Chapter 1831: Conjunction

His memories swelled.

His head also felt slightly tight, as if constricted by a golden fillet, causing Xu Xiaoshou a dull pain.

In that brief instant, he experienced a myriad of lives and countless cycles of reincarnation.

From ordinary mortals to ancient ancestral gods, the temporal and spatial spans were immense and utterly illogical.

He had just emerged from Kuileihan, only to inexplicably find himself in the Land of Daughters, becoming the male favorite of the queen who seduced a demonic monk.

The dragon ancestor’s majesty was still vivid in his mind; how could tens of thousands of years of life be easily forgotten? In a blink of an eye, he also received an experience card for the tragic, defeated life of the Phoenix clan.

Among the Ten Venerable Seats, he had, to varying degrees, briefly traversed experiences like those of Ba Cao Shen Gou.

Among the Seven Sword Immortals, the pasts of You Mei Wen Rao and others were also rapidly browsed in fragmented form.

However, the histories of struggle of these familiar individuals, whether real or fabricated, were secondary.

What was most significant were the half-century lives of various ordinary people, experienced through the myriad forms of the mortal world. Under the absolute influx of memories, Xu Xiaoshou felt them to be incredibly real.

Completely, genuinely real lives!

At certain moments, he even forgot his own existence, fully immersing himself in the roles of mortals.

A tenant farmer braving wind and snow for food, a self-made merchant, a wandering knight-errant…

“A myriad of lives?”

When Xu Xiaoshou’s consciousness returned at a certain point, he scanned his mind to see if his self-will had been harmed by this onslaught of memories. The answer was no.

Aside from a slight pain, he could endure it.

This seemed to be a memory infusion from Jin Ren’s side, and it wasn’t harmful at all; on the contrary, it was entirely beneficial?

Apart from anything else, this qualitative leap in understanding the mortal world, brought about by sheer quantity, was something no ordinary means or ordinary person could achieve.

“A unique opportunity!”

With a boom, as he pondered this, sword intent erupted around Xu Xiaoshou.

He originally cultivated the Two-Life Form, and now the Two-Life Form was constantly transforming, manifesting as fleeting images from his expanding memories.

There were men and women, old and young, emperors and nobles, paupers and commoners…

“Mortal World Sword, All-Being Form?”

Mei Sir, who was in front of the mountain, and others had already recovered their senses and were slightly surprised at this sight.

The great battle in the Ghost-Buddha Realm had long subsided.

After Hua Changdeng’s remnant will was extinguished, Xu Xiaoshou had merely remained to comprehend the Dao, his spirit seemingly wandering in this place.

But he hadn’t left.

Since he hadn’t left, Hong Niang and the other spectators also remained, gazing at the solitary Elder Shou.

This was Elder Shou, after all!

Even if he did nothing but stood there, perhaps comprehending the Dao, the number of viewers still soared as time passed.

Because everyone knew Elder Shou never acted without purpose.

After he gained enlightenment, he was bound to gain something. Now, in just one day, he had made a brand new breakthrough in swordsmanship?

Elder Yang rubbed his head, feeling as though he had forgotten something, yet he couldn’t help but be drawn by the phenomena around Xu Xiaoshou:

“Who is helping him cultivate the All-Being Form?”

Outsiders seeing the All-Being Form would merely exclaim, “How formidable!”

But insiders knew how difficult it was to cultivate the All-Being Form. Aside from external assistance, only one Sword Immortal, Rao Yaoyao, was known to have achieved this form in her prime.

Yet, everyone knew that Rao Yaoyao likely didn’t possess the Sword Ancestor’s talent either; she must have relied on external resources from the Holy Emperor families to assist her cultivation!

Xu Xiaoshou had the ability to gain sudden enlightenment of the Grand Dao.

But no one had the ability to comprehend the mortal world completely, as if in a dream of three thousand lifetimes.

So, if he was gaining something from the All-Being Form now, it must be because he had suddenly experienced a profound enlightenment from someone’s myriad life experiences.

And therein lay the problem.

Apart from the Five Holy Emperor families, who possessed such resources and ability?

And speaking of the Five Holy Emperor families, the Heavenly Ladder had been melted, so no one could descend. How could they help?

Even if they could help, why would they? Weren’t they Xu Xiaoshou’s enemies?

“Hmm…”

Hong Niang let out a soft sound and woke up.

She had been broadcasting, not knowing when she had gotten so sleepy that she fell asleep.

Upon waking now, her first action was to open the Golden Apricot broadcast, which had been inexplicably closed at some unknown time. She couldn’t even be bothered to recall when or how it had been closed.

Originally, tens of millions of people were watching Elder Shou “comprehend the Dao” after slaying Hua.

After it was inexplicably shut down, a storm of curses erupted.

Some even thought Hong Niang had been ambushed by a sinister ghost and died instantly, so many people left to attend to their own affairs.

But now that the broadcast had restarted, there were surprisingly still seven million people waiting for a miracle on a black screen – truly seven million idle good-for-nothings.

“This is… the Mortal World Form…”

Hong Niang’s mind was so muddled that she briefly confused the Mortal World Sword and the All-Being Form.

Only when she turned to ask Elder Mei and Elder Yang did she get an answer.

And under the strange gazes of the two elders, and Mr. Si Ren’s sudden fanning of his paper fan, subtly reminding her of her “disheveled attire”…

She lowered her head and realized her clothes were torn at the chest, revealing a large expanse of skin, and there were bloodstains on them. Blushing, she quickly threw on an outer robe.

Disregarding her own state, after listening to the two elders’ discussion, she offered a layman’s guess:

“Is it possible that the Sword God gave Elder Shou enlightenment through a dream?”

This wild idea instantly stunned the two elders.

If Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t Xu Xiaoshou, they would have dismissed it immediately.

But Xu Xiaoshou was Xu Xiaoshou, and he had suddenly come into contact with such an eccentric, mysterious, and even possibly non-existent inherited will of a “Sword Ancestor”…

This matter was truly uncertain!

Liu Fuyu had always wanted to invite Xu Xiaoshou to visit the Sword Tower, where it was rumored there might be a Sword Ancestor’s inheritance… Mei Sir was aware of this.

But with tens of millions of eyes watching, he absolutely dared not speak carelessly again, revealing Ba Zun’an’s secret and bringing trouble upon Xu Xiaoshou.

“Everyone, disperse!”

Comprehending the Mortal World Dao was not something that could be achieved in a short time.

Mei Sir had a feeling that Xu Xiaoshou was about to fully enter his state, and probably wouldn’t emerge for at least ten days to half a month.

This was even after accounting for Xu Xiaoshou’s strong will.

If it were anyone else, they might not be able to comprehend such an “enlightenment of the mortal world” from an unknown source even in three to five years.

He had to first clear the area and protect Xu Xiaoshou… although it seemed he didn’t really need much protection?

But his long-standing habit of thought dictated it.

How could someone comprehending the Dao be exposed to public view? What if they were interrupted?

When Mei Sir moved, Elder Yang also lent a hand.

Li Fugui, of the Osmanthus Carriage, was already prepared. With a lift of his token, he summoned people from the Apricot Realm.

Not only did they clear the area, but they also sealed it off.

“Mr. Si Ren, Elder Yang…”

Hong Niang looked pathetic, holding a golden apricot and clutching her torn robe at the chest, still wanting to broadcast. But she only received a firm shake of Mei Sir’s head.

Left with no choice, amidst the curses of tens of millions of viewers, she ended this Golden Apricot broadcast.

“What a pity!”

Hong Niang cried out in her heart.

She had been thinking that after Elder Shou finished, she would go up for a private interview.

Putting everything else aside, she just wanted to ask if it was true that in the past six months, people had repeatedly seen what appeared to be Elder Shou playing in the water with a girl in black clothes in the Southern Netherworld.

Elder Shou wouldn’t even need to give a yes or no answer.

Just the release and spread of this piece of gossip would make her, Hong Niang, the number one in the broadcast world, if not already!

The Drunken Emperor?

That was a thing of the past.

“Buzz!”

Within a hundred miles of the Mid-Origin Realm Stele, the area was soon enveloped by a water-membrane-like barrier, its presence completely vanishing.

The grand formation concealed the area; while it might not completely prevent ghost spirit invasions, with more people keeping watch, nothing serious should happen.

In reality, Li Fugui knew this was entirely superfluous.

Even if Elder Shou was comprehending the Dao, if those wailing Yin creatures got close, even a semi-saint level ghost spirit with a knife wouldn’t be able to cut a single hair on Elder Shou’s head.

White-faced Ghost?

As for that White-faced Ghost thing, Elder Shou could dispatch them one by one with a single sword stroke.

The only reason it had been allowed to swagger for so long before was to bait the big fish, Hua Changdeng.

But with the barrier raised, it could at least block the attention of petty individuals and malicious human intentions…

Tap-tap.

The Osmanthus Carriage was abandoned to the side.

After Li Fugui finished arranging things, he quickly came to Elder Mei’s side, paid his respects first, then worriedly looked at Elder Shou, who was still comprehending the Dao:

“How much longer will Elder Shou be?”

He had heard Elder Shou say it in the carriage.

Hua Changdeng would arrive in a few days – three to five days at the shortest, half a month at the longest. The appearance of semi-saint level ghost creatures like the White-faced Ghost also indicated a lot.

The Ghost-Buddha Realm was a battlefield.

The first person to arrive would likely be Hua Changdeng.

On the eve of a great battle, Elder Shou was suddenly “controlled.” This seemed a little too coincidental… Li Fugui was always one to overthink things.

Mei Sir fanned himself with his paper fan, equally bewildered: “I don’t know, I don’t even know the reason for his sudden enlightenment.”

“Too coincidental!”

Li Fugui’s heart was anxious as he said:

“Half a day ago, I had Zhu Yike’s people patrol the Ghost-Buddha Realm. The report is that semi-saint level ghost creatures are appearing frequently.”

“Entities like the White-faced Ghost were very difficult to find when Elder Shou and I traveled a few days ago. Now, they appear occasionally and have injured many of our people.”

White-faced Ghost…

Mei Sir already knew what had happened before, so he naturally understood Li Fugui’s implication.

It wasn’t just semi-saint level ghost creatures.

Creatures containing the power of the Death God and carrying remnants of Hua Changdeng’s will were appearing in large numbers.

Wasn’t this precisely the harbinger of the Ghost Gate opening wide and the Ghost-Buddha shattering?

“Whoosh—”

The surrounding eerie wind howled, and now it sounded even more chilling.

Mei Sir gazed at the sky, his hand instinctively stopping its fanning motion. He let out a long sigh:

“Hua Changdeng will arrive within three days.”

What!

Li Fugui’s pupils trembled. He hurriedly looked at Elder Shou, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to act: “I’ll move Elder Shou into the Apricot Realm right now.”

Others might not be able to harm Elder Shou.

But if Hua Changdeng truly arrived in person and attacked with his ghost hunting, Elder Shou, in his current state, would truly be split in half.

“Don’t panic.”

Mei Sir closed his paper fan and slapped Li Fugui’s hand, stopping him. “There’s still time. Xu Xiaoshou might not be unable to wake up. Don’t disturb him.”

Comprehending the Mortal World Dao was a good thing, a tremendous good thing!

It was beneficial for his sword, his will, and his reputation. Moreover, Xu Xiaoshou might even be able to research more formidable things. How could they easily interrupt him?

“So, we just wait?”

Li Fugui felt somewhat lost.

Hua Changdeng was a Holy Emperor, and an ancient sword cultivator Holy Emperor at that.

Such an unparalleled combat power, if he truly arrived, even the newly recovered Evil Yin might not be able to defeat him. How could Elder Shou, unable to move, possibly contend with him?

For a moment, Li Fugui truly didn’t know what to do.

After all, this wasn’t something that could be resolved simply with schemes or calculations. Even the Dao Temple Lord might have to temporarily avoid Hua Changdeng’s edge.

The ignorant feared the Ghost Sword Immortal.

To Mei Sir, Hua Changdeng was also his student. Although the student had surpassed the master, he wasn’t so terrifying.

He snapped open his paper fan again.

Li Fugui glanced at it quickly and saw “Mere Wind and Frost” written on it, his expression turning surprised.

What time was it now!

If it was “mere wind and frost,” then he should come up with an idea!

Mei Sir held his paper fan and pointed at Xu Xiaoshou: “Let him continue comprehending.”

“Hmm?” Li Fugui waited for him to continue.

Mei Sir leisurely pointed his paper fan behind him: “Let’s go find Ba Zun’an.”

“Uh…”

That really was a good idea!

After a moment of thought, Li Fugui beamed.

Hua Changdeng wasn’t Elder Shou’s enemy to begin with. If Mr. Si Ren was willing to speak, once Elder Ba appeared, who could contend with him?

“So, we’ll go now?”

Li Fugui was decisive by nature. He was about to leave after speaking, but then suddenly stopped. “But are we really not moving Elder Shou into the Apricot Realm? I just feel it’s a bit dangerous to leave him here…”

“Take me.”

From not far away, a steady voice suddenly spoke.

Li Fugui froze, then turned in surprise: “Elder Shou, you’re awake?”

Mei Sir and Elder Yang also looked over with astonished eyes, then exchanged glances, horrified. The comprehension of the Mortal World Dao couldn’t possibly be assimilated in such a short time…

But they had truly underestimated Xu Xiaoshou, and underestimated the Super-Dao Transformation of the Grand Dao of Will.

Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t actually entered a state of sudden enlightenment.

This wasn’t even comprehending the Dao; it was merely an onslaught of inexplicable memories.

If he wanted, he could still experience the myriad forms of the mortal world while dedicating his mind to observing the situation in the Ghost-Buddha Realm – it was just strenuous.

The three immediately came to Xu Xiaoshou’s side. Seeing that he was indeed awake and able to converse, they quickly asked about the situation.

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, saying nothing.

It concerned Jin Ren, and it must have been some kind of fortune he gained there, which he couldn’t speak much about.

In any case, after trying, he found that the Will Dao Plate could forcibly delete related mortal world memories, and the cultivation comprehension of the Mortal World Dao could be stopped at any time.

Still holding the initiative and finding no particular drawbacks in his current state, Xu Xiaoshou simply “went with the flow.”

If it was a blessing, it wasn’t a calamity; if it was a calamity, it couldn’t be avoided.

Perhaps Jin Ren had knocked out the weakened Dao Gan Shi with one punch and was currently soul-searching and reading his memories. But due to Holy Emperor Gan Shi’s contingency plans, it might have affected his connection with Jin Ren?

Therefore, Xu Xiaoshou did not refuse this “profound enlightenment.” While continuing to experience the myriad forms of the mortal world, he said:

“My current state is very peculiar. If Mr. Si Ren has no clue, perhaps only Ba Zun’an knows a thing or two.”

“Li Fugui, later you’ll carry me and go with Mr. Si Ren to see Old Ba. For now, I’ll avoid moving as much as possible.”

Later… Li Fugui, meticulous as ever, knew Elder Shou had more to say, and simply waited respectfully.

Xu Xiaoshou then looked at Mr. Si Ren, recalling what he had just gained and a flash of inspiration, and asked:

“Teacher, between the Two-Life Form and the Mortal World Form, which do you think is stronger or weaker?”

Mei Sir pondered for a moment: “There’s no distinction in strength.”

Forms have no inherent superiority or inferiority.

He now agreed with this concept.

After all, for the past six months, he had often discussed the Dao with Ba Zun’an, and this was also Ba Zun’an’s view.

Xu Xiaoshou said, “Ba Zun’an cultivated over ten forms and also concluded that ‘the Dao has no magnitude, and forms have no superiority or inferiority.’ But he is ignorant, stopping there.”

What?

Mei Sir was stunned.

Elder Yang, who had been half a step behind and silent, also showed an astonished expression now.

You brat are truly arrogant. Disregarding all Sword Immortals is one thing, but you call Ba Zun’an ignorant?

If he was still ignorant, then all the ancient sword cultivators in the five regions might as well draw their swords, commit suicide, and return to the heavens.

Mei Sir opened his mouth, about to speak, but felt his throat dry and found it hard to utter a word.

His chest and abdomen rumbled, like a tremendous wave, but he couldn’t show unsteadiness in front of this young man. After all, he was a teacher; he had to maintain his composure.

So he simply kept silent, closed his paper fan, flicked it open, and the ink characters on its surface changed:

“Adulterer and Harlot.”

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at it, and his imposing aura and expression both faltered: “Did you get that wrong?”

Mei Sir froze, his eyes dropping. Startled, his hand trembled again, and he hastily switched to another paper fan:

“What do you mean by that?”

Xu Xiaoshou almost went astray in his cultivation from being annoyed, but he managed to steady his emotions and, presenting the idea that had flashed through his mind earlier, asked:

“Mr. Si Ren, what if one were to forge the foundation of this world with the myriad forms of the mortal realm, and establish the roots of past lives through countless reincarnations?”