Chapter 250: Not Becoming a Saint, Ultimately a Slave

Elder Sang smiled contentedly. It wasn't easy to get the better of this young man. He rotated his wrist, and his bones crackled.

"While Spiritual Bodies are rare, they aren't infinitely powerful. At the very least, an Innate Physical Body can be considered a different type of Acquired Spiritual Body."

"In fact, at your current stage, it can completely overwhelm a Spiritual Body."

"Of course, now that you possess a Grandmaster Body, you can largely disregard those geniuses who have Spiritual Bodies."

Even with Xu Xiaoshou's usually calm demeanor, a surge of pride welled up within him.

He knew how incredibly difficult it was to cultivate a physical body to such a degree. Even with his "cheat," it had been grueling. If someone truly managed to forge a Grandmaster Body through sheer perseverance and it still wasn't unbeatable, that would simply be unacceptable.

Seeing that the mood was just right, Elder Sang immediately threw a curveball: "But a Grandmaster Body isn't invincible."

"Huh?" Xu Xiaoshou immediately froze.

Elder Sang chuckled. "I believe I mentioned that true geniuses are scattered throughout the five regions of the continent."

"Among them, there's an extremely unique and formidable type of being. As if blessed by the gods, they are born with 'Holy Bodies'!"

"Holy Body?" Xu Xiaoshou could instantly grasp its level just from the name. "Above Spiritual Bodies?"

"Precisely!"

Elder Sang offered a wry smile. "When it comes to true genius, your current level honestly pales in comparison."

"A Holy Body can obliterate a Spiritual Body with a single punch!"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. Had all that build-up just been another setup to deflate his ego?

"What about a Grandmaster Body?" he inquired.

"It can offer a slight resistance," Elder Sang chuckled, "but only a slight one, and only for a moment."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed. Was it always like this? If effort was all it took, what would be the point of geniuses?

"Creation is so unjust!"

Seeing his goal of dampening Xu Xiaoshou's spirits achieved, Elder Sang immediately offered comfort: "Fortunately, Holy Bodies are even rarer, truly one in a million."

"Essentially, outside of the Great Void Clans, and even the Half-Saint Clans, they rarely manifest in the mortal world."

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but Elder Sang held up a hand. "Don't ask. If you have to ask, it means you're not ready to know yet."

"Damn it! Not again!"

"Hmm?"

"Uh, I mean... Good, well said!"

Elder Sang said nothing.

Xu Xiaoshou decided not to dwell on such abstract future matters. He steered the conversation back to their original topic and asked:

"Aside from Junior Sister Mu's Spiritual Body, there's something else quite mysterious."

"Earlier, when the Heaven Mystic Gate opened, the Dean seemed to have been controlled by that blind man's illusions. Junior Sister Mu dispelled them with a single glance."

"What principle explains that? Can the Devouring Wood Body achieve such a feat?"

Elder Sang was momentarily stunned. "How could the Devouring Wood Body possibly do that? It's not omnipotent."

"So you don't know either?" Xu Xiaoshou's voice conveyed disappointment.

Elder Sang's face darkened. "Hmph! Do you truly believe this old man is an omniscient god?"

"But that's your disciple!"

"And she's your Junior Sister!"

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou stumped once more, Elder Sang felt another surge of satisfaction. He vaguely grasped the pleasure Xu Xiaoshou seemed to derive from their banter.

With a slight smirk, the old man leaned closer and asked, "Speaking of which, your physique is quite peculiar too. The surging vitality within you seems no weaker than your Junior Sister's?"

"Uh..."

Xu Xiaoshou instantly panicked. How on earth had the conversation circled back to him? This was ridiculous!

Could he even say?

"I have something to do; I'll be leaving now!" He quickly turned and made to rush out of the Spirit Hidden Pavilion.

Elder Sang was amused and didn't try to stop him. He simply called out to Xu Xiaoshou's retreating back, "Brat, you can delve into your enemies' secrets, but some secrets are best left to surface naturally."

These ambiguous words made Xu Xiaoshou halt for a moment.

Indeed, who doesn't have secrets?

"Don't worry, she's my Junior Sister; I'd never do anything to her," Xu Xiaoshou called out, peeking through the door.

Elder Sang adjusted his straw hat, his expression grave. "What I mean is, if she inadvertently becomes your enemy in the future, do not show her any mercy."

Xu Xiaoshou promptly stumbled and fell to the ground. He turned to stare at the old man, three question marks forming on his face.

"Are you serious?"

Elder Sang didn't reply. He simply waved a hand, no longer looking at him, and said, "Go now!"

"What was that all about?"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned, descending the stairs from the third floor of the Spirit Hidden Pavilion, his hand on the railing.

He constantly felt that the straw-hatted old man was sometimes serious, sometimes completely eccentric.

Just when he thought the old man had mellowed, he would always spring some unexpected "surprise."

"Don't show mercy if she becomes an enemy..."

"Is that something a master should say?"

Shaking his head to clear away distracting thoughts, Xu Xiaoshou stopped pondering the matter.

After all, he was an enigmatic old man, truly impossible to fathom!

Passing the entrance to the second floor, he glanced at the somewhat familiar white light cluster, then descended to the first floor.

The bookshelves and desks that had been accidentally burned that day had largely been repaired, and all were now protected by defensive formations, clearly to prevent any further mishaps from within.

The memory of frantically fighting the fire that day brought a faint smile to Xu Xiaoshou's face, lifting his spirits slightly.

He resumed his steps, placed his hand on the grand door of the Spirit Hidden Pavilion, and was about to push it open.

"Are you leaving now?"

Suddenly, a voice that was not his own appeared in his mind, its question particularly clear.

Xu Xiaoshou's body stiffened. He turned his head and looked to the side.

In a corner near the first-floor entrance stood a wooden platform, behind which a disheveled man occasionally appeared.

This individual always remained in shadow, his face utterly indistinct. The only noticeable thing about him was his ceaseless wood carving.

Indeed, he held a carving knife, and even as he spoke, his head remained bowed, engrossed in his work.

Xu Xiaoshou, possessing "Perception," could see more clearly than most, yet whenever his focus sharpened on this man, the image would inexplicably blur.

Even so, he could discern that both of the man's thumbs were missing, leaving him with only eight fingers in total.

Despite this, his hands never faltered. As wood shavings fluttered, the purple carving in his hands seemed to grow increasingly imbued with spiritual energy.

"Yes, Senior."

Xu Xiaoshou bowed, a little stiffly.

The last time he had seen this man was when he came to register after acquiring the "Emberflame Scorch Heaven," but the man had remained silent then.

At the time, he had assumed the man was merely a caretaker or perhaps Elder Sang's alchemy attendant.

However, after numerous visits to the Spirit Hidden Pavilion, Xu Xiaoshou had realized something was amiss.

This man was definitely not simple.

Someone who always stayed in the Spirit Hidden Pavilion, never showing his face, was like a temple monk who merely swept fallen leaves with a broom — undoubtedly the most formidable presence.

Yet, even during the two previous "Sacred Slaves" invasions, he had never seen the man appear.

It was as if he were an outsider, never intervening in worldly affairs.

But today, he had actually initiated a conversation with him?

How odd. Was he trying to make his presence known?

"Senior, do you have any instructions?" Xu Xiaoshou pondered the previous question, still somewhat perplexed.

The carving knife scraped, stroke by stroke, against the purple plaque.

The air remained utterly silent for dozens of seconds before that thought, devoid of any discernible characteristic, reappeared in Xu Xiaoshou's mind.

"Where are you going?"

Xu Xiaoshou's mouth twitched. After such a long pause, was that all he had to say?

"Outside," he replied, pointing towards the main door of the Spirit Hidden Pavilion, silently asking if he could leave.

Even if this person was a powerful figure, it had nothing to do with him. Xu Xiaoshou didn't expect the man to take a liking to him and bestow some fortuitous encounter.

There was no need; it might even bring misfortune!

After another long wait with no reply, Xu Xiaoshou felt cold sweat trickling down his back.

Could his reply have been incorrect?

Of course, powerful figures like this preferred to be terse, leaving others to overthink...

Left with no choice, Xu Xiaoshou had to re-evaluate the man's two questions:

"Are you leaving now?"

"Where are you going?"

It was obvious he was leaving the Spirit Hidden Pavilion, so why ask again?

Or was he not asking about his immediate departure?

Was he asking about the ten days Elder Sang had requested, the agreement with Mu Zixi?

Xu Xiaoshou felt a mix of surprise and suspicion. He waited for a long time again, and seeing that the man still showed no intention of speaking, he could only add, "Outside, to Heaven Sang County."

The man's carving knife paused for a moment, then resumed its rapid motions.

"Go," came the brief reply, appearing directly as a thought in his mind.

Xu Xiaoshou's face instantly darkened.

By the looks of it, the man had completely forgotten about him just moments ago!

Was something wrong with this guy? He'd bothered to speak and detain him, asked two pointless questions, and then forgotten about him?

"I..."

Xu Xiaoshou's mouth was full of retorts, almost spilling out, but he managed to stop himself just in time.

He looked at the man's eight fingers, trying to discern what he was carving, but the image remained hazy.

Not even his "Perception" could make it out clearly!

"So he really is a powerful figure..."

His gaze shifted upward, landing on the man's neck, and Xu Xiaoshou fell silent.

Through the haze, he could make out an extremely gruesome, massive wound that directly impacted the carotid artery.

Even though it had healed, the lingering marks were still horrifying to behold.

That scar alone, which covered nearly half of his neck, was enough to convey the immense pain the man must have endured.

An injury like that must have almost severed his neck. How could he have possibly recovered?

"He's not someone to provoke. Best to keep my mouth shut and avoid him!"

Musing inwardly, Xu Xiaoshou swallowed his sarcastic comments and simply clasped his hands in respect. "Senior, I take my leave."

With that, he pushed open the grand doors and stepped out into the sunlight.

The wooden doors swung back shut. In the shadowy corner, a straw hat now moved.

The dark-skinned Elder Sang leaned against the doorframe, expressionless. He watched the man carve for a significant period before finally speaking, "Didn't I tell you to go back earlier?"

"Phew!"

The man stopped his carving, blew a puff of air onto the purple plaque, scattering the wood shavings, and then finally raised his head.

His cloudy eyes seemed to meld perfectly with the shadowy atmosphere.

He cracked a smile, his voice hoarse. "I had to see what my 'half-disciple' would look like once he calmed down."

Elder Sang immediately exploded in fury, roaring, "That's *my* disciple! You have absolutely no claim over him!"

The man said nothing. With a finger like a sword, he directly pierced the top of the plaque in his hand.

The moment the hole formed, the plaque glowed with a purple light, illuminating their faces, each bearing a different expression.

Elder Sang stared at the sword-like finger in silence. After a long pause, he sneered, "What's the point of carving this? Do you still think everyone will show you respect like they did decades ago?"

"It will always come in handy," the man replied with a smile, not vehemently arguing. He simply gently placed the purple plaque on the tabletop.

The purple light pulsed, casting a faint glow in the shadowy corner.

Elder Sang lowered his gaze and saw the pattern carved onto it.

It was a vividly carved naked woman, her figure graceful and alluring.

Her posture, head bowed and knees clutched, weeping softly, was particularly pitiable.

What added an eerie touch to the image were the heavy shackles on her limbs.

The chains extended, disappearing at the plaque's edges, as if they originated from the very roots of heaven and earth, innately shackling all mortals.

Another long period of silence followed, so profound that even breathing seemed slightly loud in that environment.

Finally, the man pushed the door open and stepped out, leaving behind only a hoarse sigh that broke the silence.

"I'm leaving too. You can decide for yourself whether to return or not. It's still the same old saying..."

"If you don't become a Saint, you'll forever be a slave!"