Chapter 1989: One Move

“The Demonic Ancestor moved against me.”

This second message came from the Ancestor of Thought, Cao Yihan.

As early as when Chongyin was struck down amidst the Seed of Life, and his two fingers were broken by Dao Qiongcang, the power left behind by his predecessor, the Ancestor of Separation, Yue Gongli, began to weaken.

Naturally, on the Ghost-Buddha Realm side, the suppressive power on Kui Leihan, who had been buried under the tomb by "Dao Stele’s Tomb Sending" after being previously "severed by the Three Corpses," also began to diminish.

Speaking of which, the Ancestor of Thought truly wasn't instantly defeated by the Ancestor of Separation due to a momentary oversight in just two or three moves.

He purely received Xu Xiaoshou's signal to gradually withdraw from the battlefield, handing the conflict over to the Ancestor of Medicine and the Ancestor of Separation, planning for the future.

His withdrawal was indeed successful.

Primarily, Yue Gongli was also very cooperative. After finally choosing to side with her sister, who was a Saint Slave, she expertly removed the Ancestor of Thought from the battlefield without crippling his combat ability.

The only pity was that the Ancestor of Separation’s glory was too brief. She was buried by the Ancestor of Medicine before she could wreak havoc for long, and Chongyin was subsequently affected, failing to interrupt the Ancestor of Medicine’s return to nothingness.

Afterward, the Demonic Ancestor's body was struck out by Shen Yi at the crossroads, seamlessly taking over the battlefield and capturing everyone's attention.

Xu Xiaoshou even used an extra layer of guidance to make most people focus on the battle itself, thereby overlooking the Ancestor of Thought who had withdrawn.

The purpose was to preserve a good card first.

Kui Leihan still possessed a mask, whose combat power could probably reach the Void-Return level, a trump card that even Dao Qiongcang might not match.

Originally, if everyone ignored the Ancestor of Thought, this mask could be reserved for a final appearance to cause fatal damage.

Unexpectedly, on the Ghost-Buddha Realm front, the Demonic Ancestor only summoned a few thugs to stall Shen Yi. Not long after, Kui Leihan sent a message.

The Demonic Ancestor seemed entirely unaffected by the guidance.

Or perhaps, the Way of Thorough Divine Thought held such high importance in his heart that he never gave it up, making it naturally difficult to guide him indirectly.

“How did he move against you?”

The Heavenly Secret Array cut off communication between the inside and outside of the crossroads.

After all, this simulated the Four Mausoleums Mountain, the Demonic Ancestor’s greatest fallback, and its obstructive power was immeasurably strong.

Kui Leihan contacted Xu Xiaoshou’s clone in the Xing Realm, and Xu Xiaoshou also contacted Kui Leihan through the clone, which conveniently avoided being tracked by the Demonic Ancestor to the crossroads.

“Possession!”

Kui Leihan spoke heavily, then added:

“The demonic power is starting to affect me with the thunder attribute of spiritual refinement. It’s permeating little by little, but the speed isn’t slow.”

“If I continue to hide, I fear I might suffocate in this ‘Dao Stele’s Tomb Sending’ and completely become a demonic puppet.”

The Demonic Ancestor’s fusion of three bodies would definitely require time, otherwise he wouldn’t use a human-wave tactic to stall Shen Yi.

Kui Leihan had ceased cultivating the Way of Spiritual Refinement thirty years ago, indicating he had been wary and had left a contingency, so he wouldn’t be possessed instantly.

Therefore, upon hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou only felt a slight sense of urgency, but not enough to break his train of thought. He calmly asked:

“How much longer can you hold on?”

“Before the Demonic Ancestor fuses three bodies, he can’t possess me. If he fuses three bodies, then it’s uncertain, since he won’t be weaker than me then,” Kui Leihan replied.

Still some time!

But how could he capitalize on the Ancestor of Thought’s combat power within this short period through “shifting” to maximize benefits?

Continue to play dead?

Useless, Kui Leihan would play dead until he truly died!

Then should he rush out to help Shen Yi share one of the Demonic Ancestor’s body, spirit, or will, or even further, prevent the Demonic Ancestor from fusing three bodies?

The first answer that comes to mind is often not the best. Perhaps this is exactly what the Demonic Ancestor intends by penetrating Kui Leihan at this moment, a demonic guidance…

The Saint Palace?

Should Kui Leihan strike directly at the heart, attacking the Four Mausoleums Mountain?

This would indeed be an excellent choice, but would there be a better option that he hadn’t considered in his haste?

Too chaotic…

He had to keep an eye on Chongyin at the crossroads, constantly monitor when Sanjie Shenyi would tire and need assistance, guard against the Ancestor of Medicine’s return to nothingness, and the potential abnormalities of Bei Huai and Chongyin when that happened. Additionally, he had to be prepared for the Demonic Ancestor’s three-body fusion and anomalies at the Four Mausoleums Mountain…

Glancing at Dao Qiongcang beside him, Xu Xiaoshou hesitated to speak.

Now in a deep cooperative relationship, with this Heavenly Secret brain’s help, he might instantly analyze the optimal choice.

But Dao Qiongcang’s answer would first and foremost satisfy Dao Qiongcang’s interests, regardless of the depth of their cooperation; Xu Xiaoshou knew this well.

He didn’t speak, asking Kui Leihan again: “How does the Demonic Ancestor’s three-body fusion compare to your mask?”

“Wasteful.”

“Then if the Saint-Devil merges, and the Demonic Ancestor obtains the power of the original Saint Ancestor preserved in the Saint Palace, what then, if he fights you?”

“We can fight, but the Way of Spiritual Refinement will definitely affect me.”

Kui Leihan’s thought process was also incredibly clear, and his positioning of his own combat power was very precise. However, the answer was both funny and frustrating.

Simply fighting the Demonic Ancestor after his three-body fusion would be a waste of resources.

Fighting after the Saint-Devil fusion would be difficult due to the existence of the Way of Spiritual Refinement.

It truly was a case of “not good enough compared to the best, but more than enough compared to the worst” on another level, which indeed made it difficult to maximize the use of this chess piece.

Xu Xiaoshou made a decisive move, no longer hesitating, and looked at the flamboyant old Daoist in their deep cooperation:

“Devil devours thought!”

He would only give one chance.

Even the information he revealed consisted of only these four words.

He wanted to see if the Dao Ancestor, capable of “eternal memory,” known as the “unfathomable god and ghost,” the ultimate schemer, could provide a stunning answer based on just these four words.

If so, as long as it wasn’t excessive, Xu Xiaoshou would truly dare to adopt it.

Trust people when you use them, don’t use them if you don’t trust them!

“Say that again.”

Upon hearing this, Dao Qiongcang didn't seem stunned; rather, it was as if he used the time of this question to make his brain furiously churn, and he looked as though his soul had left his body.

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head slightly, staring at him without speaking.

One breath…

Two breaths…

Three breaths…

Excellent, Dao Qiongcang, your name is indeed not living up to its reputation!

Just as Xu Xiaoshou was about to give up and have Kui Leihan directly set off to attack the Saint Palace on Four Mausoleums Mountain.

Dao Qiongcang suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Xiaoshou:

“Wait!”

“Four Mausoleums Mountain is not the best choice!”

As soon as these words left his mouth, Xu Xiaoshou’s first reaction was: Does this old man also have the ability to strip away intentions?

Dao Qiongcang’s expression was serious, incredibly sincere.

To an outsider, Xu Xiaoshou’s four words might not convey much, but Dao Qiongcang saw it as the first major test after their deep cooperation.

If he answered well, this relationship could be maintained.

Then, if Xu Xiaoshou had important information, he would continue to share it with him.

If he answered poorly, Xu Xiaoshou would definitely have his own ideas and would still proceed according to his own thoughts.

After that, if there was still important information, what he could get would likely be second-hand or third-hand.

“Listen to my advice, Kui Leihan continues to hide!”

Dao Qiongcang went straight to the point, and before Xu Xiaoshou could object, he explained rapidly:

“Firstly, Changde Town has guarded against me for thirty years, and he has also cultivated in seclusion for thirty years. He has plenty of contingencies to deal with the Demonic Ancestor; he just wants to know your thoughts… Trust me, besides Ba Zun’an and me, everyone else still underestimates you!”

“Secondly, until the Demonic Ancestor’s three-body fusion, Kui Leihan will not be interfered with. After the three-body fusion, Kui Leihan can continue to hold out, hold out until the Saint Palace’s Purple Pet appears, and continue to hold out, even if he has to use the mask!”

Purple Pet?

Xu Xiaoshou paused, wondering if it meant the Demonic Ancestor would possess Purple Pet, just like Chongyin possessed the Ancestor of Separation, essentially force-feeding a Saint Emperor into an Ancestral God for use?

But there was a difference. Yue Gongli and Chongyin weren’t a good match; it was a choice made out of helplessness.

Purple Pet, however, was of the Divine lineage, the best inheritor of the Saint Ancestor’s Way, a natural furnace, plus the original Ancestral power of the Saint Palace. Perhaps they could replicate a Saint Ancestor?

Also, he had to hold out even if he used the mask, why?

Dao Qiongcang did not stop, continuing:

“Thirdly, Kui Leihan didn't abandon the Way of Spiritual Refinement thirty years ago, which proves he was mentally prepared to resist head-on. However, the influence of the Saint-Devil is beyond his understanding. He cannot transcend it, so sending him to attack the Saint Palace is absolutely not a wise choice.”

“Fourthly, I will interfere with Chongyin. Between the Demonic Ancestor and the Ancestor of Medicine, Kui Leihan’s best opponent is not the Demonic Ancestor, who can affect him, but the Ancestor of Medicine—you must know that if the Ancestor of Medicine is injured, the Demonic Ancestor would be pleased.”

“Fifthly, instead of dispersing combat power and attacking in a spread-out manner, it’s better to focus on one point, crippling or disabling either the Demonic Ancestor or the Ancestor of Medicine. Therefore, Kui Leihan’s best activation point is when the Ancestor of Medicine returns to nothingness, launching a joint attack with Bei Huai, Chongyin, and me, catching the Ancestor of Medicine off guard.”

Xu Xiaoshou’s heart froze.

How much hatred do you have for the Ancestor of Medicine, to scheme against her like this? Have you considered her feelings?

Or rather, is it simply that you want to seize the Ancestor of Medicine’s Dao, and at this moment, you’ve set your sights on Kui Leihan’s combat power to better assist yourself?

Dao Qiongcang seemed to have completely sorted out all the pros and cons within three breaths, his thoughts orderly:

“Sixthly, although the Demonic Ancestor and the Ancestor of Medicine both have selfish motives, an alliance is inevitable, especially with Chongyin as the Seed of Life, planting the new Heavenly Realm, their aim is to capture all ten Venerable Seats and newly promoted Ancestral Gods, and then jointly divide the spoils.”

“Seventhly, from a long-term perspective, our cooperation and desperate counterattack are something the Demonic Ancestor and Ancestor of Medicine cannot resist. At that time, even if their two states are weak but still capable of fighting, even with private motives, they will be forced into deep cooperation. And the Demonic Ancestor and Ancestor of Medicine have millions of years of heritage, which we cannot match.”

Seven points in a row, Dao Qiongcang spoke quickly and sincerely: “My Xu, others may not understand my meaning, but you must understand my meaning!”

How could he not understand?

From Dao Qiongcang’s perspective, Kui Leihan’s instruction manual had only one line: fight the Ancestor of Medicine!

And it was said with reason and evidence…

After hearing all this, it was unclear what results Kui Leihan would achieve by attacking the Saint Palace, but the mask card would definitely be exposed…

“Use the mask, but also hide it?”

Xu Xiaoshou still hadn’t clarified this one thought. He felt it was unfeasible, as it would be exposed too easily, and the benefit would be even lower than attacking the Saint Palace.

“Yes!” Dao Qiongcang nodded heavily. “The Ancestor of Medicine is returning to nothingness, completely unaware of the outside world, and certainly unaware of the mask.”

“What if the mask is used, can’t be hidden, and can’t stall until the Ancestor of Medicine returns to nothingness?”

“Then he wouldn’t be Cao Yihan!”

As fellow Ten Venerable Seats, Dao Qiongcang’s confidence in Kui Leihan was incredibly high, many times higher than Xu Xiaoshou’s.

His certainty in his words made one firmly believe that there was no better way to use Kui Leihan.

And from an objective standpoint…

Xu Xiaoshou even activated the Way Disk in front of Dao Qiongcang, but he genuinely couldn’t feel the presence of guidance, nor could he come up with a better method.

Was this the quality of the answer that the unfathomable Dao Qiongcang could produce within three breaths—a full seven points?

“Keep hiding, stall until the Ancestor of Medicine returns to nothingness.”

Xu Xiaoshou sent a thought in that direction, completely detaching himself from emotional fluctuations, seemingly becoming the most cold-hearted and ruthless chess player outside the game.

Kui Leihan made no further reply. There was no abnormality under the tomb of "Dao Stele’s Tomb Sending," as if the Ancestor of Thought had been dead for some time.

“Boom!”

In the deep pit, the purple swaddling cloth covering Bei Huai suddenly erupted with dense Chongyin power.

A figure rose from the pit.

“You do think highly of me…”

On the Ghost-Buddha Realm front, as Xu Xiaoshou secretly caused trouble and Chongyin and Dao Qiongcang began to show their cards.

Sanjie Shenyi, holding the Overlord diagonally, looked at the few people in front of him and let out a long laugh.

One was Lei Shuangxing, one was Xiao Wanfeng, and one was Gu Qingyi—Lei family descendants protected by Ba Zun’an, Xu Xiaoshou’s friends from Heaven’s First Tower, and the chief disciple of Wen Ting from the Burial Sword Tomb.

Was this move by the Demonic Ancestor a play on emotions?

A monk from the Western Regions Buddhist Sect, Abbot Youxi, upon appearing, merely uttered “Amitābha,” causing the resentment to hesitate for a moment.

Was this second move by the Demonic Ancestor still a play on emotions?

As for Han Zu, sealed by the Han Palace Saint Emperor, Shen Yi had only been wary of the Extinguishing Dao Profound Ruler in his hand from beginning to end. Beyond that…

Sorry, my friendship with Yue Gongli isn't deep.

“Do you all know what I’m thinking at this moment?” Shen Yi lightly twirled the Overlord in his hand, looking at the people in front of him with a soft smile.

Before the people opposite could speak, he answered his own question:

“Commendable courage.”

Han Zu Yue Gongqi’s eyes suddenly turned cold, daring to voice a taunt.

Who would have thought that Shen Yi, with one phrase, would no longer give them time for superfluous words? Whoosh! His figure vanished!

Not good…

Yue Gongqi’s heart sank.

To catch the thief, first catch the king. Among the five people targeting Shen Yi, he was the only Ancestral God. Shen Yi would definitely target him first.

“Boom!”

Ancestral power erupted.

Power surged into the Extinguishing Dao Profound Ruler, and suddenly a cold breath barrier, like a domain, spread across the Ghost-Buddha Realm.

But…

“What?”

Han Zu glanced out of the corner of his eye, only to see the three young ancient sword cultivators, who had somehow been “bounced” out of the battlefield.

Not good!

Gu Qingyi, Xiao Wanfeng, and Lei Shuangxing’s eyes all trembled simultaneously.

That bald-headed Shen Yi’s primary target wasn’t Abbot Youxi or Han Zu Yue Gongqi, but rather the three juniors.

Just an uplift of the Overlord…

Just a surge of aura…

The three ancient sword cultivators were all simultaneously bounced out of the Ghost-Buddha Realm, thrown high above the North Sea.

However, when it came to the top young generation, excluding Xu Xiaoshou, these three ancient sword cultivators were not without a chance to contend for the highest position.

Not to mention that at this moment, each of them had received the Sword Ancestor’s power and held one of the twelve swords of the Sword Tower: “Fury,” “Sā,” and “Ren.”

But just as Gu, Xiao, and Lei were barely about to summon the Sword Tower swords in their hands…

In front of the three of them, almost simultaneously, the figure of a burly man, Kui Leihan, flashed.

“Sword does not exceed eight.”

Gu Qingyi could only hear this sentence.

He hadn’t reacted yet, nor had he formulated any better counter-measures.

Shen Yi didn’t even use the Overlord, just moved a single finger, just flicked it.

With a snap, the Fury Sword shattered and flew.

Along with it, Gu Qingyi’s five fingers, palm, and entire wrist and forearm exploded into dust.

Then another flick to the forehead.

Gu Qingyi’s bones were completely shattered. His body smashed through spatial fragments, and when he reappeared, he had been bounced back from the North Sea to the Northern Region.

“Remelt and refine.”

Xiao Wanfeng didn’t even clearly see the person. The Sā Sword in his hand flew out.

He then took another flick to the forehead, was sent flying out of the battlefield, and his meridians were completely severed.

“It’s not three Shen Yi, but one Shen Yi, yet his speed is extreme…”

Lei Shuangxing’s orbital lines flared up, but he was the only one among the three who could clearly see Shen Yi’s moves, which weren’t even moves, just pure strength.

And the reason he could see all this wasn’t just because of his orbital lines, but also because he was the last of the three chosen by Shen Yi.

Yet, he only barely managed to place the Ren Sword horizontally across his chest…

In a flash, Lei Shuangxing realized a grave mistake: he had actually chosen to resist head-on?

Even the Sword Ancestor’s power within his body surged out in the form of demonic energy, attempting to block Shen Yi’s flick to the forehead…

The Ren Sword struck his chest, shattering his breastbone into powder.

Lei Shuangxing’s vision went black. When he woke up again, he had landed in the Northern Region, with two wailing figures beneath him.

At this moment, Lei Shuangxing was dazed.

Was the gap that huge?

Xu Xiaoshou, proclaimed to have the bearing of a Ten Venerable Seat, almost on par with the Eight Gods Cao, wasn’t he…

“Demonic Obstacle, surrender your life!”

Above the Ghost-Buddha Realm, Shen Yi, who had returned after instantly dealing with the three youngsters, turned his head and saw the big-bellied monk strike out with a palm.

Unfortunately, the power of a Saint Emperor was truly soft and weak.

Shen Yi, with a shoulder ram, endured the golden wish-powered Buddhist palm, burst through the shattered golden light, and appeared in front of the “Amitābha.”

“What?!”

Abbot Youxi, who had long been out of the battlefield, was truly stunned at this moment.

This was the second generation of Thorough Divine Thought!

This was the strongest attack of the Great Brahma Dragon Palm, condensed by the power of a Saint Emperor’s rank!

What did the opponent do?

A shoulder ram?

Was this some unparalleled ancient martial arts secret move?

Thirty years ago, Youyuan could still rank among the contemporary powerhouses and defeat all the geniuses of the Five Domains. Thirty years later, his senior brother, Youyuan, couldn't even stop this human beast?

“Om!”

Youxi was stunned, but the Slaughter Sword wasn’t. It trembled and flew up.

With a slap, Shen Yi caught it. The Slaughter Sword struggled violently, the Slaughter Sword continued to struggle, the Slaughter Sword was still struggling…

Abbot Youxi swallowed with difficulty.

This human beast held the blade of the Slaughter Sword, which had trapped him for so long, yet not a single drop of blood was shed. It was as if he was holding a child’s toy?

“Swords are not used this way.”

The burly man tossed the Slaughter Sword in his hand and, in front of him, slowly raised his knee, as if to see how he would parry.

“Arhat Golden…”

The golden body did not open.

Since he chose to confront him head-on, Shen Yi granted him respect. After a powerful kick, Abbot Youxi was disemboweled.

Blood immediately splattered across the void. Abbot Youxi smashed through space from the Ghost-Buddha Realm and landed in the Great Desert of the Western Regions, getting a mouth full of sand.

All this happened in less than half a breath.

Han Zu Yue Gongqi had only opened a barrier with the Extinguishing Dao Profound Ruler to protect himself, but was horrified to find that the people around him had already been cleared out.

The three youngsters were one thing!

But what about the Saint Emperor? He was gone too?

Didn’t this mean that if he hadn’t been sealed as an Ancestor, it would have been just a kick from Shen Yi?

And after dealing with the four ants, Shen Yi’s gaze, turning to look at him, completely conveyed that Han Zu Yue Gongqi was the fifth ant.

“The Extinguishing Dao Profound Ruler can extinguish all great dao laws, and can crack the physical body of an Ancestral God!”

“Can crack the physical body of an Ancestral God!!!”

Han Zu Yue Gongqi’s heart churned. His eyes widened, and his attention was heightened to the extreme, as if Shen Yi’s kick could appear from all directions at any moment.

Seeing this, Shen Yi lost all interest. The Overlord gently stood in the void, too lazy to even lift his eyelids:

“One move.”

“I’ll allow you to count to three first.”