Chapter 272: Shameful Command

"You dare?!"

Xin Guugu's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He had calculated everything, yet he never expected this youngster to target Lord Greed. Even more surprising was that he hadn't reacted in time when the guy made his move.

"Whether I dare... do you want to find out?" Xu Xiaoshou lifted the cat, then suddenly squeezed it. The white cat immediately snapped out of its dazed state, its face twisting in shock. "Meow!" A slight increase in pressure from his hand made the white cat yelp in pain.

"Let go!" Xin Guugu's eyes instantly flared with rage. He brandished his staff, ready to charge forward. Xu Xiaoshou swiftly retreated. Xin Guugu's strength was still unknown, and if the cat-beast were taken from him now, he would lose his leverage. He didn't want to engage in a direct confrontation with someone like the Gray Fog Man here!

"If you take one step forward, I'll squeeze harder. If you take two steps, it dies!" Xu Xiaoshou spoke rapidly. Xin Guugu stopped dead in his tracks. The veins on his hand, gripping the staff, bulged as if his blood vessels were about to burst.

Jiaotangtang also snapped out of her daze. This youngster... Her beautiful eyes narrowed as she saw Xu Xiaoshou turn, still holding the white cat, and point it at her. "You too, stop! Don't move!"

Seeing Lord Greed's pained purple eyes, Jiaotangtang's heart broke, but what could she do now that she was being held hostage? "Don't be impulsive, let's talk this through calmly!" Her expression became tense.

"Back off, back off." Xu Xiaoshou seemed impatient, waving the white cat in his hand like a tour guide waving a flag.

Jiaotangtang and Xin Guugu hesitated, exchanged glances, then grudgingly retreated.

*It really works...* Xu Xiaoshou chuckled inwardly. *What kind of being is this Lord Greed, that it could actually intimidate these two?*

"Take two more steps back!" He continued to command, pushing his luck.

Xin Guugu grew agitated again, but before he could speak, Jiaotangtang slapped him lightly, then took a deep breath. "Don't mess around, we'll retreat." With that, she took another step back.

*My goodness, it seems this truly is a Sacred Beast in my hand...* Xu Xiaoshou was startled. He eyed the white cat up and down, his expression peculiar. *This meant that with this cat, he could essentially control these two? Didn't that mean...*

"You two, one step back to the left, one step back to the right!"

Xin Guugu and Jiaotangtang froze, feeling humiliated and seething with anger. However, seeing Xu Xiaoshou's grip tighten again, they quickly spread their hands and retreated, signaling no resistance.

Xu Xiaoshou grew excited. He commanded, "One step forward!"

With humiliated expressions, the two took a step forward.

"Backward!"

"Forward again!"

"Dance!"

Xin Guugu: ???Jiaotangtang: ???

"Received Curse, Passive Points, 2.""Received Resentment, Passive Points, 2.""Received Obsession, Passive Points, 2."

Mu Zixi, in Xu Xiaoshou's arms, was already dumbfounded. This... wasn't this the big sister who could kick a Grandmaster unconscious with one leg? How did she become so pathetic when she encountered Xu Xiaoshou?

She lifted her small head, her eyes wide with disbelief. *That's not right. We're both at the Innate level, facing the same enemies. Why are you having so much fun while I'm about to be imprisoned?*

"Received Admiration, Passive Points, 1."

More importantly... Mu Zixi looked at Xu Xiaoshou's empty right hand, her small mind even more puzzled. *So, to defeat or even control an enemy, one must first learn to grasp thin air?*

It wasn't just her; the surrounding people, who also couldn't see the white cat in Xu Xiaoshou's hand, were equally bewildered. There was clearly nothing there, so why was this scene unfolding, and more importantly... why were this kid's two enemies so cooperative?

"What the hell is going on? Am I too old, or am I blind? What is this kid holding... are they putting on an act?"

"So this is the world of Spirit Refiners? Truly extraordinary! No wonder we common folk can't grasp it!"

"Spirit Refiner? I'm a Spirit Refiner, and I don't see a damn thing!"

There weren't just ordinary people present; many Spirit Refiners were also mixed in the crowd. It was one thing for the average onlookers not to see, but why couldn't these noble Spirit Refiners see anything either?

Xu Xiaoshou stopped, lost in thought. After several exchanges, Jiaotangtang, who was already familiar with Xu Xiaoshou's peculiar habits, knew exactly what he was thinking. He was probably wondering what other fun things he could do!

"Brat, don't go too far! Put Lord Greed down, or you won't even know how you died later!"

Jiaotangtang's face was flushed, half from anger, half from shame. This guy was truly a devil! Telling them to retreat was one thing; at worst, they would follow his wishes and then he would release the cat. But he also wanted them to advance! Advance... it was humiliating!

Even so, with Lord Greed in his hands, they could endure... But dancing? What kind of twisted mind did he have? Was he insane? They were Spirit Refiners, not a performance troupe! What the hell was dancing? That would never happen, ever!

And if that wasn't enough, he was now lost in thought...

Jiaotangtang felt faint. She wasn't afraid of a fight, but she was terrified when this youngster started thinking—that was far more frightening than any brawl.

Xin Guugu, who had been played from irritation into utter humiliation, suppressed his anger and said, "Kid, give me Lord Greed, and I'll give you a treasure, how about it?" He couldn't use force, so he had to try persuasion.

He couldn't help it. This guy's speed was too fast, almost equal to his own. He had considered trying to snatch it back, but what if something went wrong? If it were himself in the opponent's hands, he wouldn't compromise, at least he wouldn't die. But Lord Greed was different; it had just been born, it was still so weak, it could die! Xin Guugu couldn't risk that "what if." And Jiaotangtang would certainly not let him risk it!

"An exchange?" Xu Xiaoshou seemed somewhat tempted. His gaze flickered back and forth, then landed on Xin Guugu's golden staff. "Can I exchange it for this?"

Xin Guugu was stunned. He wanted to exchange it for his "Curse Suppressing Object"? His eyes grew cold, about to retort, but the next second, a slap landed on the back of his head, and he immediately nodded in humiliation.

"Exchange!"

*So this can be exchanged for that...* Xu Xiaoshou was inwardly delighted. He already knew that Mo Mo's bronze cauldron was used to seal Gray Fog Men, so he naturally understood the value of such spiritual items. If Lord Greed could be exchanged for this staff, in Xu Xiaoshou's mind, the little cat's value was even higher!

Suppressing his inner joy, Xu Xiaoshou maintained a straight face. He regretfully said, "Not enough. This is 'Lord Greed'; do you really think one staff is enough to exchange for it?" His gaze fell on Jiaotangtang's chest. "I want this too!" He clarified, "No, I meant the purple chain."