Chapter 1935: Crazy

Chapter 1936: Limit

“Xu Xiaoshou, let's talk.”

Just as he was pondering, a sigh resonated in his mind.

Within the Qianshi Emperor Realm, the Scythe of Death, stored in Xu Xiaoshou’s internal space, transmitted a "request to meet" thought.

Indeed…

Xu Xiaoshou breathed a sigh of relief, yet remained highly vigilant.

His relief stemmed from the fact that he had guessed correctly: the Scythe of Death not only held the authority of reincarnation but also contained Ghost Ancestor's post-resurrection move.

Even if Hua Changdeng's entire plan succeeded, Ghost Ancestor might emerge to thwart him before he completely merged and targeted Yao Bei.

Possession?

The specific methods were unclear, and there was no need to delve into them.

Because Hua Changdeng’s plan failed, he completely lost his mind.

The situation evolved in another direction, a disaster for both Hua and Ghost. Ghost Ancestor had no choice but to surface and actively seek out Xu Xiaoshou again.

This meant that he had fallen completely into a passive situation, even prepared to abandon Hua Changdeng.

But he still needed to be wary.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know what Ghost Ancestor wanted to do.

The merged Hua Changdeng had truly devoured Ghost Ancestor, and the state of merging with the Dao was not false.

This indicated that Ghost Ancestor had perished, and the phantom of Death, which had been expelled from his body by the Bone Pillar of the World-Ending Sword, had indeed lost all its sentience.

Yet, a wisp of Ghost Ancestor’s will remained in the Scythe of Death. Even if it was just a single wisp, could it be related to "reincarnation"?

If he agreed to meet, would he incur a greater karmic consequence and be forced to enter the game early?

Ghost Ancestor seemed very weak.

Xu Xiaoshou only received the first transmission from the Scythe of Death and waited for a long time without a second one.

He thought for a moment, offered no resistance, separated a wisp of his mind, and cast it into the Scythe of Death.

What have I to fear now?

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Xu Xiaoshou, one of the few companions of this ancestor before reincarnation…”

In the hazy world of consciousness, there was no concept of space or time, and he couldn't perceive any tangible existence.

Even the source of the voice had no spiritual or conscious body; nothing was visible.

Before reincarnation… Xu Xiaoshou savored the information in the words, looking around.

He couldn’t see himself either.

His main body, however, could glance at Dao Peipei.

Seeing that she had no reaction, he relaxed slightly and took the initiative to ask:

“How pleased are you?”

The hazy world fell silent for a moment. Soon, Ghost Ancestor’s voice sounded again:

“Xu Xiaoshou, you must have already guessed the intention of placing the Scythe of Death in your hands…”

“Mm, you want to scheme against me.”

“…No, Xu Xiaoshou, the authority of reincarnation is real; this is the payment this ancestor made to you in advance.”

“And it’s not false that you want to scheme against me, is it?”

There was silence on the other side, and Xu Xiaoshou chuckled: “I think you’ve misunderstood something.”

He laid everything bare, without mincing words:

“Before I realized the Scythe of Death was harmful to me, it could be considered payment.”

“After I knew this thing might trick me, if I still took the previous ‘transaction’ seriously, am I foolish, or has Ghost Ancestor become more naive with age?”

A pause.

Receiving no reply, Xu Xiaoshou continued on his own: “Let’s skip the pleasantries. If you have any requests, just state them. You’re probably not here to exchange witty banter with me.”

In the hazy world of consciousness, Ghost Ancestor gave up on haggling for the second time.

Xu Xiaoshou was too clever, and had grown to a point where he couldn’t be guided. He was like an iron barrel with no weaknesses, now impregnable.

“Xu Xiaoshou, then this ancestor will be direct.”

“When you heard this wisp of thought, barring any accidents, this ancestor has already entered ‘reincarnation’—this is a state.”

Reincarnation…

The word appeared for the second time.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't interrupt, quietly waiting for Ghost Ancestor's next words.

“Hua Changdeng should have already devoured everything of this ancestor by now and entered the state of merging with the Dao, but due to some ‘variables,’ he failed.”

“Otherwise, this will, even if you actively activated the Scythe of Death, would not be seen.”

“What this ancestor wants to tell you is that in the process of Hua Changdeng's failure, a large part of it bore the shadow of ‘Shennong Shi’.”

Shennong Shi?

Shennong Hundred Herbs, which is the Medicine Ancestor.

But the Medicine Ancestor and Bei Huai were previously barred from the Forgetfulness River and couldn't even enter the Saint God Continent, so how could they have meddled?

What stopped Hua Changdeng from merging with the Dao were clearly the two profound swords of Ba Zun’an. Could it be that Old Eight and the Medicine Ancestor secretly cooperated?

This was impossible.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately dismissed this conjecture.

He was utterly confused, yet still didn't interrupt, as he had already decided not to disclose any information to the "reincarnated" Ghost Ancestor.

He would only summarize, analyze, and deduce what he hadn’t yet fully grasped from the other party’s words.

“Yao Bei has vast ambitions, but Hua Changdeng possesses extraordinary talent. Even if he fails to merge with the Dao, there is still a glimmer of hope. This ancestor will not elaborate further; you should be able to guess what it is.”

“If you have already seen ‘Spirit Reincarnation,’ it means time is short. Please grant this ancestor a request.”

“Before Hua Changdeng succeeds or fails, please do not prevent the anomaly of the Scythe of Death. If possible, let this ancestor’s will emerge from the Scythe of Death.”

Why?

Why should I?

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou’s rebellious streak emerged: “What if I insist on suppressing it?”

Ghost Ancestor didn't answer, continuing to speak to himself:

“Master Shou should have heard of the ‘chicken and egg’ causality theory, right?”

“Regardless of which came first, the ‘reincarnation’ incubation state lies between ‘chicken first’ and ‘egg first’.”

“One of this ancestor’s authorities is reincarnation. In this state, I am immortal and indestructible, perfectly transcending the ‘life and death’ authority controlled by Shennong Shi, thus preventing him from seizing my Dao.”

“One of the earlier warnings mentioned that Yunshan Saint Emperor cannot die. Master Shou should still remember?”

Xu Xiaoshou’s mind raced, pondering how much of Ghost Ancestor’s gibberish was credible.

Then he heard him continue:

“Once the Scythe of Death appears, this ancestor will take Hua Changdeng and place him together into the ‘reincarnation’ incubation state.”

“In this state, Hua Changdeng will neither live nor die, so regardless of whether he ultimately succeeds or fails, it will be impossible for Shennong Shi to seize his Dao.”

“This ancestor deeply approves of the Saint Servants’ ideals, but the extent of Ba Zun’an’s ultimate achievement is still unknown to this ancestor. However, in Master Shou, this ancestor sees a glimmer of hope.”

“Consider it a game of hide-and-seek. This ancestor and Yunshan Saint Emperor are out early. If the Saint Servants succeed later and can find us in the reincarnation incubation state, you can take this gift.”

“If you cannot find us, please allow this ancestor, after reincarnation, to enter another cycle of rebirth and creation. We have waited too long for this opportunity…”

Ghost Ancestor spoke with a sigh, but an opportunity, regardless of how long it was awaited, was not necessarily deserving of pity or being granted.

A pitiable person must have something detestable about them.

Xu Xiaoshou listened to three parts, believed three parts, and cast the rest aside, getting straight to the point:

“You intended to scheme against me, so why should I help you?”

“It's not helping me, but helping each other.” Ghost Ancestor spoke again, seemingly having already considered this:

“The path of two merging into one and one returning to zero has long been clear to Shennong Shi, and it is indeed feasible.”

“He controls life and death, lacking only this ancestor’s soul and the authority of reincarnation. Once Hua Changdeng also achieves godhood and becomes an ancestor, he can attain the authority of the ‘sword’ and seize the opportunity to further control the demonic spirits confined in the Sword Tower.”

“Leaving the demonic spirits aside, if Shennong Shi devours this ancestor, he won’t even need to undergo the time-consuming and arduous state of merging with the Dao; the two-into-one will be complete immediately.”

“If he then devours Ancestor God Bei Huai and Ancestor God Hua Changdeng, his combat power will certainly surpass that of the demons and fiends. He won’t need to defeat them, only repel them, and then go into hiding.”

“At that time, with demons and fiends vying for supremacy, the time freed up will be enough for Shennong Shi to use this ancestor’s reincarnation authority to enter a reincarnation incubation state, completely erasing the remnants of the four ancestors ‘Yao Gui Bei Hua’. Thus, discerning oneself and returning to zero, the Great Dao can be achieved.”

Xu Xiaoshou’s mind was shocked.

This was the first time he had fully understood the Medicine Ancestor’s plan, which seemed impetuous but was in fact meticulous!

Though heard from Ghost Ancestor, the words held more than seventy percent credibility. It should be said that the Medicine Ancestor’s path was now this one only.

Unless he also wished to search for all the Kong Yuhen on the River of Time, but this would clash with what the Demon Ancestor desired, and Kong Yuhen was recovering rapidly, making it a thankless task.

At this point, devouring Ghost, Hua, and Bei was easy. Therefore, Hua Changdeng truly couldn't die?

“I don’t believe it,” Xu Xiaoshou said calmly.

“Saving others saves oneself.” Ghost Ancestor seemed helpless. “If this ancestor and Hua Changdeng do not enter the reincarnation incubation state and are instead seized by Yao Bei, does Master Shou have the confidence to deal with Shennong Shi, who is only half a step away?”

“Yes.”

“If not… Then, enough said. I wish Master Shou good luck.” Ghost Ancestor seemed about to explode, then abruptly stopped.

Hanging up on me?

Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat indignant as he was ejected from the consciousness space.

However, upon careful thought, if the Medicine Ancestor devoured Ghost, Hua, and Bei, gained the authority of reincarnation, and even could influence the Demon Ancestor.

At that time, such combat power, perhaps even the two profound swords, would be unable to contend with it.

After all, the success of "Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns" and "World-Ending Sword Bone" was largely due to Hua Changdeng being in a state of merging with the Dao, unable to spare much mental effort to deal with it.

“What if I directly kill Hua Changdeng and Ghost Ancestor?”

Since the Medicine Ancestor also controlled the authority of life and death, would “death” itself play right into his hands, effectively delivering Hua and Ghost to the Medicine Ancestor?

Unable to live, unable to die…

Was the reincarnation incubation state truly the primary solution?

So, he really had to throw away the Scythe of Death; there was no other way?

Xu Xiaoshou felt for the first time how difficult it was to be a chess master. His head felt like it was going to explode from thinking, and for a while, he couldn't discern how much of Ghost Ancestor’s words were true.

After all, there was still this possibility:

“Hua Changdeng just entered the ‘Spirit Reincarnation’ state, just about to make a desperate struggle, and Ghost Ancestor popped out.”

“Maybe after the Scythe of Death is thrown out, and the authority of reincarnation appears, Hua Changdeng immediately absorbs it, his power skyrockets again, and Ba Zun’an dies instantly?”

“Also, if Old Eight waits any longer, he’ll die too…”

The choices were like a hot potato. Looking back at the high sky of the Northern Region, the flames of war seemed poised to reignite.

Hua Changdeng, after issuing the decree to the three sword ghosts, stabilized himself, a final surge of power before death.

His mad laughter filled the world, like a mad dog unleashed from its chains, suddenly gaining perfect power at its peak when at its wit's end.

Written all over his eyes was "rather shatter like jade than remain intact like tile," while opposite him, Ba Zun’an's body was destroyed, his spirit and will damaged, on the brink of collapse…

“Ba Zun’an!”

Xu Xiaoshou dared not delay, and indeed could not.

A thought from Wuji attached itself to Ba Zun’an’s increasingly dim spirit and will as time passed.

Do you need help?

Yet, this question remained unspoken.

When he was a pawn, only once in the East Heaven King City, out of compulsion, did he seek help from Old Eight.

The latter then summoned the Void Island.

When Old Eight was the chess piece, why did he always worry about him, wanting to ask if he needed help?

Did he not have a mouth himself? When truly at his wit's end, would he not speak?

He hadn’t spoken yet…

He still had cards!

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly thought, if Old Eight didn't even prepare for Hua Changdeng's surge of power before death.

Then that guy was just average.

“What do you want to do?” Xu Xiaoshou asked bluntly.

“What do you want to say?” Ba Zun’an’s thought transmitted.

His spiritual voice was weak and muffled, appearing quite "hoarse," but beneath the words, a deep confidence was hidden.

Xu Xiaoshou felt a little relieved.

He glanced again at that dim spirit and will, and in a daze, he could discern a hint of familiarity.

When he first met Ba Zun’an, in the Tiansang Spirit Palace, he effortlessly disarmed Ye Xiaotian.

When he saw Ba Zun’an again, although the Great Buddha Slash instantly killed Gou Wuyue, his body was then weak and depleted, almost completely exhausted.

During the Void Island incident, his spiritual cultivation realm had fallen from Xiantian to Houtian. Not only could he not fly, but he couldn’t even walk steadily.

When they met again in Lingyu, he was just a mortal, deaf and blind, unarmed, yet he eventually summoned ten thousand swords and unleashed profound sword techniques.

“Hidden Sword Art!”

From beginning to end, none of these things were because Ba Zun’an had fallen into a slump.

Rather, it was his deliberate act, the "Sealing the Sword to Old Age" path he had always walked.

Even at this very moment, with his Indestructible Sword Body destroyed and his spirit and will damaged, nearly annihilated.

He seemed on the verge of death, but from another perspective, could it be that even after unleashing the profound sword techniques, he still maintained a "hidden" state?

Were Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns and World-Ending Sword Bone merely equivalent to the withered branch he picked up to deal with Gou Wuyue during the Ba Gong Li period?

Hiding the sword doesn't mean not drawing it.

Could "Sealing the Sword to Old Age" simply mean "dying of old age" completely?

Xu Xiaoshou was startled by this thought, though it was baseless, it offered some comfort.

Without time to ponder further, he recounted everything concerning Ghost Ancestor to Ba Zun’an.

Finally, the topic landed on the Scythe of Death: “To throw, or not to throw, that is the question.”

This was actually a problem that a chess player should solve.

But Xu Xiaoshou also couldn't fathom Ba Zun’an's combat power anymore. He was in a state of "both strong and weak," and Xu Xiaoshou truly didn't know how much more he could handle.

“Throw it!”

Ba Zun’an’s answer was decisive, but Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t relax.

A pawn could charge recklessly, simply and brutally, but a chess player had much more to consider.

“If you throw it, and the Medicine Ancestor succeeds, given your state, can you handle it?”

Xu Xiaoshou was seriously considering whether to sacrifice the Sacred Infant Plant.

While selling out friends was wrong, if he didn't, everyone inside and outside the Xingjie, all Saint Servants, would die.

To die for a friend or to die alone, this question might need to be re-evaluated.

“Aren’t you still here?” Ba Zun’an chuckled.

Xu Xiaoshou was greatly astonished.

So you’re treating me as your trump card?

I thought you still had the potential to erupt again. It couldn’t be that if I didn’t act, you would really die, could it?

“Are you joking?”

“Mm.”

Are you crazy!

At death’s door, still daring to crack such a hellish joke?

Xu Xiaoshou’s tone was unkind: “Actually, you can let go and let me handle it. And if you feel too proud to ask me for help in front of your slave boy…”

Before he finished speaking, the high heavens of the Northern Region trembled.

The crimson-eyed "Ancestor Hua," embodying an unknown will, had completely "returned."

His mad dog-like killing intent swept across the five regions, laughing maniacally while searching for someone, yet seeming to have lost his target:

“Hiss hahahahaha…”

“Come out! Come out! Ba Zun’an—!”

Ba Zun’an was right there in Lingyu.

The five regions looked at Ancestor Hua as if he were a blind man.

Then they looked at Ba Zun’an as if he were a cripple.

A blind one and a crippled one, after reaching the absolute peak… a battle of disabilities?

Crucially, with Ancestor Hua’s resurgence, could Ba Zun’an, in his current state, withstand even one of his swords?

Everyone stared fixedly at Ba Zun’an’s residual spirit and will, which seemed on the verge of extinguishing with a mere gust of wind.

Ba Zun’an stood solemn, gazing north, his spiritual connection still firmly clasped, his tone becoming extremely serious:

“Xu Xiaoshou!”

“Mm?”

“My time is running out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do as he says. When the time is right, throw out the Scythe of Death!”

“Ba! Zun! An!”

Ancestor Hua, who had been brutally defeated, finally found a target for revenge.

His bloodshot eyes fixated, and his form shot forth. Along the way, the three sword ghosts of the Hunting Ghost Sword flew out, glowing eerily around him.

“Boom!”

The three flowers on his head scattered, and the Ancestor God aura disintegrated.

Hua Changdeng, indeed, voluntarily fell from Ancestor Hua back to the Saint Emperor realm, wielding Hunting Ghost like a piercing arrow, charging forward.

But the Ancestor God power within him had not disappeared!

His realm had dropped, as if he had deliberately shrunk the container, compressing the energy within his body, making it even more turbulent!

“Hum.”

Overflowing soul power bloomed into a dazzling Sword Dao profound array beneath his feet.

The three sword ghosts of the Hunting Ghost Sword spun around Hua Changdeng, and profound light rays rose behind him, growing brighter with his advance.

“Profound?”

“Sword Unleashes Profoundness?”

“Ancestor Hua falls back to Saint Emperor, but Hua Changdeng also wants to unleash profoundness and ascend to the Ancestor God realm again?”

The power unleashed by Spirit Reincarnation was already astonishing.

This compression and rebound, an extreme operation between the Saint Emperor and Ancestor God realms, regardless of Dao Foundation and future, was even more jaw-dropping.

Hua Changdeng was truly insane!

At least, from this perspective, his obsession had driven him mad!

“Ba Zun’an!”

“Ba! Zun! An—!”

The profound twilight ascended in the Northern Region.

Boiling obsession and killing intent crushed the ocean and land over the marks left by the World-Ending Sword Bone.

Hua Changdeng charged with his sword, his edge growing sharper with each step.

Ba Zun’an stood at attention, his aura fading with each breath.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know where this feigning-death guy got his confidence from, still daring to stand still, yet muttering "time is running out"…

Wait!

He suddenly remembered what Dao Qiongcang had said earlier about being out of the game…

“What exactly do you want to say?”