Chapter 2027: Slip-up

Could such a clumsy taunt really provoke Hua Changdeng?

Xu Xiaoshou knew perfectly well that it might have worked when they first met in the Cloud Realm Imperial City.

But now that Hua Changdeng knew more about him, theoretically, it shouldn't work.

Yet Xu Xiaoshou still used it.

The effect was surprisingly good; Hua Changdeng fell for it completely. Why?

It was simply to give him a way out.

Hua Changdeng, having become the head of the Cloud Realm Imperial City, was naturally not foolish. Reborn in the Sovereign Extreme Slash Space after his demise, with his understanding, he would have realized his current predicament after familiarizing himself with it.

Not to mention the Dao-Seizing Tentacle, which inherently carried a master-servant contract, making one instinctively want to "submit to Xu Xiaoshou." The guidance from the perfected Will Dao was also continuously urging Hua to choose subtle submission, even though he fundamentally didn't want to yield to this junior.

Setting all that aside, would Hua Changdeng not realize that if he didn't take a way out, this Sovereign Extreme Slash Space would become a second Screen-Candle Land? And it wouldn't even be self-imprisonment; he couldn't leave whenever he wanted. Instead, he'd be imprisoned, enslaved, with no chance of ever breaking free. Once Xu Xiaoshou grew stronger, it was unknown what he could do to him through the Dao-Seizing Tentacle.

Most people who died and were revived were often looked down upon. But Hua Changdeng was ultimately not Dao Qiongcang, nor the Demon Ancestor or the Medicine Ancestor, and he certainly didn't cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness. In a distant place, there was still the leaderless Cloud Realm Imperial City, waiting to be ravaged and carved up after the Ancestor God War. Hua Changdeng knew all too well how the Wu Rao Imperial City shattered and the Wu Rao people withered away after the former Wu Rao Saint Emperor fell.

Circumstances change; if he failed, his clan would suffer. And his successor, Xi, though his talent was not as astonishing as the Ten Sovereigns, nor as exceptionally brilliant as Xu Xiaoshou, had still been cultivated for many years. Although he never offered a single word of praise on ordinary days, always regarding him coldly, it would be impossible to say he had no feelings whatsoever. If there were no feelings, how would he have been chosen, and how would his cultivation have begun?

All things considered, there were many reasons. Add to that his hatred for the Medicine Ancestor and his desire for Ba Zun'an. If there was a chance to walk out of this enclosed space, return to the Holy Divine Continent, and see his old friends again. How could Hua Changdeng refuse?

Ancient swordsmen valued their pride and dignity. Xu Xiaoshou's "way out" was offered with mockery and sarcasm, making it difficult for anyone to accept, but it was still a path to retreat. For a defeated person, what was there to say about dignity?

With that cry of "Master Shou," Hua Changdeng had already prepared himself for everything. As long as Xu Xiaoshou wasn't too excessive... Having been the Medicine Ancestor's puppet for so many years, what did it matter if he became Master Shou's puppet this time?

"Master Shou?"

At the edge of the Sovereign Extreme Slash Space, the War Ancestor stopped and looked back, utterly astonished. How could the War Ancestor not know the temperament of ancient swordsmen? The one who was so arrogant just moments ago had become respectful after a few taunts and jibes from Xu Xiaoshou. Why was this?

But something even more unimaginable happened next.

Xu Xiaoshou had just been full of insinuations and relentless mockery, but then his expression turned solemn, even his address changed, and the meaning seemed incomprehensible to ordinary people: "Senior Hua, I am definitely not like that Shennong Baicao."

What was he talking about now? Had they communicated secretly? How could their conversation suddenly be completely disconnected from what came before?

Hua Changdeng rose from beneath the broken willow, looked over from a distance, and slowly said, "But let's be clear first, I can do things within my capabilities."

"But this body, formed here, only has cultivation and comprehension, and carries no external possessions. So if you want Yu Kunpeng's soul..."

He shook his head, his tone devoid of any emotion: "Before my demise, I could have given it. After my demise, I am powerless." "After all, even the Path of Reincarnation should now have been reclaimed by the Shennong clan. If I were to meddle with it, you might be the one in danger."

That's perfect!

Xu Xiaoshou didn't care at all, pressing his advantage as he chuckled, "Kui Leihan struggled for thirty years, and I don't believe that the dignified First Ancestor of the Spirit Refinement Era, the dignified Ancestor Hua, after realizing he was trapped, would only walk a single path towards the Ghost Ancestor."

What were they talking about? The War Ancestor looked left and right, truly unable to figure out what language these two were speaking. He could understand the words. But the meaning when put together seemed entirely different from what he understood.

"So, I finally returned to the Path of the Sword," Hua Changdeng said calmly.

"No," Xu Xiaoshou firmly denied. "You were going to fight Ba Zun'an. Would you not consider the path of failure? Since there was a risk of demise either way, if it were me, I would be thinking about how to shed my skin like a cicada and then rise again."

As he spoke, Xu Xiaoshou subtly shifted. The Dao-Seizing Tentacle pierced into Hua Changdeng's chest lightly twitched, as if indicating that through this, he could perfectly know what else Hua Changdeng had secretly cultivated.

"What you returned to was not the Path of the Sword, but the Ghost Sword Art of the Path of the Sword." "The Three Swords of Sword Ghost were not simply the Three Talents Sword Formation of Body, Spirit, and Will, but your attempt to transcend the Path of Reincarnation, a complete shift to another Great Dao. The sword and reincarnation served as both a sharp weapon and a cover." "Viewing the world from the perspective of the soul, in reality, for thirty years, you haven't just been walking the Ghost Ancestor's path, but another extreme, similar to the War Ancestor's." "Or to put it another way, you walked the opposite of the Body Dao: the Spirit Dao, the Path of the Soul."

This time, it was so clear that even the War Ancestor understood.

Hua Changdeng, however, neither confirmed nor denied it, calmly replying, "The defeated need no excuses. Since Ba Zun'an was a step faster than me, I can bear all consequences."

"No, Senior Hua, Ancestor Hua, I'm not mocking you."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hands repeatedly, his expression serious. "What I mean is, you couldn't cultivate the ultimate Spirit Dao back then, but after witnessing Ba Zun'an's Path of Return to Zero, you should have had more ideas." "And this space..." He pointed at the gray space of Sovereign Extreme Slash, then at the Sovereign Kan position where Hua Changdeng was, and continued: "The rule level here is no less than that of the Time Realm or the Heaven Realm." "Even if there's any deficiency somewhere, as long as you wish, I can also let you briefly enter the Time Realm to comprehend the Dao." "What you lack has never been talent or effort, but time and environment. This place, coincidentally, with no Medicine Ancestor's restraints, is the best treasure land for you to perfect your Spirit Dao."

Hua Changdeng examined it closely, and it was indeed as Xu Xiaoshou had said. The rule level of the Sovereign Extreme Slash Space was extremely high, coupled with whatever Time Realm Xu Xiaoshou had promised... His expression shifted, and he began to think seriously.

"Spirit Dao..."

Yes, what was seen from the Dao-Seizing Tentacle was far more than imagined. Xu Xiaoshou discovered that even if the Path of Reincarnation and the Path of the Sword were excluded, solely based on his comprehension of the Path of the Soul, Hua Changdeng's was not much inferior to his own, having clearly already transcended the Dao. Transcendence of the Dao starts at 90, but Hua Changdeng seemed to be even beyond that; quantified, it was perhaps another one or two percentage points higher.

Compared to the strength of the Three Great Dao Rivers Xu Xiaoshou currently commanded, it was truly abysmal, practically worthless. But don't forget, Hua Changdeng achieved his Dao transcendence during the Era of Demise. And until Hua Changdeng's demise, the Five Regions' Dao cultivation level hadn't risen at all, with only a damaged Ancient War God Platform increasing the combat power limit. Essentially, Hua Changdeng had achieved that level of Spirit Dao transcendence without entering the Divine Ruins, Heaven Realm, Time Realm, or the high Dao levels of the Ancestral Thought Divine Net, enduring the attention or prying eyes of the Medicine Ancestor and Ghost Ancestor, and without falling behind in his primary dual cultivation. Perhaps the Five Great Saint Emperor families had higher Dao cultivation levels, or perhaps Hua Changdeng had cultivated in some other blessed lands. Yet to achieve Dao transcendence with just this proved his talent in the Spirit Dao was not lower than Xu Xiaoshou's expectations.

Now, with the Dao level of the Sovereign Extreme Slash Space being so high, Hua Changdeng only needed to sit down and cultivate diligently. With accumulated potential, increasing by three or five percentage points consecutively would be no problem. And as long as he imparted his comprehension of the Body Dao to him, or infused him with a large amount of basic comprehension from the Spirit Dao Plate, not seeking him to fully master it, but only to corroborate the Spirit Dao and verify his cultivation. Coupled with the method of condensing the Great Dao Long River obtained from Dao Qiongcang, in as little as three months, or as long as half a year, the possibility of elevating Hua Changdeng's Spirit Dao comprehension to form a Spirit Dao Long River was not zero. Even if he still lacked a bit in the end, when his Dao-Seizing Tentacle seized it, it should be around 97 or 98, right? As for the rest, couldn't he just step on the Spirit Dao Plate and comprehend it himself?

"Sui Yin plucked Moon Palace Li, the Demon Ancestor abandoned Moon Palace Qi. Would it be too much for me to foster Hua Changdeng's growth and aid his cultivation?"

It was obvious that Hua Changdeng also understood Xu Xiaoshou's intention to forcibly nurture his growth. When his gaze fell upon the large tentacle in front of him again, he probably understood everything.

"You don't just want me to cultivate the Spirit Dao and reshape Yu Kunpeng's soul, do you?" Hua Changdeng sighed. "You want to seize my Dao?"

"Yes!" Xu Xiaoshou, without concealment, revealed his ambition. "After you fully cultivate the Spirit Dao, I will seize it from you, but your comprehension will not disappear. The War Ancestor can attest to this."

The War Ancestor patted his chest, indicating that he had already been seized once and was still very healthy. Hua Changdeng naturally didn't quite believe the words of these two. However, other than believing, it seemed he couldn't offer any strong resistance.

"I have a few questions..."

"Please speak, Senior Hua."

Xu Xiaoshou's attitude was so proper that it was disorienting. Hua Changdeng shook his head, not bothering to delve into whether there was a deeper meaning, as it was truly brain-consuming. He looked towards a distant, unknown direction, his eyes flickering. After a long silence, he finally spoke: "Moon Palace Li, how is she?"

Xu Xiaoshou paused, not expecting such a question. His expression also darkened. Putting aside Moon Fox's flaws, she was actually quite fun. His voice dropped a few octaves: "She's dead."

"How did she die?"

"Sui Yin's forced cultivation. After Moon Palace Li became an Ancestor, she fought to exhaustion and died miserably." After a pause, Xu Xiaoshou added, "Sui Yin didn't fare well either. She didn't escape the Medicine Ancestor's clutches and is now almost a seed herself."

Hua Changdeng closed his eyes, perhaps thinking of something, remaining silent for a long time. After a good while, he finally spoke again: "And Cao Yihan..."

"He became the Great Dao." Without waiting for Hua Changdeng to ask further, Xu Xiaoshou said, "Controlled by the Demon Ancestor, unable to transcend, and forced by circumstances, he simply transformed into the Ancestral Thought Divine Net, elevating the Dao cultivation level of the Five Regions, at least providing another battlefield."

Wasn't that just a version of himself, but with a different outcome? Hua Changdeng's gaze was complex, containing helplessness, bitterness, and a hint of relief, as he asked again: "What about Dao Qiongcang?"

"He didn't die," Xu Xiaoshou said truthfully. "He's currently fighting the Dao Ancestor for a body. I can't tell who's who anymore. Perhaps after becoming an Ancestor, it's a different kind of death."

"Bei Huai?"

"By now, he should have become an Ancestor. But since you're gone, I don't believe the Medicine Ancestor will be overthrown by him. His limitations are deeper."

"Shen Yi?"

"He's in the Long River of Reincarnation, chasing love, and perhaps has successfully reincarnated."

Hua Changdeng opened his mouth, tried to smile but couldn't, his lips filled with bitterness. His former companions had withered like fallen leaves. How talented these people were, Hua Changdeng couldn't possibly not know. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were unparalleled throughout history, each with their unique charm. Who would have thought that under the schemes of the ancient Ancestors, those who fell, fell, and those who sank, sank—none of them fared better than him.

"Ba..." Hua Changdeng paused, then turned his face away. "What about Ba Zun'an?"

"Then you're going to be disappointed. I truly wasn't lying to you just now. After Ba Zun'an's step of Return to Zero, the three Ancestors didn't dare utter a peep." "It's only because the Five Regions' Dao cultivation restricted him that he had no choice but to enter the Time Realm to trace the Heaven Realm in the past or future. Otherwise, if he had killed them all, I wouldn't even have to appear."

Hua Changdeng scoffed, clearly not believing him. He shook his head, not asking further questions, and said, "I can help you cultivate the Spirit Dao. Before that, tell me everything that happened after my demise, one by one."

"Alright."

This condition was too simple. Xu Xiaoshou wasn't short on time. He glanced at the War Ancestor, whose eyes also held anticipation and fervor, and began to gesticulate excitedly.

"And so on and so forth..."

*Rip!*

The Time Realm shattered. Amidst the omnipresent natural space cracks, a holy power suddenly acted as a knife, cutting open a small incision. A little girl with purple hair and purple clothes jumped in.

"As expected, utterly chaotic..."

The avatar, Zi Chong, wrinkled her delicate nose, already feeling her own power rapidly fading and even her precious body rapidly aging. With the power she carried, a rough estimate suggested she could probably last about fifteen minutes before she would die in here. Converted to the time of the Holy Divine Continent... By the time these thoughts flashed through her mind, she would already be dead.

"Hmph, they never intended for me to go back!" "They wouldn't let me move the Fetal Origin Coffin. At least they should have let me bring either the Dao-Extinguishing Profound Ruler or the Chaotic Cloud Silk to protect myself, right?"

Zi Chong was exasperated. Who uses an avatar like this? They had no regard for her at all; after all, they were all parts of the main body.

"Huh?"

Just then, she was surprised to find that this place was indeed a bit strange. Sword intent... Not far away, there were traces of sword intent, and what seemed to be residual aura of tribulation lightning? Sword intent was still understandable. After all, Ba Zun'an had entered the Time Realm before. Even if many years had passed in the Time Realm, with his strength, leaving sword intent traces wouldn't be difficult.

"What's with this tribulation lightning?" "Did Ba Zun'an find the Nuo Ancestor, or did he trigger a Great Tribulation and get struck by lightning?" The scene of her conversation with the Name Ancestor at that time was still vivid in her mind. Even though Zi Chong's consciousness was more dominant in this avatar, what Sheng Xin knew, except for crucial hidden parts, wasn't much less. But to say this was a "Great Tribulation"...

"The intensity is a bit weaker." "It's like an Ancestor God Destruction Tribulation, but the level isn't enough." "It's more like an Ancestral Source Imperial Tribulation, but it exceeds it too much. It couldn't be Kong Yuhen undergoing tribulation to become an Ancestor here, could it?" What he would undergo should also be the Ancestor God Destruction Tribulation.

No! Kong Yuhen was the Time Ancestor; he didn't need to undergo tribulation anymore. That is to say, Sheng Xin's main body's words came true: there really was a hidden individual in the Time Realm?

"Who?"

The avatar Zi Chong followed the traces of the lightning tribulation, moving forward step by step. She didn't simply search forward in the spatial sense; after all, time and space were chaotic in the Time Realm. It was very possible that where she stood, someone else was actually standing, but they weren't on the same timeline. Therefore, she even touched upon time. Following the lightning tribulation aura, she searched for its corresponding past and future. The Time Realm should be hiding a hidden individual, at a level between Saint Emperor and Ancestor God, preliminarily identified as a Half-step Ancestor God, whose strength was not as great as her own. Perhaps she could catch him and claim a merit.

Zi Chong thought as she searched for the hidden individual. It wasn't long before she detected an anomaly, because the hidden individual seemed to have no defense against someone from the Time Realm detecting him; all his traces were left wide open.

"This..."

She actively shifted towards half a day earlier. The lightning tribulation aura grew stronger. Zi Chong remained standing still; clearly, she had seen nothing a moment before, but after the timeline shifted, a person inexplicably appeared about ten zhang away.

"This...!"

Zi Chong's pupils contracted violently, her small face completely drained of color. What was this? What did she see? The person had black hair and black clothes, their precious body shimmering with brilliant light, with a radiant halo behind them, their Dao韵 perfected and their state of mind flawless. Beneath his feet, Dao sounds flowed, and two Great Dao Long Rivers crisscrossed, each flowing from an unnamed place in the Time Realm, extending towards the formless time of past and future. Beneath these two Great Dao Rivers, there was actually an immeasurable, bottomless Great Dao Sea, in whose waters floated the consciousnesses of all beings in the Five Regions—clearly the Sea of Will Dao!

"Will Dao?!"

At this instant, the identity of the strange possessor of the Will Dao Extreme Realm she had previously sensed seemed to have an answer. He wasn't the Nuo Ancestor, nor any avatar of the Nuo Ancestor. But...

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Black hair, black clothes, an imposing presence. Sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, unyielding and defiant. If this young man wasn't Xu Xiaoshou, who else could he be? But if he was Xu Xiaoshou, then who was that cowering fellow in the Holy Palace?

Zi Chong was completely dumbfounded on the spot. What flashed through her mind was the prematurely fallen genius who, after the Holy Palace's helplessness, had no choice but to surrender; the infuriated prodigy who, after his decline, had no outlet for his frustration and tormented Dao Xuanji almost to death; the completely disheartened "Holy Slave Master Shou" who should have lost his Great Dao, retreated to the Almond Realm, and could only be the lord of that small corner...

That was Xu Xiaoshou! The fallen genius, Xu Xiaoshou! But if that was Xu Xiaoshou, then who was this guy in front of her with a perfected Great Dao?

"Gulp..."

Zi Chong swallowed hard. It was obvious that the guy opposite, at the same instant, as if his soul had returned to his body, his eyes moved. And then...

"Gulp!"

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed hard. A brief instant felt like an eternity; the entire Time Realm, in its deadly silence, exploded with a silent, thunderous roar.

Zi Chong's gaze shifted from shock and terror to incredulity, as if she had seen through a flawless deception, caught the cicada that had shed its shell, and found its hiding place. Xu Xiaoshou's gaze shifted from panic and suspicion to disbelief, as if he had been caught walking naked in the street, apprehended, and the next instant saw that person open their mouth to speak, attempting to reveal a heavenly secret to passersby...

At this instant, his quick wit was put to its ultimate test. Xu Xiaoshou had no time to be angry or to ponder why the Will Dao hadn't given him a premonition, hadn't warned him, that the Will Dao wasn't omnipotent after all. In his eyes, countless ancient characters flashed instantly, and a faint starlight, seemingly belonging to heavenly secret arts, subtly glowed on his body, but it was forcefully suppressed in an instant.

He stretched out one hand and made a grasping motion in the air. In his desperation, he even took a step forward and inadvertently let out a low shout:

"Great Confinement Art!"

*Boom—*

Too late.

The Ancestor God avatar, Zi Chong, self-destructed on the spot.