Chapter 247: Hidden Connection

After agreeing on a ten-day deadline with Mu Zixi, Xu Xiaoshou watched the girl leave the Lingzang Pavilion. Only two people remained on the third floor.

“Anything else?” Elder Sang looked at him.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded. Putting aside the trivial matters, there were still some crucial questions he hadn't figured out. The old man in the straw hat before him was clearly the best encyclopedia. He wouldn't dare ask others, but with Elder Sang, there was clearly nothing to worry about.

“I have a few general confusions…”

“General?” Elder Sang smiled, a little surprised that Xu Xiaoshou would actively ask him about things beyond cultivation. He said directly, “Speak.”

Xu Xiaoshou pulled out “Cang Ku,” drew the Blackfall Scabbard, and said, “Inside the Tianxuan Gate, I met Luo Leilei and extracted information about a ‘Sacred Slave.’ Her purpose there was this.”

Elder Sang’s expression remained calm. Indeed, it was another question about the ‘Sacred Slave.’ “I should have told you before, at your current level, I will not tell you anything about the ‘Sacred Slave.’ For you, the more you know, the more dangerous it becomes!”

Xu Xiaoshou felt anxious. Still not telling him? The masked person had targeted him for the second time; wasn't that dangerous enough? What exactly was this old man trying to hide!

“I’m not trying to ask about the ‘Sacred Slave’…” Although the first question wasn't answered, Xu Xiaoshou was prepared. He continued, “What I mean is, among the Tianxuan Gate’s Twelve World-Guarding Treasures, they specifically targeted this one. They even exposed Luo Leilei, who had been hidden for many years, just for this scabbard… In my opinion, it’s not worth it!” Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes were firm. He said, “But they still did it, which means this scabbard is definitely not as simple as I thought.”

Elder Sang was surprised but then showed a look of expectation. “You are very perceptive.” He clasped his hands behind his back and turned away, his expression filled with a hint of melancholy. “I told you about the Eighth Sword Immortal, right?”

“Huh?” Xu Xiaoshou didn't understand what he meant.

“This is his sword, the scabbard of the ‘Four Swords’!” At these words, the young man was stunned. The scabbard of the Eighth Sword Immortal?

He thought of his Ten-Segment Sword Finger, his pure sword intent battle path, and his ordinary spiritual power… It seemed, inexplicably, that he had some connection with that legendary figure? Was it a coincidence?

“The scabbard of the Eighth Sword Immortal’s sword…” Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes narrowed. He felt he had once again grasped the most hidden connection deep within this eventful period! He remembered a stone tablet at the bottom of Blackfall Cliff, on which the first name was just the character “Eight.” At that time, Xu Xiaoshou speculated whether it was a message left by Baxun’an, the Eighth Sword Immortal, but then he dismissed it, even carving “Qi Dashe” (Giant Serpent) behind it… Now it seemed there was a significant connection between the two!

The Eighth Sword Immortal had been to Tianxuan Gate and left this scabbard there? But why would such a figure be connected to the Tiansang Spirit Palace…? Xu Xiaoshou picked up a judgment he had previously overturned, asking in surprise, “The masked person is…”

Elder Sang shook his head, cutting him off. “I told you, I will not say a single word about the ‘Sacred Slave’ matter.”

“Damn it!”

“Hm?” Elder Sang turned back in shock, his sparse eyebrows twitching repeatedly. “What did you say?”

“Cough, cough, nothing, nothing…” Xu Xiaoshou awkwardly scratched his head. He was going crazy; he almost let his inner displeasure show. Hold it in! It’s not time yet! The idea of “enduring hardships for ten years to one day beat Elder Sang” was shattered that night by the old man’s punch, which completely transcended the master realm. He couldn’t beat him now, so he could only endure it for the time being!

Elder Sang looked at the young man, who had gained nothing, and sighed, saying, “Keep the scabbard safe. Don’t expose it if you can help it. Many people covet this item, and if it’s discovered, you’ll be in great danger. It’s connected to many things later on, so guard it carefully!”

Xu Xiaoshou’s heart tightened. It seemed the idea of flaunting the scabbard around town was unrealistic. After nodding to show he understood, he pulled out another item: the Ring of Sealing!

Elder Sang’s eyelids twitched. If he wasn’t mistaken… “The World-Guarding Treasure, the Seal Stone?”

“Yes.”

“How many items did you take from inside the Tianxuan Gate?” Elder Sang suddenly realized the crux of the problem.

“Four items. That’s not important; what’s important is…”

“Four items?!” Elder Sang was utterly shocked. His scalp tingled beneath his straw hat, and his face turned pale as he said, “So, you’re the one who took down Tianxuan Gate?”

“Kind of. That’s not important; what’s important is…”

“Speak!”

“Uh.” Xu Xiaoshou stiffened for a moment and meekly said, “I guess so…” Seeing the old man’s face start to change color, he immediately rattled off, “But the Dean already knows about this. He expressed great appreciation and praise for me getting the four treasures and even said he’d give me a reward, but he forgot. I also felt too awkward to ask, so if you have time, maybe you could help me ask for it.”

Elder Sang: “…” He was almost led astray by the continuous stream of words. Regaining his composure, he said, “Stop joking around and tell me honestly, exactly what did you…”

“Old man, do you know about Ghost Beasts?” Xu Xiaoshou interrupted him again. He absolutely couldn't let the old man ask too many details. He couldn't stand interrogation! He had just escaped the Dean; how could he fall into the hands of the Vice Dean? What Xu Xiaoshou feared most was Elder Sang acting righteously to eliminate a relative… given his eccentric past behavior, it was highly possible!

“Ghost Beasts?” Elder Sang was indeed successfully diverted. His eyes narrowed completely. “How do you know so much?” His words were calm, but internally, the old man in the straw hat was astounded beyond measure. He had clearly not introduced Xu Xiaoshou to too many things, fearing he would get involved in the plan too early. However, unknowingly, this young man seemed to have experienced many things that even he had not anticipated… He vaguely felt that if it was Xu Xiaoshou, then everything in the future truly had the potential to spiral out of control!

“Tell me in detail, what exactly are Ghost Beasts?”

Based on the “suspicion” he saw in the information bar and the old man’s surprised and uncertain expression, Xu Xiaoshou guessed that “Ghost Beasts” were indeed not as simple as he had imagined. He immediately recounted everything about encountering Mo Mo and the gray-mist person inside the Tianxuan Gate, without omitting a single detail. The remaining eighty-five percent he held back mostly consisted of his various trump cards and his comprehensive understanding of Ghost Beasts. He kept them to be verified later!

Elder Sang fell silent. After a long moment, he spoke, “You said you re-sealed it inside Mo Mo?”

“Yes, the rules of the small world limited it at the time. The creature was so fragile; it fell with one punch.”

“Hmph…” Elder Sang’s face was grim. He said in a heavy voice, “You should be glad you’re still alive!”

“Uh.” Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t joke this time. He stared blankly at the old man opposite him. “Is it that terrifying?”

Elder Sang didn’t reply. He expanded his spiritual sense, retracted it after a breath, and sighed, “Mo Mo is no longer in the Spirit Palace. So she was the second spy?”

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. In such a short time, Elder Sang had scanned the entire Spirit Palace grounds? How terrifying was that cultivation?! He suddenly felt that the day he mastered his skills was still very far off…

“Weren’t you trying to ask about the ‘Sacred Slave’ matter?” Elder Sang gazed at the young man before him for a long time, finally deciding to speak.

Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes lit up.