Chapter 1739: Flower Blooming Across Generations Gradually Returns, Fragrance Emerging from the Dead Sea with Great Effort

Aunt Xiang gazed at the sunflower outside the prison door, falling into hesitation. She hadn't forgotten that she had once been killed by someone named "Kong Yuhen" during the Battle of the Ten Sovereigns. If not for Shen Yi, she might have already reincarnated many years ago.

"Is it him?"

However, Aunt Xiang couldn't quite recall if the Kong Yuhen from the Ten Sovereigns battle had the same face as this sunflower-faced Kong Yuhen standing before her. The face had a somewhat ornate appearance.

What remained unchanged was the scent. Aunt Xiang could never forget that terrifying scent that inherently caused confusion, making one feel as if they would get lost or dissolve into nothingness with the wind upon smelling it. Precisely because she had been killed by this "fragrance," the fear of life and death lingered, and she, Xiang Yaoyao, would never forget the name "Kong Yuhen" for eternity.

"Sister Xiang, please eat this seed."

"This way, the grievances between you and him will be completely settled. What do you say?"

Outside the door, the sunflower repeated himself, holding a black seed in his hand that looked freshly plucked from his face.

The young man, whom those around him called "Master Shou," had said that there were actually many Kong Yuhens? One of "himself," perhaps an impostor, had killed the young woman before him. Then Shen Yi appeared, beating Kong Yuhen away. Was that fellow even afraid of his master?

The sunflower-faced Kong Yuhen didn't particularly like getting involved in karma. For no apparent reason, he felt he should bring an end to this karmic entanglement. Yet, he himself didn't know why he should offer a seed as an apology on behalf of someone who might be an impostor.

However, whenever he wanted to turn and leave, it felt as if someone was holding his shoulder, implanting this thought into his mind: "I should do this..."

The sunflower-faced Kong Yuhen couldn't leave. He held the seed, standing obediently at the prison door. He turned his head to look at "Master Shou," the only one who had followed him, realizing this guidance didn't seem to come from him.

Who could it be then? In this Dead Sea, who else could transcend its power and offer guidance?

"I should do this..."

Even when his thoughts scattered, this idea would resurface. So, the sunflower, holding the seed, kindly urged her a third time: "Sister Xiang, please eat this spatial primordial seed."

"It can save your life at a crucial moment. Consider it compensation."

How could Aunt Xiang possibly eat something from Kong Yuhen? This thing looked inexplicably bizarre as well. She stepped forward, reached out, grabbed the seed, opened her cherry lips, and swallowed it.

"Gulp."

Xu Xiaoshou's hair stood on end as he watched.

Guidance! Besides himself, could someone truly bypass the Dead Sea and exert influence here?

As if sensing something, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly turned his head, looking behind him. In the extreme distance of the Dead Sea's sixth layer, seemingly beyond the Dead Sea itself, yet also precisely at its edge, a faint light appeared. It was an ancient three-story pavilion, minuscule from a distance, yet the plaque hanging above its door was remarkably conspicuous:

"Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion!"

Sword intent burst from Xu Xiaoshou's eyes, his will pushing forward like waves. His Super-Dao Incarnation Mind Disc instantly propelled an consciousness entity, thrusting it towards the Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion that had silently appeared behind everyone. This time, he didn't use the main entrance. The consciousness entity transformed into a large hand, gently pushing open a wooden window of the Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion.

"Creak—"

A faint sound seemed to emerge. Yet, neither Feng Zhongzui, nor the Holy Mountain Refugee Group, nor even Aunt Xiang and the sunflower-faced man, heard anything. They were all as if deaf and blind, unable to hear or see anything.

Xu Xiaoshou's pupils dilated; he could see! After the wooden window opened, he saw, past the display cabinet on the left filled with Ten Sovereigns woodcarvings, two people sitting at a small tea table.

"Two?"

Yes, there were two people! Kong Yuhen, dressed as a white-robed scholar, wore a golden Yama mask on his face. Beside him, a figure clad in a golden robe with swords on their back had not a head under their large hood, but a small woodcarving instead. The palm-sized woodcarving was conspicuously carved in the likeness of Yama's Chief, Huang Quan. But beneath the woodcarving's hood, there was still no human face, but an even smaller woodcarving!

This woodcarving...

"Still Huang Quan?!"

And under this hood...

"Still a woodcarving?!"

A tiny Huang Quan...An even tinier Huang Quan...A small woodcarving...An even smaller woodcarving...

One woodcarving after another replaced Huang Quan's heads, hidden under increasingly smaller hoods. With a single glance, Xu Xiaoshou's consciousness was nearly drawn away. He saw endless universes, endless time and space, endless strangeness, an infinite number of woodcarvings, and Kong Yuhen!

"Friend..."

And when the scholar Kong Yuhen at the small tea table removed the golden mask that should have belonged to Huang Quan beside him, revealing his square face and signature mutton chops, along with a familiar voice:

"Friend, you're anxious again."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart suddenly seized, and cold sweat seeped into the Dead Sea.

"Frightened, Passive Point +1."

"I'm going out for a bit!"

From the Divine Relic, Jin Ren instantly returned to the Holy Divine Continent. After coming online, he immediately activated Solitary World, not even using Vanishing Art, and instantly teleported. With a flash, he appeared at Dao Qiongcang's location in the Southern Nether.

Dao Qiongcang was watching the show in the Southern Nether. Similarly, there were waves, but in front of him, the Heavenly Mystery Veil was spread out. On it was the scene being broadcast from Feng Zhongzui's Dao of Propagation, showing Aunt Xiang having just eaten the sunflower's seed. As for Master Shou's "looking back at the pavilion" action on the side, neither Feng Zhongzui nor the Dao of Propagation Mirror noticed it in the slightest.

Jin Ren stood right beside Dao Qiongcang, staring intently at his face, listening as the flamboyant old Daoist muttered subconsciously:

"Xu Xiaoshou, what tricks are you up to now..."

Jin Ren's heart suddenly stopped. Dao Qiongcang also thought this was the main body's guidance? Even the flamboyant old Daoist was completely unaware that an Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion had appeared in the Dead Sea, along with more than one Kong Yuhen?

"Who?"

Dao Qiongcang suddenly frowned. Jin Ren instantly vanished, flashing back into the Divine Relic, not daring to expose the slightest trace.

However, back in his old home, Jin Ren's mood was anything but light; on the contrary, it was extremely grave: "Huang Quan is still in the pavilion."

"Right, Huang Quan hasn't come out since his last encounter with Rao Wangze in the Divine Relic. He was left in the pavilion by Kong Yuhen, he..."

At the Dead Sea, the Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion had already vanished. But recalling Huang Quan's missing mask, the small woodcarving that replaced his head behind the mask, and the endless woodcarvings nested within that small woodcarving...

A chill ran down Xu Xiaoshou's spine.

"Was Huang Quan killed?"

"Was Huang Quan Kong Yuhen, recovered and reclaimed by the Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion's Kong Yuhen?"

This truly couldn't be thought about in detail. But Xu Xiaoshou could no longer control his wildly scattering thoughts.

"Yama's goal is to collect the Tear Clan's Eyes, but what can be done after collecting them? Ascend to godhood and become an Ancestor?"

"I don't know, do the Yama members know? Does Huang Quan himself know?"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized that Huang Quan might genuinely not know why he was collecting the Tear Clan's Eyes. Just like this sunflower hidden in the Dead Sea... He seemed to know that his mission was to eat the Flower of Life. He hadn't figured out why he was supposed to eat it. He also didn't know the consequences of eating it. But after truly eating it and gaining power, he belatedly felt fear, and thus hid in the Dead Sea. He was afraid of the still-living Medicine Ancestor, Shennong Baicao! Was he truly only afraid of Shennong Baicao?

"The Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion has existed since ancient times. If the Kong Yuhen of the Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion is the main body, then each generation gives rise to a Kong Yuhen, and each generation of Kong Yuhen has a different mission..."

"The Kong Yuhen of Ba Zun'an's generation vanished after participating in the Ten Sovereigns. Perhaps his mission ended, perhaps he was killed and reclaimed, or perhaps other unforeseen events occurred..."

"So, from what era was Huang Quan's Kong Yuhen? Where did he come from? And where did all the Kong Yuhens from the various eras in between go?"

"Or, is it that within a specified time, if a Kong Yuhen doesn't achieve a transformation like the sunflower, by eating the 'Flower of Life' and breaking through the 'Kong Yuhen Law,' they simply disappear?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a shiver run down his spine. He dared not think further, as Elder Sang had said, overthinking was useless; simply use it. The only thing he could confirm was...

Kong Yuhen had evolved! Back on Void Island, when he had just broken through to the Throne Dao Realm, the fox-faced Kong Yuhen had clearly addressed Ba Zun'an as "Sir" with utmost respect. He couldn't even use guidance! And now, he sat in the Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion, with Huang Quan beside him. Huang Quan was dead. And he could transcend the Dead Sea, guiding the sunflower-faced Kong Yuhen and Aunt Xiang, instructing them to share the spatial primordial seed?

"Mm."

In the Dead Sea, Aunt Xiang let out a soft groan, as if just waking from a dream. She spread her hands, and with a thought, her body began to dematerialize, as if shedding skin and bones.

"I..."

Aunt Xiang was astonished. She had become transparent? She looked up towards the outside of the prison and saw Xu Xiaoshou, Feng Zhongzui carrying the mirror, and numerous Half-Saints... all staring at her with expressions of surprise! This proved that she had only dematerialized, not become truly transparent, because they could still see her.

"Sister Xiang, please."

The sunflower elder's ghostly face seemed to be smiling, making a gesture to invite her outside. Right in front of Aunt Xiang were the bars of the Black Stone Prison! How could she possibly go outside?

"I..."

Aunt Xiang paused, trying to touch the black stone bars that had imprisoned her for several months. Her hands passed right through!

"Space!"

Feng Zhongzui burst out with an exclamation. He could no longer hold back. Only after witnessing Aunt Xiang's transformation did he realize his guess was correct: "That 'spatial primordial seed' has the ability to bestow spatial attributes upon a person?"

"But how is that possible!"

"Innate elemental power is innate; no one can bestow it. It's a gift from the gods, from the Holy Ancestors..."

Feng Zhongzui abruptly stopped. The Dao of Propagation Mirror, like his own eyes, stared in disbelief at the eccentric, ghostly-faced sunflower elder.

"Could he be a god?"

"Ancestor Kong, the sunflower?"

Such terrifying thoughts surfaced in the minds of the Five Regions, only to be immediately shattered by facts:

"Even profundities can be plundered!"

"This old man once fought against one of Yama's youths, the Nine Nether Ghost Infant, in the Northern Domain ruins. He wielded the profundity of 'Iron,' but he couldn't defeat me."

"Yet, Yu Lingdi, who was only sixteen at the time, beat me so badly I cried for my parents. The Nine Nether Ghost Infant's 'Iron' was like a firefly compared to the bright moon when set against Yu Lingdi's, clearly obtained through external means."

"Since Master Shou said that the power of ghostly beasts can be extracted and then bestowed as Void power upon a Throne Dao Realm cultivator."

"Innate elemental power, therefore, doesn't necessarily have to be obtained through a Holy Ancestor's blessing. There's nothing inherently wrong with gaining partial power through some bloody means."

Just as this voice rose amidst the clamor of the Five Regions, Aunt Xiang also seemed to understand everyone's current confusion, and strangely said: "I don't have spatial attributes."

"But my body seems capable of... spatialization?"

She no longer hesitated, taking a step with her long legs, crossing the black stone prison bars, and literally "walking" out.

Complete penetration!Complete disregard!

"Spatialization..."

Feng Zhongzui murmured dazedly. This wasn't right either; spatialization should also be suppressed by the Dead Sea's restrictive power!

Only Xu Xiaoshou gazed at Aunt Xiang, as if enlightened. Firstly, the sunflower's very form of existence surpassed the Dead Sea's rules. Others couldn't leave because they were trapped; he simply didn't want to leave. Secondly, if the power of Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion's Kong Yuhen was also at play, then a power that even Dao Qiongcang's Dao of Memory couldn't grasp must have reached the realm of Super-Dao Incarnation. It was perfectly normal for Aunt Xiang to master spatialization and for the Dead Sea to be unable to restrict her.

What wasn't normal was that Kong Yuhen himself wanted to resolve karmic ties? Why? The answer naturally couldn't be because Aunt Xiang was beautiful. Xu Xiaoshou estimated it could only be due to Shen Yi. The Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion and Shen Yi had both appeared in the Divine Relic before. Kong Yuhen likely saw Shen Yi's potential and feared future retaliation.

"Right, back in Jade Capital City, he was sent flying by a single punch, without even a chance to greet or explain..."

Stop thinking about Kong Yuhen, and life will be free of anxiety.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Aunt Xiang, who had walked out of the Black Stone Prison by her own power. "Do you want to play something fun?"

He pulled out a brocade pouch. Upon seeing the brocade pouch, the expressions of everyone in the Five Regions changed drastically. Was it happening again? Ai Cangsen looked at the brocade pouch, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. He had already agreed to Ba Zun'an's words, given enough face, and decided not to act again...

But can you people control your own folks?! I'm already sitting obediently in the Southern Domain, why must you provoke me repeatedly? Is Emperor Cangsen some easily bullied brother?

Aunt Xiang was still pondering her body's changes, finding them quite bizarre. In fact, the most bizarre thing was that she had eaten the seed of her mortal enemy, Kong Yuhen, yet felt no strangeness and was rather pleased:

"I seem to have become stronger again?"

She ignored the brocade pouch in Xu Xiaoshou's hand. With a thought, a spatial primordial seed's mark appeared on her brow. With just such a mental touch, a giant sunflower appeared behind Aunt Xiang, obscuring the sun. The sunflower's ghostly face was turned downwards, staring at the Holy Mountain Refugee Group and the surrounding people, emitting a "hissing" sound.

"This..."

This was too terrifying! Feng Zhongzui's face twitched with fright. Was this the true form of the Flower of Life? But before he could vocalize his interpretation, the sunflower elder on the side awkwardly scratched his head and volunteered: "This is my 'form,' but it's not very useful. It can only scare people and then help you escape. It's the only thing I can do; I'm good at running and hiding."

Form...Illusory image of Shen Yi.Illusory form of the sunflower.

Aunt Xiang's Grand Summoning Art could now summon two: one to fight, one to flee? Xu Xiaoshou watched in silence, and listened in silence. There was a sense that Aunt Xiang had grown stronger after her time in prison, and also a sense that her time in prison was just... time in prison.

He hesitated, wondering whether to help Aunt Xiang obtain a Half-Saint rank as well. He thought better of it. If Aunt Xiang were to be obliterated by the first wave of the Saint Tribulation, he would be tantamount to a murderer, and Shen Yi would surely seek revenge.

"The brocade pouch, good stuff, really fun, wanna try?" Xu Xiaoshou gestured again with the brocade pouch in his hand, still feeling unfulfilled.

Aunt Xiang was not Zhu Yike. After experimenting with her new changes, and having said something unknown to the sunflower, she cast a sidelong glance: "Auntie knows what's happening outside. You continue."

Feng Zhongzui was taken aback by these words, but soon, everyone in the Five Regions remembered. Zhu Yike had said that Aunt Xiang was in the Dead Sea, and she had someone. Master Shou's good friend, the Dao Palace Master, seemed to treat these Holy Slaves quite well? Perhaps he was secretly providing information to Aunt Xiang?

"Ahahaha..."

Hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou laughed heartily, unfazed, and put the brocade pouch away. He did indeed still want Aunt Xiang to go out and draw some enmity, just like Zhu Yike. If Ai Gou dared to shoot and kill Aunt Xiang after she left the Dead Sea, Shen Yi would certainly appear, and this sunflower-faced Kong Yuhen, and perhaps even the Ancient and Modern Carefree Pavilion's Kong Yuhen, could be drawn into the battle. Then, things would get lively!

If Ai Gou didn't dare to shoot Aunt Xiang... that seemed unlikely. As long as Aunt Xiang took his brocade pouch and acted according to the brilliant plan "from Dao Qiongcang," Ai Cangsen would undoubtedly shoot! Xu Xiaoshou, this troublemaker, could stir up most of the Ten Sovereigns in the Dead Sea, making it impossible for any of them to remain untouched.

But Aunt Xiang clearly had other plans. Clever people don't beat around the bush, so Xu Xiaoshou, seeing this, was also direct: "Then I won't make arrangements for you. What are your plans?"

As the Pavilion Master of Yougui Pavilion, the de facto controller of the Xiang family... well, none of that mattered. As the angel investor for Shen Yi of the Ten Sovereigns, Aunt Xiang's power was absolutely not to be underestimated. Since she was in the Dead Sea and knew everything happening outside, she certainly wouldn't want to get mixed up with him. After all, behind him... Xu Xiaoshou himself felt that the forces arrayed before and behind him were too chaotic; a single misstep meant death! It was normal for her to want to extricate herself.

Aunt Xiang indeed didn't want to get too deeply involved. Her red lips curved into a charming smile: "Xu Xiaoshou, you just need to give Auntie one person. Auntie will go around the Dead Sea to pick up people herself, including you and your subordinates."

"As for you, continue on your path and go to the tenth layer to find Wu Xiu."

"During the operation, we will not interfere with each other. If something happens to me, you will save me; if nothing happens, I will not help you."

These words stunned everyone in the Five Regions. What kind of audacity was this, to be so brazen in front of Master Shou, putting on such a face, uttering such harsh words, and even ordering Master Shou to save her?

Aunt Xiang paused, then continued: "Auntie will remember your favor, and Shen Yi will repay you."

Master Shou's tense face suddenly broke into a radiant smile. This made everyone extremely uncomfortable.

Hey, your transaction is just too dirty, isn't it? Is this the Ten Sovereigns? Is this Xiang Yaoyao of the Ten Sovereigns?

"Alright!"

Xu Xiaoshou responded remarkably quickly. Auntie, your words are exactly what I wanted. Although my relationship with your Shen Yi baby is also quite good now. But Xu Xiaoshou clearly understood who Shen Yi ultimately listened to. Dao Qiongcang dared to fight even Cui Yin, yet after capturing Aunt Xiang and trapping her in the Dead Sea, he still had to provide writing materials, intelligence, and a safe, comfortable living environment. Doesn't this speak volumes? Who among the Ten Sovereigns was the strongest? The answer was almost obvious!

"Auntie, whoever you want, just name them."

Master Shou waved his hand grandly, gesturing towards the Saints behind him, flattery evident in his expression, making everyone in the Five Regions quite uncomfortable.

"No, does Master Shou also have such a face? I thought that was me in the mirror, it's too ugly!"

"No, is Shen Yi really that strong? Why does everyone give him face? Master Shou just debuted recently, he probably hasn't even met Shen Yi, has he?"

"No, who is this woman? I haven't even heard of her achievements. Master Shou is the First Sword Immortal, why stoop to this?"

Indeed, there were quite a few "sweet winds" in the Five Regions who almost spat blood from watching. Xu Xiaoshou, however, didn't care about such superficial matters. He was happy to support Aunt Xiang's prestige. He only knew that Shen Yi had shattered Cui Yin's physical body with one blow, which then led to the easier skirmishes in the Divine Relic afterwards.

Aunt Xiang's gaze swept over the people, finally landing on Beibei. She walked over and immediately pinched the soft flesh on Beibei's face: "Little cutie, come with Auntie."

Beibei was utterly dumbfounded. Me? Why me? She had just felt the discomfort on her face. She was the esteemed Northern Sword Immortal, and this woman dared to pinch...

"Auntie knows you're strong, but don't hurt me. Shen Yi has also fought your ancestor, Bei Huai."

Patriarch? Beibei's small frame trembled violently, her eyes lost focus, and it took her a while to recover. Unsure of what she was thinking, her aura became extremely low. She glanced at Xu Xiaoshou and coldly snorted: "You want a token, right? Here."

She pulled out the Dominator's Token and tossed it casually. Aunt Xiang didn't move an inch. The token hit her chest, causing a ripple in the Dead Sea, and slowly sank. Silence fell. Everyone looked at Beibei, their eyes filled with horror. Beibei herself was stunned. If you wanted to retrieve someone, you could do it with the Dominator's Token, so why didn't she take it?

Aunt Xiang scoffed, stating indifferently, "Even Dao Qiongcang has never hit me like that."

Beibei inexplicably felt a surge of anger. This woman was simply the most pretentious person she had ever met in her life!

"But Auntie wants you, not the token, because if you stay any longer, you'll die, little cutie..."

Aunt Xiang leaned down, her hands pulling Beibei's fleshy cheeks apart, then pulling her into a hug, circling the back of her head. "So cute!"

Beibei felt as if she was buried headfirst in a bottomless chasm, and the heat waves from the Dead Sea Great Rift made her entire body feel parched and irritated.

"Wait..."

"Wait a minute..."

"No, no, no!"

Beibei was at a loss, her Emperor Sword was trembling, and her vision was still completely dark.

Aunt Xiang pushed her away, then bent down, putting a hand to her chest, and picked up the white token that had fallen to the side. "Come with Auntie."

Then, ignoring Beibei's resistance, she took her small hand and turned towards Feng Zhongzui.

"Me?"

Feng Zhongzui pointed to himself, a feeling of happiness welling up within him. Am I worthy too? Can I also have this? Is this my turning point in life, Feng Zhongzui? Feng Zhongzui didn't look forward to the Dead Sea Great Rift; he just wanted Aunt Xiang to take him away from Master Shou, away from the impending whirlpool of death... then she would be the best Aunt Xiang in the world!

Clearly, he was overthinking.

Aunt Xiang, holding Beibei, stopped in front of the Dao of Propagation Mirror: "Ai Cangsen, I know you and Shen Yi don't get along, but that's a matter between you men."

"I'm about to leave now. I know you won't attack me, but I'm afraid you might go mad."

As Aunt Xiang spoke, she reached into her chest and pulled out a black sound-recording bead. "Auntie can't open it." Aunt Xiang turned her head to Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou was truly impressed by this auntie's display. He realized that while he was progressing, it was indeed as Elder Sang had said. Everyone was using their own methods to break free from the Dead Sea's confinement, and perhaps even from confinements beyond the Dead Sea!

Aunt Xiang didn't have spiritual consciousness, but Xu Xiaoshou's was still usable. He was also curious about what this sound-recording bead could hold that would be enough to suppress a potentially rampaging Ai Gou, so he immediately connected his spiritual consciousness to it.

"Shhh..."

In the ears of the Five Regions' people, a rustling sound began, and they all listened intently.

"Cough cough, is it recording? Good..."

Soon, a familiar voice rang out: "Hello everyone, I am Dao Qiongcang. Here, I want to provide a guarantee for Xiang Yaoyao."

"If Xiang Yaoyao can leave the Dead Sea, by any means, she will be acquitted. No one from the Holy Divine Hall may pursue her."

"Counting from the day she leaves the Dead Sea, for one year, anyone who hears this recording and becomes an enemy of Xiang Yaoyao will be an enemy of me, Dao Qiongcang. I will pursue them to the highest heavens and the deepest underworld, and they shall surely be executed!"

This guarantee was somewhat terrifying. The Five Regions listened in silence, but the sound-recording bead didn't seem to have stopped; there was still a "rustling" sound. After a pause, the Dao Palace Master's voice sounded again. This time, the voice was very soft, the beginning a bit muffled and hard to discern, but it was unmistakably filled with helplessness:

"...Is this enough of an apology? I really didn't mean to take it from you back then. See, I've specially come to clean up the mess now, aren't I sincere enough?"

"...Yes! I already said, back then it was mainly to deal with Xu Xiao... Hmm? You're not recording anymore, are you?"

"Click."

The recording ended here. Feng Zhongzui jolted, and the Dao of Propagation Mirror inadvertently turned towards Master Shou, the Dao Palace Master's good friend.