Chapter 1780: War Ends, Dao Chong Accompanies; Techniques End, Xu Ai Asks About the Old

Has Ai Cangsen gone mad? This was the first time Xu Xiaoshou had heard such a bizarre request.

Of course, he wanted to kill Ai Cangsen. After all, on this Ancient War God Platform, it was either kill or be killed; neither had a retreat.

But...

"Was this truly Ai Cangsen's request? If so, why would he make such a request?" Ever since the "Guided" notification appeared, a warning bell had rung in Xu Xiaoshou's heart: Sui Yin was here!

Sui Yin's previous incarnation was the Art Ancestor. Like the War Ancestor, he was one of the Ten Ancestors. Outsiders couldn't interfere with the "decisive battle" on the Ancient War God Platform, but it didn't surprise Xu Xiaoshou that Sui Yin could.

But... could he interfere to this extent? Xu Xiaoshou was skeptical about this.

After all, the Ancient War God Platform was created for the fairest one-on-one decisive battles. The War Ancestor might have reincarnated, but his past will remained unchanged. If such an overwhelming situation, akin to him and Sui Yin teaming up to defeat Ai Cangsen, were to occur, the Ancient War God Platform would likely have already sounded an alarm. At that point, the War Ancestor's half-body avatar might have to re-emerge.

"This means Sui Yin might be able to slightly influence things, but he can't control Ai Cangsen's choices. But if he couldn't significantly influence Ai Cangsen, why would Ai Cangsen seek death?"

To seek glory, to die with dignity? Xu Xiaoshou didn't think so. Given Ai Cangsen's radical "world-saving" ambition, aiming to take all contemporary Great Emperors with him even in his Ancestral Void transformation, it was either that his half-dead state was prone to issues that could destabilize the continent. Or, perhaps, if he didn't die by Xu Xiaoshou's hand, or at the moment of his demise, something strange would occur?

"What strangeness?" Everything was just speculation. These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, without yielding any definite answers.

In reality, when he heard Ai Cangsen's inhumane request, Xu Xiaoshou's first reaction, playing the villain to the gentleman, was: "Ai Cangsen is about to die; he's impersonating Sui Yin, trying to scare me with this aggressive retreat tactic, to cling to a sliver of life and stage a comeback?"

How to resolve this? The answer was actually very simple. In unknown circumstances, assuming no unforeseen variables, he should simply follow his previous intentions. And from the moment Xu Xiaoshou unleashed his Passive Fist and Extinction Finger, he had only one thought: "As you wish, I'll kill you!"

The remnant consciousness returned to the dark cloud. Beneath the dark cloud, figures were indistinct. Yet, throughout the Five Domains, everyone saw Lord Shou's Art Dao mystic array spin beneath his feet, and without hesitation, he formed a hand seal. "Forbidden!" he roared.

Only then did everyone suddenly realize. Lord Shou's Infinite Void energy rings behind him had somehow been completely depleted. "It was during the activation of the Second World..." The decisive sword strike that spanned the Five Domains and utterly slew Emperor Cangsen had consumed an enormous amount of power. The depletion of Infinite Void was, in fact, the greatest vulnerability of that sword strike.

However! "Had Lord Shou previously used a diversion to conceal it? But what kind of diversion could deceive the Eye of the Grand Dao?" No one knew. Illusions were always illusions, but bizarre tricks, though mere tricks, could possess a fleeting reality.

At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou was no longer bothered to hide the depletion of his Infinite Void energy. He possessed more than just Infinite Void. With all his passive skills active and his own state perfect, his endurance was already explosive. The art he was about to unleash might not compare to Sui Yin's earlier one, but it was more than enough to consume Ai Cangsen's current remnant consciousness, which sought death.

"Forbidden Art: Dog's Grand Feast!" He pressed two fingers together, forming a hand seal. As this shout resounded, the entire Southern Domain buzzed, and massive, uneven white canine teeth emerged from the earth and void. These gigantic, whitish-black beast teeth, flecked with dull red spots, encircled the entire Southern Domain's Sin Land. Putrid, foul, nauseating!

At that moment, the Southern Domain's earth sank, as if a colossal beast's head was about to surge from below, tearing at the sky and swallowing it whole. As this phenomenon appeared, the people of the Sin Land immediately fell into panic. "Are we going to be eaten?" Everyone felt as if they had fallen into a beast's belly, trembling with fear. Although their feet were still planted on the ground, their bodies swayed precariously, and their consciousness began to sink into the abyss's gaping maw.

This torment did not last long. In just a blink of an eye, the Art Dog poked its head out from beneath the Southern Domain's earth, its jagged fangs clapped shut, trapping the world in darkness. "Rumble!" All Five Domains seemed to tremble. The Transmission Mirror rippled faintly. In reality, no one could see the Art Dog with their naked eyes; only through the Transmission Mirror, which materialized this mental attack, could most people perceive the "Dog's Grand Feast"!

"This is... This is it! The Art Dog?" Drunken in the Wind's pupils trembled, watching, his spine chilling. The Art Dog, which had practically swallowed the Southern Domain, devoured the Remnant Consciousness Mound, visible at the horizon, in a single bite. Gone! Originally, dark clouds loomed. After Lord Shou's Dog's Grand Feast, the vast dark cloud, covering half a domain, was directly consumed.

"Emperor Cangsen's remnant consciousness was... eaten just like that?" Even now, Drunken in the Wind couldn't believe it. After all, to be unable to utter a sound or breath, to have one's traces erased, and consciousness taken away—how vast was this disparity? Had Lord Shou become this powerful? He had no weaknesses; given an opportunity, even the Ten Venerates would be doomed?

The Five Domains fell silent. Before and after the Transmission Mirror, the entire world remained still for several breaths. Only Lord Shou, still the focus of the camera, frowned slightly and let out a soft "hmm" sound shortly after casting the spell.

"Something's changed!" Drunken in the Wind immediately cried out in alarm. He didn't know what had changed, but after Lord Shou unleashed his art, either Emperor Cangsen would be finished and Lord Shou would start boasting, or... just like now! He said nothing! Did this mean the Dog's Grand Feast hadn't worked?

"No! It's not useless, but..." The Transmission Mirror was suddenly moved by the Old Patriarch again. Countless sub-mirror images were pieced together, barely forming an aerial view of the Southern Domain. At this instant, everyone witnessing the Transmission Mirror's display was filled with horror: "The Art Dog! The Art Dog, it's back?"

Yes, even under Xu Xiaoshou's gaze. The Art Dog, which should have, after his art, devoured Ai Cangsen's remnant consciousness and all his backup plans, should now have returned to dust. Just as the Eye of the Heavenly Ancestor was taken away at the Divine Relic previously, Ai Cangsen should have been eternally damned after the Art Dog's departure. After all, the Heavenly Ancestor lost only a part of his power then, but now Ai Cangsen had lost his entire remnant consciousness!

But... Nothing progressed as normal. A few breaths after the Art Dog finished eating and sank into the abyss, the Sin Land stirred, and it poked its head out again, mouth wide open, as if about to vomit. Xu Xiaoshou's expression immediately turned grim: "Is Ai Cangsen so unpalatable that you have to vomit?"

The retort was instinctive. Xu Xiaoshou wasn't stupid. Since the Art Dog couldn't devour Ai Cangsen, there were only two possibilities: either Ai Cangsen still had a backup plan, or Sui Yin had intervened!

"Ooooh—" As the Art Dog opened its mouth and spewed out dark, murky clouds across the sky, and the entire Sin Land of the Southern Domain was filled with desolate, mournful winds, Xu Xiaoshou instantly understood: it was the latter. "Sui Yin!"

Such eeriness! Such coldness! Such a "Sui Yin" sensation! He had only felt this when facing Sui Yin at the Divine Relic—Ai Cangsen's presence was entirely different.

"Hehehehe..." The Remnant Consciousness Mound was vomited out; Ai Cangsen couldn't die. Sui Yin's smug, mocking laughter then flooded the Five Domains. No one in the Five Domains, not even Xu Xiaoshou, could understand why Sui Yin would go to such great lengths to preserve Ai Cangsen's remnant consciousness.

After all, to bypass the Ancient War God Platform... to summon the Art Dog that should have vanished... these were not actions a weakened evil god should take. When had he become so kind-hearted? What was the meaning of this action?

Just then, a booming sound echoed through the Five Domains, as if the Sinful Bow had been plucked again: "Kill! Xu Xiaoshou, kill me! With all your might!" It was Ai Cangsen's voice!

This time, it wasn't just a whisper in Xu Xiaoshou's ear; everyone before and after the Transmission Mirror heard it. "Emperor Cangsen..." Drunken in the Wind murmured silently, his heart strangely constricted.

In truth, when Ai Cangsen's body and spirit were utterly destroyed, anyone with foresight could have seen that the outcome of this battle was already decided. The chess game didn't need to end; the true outcome was known halfway through. Emperor Cangsen, at this moment, had undoubtedly resigned. But there was no concept of resignation on the Ancient War God Platform, and the method he used was far too bizarre, wasn't it?

For some inexplicable reason, Drunken in the Wind also grew tense, as if some great horror was about to descend. Before he could interpret Emperor Cangsen's words, that unsettlingly cold voice, which had previously caused discomfort, sounded again. This time, it carried undisguised desire, greed, and yearning! As it rang out, everyone, including Drunken in the Wind and the spectators in the Five Domains, recalled hearing this voice before; it sounded familiar: "Ai Cangsen, I told you, you are mine!"

A shiver ran down Xu Xiaoshou's spine, and goosebumps rose faintly. He also realized with a start that he seemed to have heard Sui Yin's coercive voice before, clearly and distinctly! It was just... Yes, it was when he chased Ai Cangsen away and landed in the Eastern Domain himself. At that time, not only this voice, but he also heard what sounded like Little Tear's voice, seemingly attached to Ai Cangsen. But everything related to Sui Yin had been ignored!

"No, that's not right either." Xu Xiaoshou recalled it carefully. He remembered that after he went there, he hadn't actually heard such a sound from Sui Yin; what he saw was only Ai Cangsen and that puppet doll... "My memory has been tampered with?" Xu Xiaoshou was startled awake, realizing that if he distinctly remembered something he couldn't recall, then his "memory" must be problematic!

"Dao Qiongcang?" His Intent Dao Disk spun, and Xu Xiaoshou immediately targeted the flamboyant old Daoist, transmitting his voice and probing with both the Spiritual Connection Art and his perception: "What the hell are you doing? You want to get involved in this mess too?"

Dao Qiongcang, shrinking in an alternate dimension, was utterly bewildered upon hearing this: "Huh?" He acted the part perfectly. For a moment, even Xu Xiaoshou felt he had wronged this pure and upright Dao Hall Master. But Dao Qiongcang only acted flamboyant and bewildered for a moment. Soon, a subtle, enigmatic smile appeared on his face, and finally, his lips curled: "Xu Xiaoshou, at this moment, shouldn't you be most worried about Ai Cangsen's cloth doll? Oh no, I should say, the Sui Yin puppet."

*Thump!* When Dao Qiongcang spoke like that, Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat. Fighting Ai Cangsen, he had given his absolute best, responding cautiously, interpreting carefully, not seeking merit but avoiding fault. He was indeed right. He had waited for an opportune moment. He seized a point of emotional fluctuation in Ai Cangsen and dealt a fatal blow. But if in this game... the thought that Dao Qiongcang wasn't a piece in the game but an unseen player outside the board, and that he would have to deal with Dao Qiongcang after defeating Ai Cangsen... at that moment, Xu Xiaoshou's head throbbed.

Against Ai Cangsen, he used his full twelve parts of effort and could win. Against Dao Qiongcang, even if he used his full twelve parts of effort and won, he wasn't sure if he would be considered a loser or a winner. Just like now... Xu Xiaoshou racked his brains, but couldn't figure out why Dao Qiongcang would get involved. What was his purpose?

"Are you crazy! Flamboyant old Daoist, will you die if you don't stir up trouble? We're friends, I'm fighting on the front lines, and you're stabbing me in the back?" Xu Xiaoshou transmitted his voice via Spiritual Connection Art, wanting to utterly curse the man, but what he ultimately wanted to understand was still... Why?

Dao Qiongcang chuckled softly: "You just need to know that I'm not targeting you, my Xu." "Then what the... what *are* you doing!" Xu Xiaoshou was furious. "My Dao!" The angrier and more anxious Xu Xiaoshou became, the calmer Dao Qiongcang grew, even smiling. He tilted his head, a slight curve on his lips, and finally placed a finger against his mouth, hushing: "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."

The Sui Yin puppet! Xu Xiaoshou no longer bothered with that damn flamboyant old Daoist. It was only after being reminded that he suddenly remembered: that Sui Yin puppet had seemed quite important at the time. How had it disappeared during the fight? And that puppet doll, suspected to be Ai Cangsen's trump card... he was already dead, yet this trump card still hadn't appeared? "It couldn't be that it wasn't a trump card, but Ai Cangsen's method of sealing Sui Yin, could it?"

Xu Xiaoshou sneered and stepped into the sky, his Spatial Dao Disk opening wide, his perception sweeping out simultaneously. He immediately locked onto the Eastern Domain. Sure enough, a thousand li away from where Ai Cangsen's body had exploded, he found the cloth doll wedged in a rock crevice. It was a finely crafted cloth doll, wearing a black dress, with a flower in its hair, and eyes curved into two crescent moons, smiling; it was extremely cute.

"Hehe." It suddenly laughed aloud! Xu Xiaoshou broke out in a cold sweat from the shock. He had originally flashed over, intending to pick up the doll and examine it thoroughly, but now his palms were cold, and he instinctively took half a step back. He blinked... The black-dressed doll was still the black-dressed doll. He blinked again... The black-dressed doll turned into Ai Cangsen's likeness. He blinked once more... The black-dressed doll transformed into Sui Yin's three-headed, six-armed form!

"Hehe." Laugh my ass off! Xu Xiaoshou drew Hidden Pain and thrust a sword, fiercely stabbing towards the doll. "Die!"

"Expected, Passive Point, 1." What does "pulling back at the precipice" mean? Xu Xiaoshou narrowly avoided it; his sword had already thrust forward, piercing the rock, and he felt he had pulled back at the precipice. In reality, he hadn't. In reality, Hidden Pain simply understood his spiritual intent and, disregarding its master's momentum, twisted away with extreme agility, turning its head. It hadn't stabbed the doll!

"Yiing!!!" Having performed a great feat, Hidden Pain cried out excitedly, as if asking for praise: *Am I amazing, am I amazing?* Xu Xiaoshou was drenched in cold sweat from fright; how could he still pay attention to Hidden Pain?

"Expected..." This wouldn't release Sui Yin if he stabbed it, would it? Something's wrong! Calm down, calm down! Think, think! Dao Qiongcang, Ai Cangsen, Dao outside, Ai inside... The Sui Yin puppet in the Eastern Domain, Sui Yin's voice in the Southern Domain, the Art Dog's Grand Feast eating Ai Cangsen, Sui Yin protecting Ai Cangsen, Sui Yin wanting Ai Cangsen...

"Damn it!" Xu Xiaoshou's head throbbed, his face contorted in thought. At this instant, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have regressed from a chess player to a mere chess piece?

Dao Qiongcang was still outside, controlling the game. The difference was, another Ancestor God sat beside him? Don't panic. If this is truly the case, then I can only seek out Eight Venerate An. Indeed, this is no longer something I can handle alone; he has already "summoned a god"... Xu Xiaoshou gracefully turned his eyes, his perception sweeping out, and he barked: "Eight Venerate An!"

In the Central Domain, Eight Venerate An seemed to sense something, stopping and looking up. "I'm here." As this voice settled.

Xu Xiaoshou's boiling indignation suddenly cooled, and he couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. It was only because Ai Cangsen wasn't here; otherwise, he would be the one whose opportunity was seized right now. "Ai Cangsen..." The one who tied the bell must untie it. Since Emperor Cangsen wasn't dead yet but was currently unable to speak...

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts shifted. He realized that since Dao Qiongcang now had a companion, hadn't he himself escaped the chess game and arrived outside the cage? Moreover, if he could have a companion in Sui Yin, so could I! "A swap? Then let's do it!"

As his resolve settled, the Grand Dao Disk beneath his feet unfolded in rings, encompassing spiritual intent, space, and time. Still this location in the Eastern Domain. Still this time and space node of the cloth doll. But just like Sui Yin's art in the World of Flowers, which seized the fortune of heaven and earth and reversed the yin and yang of fate, altering the past, Xu Xiaoshou, with intent as primary and his sword as conduit, transcended reality and began a true spatial-temporal leap.

"Ai Cangsen, you are also one of the Ten Venerates. When Dao Qiongcang could act then, you couldn't possibly have been completely immobile, could you?"