Chapter 1841: Ancient Gate

"So, you wanted to set me up?"

Xu Xiaoshou became wary. Whenever Old Ba called him "Shou-ye," there was always a big trap. Having been tricked a few times, he learned his lesson and tentatively asked, "Is there a possibility that you could deal with Hua Changdeng after I hand him over to you?"

Ba Zun'an shook his head. "Are you ready to be crowned as a god and an ancestor?"

This question stumped Xu Xiaoshou again. He wanted to ask, "Are you ready?" but then realized the answer was obvious. Ba Zun'an had been preparing for thirty years; the day he drew his sword, he could certainly open the Xuanniao Gate without hesitation and attempt to become a god and an ancestor. Xu Xiaoshou, however, had only just crossed this threshold, considered merely a "quasi-realm" cultivator. Not to mention distant matters, even recently, he hadn't fully embraced the insights of the mortal world, and he still hadn't decided whether to comprehend the Way of Reincarnation within the Scythe of Death.

He could indeed put aside his current tasks and, relying on the Passive System and his accumulated foundation, try to become a god and an ancestor. But this wouldn't be a complete preparation, a moment of "thick accumulation and thin release." Even if he succeeded, at most, he would reach the levels of a Sacred Demon, a Medicine Ghost, or even a Demonic Artificer, and that would be his limit. He had never seen anyone successfully traverse the path from two to one to zero.

Ba Zun'an decided to go first; perhaps there was this layer of consideration as well?

"If I succeed, it proves this path is viable. If I fail, you will have a precedent, and you can surpass me, becoming 'blue that comes from indigo but is superior to indigo.'"

"Moreover, a chess piece that is chosen out doesn't necessarily mean elimination; perhaps there will be a day of return."

"I am still prepared."

These words were cryptic, and Xu Xiaoshou couldn't understand them. Ba Zun'an had no intention of explaining, merely smiling as he flicked his sleeve. "But that's too far off. Whether the future unfolds as I expect is debatable. Let's focus on the present."

The present… Xu Xiaoshou could only look back at Fusang. Now, there was only Xiao Kongtong, and Hua Changdeng who would arrive soon. He stared at the chaos within the city, no longer pondering future matters, and hesitated, "Can 'Loudmouth' Xiao defeat a Half-Saint?" He vaguely remembered that on Void Island, Xiao Kongtong had struggled to deal with Jiang Buyi, his words indicating some difficulty. Although Jiang Buyi was no ordinary Half-Saint, capable of summoning the Imperial Tribulation of Ancestral Origin, less than a year had passed. Would Loudmouth Xiao have made such significant progress?

"You accelerated the historical process." Ba Zun'an understood what he was thinking and continued, "In the Sacred Slaves' plan, after Void Island, Half-Saints wouldn't appear so frequently. But now, even the appearance of a Sacred Emperor is common."

"And the past reality was that after the Battle of the Ten Venerables, the talents of the Five Domains basically had no opportunity for practical experience. During peacetime, besides self-cultivation, they could only wait – wait for a great upheaval, wait for a transformation between life and death." He looked at Xu Xiaoshou and calmly stated, "You are not the only one who has accumulated profoundly before bursting forth. Since he could handle the chaos in Canyue Xiancheng, I presume all his other preparations are also complete."

Xu Xiaoshou stared at Fusang, unconsciously nodding. Half a year ago, when he caused trouble in the Central Domain, he couldn't go help. He heard that in Canyue Xiancheng, Xiao Kongtong alone raised the flag, and in the end, he didn't receive strong support from the Sacred Slaves. But with his sole power, he became a "Killing God" there, ultimately managing to protect half of Canyue Xiancheng. The final outcome was decided when he defeated Ai Cangsheng, which was essentially "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao."

Transformation between life and death, huh? Xu Xiaoshou recalled the situation in Canyue Xiancheng, then raised his eyebrows, smiling. "I think he's addicted to imitating you!"

But truth be told, Ba Zun'an hadn't made a move for too many years. Even during the battle with Gou Wuyue in the Eight Palaces, he was sickly, using a broken twig to deliver one sword strike, then disabling himself and swiftly leaving the battlefield. Without Loudmouth Xiao on Void Island, Xu Xiaoshou truly wouldn't have known how the young Ba Zun'an became a legend.

At that time, the "Laughing Zun'an" who practiced "one poem, one sword, one sword, one song" truly opened Xu Xiaoshou's eyes. He pondered and asked, "So, how many 'you' does Loudmouth Xiao count as now?"

Ba Zun'an was puzzled. "Why do you call him Loudmouth Xiao?" He remembered Xiao Kongtong's mouth wasn't big.

"It's not important." Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. "How many 'you'?"

Ba Zun'an didn't answer. He pointed in the direction of Fusang. There were Cheng Caizhi, Dai Xiu, Luo Hui, and the Half-Saint Qing Gui. In fact, Ba Zun'an didn't remember their exact names, only knowing that these Half-Saints, in his eyes back then, were not opponents for even a single exchange.

"Look!""He's always been very dedicated to my tasks."

"You, you dare to call yourself Ba Zun'an?"

A thunderous roar erupted from Fusang. Half-Saint Dai Xiu transformed into a bolt of lightning, charging forward with a furious shout, leading the way towards the Ba Zun'an in the sack. He spread his thunder wings, his feet treading on rainbow light. As he wielded his long spear, sacred power surged, even tearing apart the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Sword intent? It was the same!

"Cheli Qiang..."

Li You of the Yin Gui Sect's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the extraordinary sacred artifact, muttering, "Dai Xiu is known for his spear arts. Wielding the Cheli Qiang, he can dismantle Dao laws and extinguish sacred power."

"He cultivates the 'Li' Dao, doesn't he? If I remember correctly, his most glorious battle was when he fought 'that person' to exhaustion, making it so they couldn't even use their sacred power."

The elders of the Yin Gui Sect nodded frequently, also failing to recall who "that person" was. The Grand Elder added, "Half-Saint Rong Wang, of the Fumen clan, perished three years after that battle, and the Rong clan subsequently fell to the status of a Taixu noble family."

Li You no longer remembered Rong Wang, only the once-glorious Fumen clan, and said with a touch of regret, "It's a pity that in the end, we never saw the Fumen clan's 'Gate of Time and Space,' 'Gate of Reincarnation,' and so on appear; otherwise, the Rong family wouldn't have met such a fate."

The Grand Elder chuckled. "The Six Ancient Gates, those are things of ancient legend, no less powerful than supreme divine artifacts, or even potent psychic weapons, and even more so. If the Fumen clan had truly recovered all their ancestral objects, even Sacred Emperor families would aspire to them, and becoming a god and an ancestor wouldn't be a delusion..."

Li You turned her head and glanced at him. The Grand Elder's voice faltered, and he awkwardly rubbed his nose. "I was just joking."

Over at the Shengfutuo City, the three Half-Saints also discussed Dai Xiu only briefly, quickly shifting their conversation to the once-glorious Fumen clan from ancient times.

"Time and Space, Reincarnation, Guidance, Dao Law, Sub-plane, Void… In my opinion, the Rong family was shrewd. The only possibility is that the 'Gate of Dao Law' and 'Gate of Time and Space' that might still be in their hands were probably sent out long ago." Daoist Shangfeng, the Formation Saint, said with a strained smile, as if remembering something.

Tie Dameng was puzzled. "Why send them?"

Dan Sheng Lu Shiyu took over the conversation. "An innocent man is guilty because of his treasure. You've all seen the fate of the Taixu Lei clan. Which is more important, the gate or the Rong family's bloodline?"

Daoist Shangfeng: "It's a good thing they no longer have the ancestral gates, otherwise they probably couldn't have avoided annihilation."

Tie Dameng gave a long "oh," then suddenly a short "eh," and patted Lu Shiyu's shoulder. "But don't we have a gate too?"

Daoist Shangfeng's expression changed. Lu Shiyu's face turned suddenly pale. "Shut up, Mengzi!"

Tie Dameng turned to glare. "Doesn't the Void Tower, according to legend, have… ungh?" Before he could finish, Lu Shiyu forcefully silenced him with sacred power.

There are two Futuo Cities on the Sheng Shen Continent, divided into Sheng Futuo City (Life Futuo City) and Si Futuo City (Death Futuo City). Si Futuo City is a gathering place for the dead and evil, with the central cross street corner having successively birthed heinous villains like Yexiao and Shen Yi. That's not the point. The point is that legend has it that Si Futuo City has an "Inverted Buddha Pagoda," containing the secrets of becoming a Saint, a Sacred Emperor, or even a god and an ancestor. Sheng Futuo City is the same.

In extreme contrast to Si Futuo City, Sheng Futuo City is a land of spiritual essence and abundant vitality. It was originally the headquarters of various sub-professional associations in the Five Domains, boasting famous tranquil lakes, life medicine gardens, vast spirit ore veins... It was a land of rich resources and fertile ground.

Of course, Sheng Futuo City also has its own legend. At the sacred heart of this city stands a tower, a suspended "Void Tower" that is visible to the naked eye but intangible to touch. It also contains the secrets of becoming a Saint, a Sacred Emperor, or even a god and an ancestor, attracting countless people to worship and seek opportunities. For thousands of years, no one has successfully entered the tower, let alone reached its peak.

However, a few months ago, unbeknownst to outsiders, many Half-Saints in Sheng Futuo City received an uninvited guest. He was a scholar with a jade-like face, gentle and polite in his demeanor, making people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze. He had come to ascend the tower! Legend has it that the top of the Void Tower contains one of the Six Ancient Gates, the "Gate of Void." Though its specific function was unknown, it felt incredibly powerful.

Sheng Futuo City doesn't often interfere with worldly affairs and holds an open attitude towards the Void Tower; otherwise, it would become the next Lei family. The Void Tower served as a gimmick, attracting countless worshippers and boosting Sheng Futuo City's economy. Over the years, various Half-Saints had also received many Sacred Envoys from the Sacred Palace, even those from above the Heavenly Ladder. Of course, they wouldn't refuse the request of that mysterious, powerful, and strange jade-faced scholar. Anyway, the result was always the same: visible but intangible, no one could enter the Void Tower, not even Ai Cangsheng!

"That guy, he eventually got in, didn't he?" Tie Dameng whispered. As soon as the words left his mouth, they drew angry glares from the two beside him. But once the floodgates of conversation opened, Lu Shiyu, who had previously dared not discuss the matter in Sheng Futuo City, inexplicably felt compelled to join in now. He quietly activated his Saint Domain and privately transmitted, "Getting in doesn't mean you can reach the top."

Daoist Shangfeng also nodded. "Even if you reach the top, there might not be a Gate of Void; that's just a legend."

Tie Dameng looked left and right, hesitated, then spoke again. "Do you two remember what he looked like?"

The two Saints racked their brains, unable to recall the details, only vaguely remembering a handsome scholar. Tie Dameng then added, "But the necklaces, surely you remember those?"

The pupils of the two Saints constricted, and they simultaneously fixed their gazes on him. Tie Dameng opened his mouth, holding up three fingers. "He was wearing three necklaces around his neck, all inscribed with words. One said 'Time and Space,' one said 'Guidance,' and one said 'Dao Law'..."

"Don't say another word, Mengzi!" Lu Shiyu interrupted him again.

Daoist Shangfeng also spoke nervously, "Just necklaces, they don't mean anything. Just words, the content could be a coincidence. Just getting into the Void Tower doesn't mean he's collecting... uh."

Tie Dameng's eyes lit up. "You also think he's collecting the Six Ancient Gates, right? I think so too!"

Lu Shiyu opened his mouth, unable to suppress Mengzi's recklessness. Could this really be discussed? He wanted to close his Saint Domain, invoke a Half-Saint Xuanzhi, and make everyone keep silent. Tie Dameng stared at Daoist Shangfeng, who was on the same wavelength as him. His thoughts boiling, his words wouldn't stop.

"If he succeeds, then he'll have four necklaces?""The Gate of the Sub-plane is said to be with Shui Gui or the Eighth Sword Immortal. Will he go get it? Does he dare?""If he still dares and can succeed, that would be 'six out of five, just waiting for one.' Where is the Gate of Reincarnation? Can he gather them all?""What will happen after he gathers them? Will it be like the Twenty-One Famous Swords? What will it be?" Tie Dameng's eyes were filled with curiosity.

Lu Shiyu's face was filled with despair. He quietly tore up a Half-Saint Xuanzhi behind his back and uttered a single word: "Silence!" He stared at the two people around him, his face stern with warning. "Don't mention this again."

Tie Dameng opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but he was forbidden and dared not defy, so he remained silent. His thoughts shifted, and he had another idea. Finding it wasn't forbidden, he immediately spoke. "Old Lu, Shangfeng, who do you think that guy is?"

Lu Shiyu's face darkened. "Shut up, Mengzi!"

Daoist Shangfeng also trembled, not daring to speak, pointing to the battlefield in Fusang. "Watch the show, Mengzi."

Dai Xiu, this urgent lightning bolt, stopped abruptly in mid-air. Everyone looked at the front lines, seeing the Cheli Qiang, which had been radiating immense sacred power, suddenly retracting all its fluctuations. Dai Xiu, who had been brimming with battle intent, suddenly lost the light in his eyes, standing suspended in mid-air like a puppet.

"Not good!"

Cheng Caizhi, Luo Hui, and Qing Gui, the three Saints, immediately noticed something amiss and shouted loudly, "Illusionary Sword Art, be careful not to fall for it!"

On the ground, Ba Zun'an in the sack smiled and looked up, glancing at the three Saints. "You've already fallen for it."

Do not fight him alone! This was a control similar to the Heart Sword Art: Heart Lake. Cheng Caizhi's heart pounded, and he immediately turned to Luo Hui. "Let's go together, we can't afford to be so cautious."

"Good." Luo Hui nodded her exquisite head. "This Saint will guard the rear, responsible for finding the array core of the Illusionary Sword Art." She immediately formed hand seals.

Cheng Caizhi looked at Qing Gui, the sickly old man. Qing Gui's expression was incredibly solemn. "After Fairy Luo finds the array core, I will be responsible for breaking it." He pulled out a yin soul talisman.

Cheng Caizhi nodded heavily, sacred power surging. "Then this Saint will be responsible for taking down Ba... from the front."

At this point, he felt something was off. Why were these two responsible for the irresponsible parts? Were they only called to watch the show?

"You two..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Luo Hui, known as Fairy Luo, turn her head to look at him. Her exquisite oval face had shriveled hair and a beard, turning into a disheveled appearance. "Why are you looking at me, Immortal? You are responsible for assisting Dai Hui and eliminating Ba Zun'an!"

Cheng Caizhi's pupils constricted violently. He swept his Saint Sense over Qing Gui. Qing Gui had already turned his head away, but now his front face had become the back of his head, and the back of his head actually grew the face of a disheveled Ba Zun'an. "Why are you looking at me, Immortal? You are responsible for assisting Dai Hui and eliminating Ba Zun'an!"

Dai Hui? His name is Dai Xiu!

Cheng Caizhi was about to correct their verbal slip, but as his lips moved, he suddenly realized that wasn't the point. The point was clearly that Luo Hui and Qing Gui had also been controlled by the Ba Zun'an's Illusionary Sword Art in the sack, otherwise why would they transform into his appearance?

"You two, your wills are actually so weak..."

Cheng Caizhi hadn't finished his sentence when he suddenly heard urgent shouts, as if from above the clouds:"Brother Cheng?""Cheng Caizhi!""Wake up, Saint Cheng!"

It was as if he was trapped in a pitch-black box, where everything in the world became incredibly huge, and he, Cheng Caizhi, was as tiny as dust. Cheng Caizhi suddenly realized, could it be that he was the only one whose will was too weak to resist control?

"Ba Zun'an!"

Turning his head, Cheng Caizhi furiously cursed, wanting to kill Ba Zun'an, break through the Illusionary Sword Art, and escape the black box. But where was Ba Zun'an? In the dilapidated wine shop, there was only a worn-out sack; besides that, nothing else.

"A sack?""That's right, he's always carried a sack. What on earth is inside?"

Cheng Caizhi was both surprised and uncertain, feeling it was a trap. He couldn't find the core of the illusion anywhere, only feeling that the sack would be the key to breaking the situation. So, he flew over. The bulging sack lay quietly on the ground like a shy, reclining beauty, tempting one's curiosity to peel away its mysterious veil and glimpse what lay inside.

Cheng Caizhi impatiently bent down, grabbed the sealed opening of the sack, and pulled the drawstring to both sides, unsealing the mystery.

Dai Xiu! A large, flat face suddenly pressed against his!