone* left on the Sacred Mountain right now, would Master Shou be behaving this way?

“You lot…”

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, shaking his head, unsure if these people were trying to stop him or tempt him.

With every word they spoke…

If she weren’t an Ancestral Tree, what use would I have for her?

If she couldn’t gather the fortune of an entire realm, what use would I have for her?

Now that you want to resist me, you talk to me about justice and morality. But before, when you wanted to kill me and needed a justified reason, “little thief” was a mild term!

“Clearly, I’m not a good person, am I?”

Under the gaze of the Five Domains, Master Shou frankly admitted his already defined identity. “I am the second-in-command of the Holy Slaves, the Master of the Heavenly First Floor. Do I need to abide by your rules when I act?”

The entire audience was speechless.

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus’s eyes filled with complete panic. Her slender hand tightly gripped the back of Fang Wenxin’s robe, like clutching a lifeline, and she stammered softly:

“Don’t…”

Xu Xiaoshou shifted his tone, waving his sleeve as he asserted, “Of course, I, Xu, would not go so far as to forcefully abduct an Ancestral Tree in broad daylight. How would that be any different from a certain Sacred Temple plundering the freedom of ghost beasts?”

Fang Wenxin and the others’ faces darkened. Just as they were about to refute him, they realized that under the subtle, yet terrifying, aura of the young man opposite, they were…

The Saints were struck speechless, unable even to open their mouths or utter a single sound.

“I will only invite.”

Xu Xiaoshou smiled slightly, looking sincerely at the Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy, and quickly soothed her panicked emotions with his gaze, earnestly saying:

“Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy, this junior formally invites you to reside in the Apricot Realm. I have already discussed this matter with Senior Dragon Apricot, and he has no objections.”

“Our sincerity is profound. As long as you nod in agreement, the Apricot Realm can be renamed ‘Osmanthus Realm’ on the spot. What do you think?”

The Spirit Body of the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus released her tightly clutched skirt, shaking her hands repeatedly, and stammered, “There’s no need for that…”

It was too grand!

This was truly too grand!

From the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus’s perspective, Xu Xiaoshou was already an extremely formidable figure on the continent.

Being able to contend with Dao Qiongcang and Emperor Cangsheng was not something just anyone could do.

His words were practically equivalent to saying that if she accepted this invitation, the Sacred Continent would be renamed the Ninth Sacrifice Continent!

What virtue or ability did she possess to deserve such?

How could it come to this?

I am merely a Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus tree…

“Then, according to your wishes, ‘Apricot Realm’ doesn’t have to be renamed… Oh?” Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes lit up as if suddenly realizing something. “So, does that mean Lady Ninth Sacrifice has agreed to this junior’s request?”

“Don’t agree!”

Fang Wenxin, the Saints present, and the people of the Five Domains were simultaneously terrified, fearing that Xu Xiaoshou would use his “guidance” to compel the Ninth Sacrifice Divine Envoy to nod in agreement.

If she did, it would give him a legitimate reason to forcefully abduct the Ancestral Tree.

But clearly, everyone had overestimated the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus and underestimated Master Shou’s character. Why would he resort to coercion?

“If you agree, shake your head; if you definitely agree, nod. This junior will respect your wishes.”

“No…” The Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus shook her head repeatedly, then, realizing her mistake, nodded repeatedly, and finally shook her head repeatedly again. “Ugh… *whimpers*!”

She looked as if she had suddenly been struck dumb, staring at Xu Xiaoshou with wide, beautiful, ethereal eyes, utterly disbelieving.

For a long moment, she couldn’t utter a single word, her tears welling up, looking pitiful and on the verge of crying.

“I understand.”

“You have accepted my invitation and affirmed my sincerity… This is this junior’s honor.”

After nodding in acknowledgement, Xu Xiaoshou pulled out his Painted Dragon Halberd on the spot, rushed towards the Ninth Sacrifice Osmanthus’s main body, and immediately bent down to dig up the soil.