Chapter 1756: Illusion and Reality Inverted, Stillness and Motion Transposed; One Move Brings the Whole Board to Life

"Art of Reverse Relic, Prohibited!""Prohibited Reverse Relic, Art!"The two phrases overlapped, intertwining and reversing, as if twisting opposing concepts.

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't even had time to properly view the past scenes of the Divine Relic when the Heretic God gave a faint smile and dissolved into motes of light. His own self, along with Feng Yuche and everyone else in the Life Forbidden Zone, vanished. The entire world rapidly disintegrated, yet Dao Qiongcang, who had remained hidden in the background, endured until the very last breath. He suddenly lifted his head, casting a suspicious glance at the sky. After a slight furrow of his brow, he too disintegrated without a sound.

Falling back into the Dead Sea from the Divine Relic, Xu Xiaoshou's hair stood on end. Never mind Chongyin for now, but that flashy old Daoist…"Could he see?""Yes, he has achieved transcendent manifestation of the Way of Memory.""Perhaps changes in the past are imperceptible to others; even a Saint Emperor like Feng Yuche couldn't sense them.""But Dao Qiongcang should be sensitive. Any slight disturbance in the established past, under the transcendent Way of Memory, would be infinitely amplified… wouldn't it?"That added "wouldn't it?" came from Dao Qiongcang's subconscious glance, which vastly exceeded the power he had ever shown before. This was too terrifying! And too suspicious! After all, it had just happened under "transcendent manifestation, visible to ancestors," within Hua Weiyang's Flower World barrier, and inside the past memory scenes brought forth by Chongyin the Heretic God's spell… Xu Xiaoshou couldn't even fathom how many layers of obstacles, both overt and subtle, were involved. Chongyin didn't even notice Dao Qiongcang "could move," yet Dao Qiongcang merely needed to "be present" to detect an "anomaly"? What kind of monstrosity was that? Others might have sensed something but genuinely couldn't see it, but was Dao Qiongcang truly blind, or was he selectively feigning blindness? If so… why did he make that move? What kind of signal did he intend to send? Could he only make that one move, or, if given the chance, could he also, like Chongyin, manipulate others' pasts?

"Reverse Relic…"In the Dead Sea, Xu Xiaoshou sank into a worried silence. Just as Dao Qiongcang struggled to comprehend his thoughts, Xu Xiaoshou sometimes couldn't understand Dao Qiongcang. He simply decided to let it go. After all, they were temporary allies. Chongyin, however, was certainly no ally. His "Reverse Relic," a blend of "art" and "prohibition," was described as both a brave person's reward and a consequence of transcendent manifestation seeing the ancestors."Not a good thing!"Would Chongyin teach him a spell after being scared by his own abilities? Xu Xiaoshou disbelieved it entirely. Yet, the truth was that his transcendent manifestation of the Art Way Disk, combined with the transcendent manifestation of the Intent Way Disk, after resisting the Flower World… Perhaps the Flower World's forgetting guidance wasn't strong this time. Or perhaps Hua Weiyang couldn't guide Chongyin, allowing him to act recklessly within his own past memories under Chongyin's spell. In short, Xu Xiaoshou remembered the "art." With just one glance, he learned "Reverse Relic." Unlike others, the order of his mastery was always reversed: he learned first, then analyzed the principles.Currently in the Dead Sea, he mimicked Chongyin's movements, carefully savored the spell, and simultaneously formed the single-handed mudra. His Body, Spirit, and Intent Way Disks remained active. The Art Way Disk hummed and turned, integrating perfectly, like an immortal pointing the way, a moment of profound enlightenment."What?!"As he unraveled everything, it was finally Xu Xiaoshou's turn to be utterly terrified! His subconscious feeling just moments ago was indeed correct: Reverse Relic had truly twisted certain "oppositional" relationships:"The more hidden, the more real…""The more forgotten, the deeper it becomes…""The more virtualized, the more it exists…"These three contradictory oppositions were directly distorted and blurred on a conceptual level by Chongyin's wicked art.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately grasped something. He didn't even need to think; he turned to Feng Zhongzui and silently murmured in his heart, "Disappearance Art!"He vanished. He walked behind the Preaching Mirror, then moved to Feng Zhongzui's side, extending a hand and waving it in front of him. Feng Zhongzui's mouth twitched. His gaze followed Master Shou from a distance, then to the figure directly in front of him, finally settling on the hand waving before his face. "Master Shou, just tell me what you need… You're making me a little scared…"Chongyin! Xu Xiaoshou's face turned pale. Yet, he didn't stop. He silently recited another phrase in his heart: "Isolated from the World!" He bellowed it with immense effort and volume, as if doing so would amplify the effect of Isolated from the World. But… he didn't even need to move. When he saw Feng Zhongzui still staring at him hesitantly, when he saw Fang Wenxin and other half-saints from the Sacred Mountain Refugee Group, and even Xiangrikui Kong Yuhen, frowning and pondering the meaning of his every move… Xu Xiaoshou knew. They still remembered him. Had the effect of Isolated from the World also been stripped away?"No!""Not stripped, but twisted!"Xu Xiaoshou had not only seen through Reverse Relic, but also mastered it. He hadn't used it yet, so he didn't know the precise details of how this art would manifest when applied to a person. But his intuition was sharp; one look would tell him."Soul Read!"Xu Xiaoshou said nothing. He grabbed a passing half-saint with notably large eyes and hurled a Soul Read at him. He scanned quickly. Just by observing his own recent actions from someone else's perspective, he understood everything."So that's how it is…"After using Disappearance Art, he did indeed disappear. However, a past "image" of himself was left in his place. Because the boundaries between "relic/forgetting" and "image" were twisted and blurred, all of his actions and words in the disappeared state were projected. They could all see him! Although it was a false image, it could also be understood as his true self, at least marking his location!"And the forgetting effect of Isolated from the World was twisted into… memory enhancement, existence enhancement?"When Isolated from the World was activated, everyone should have forgotten him, even the very existence of "Xu Xiaoshou." But the "image" remained! The world's focus shifted to this "image"! Even adopting this half-saint's thoughts, Xu Xiaoshou could discern all his subjective ideas: the "image" was equivalent to "Xu Xiaoshou." However, this "Xu Xiaoshou" was not himself, but another person fabricated through illusion, whose experiences were largely similar to his own. Everything Chongyin knew about him was known to those who observed the image. Wasn't this precisely akin to Dao Qiongcang's roundabout guidance, achieving the same effect by different means?

"Chongyin…" Xu Xiaoshou was stunned by Chongyin's wicked art. Truly worthy of being the former master of the Blood World Bead, truly worthy of being the progenitor of the guidance realm! Indeed, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. He never imagined that after transcendent manifestation seeing the ancestors, even a weakened being like Chongyin could use its past strength to forcibly impose a spell on him."But this art of reversal, both art and prohibition, is inherently relative and contradictory, yet its existence is too absolute!"As long as Chongyin lives, this art will not perish. This was the absolute nature of Reverse Relic. This must have been developed by Chongyin specifically to counter his Disappearance Art and Isolated from the World. Because of this, it was far too absolute! It was precisely because of this "absoluteness" that Xu Xiaoshou understood why his memories after entering the Flower World this time were so remarkably clear."Everything about 'forgetting' and 'guidance,' both my own and those targeting me, would be twisted by 'Reverse Relic'…"With this art active, as long as the power of guidance wasn't stronger than Chongyin's, he likely wouldn't be able to forget anything anymore. Therefore, everything that happened in Hua Weiyang's Flower World now flooded back to him, including the first time, including the nested second world, and including Sword God Gu Lou at the cabin door. Was that truly a Sword God, or an illusory version of himself? Xu Xiaoshou couldn't tell anymore; Hua Weiyang's illusions were indeed a confusing mix of truth and falsehood.This wasn't important. The awakening of memories was merely an incidental effect of this art. The crucial point was that Xu Xiaoshou also remembered this art. If anyone wanted to use an art similar to "Isolated from the World" in the future, such as the Way of Memory… he could hit Dao Qiongcang with Reverse Relic! His guidance would be largely crippled, and the Way of Memory would lose many of its tricks!"It's both a reward from the Art Ancestor and a curse from Chongyin…" Xu Xiaoshou was initially frustrated by Reverse Relic, but after quickly understanding its meaning, he shook his head and chuckled. Chongyin was truly in a weakened state. Otherwise, there would only be curses, no rewards. It was a pity Chongyin hadn't paid him much attention before. If Reverse Relic had descended before his current power boost, it truly could have crippled him. Honestly, in the Divine Relic, if not for the protection of Isolated from the World, Xu Xiaoshou felt he would have died many times over. At the very least, he would have been severely injured countless times. Now it was different! Even if he lost the life-saving combo of Disappearance Art and Isolated from the World, Xu Xiaoshou had awakened more second awakenings and special passive skills from secondary evolution."Chongyin, Chongyin…""You are always one step behind me!"

Letting go of Chongyin, he looked out at the Dead Sea, and the path ahead suddenly cleared. At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou, now bearing the Reverse Relic, felt a sense of relief and nonchalance. His transcendent manifestation of the Art Way Disk had, as expected, allowed him to perceive the weakened Chongyin. But even in its weakened state… Reverse Relic's ability to twist the present and alter the future through the past was both inspiring and terrifying."Could Dao Qiongcang of the Way of Memory also move?""Could my Intent Way Disk also, by following the logic of Reverse Relic, tamper with the essence of the world?"This wasn't just developing one art; it was like opening a new Way and becoming its progenitor. Xu Xiaoshou truly couldn't innovate so quickly. At most, he could replicate one instance of Reverse Relic. He needed more artistic stimulation, just as he did with ancient sword arts. The more examples, the faster he comprehended.As for whether other Great Way Disks would follow suit after the Art Way Disk's transcendent manifestation, and whether he would meet other Ancestor Gods—the Medicine Ancestor, Ghost Ancestor, Saint Ancestor, Demon Ancestor, and Time Ancestor… Xu Xiaoshou didn't dare to meet any of them, even with his accumulated passive points. If Chongyin, in its weakened state, was still so formidable, wouldn't the other Ancestor Gods, if not weakened, cripple or kill him upon meeting? He decided to save the opportunity to meet them until he had advanced further, or until their states had deteriorated even more. After all, the transcendent manifestation of the Sword Way Disk and Art Way Disk should be quite sufficient for now.

"So, next…"He had spent nearly a month in the Dead Sea. For the first time, Xu Xiaoshou appreciated the scenery without any pressure or thought. He scanned his surroundings, observing with extreme care. Even every ripple and undulation in the water brought a smile to his face, as if it was all wonderfully beautiful.The Preaching Mirror was recording Master Shou. Not just Feng Zhongzui, but instantly, people across the Five Domains sensed that the long-awaited moment… seemed to have arrived!"Quick, quick, quick!""Call everyone back, stop cultivating, look!""Master Shou is done! He's definitely finished cultivating! It was like this for me too when my state of mind was complete, feeling invincible… then I went out and got beaten up.""Is the Xu-Ai War finally about to begin?""So Master Shou's next step should be the tenth level of the Dead Sea, right? His master is there, Aunt Xiang said so, it should be correct?"Aunt Xiang had long since left the Dead Sea. She had departed the storm vortex here much earlier, taking Beibei and a group of servants with her. Ai Cangsen had indeed not made things difficult for a woman, perhaps out of consideration for Shen Yi, or Dao Qiongcang, or even Beibei as a hostage. Zhu Yike also left. All his concerns were settled. All his points were allocated. If he still lost after all this, it meant he had tried his absolute best, proving that the Ten Venerables truly were the Ten Venerables, forever unsurpassed by later generations."Ai Cangsen, how far can you go?""What kind of surprise can you bring me?"After a long silence, Xu Xiaoshou turned his gaze to the Preaching Mirror. Facing the person far away and all the spectators in the Five Domains awaiting the great battle, he showed no overt sharpness. He was like a sheathed sword, everything contained, smiling gracefully: "You've waited long enough.""Feng Zhongzui, let's go visit the tenth level."

*Clang—*The hammering sounds that had echoed through the Divine Relic for over half a month had ceased at some unknown point. Cao Erzhu's whereabouts were unknown. Feng Yuche paid no attention to him or his actions. He had appeared once in the Four Symbols Secret Realm, shifted his exit point from the Divine Relic, left a contingency, and then returned to the Divine Relic. Now, he had finished refining Mo Mo and completed the last piece of the soul puzzle. All he awaited was Mo Mo's complete awakening. During this time, Feng Yuche had been constantly watching the large spatial screen displaying Xu Xiaoshou's actions.The Dead Sea!The large screen showed all of Xu Xiaoshou's movements in the Dead Sea, including seizing the position, provoking Ai Gou, comprehending the Great Way… None of these were important. What was important was that at this moment, Xu Xiaoshou had finished everything and was heading towards the tenth level."The tenth level…"The entire world was focused on the tenth level of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea had eighteen levels in total, but the latter eight were ignored because they held no significance. At this moment, as time progressed… Everyone knew that only the tenth level of the Dead Sea had imprisoned Fen Qin Zhu He and Saint Slave Wuxiu, Master Shou's master, but now he was gone. He would return. His return would set everything in motion. In fact, too many people had this question: Master Shou already controlled the Divine Relic, so why did Saint Slave Wuxiu still need to return from the Dead Sea? Unsolvable! Few could get accurate answers to the thoughts of those in high positions. In fact, not only outsiders, but even Xu Xiaoshou and Feng Yuche themselves weren't entirely clear.Water Ghost knew a little. In the Divine Relic, he had accompanied Wuxiu the entire time… which was actually just a month. Water and fire are incompatible. In reality, their philosophies were also not perfectly aligned. But in this game of chess, no matter how much effort Water Ghost put in, he persisted and finished it, giving his all.On the intersecting black and white stone chessboard, Water Ghost placed the last piece, pushed the half-golden beast mask on his face, and looked up at the slightly bald old man in front of him: "You lost. Your chess skill has greatly deteriorated."Actually, there wasn't that much age difference between them. Elder Sang heard this, remained silent, then nodded his head after a long while, grabbed the straw hat beside him, pressed it onto his head, and calmly said: "I should go." He stood up, stomped and shattered the chessboard with one foot. The wrinkles on his withered face shifted, and only then did a faint sense of satisfaction appear.Water Ghost couldn't smile, nor was he angry. He didn't try to dissuade him, merely offered a friendly reminder: "Leave everything to Xu Xiaoshou. Perhaps he can handle it very well. You should be able to see his growth."Elder Sang shook his head. Feng Yuche was quite far away, but his vision was clear. Looking over, he felt this small half-saint was too arrogant, someone who could be crushed with a flip of his hand… Never mind, no comment, after all, he was once the mastermind of the Saint Servants."You can choose not to go." Water Ghost rarely spoke so plainly.Elder Sang remained silent."Xu Xiaoshou didn't come, he didn't even send a thought clone to confirm your wishes. Perhaps he just wants to see you die," Water Ghost chuckled.Elder Sang remained silent."Go," Water Ghost shrugged. "Indeed, Xu Xiaoshou has his own path, and the Saint Servants must also walk their own path. I don't know about others, but Eight Venerables should be ready."Elder Sang, with one hand pressing his straw hat and dark circles under his eyes, turned to look at the large spatial screen. Inside, Feng Zhongzui, carrying the Preaching Mirror, was nervously and excitedly narrating his journey through the seventh, eighth, and ninth levels of the Dead Sea… Everyone could tell that Feng Zhongzui's narration was distracted.And when the spatial screen went black, and the Preaching Mirror followed, entering the Dead Sea vortex for the last time, Elder Sang pressed his straw hat, lowered his head, no longer looking. He merely said in a raspy voice: "How Xu Xiaoshou is, how Eight Venerables is, how the Saint Servants are, how the outside world is, I don't know, but…" He paused, then his Way Principles surged, his entire body withered and scorched, and Elder Sang chuckled hoarsely: "This old man is ready."