Chapter 461: Team up, Little Fish?

Early morning.

A strong wind rose, carrying the clouds high.

The diligent people, who rose early for their livelihoods, immediately sensed that something was amiss upon stepping outside.

In the sky, a series of howling roars, deafening as if a meteor shower was grazing their scalps, reverberated.

"What's going on?"

Looking up, they saw tens of thousands of silver-armored guards, like divine soldiers, streaking across the void at lightning speed.

"Holy Divine Guards?"

Those with some experience were astonished.

The Holy Divine Guards represented the combat strength of the Holy Divine Hall.

They rarely moved on ordinary days.

When they did move, it signified a major upheaval was about to occur.

This time, with tens of thousands of Holy Divine Guards deployed, the implications were self-evident.

"Is the sky about to change...?"

The people looking up didn't even have time to relax.

After the tens of thousands of well-disciplined Holy Divine Guards flew away in military formation, they were immediately followed by a group in white robes.

Compared to the Holy Divine Guards, these individuals were significantly more relaxed, almost lazy.

They displayed all sorts of peculiar postures: some were upside down, some flying awkwardly, and some even needed assistance because they were tired.

Their number was minuscule compared to the group ahead, merely a few dozen individuals.

However, the onlookers below were even more terrified.

"White Robes?"

"My heavens, tens of thousands of Holy Divine Guards in front, followed by over a dozen squads of White Robes behind. What are these people going to do?"

"This is the Eastern Domain's Sword God Heavens, not the Southern or Northern Domains. How could it be so chaotic?"

"Such a display of power hasn't been seen in decades!"

The early risers on the ground were truly startled by the figures in the sky.

They stood there, holding their daily necessities, fresh produce, and various cultivation materials, exchanging bewildered glances, utterly unable to move.

"Judging by their direction, the Eastern Heavenly Realm?" someone murmured.

"What's happening in the Eastern Heavenly Realm? I recall the Eastern Heavenly King City trials are still several months away, aren't they?"

"That's true, but have you forgotten the recent widespread rumors about 'White Cave' and 'The Four Swords'?"

"The Fierce Sword, The Four Swords? The Eighth Sword Immortal's personal sword? Is that true?"

The person next to him was speechless.

Although most people believed it was just another rumor, as usual.

Even with the Red Robes' corroboration, the distance meant that only a few truly took action after hearing about it.

But seeing this procession of White Robes, perhaps something truly monumental, unseen in a century, had occurred in the Eastern Heavenly Realm?

"Look! That's..."

As everyone pondered, a single call made them involuntarily drawn to the last figure appearing from beyond the horizon.

It was a middle-aged swordsman in a light blue robe, with flowing black hair and an ethereal demeanor.

A blue and white headband was tied around his forehead. His sword-like eyebrows were high, his nose bridge straight, and his eyes held a subtle, matte gaze, seemingly imbued with the endless vicissitudes of human life.

What was most striking was not only his otherworldly swordsman's aura but also the three-foot-long, golden-pink sword he carried on his back.

This sword was astonishingly alluring: pale pink with scattered gold flecks. The entire scabbard, including the guard and hilt, was lavishly carved with images of a hundred demons, roaming freely among humans.

This person, carrying the sword, moved with a spatial distortion technique, covering vast distances in seemingly tiny steps.

Yet, he remained perfectly at the end of the procession; no matter how fast those in front hurried, they couldn't outpace him.

"Hum—"

As this person passed over the city, almost all the swords carried by sword cultivators below hummed and vibrated in unison.

The magnificent sound was as if welcoming the return of the true Master of the Sword Dao.

"No way, I'm not dreaming, am I?!"

Some sword cultivators clutched their swords, their eyes welling up with tears.

"In my lifetime, I can actually witness the true appearance of one of the Seven Sword Immortals?"

"Seven Sword Immortals?"

Someone who wasn't a swordsman, standing aside, was directly startled, "This is a Seven Sword Immortal?"

"Are you blind? Who else could that be up there, if not Moonless Sword Immortal, one of the Seven Sword Immortals?"

The swordsmen collectively grew angry. It seemed that in the Eastern Domain, it was considered a sin not to recognize the legendary Seven Sword Immortals, regardless of whether you were a sword cultivator or not.

"Even if you don't recognize the person, don't tell me you don't recognize the sword on his back either?"

"That's..."

"You pig!"

"How do you even live in the Eastern Domain? This is Sword God Heavens, please just die?!"

"That's the seventh ranked famous sword, Voice of Nulan!"

"You haven't even heard the name of the Demonic Sword?"

"My heavens, that's the Demonic Sword..."

After this round of explanations, those who still didn't understand were collectively stunned into a daze.

Among the twenty-one famous swords, only a few were truly well-known.

The vast majority had been passed down from ancient times.

Their reputations and stories were probably only vaguely heard by people through historical records or old tales.

But the Demonic Sword was completely different!

"Voice of Nulan, if I'm not mistaken, its previous wielder was the legendary..."

Even the speaker, not a swordsman himself, couldn't help but tremble at the thought of that name.

"The Eighth Sword Immortal?"

"Precisely, the Eighth Sword Immortal!"

Everyone below was flushed with excitement, and the chatter reached its peak.

"The Eighth Sword Immortal traveled for three years, carrying five swords: four famous swords and one Chaos Divine Artifact."

"Voice of Nulan was the most famous, besides 'Qingju' and 'The Four Swords'."

"The sky is a foot high, eight venerated ones understand, who dares to wield half of Qingju? The demonic shadow of the wind and mist cannot be found, a singing soul at midnight, chilling every sound..."

Someone, with a nostalgic expression, sang out, "The last two lines speak of the Demonic Sword, the Voice of Nulan!"

"Yes, the sky is a foot high, eight venerated ones understand... that line of yours has brought this old man back to that era."

"Back then, when the Eighth Sword Immortal only had 'Qingju' and 'Voice of Nulan', he could already dominate the Eastern Domain with his sword..."

"Whew!"

"Waking up early today was truly a massive gain! I never thought in my lifetime I'd see a Seven Sword Immortal in person, the shadow of the Demonic Sword... To seek the Way in the morning, to die in the evening, no regrets!"

"Hm?"

"Holy cow, old sir, old sir, what's wrong? Get up!"

Gou Wuyue shook his head with a faint smile.

He knew that even though he was currently among the Seven Sword Immortals, held the position of Grand Overseer of the Holy Divine Hall, and carried the Demonic Sword, Voice of Nulan.

Once he was mentioned, the conversation would inevitably drift off topic after only a few sentences.

"Ba Zunan, oh Ba Zunan..."

He sighed softly, touched the Demonic Sword on his back, and could feel it trembling slightly.

Gou Wuyue's narrowed eyes turned cold. He directly tore through the void, looking towards a distant, unknown place.

"So, are you still there?"

"Senior Wuyue!"

A White Robe in front stopped and clasped his fist.

"Speak."

Gou Wuyue lowered his hand from the Voice of Nulan.

The White Robe straightened his expression, then respectfully said, "Da Sheng's team has indeed re-detected traces of the 'Sacred Slave' storyteller. That fellow truly did escape to the Eastern Domain; Senior's judgment was correct."

Gou Wuyue chuckled softly: "The 'Sacred Slave' should have three strongholds in the Central Domain. Over ten years ago, I eliminated one, killing everyone except their leader, who escaped."

"Now, these fellows have become more vigilant."

"At the mere hint of a rumor, they completely disbanded and evacuated. Before a sword could even be drawn, they had already fled the Central Domain."

"Heh, they've improved."

The White Robe couldn't help but laugh, saying, "They're just stray dogs."

Gou Wuyue instructed, "Continue tracking. Remember, the moment you detect him, he will certainly have detected you too."

"It's highly likely he has already begun a feint, so don't completely trust your spirit techniques."

"Understood."

"Also..."

Gou Wuyue paused, his gaze showing doubt: "White Cave?"

The White Robe was startled.

He didn't know what Senior Wuyue meant, but he reacted quickly: "Yes, our purpose for this trip is the White Cave."

"The Four Swords also reappeared there, Senior. Are you worried about something?"

Gou Wuyue gently shook his head.

The fate of "The Four Swords" was not his primary concern.

His fundamental goal for coming to the Eastern Domain was merely to uproot the 'Sacred Slave's' second stronghold in the Central Domain.

If he could capture the leading storyteller, that would be an even greater accomplishment.

But now, all clues and directions pointed to the White Cave...

Gou Wuyue involuntarily raised a hand and gently touched his chest.

In that battle over a decade ago, it wasn't due to his weakness, or that the 'Sacred Slave's' second-in-command had fled preemptively upon hearing the news.

On the contrary, he had fought the latter, who still managed to escape afterward.

"Sleeveless Crimson Scorched Hand..."

Even through his clothes, Gou Wuyue seemed to be able to feel the heavily scorched, unhealed scar on his chest.

Would that person be here?

He slowly looked up, his gaze sweeping into the distance, and quietly asked, "Xiao Yi, do you know what else emerged from the White Cave, besides The Four Swords?"

"What?"

The White Robe, called Xiao Yi, asked confusedly.

Gou Wuyue sighed.

"Ah, yes, you are all still too young to have come into contact with it."

"Hundreds of years ago, that place also had an extra-dimensional space emerge, but its danger level was too high, so it was quickly sealed, along with all related information."

"At that time, it wasn't called White Cave."

"That was..." Xiao Yi still didn't understand.

"Inferno Sea of Cinders."

Xiao Yi's pupils immediately constricted: "Seven Severing Taboos?"

The Seven Severing Taboos were the seven most terrifying forbidden lands on the continent.

They were terrifying because they possessed a recurring nature.

Even if sealed, they could break free and reopen on their own.

Moreover, the locations where these forbidden lands reopened were completely unpredictable.

The last time one opened, it could have been in the Eastern Domain.

The next time, it might directly appear in the Central Domain, or even the other three domains.

Furthermore, their danger level could increase again.

They were virtually impossible to guard against!

However, the situation of two Seven Severing Taboos opening simultaneously in the same location twice in a row had never occurred before.

Therefore, saying that "White Cave" was an enhanced version of "Inferno Sea of Cinders" was also nonsense.

At least, according to the Red Robes' inspections, the difficulty of the White Cave, excluding "The Four Swords," was only moderate.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yi suddenly understood why a mere White Cave would contain "The Four Swords."

Perhaps, this item itself didn't belong to the White Cave.

Its existence was to suppress the extra-dimensional space that preceded the White Cave: the Inferno Sea of Cinders.

"Precisely, it is one of the Seven Severing Taboos."

Gou Wuyue's expression also withdrew from his memories. "The Cinderlight Demigod of the Sacred Palace emerged from there."

He slowly lowered the hand touching his chest, feeling the lingering, unforgettable aura there, and sighed.

"I hope it's not like this."

"But, it's exactly the same..."

The White Cave.

"Hiss."

The scorching air made the ground steam with dry mist.

No grass grew here; the land was dry and barren.

Even the air exuded an ineffable heat.

Breathing it for too long, even the internal airways felt a burning pain.

"Cough, cough."

Xu Xiaoshou had barely regained his senses when he was choked, coughing a few dry coughs.

His "Breathing Technique" inherently had the peculiar characteristic of indiscriminately absorbing external spiritual energy.

He immediately filtered it with his spiritual essence, which barely made him feel a little better.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Immediately behind him, a violent cough followed.

Judging by the sound, it was as if someone was coughing their lungs out.

Clearly, caught off guard, everyone felt uncomfortable.

Because Xu Xiaoshou was a Grandmaster, he was only minimally affected.

The one behind him, however, was truly suffering.

"Junior Sister, you're really not cut out for this..."

Xu Xiaoshou turned back with a smile, about to tease her.

However, after his gaze settled, he froze completely.

"You are..."

The woman behind him, veiled and with star-like pupils, who else could she be but Yu Zhiwen?

But!

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled.

Where was Mu Zixi?

And Ah Jie, Xing Gugu?

Weren't those three supposed to be following him closely?

Yu Zhiwen had been inside for a while now. What in the world was going on?

"Random teleportation?"

Realizing this, Xu Xiaoshou's heart sank.

This was utterly rigged!

He had entered with four Linglong Stones, and they were dispersed.

What was the point of him summoning Ah Jie beforehand to prevent surprise attacks from the realm?

Thinking of Ah Jie, Xu Xiaoshou's heart sank even deeper.

"It's over!"

If it was random teleportation, Ah Jie should also be separated from Xing Gugu and Mu Zixi.

The latter two were fine.

One was a powerful figure, capable of self-preservation.

The other was very mysterious; if she didn't attack proactively, she probably wouldn't be in much danger.

But Ah Jie was different!

That guy was a ticking time bomb. If he encountered a belligerent person, he might just knock them senseless.

If he encountered Red Robes, White Robes...

"Damn it!"

Xu Xiaoshou, despite all his calculations, had not anticipated stumbling over such a minor detail that everyone else might have known.

"So, Elder Qiao asked me to be the team leader... The Spiritual Palace should have spirit tools that work inside the White Cave and allow communication, right?"

Thinking of communication spirit tools, Xu Xiaoshou immediately clutched the communication jade slip from Jiao Tangtang.

"Beep—"

A busy signal.

Clearly, this item was not suitable for extra-dimensional spaces.

"Heh."

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. He sighed to the heavens, giving up the struggle.

The White Cave hadn't even truly begun, and he had already been tricked?

Fine then.

With "Perception," he could still manage. For now, he would just search for them as fate allowed.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

Xu Xiaoshou, having collected himself, immediately looked at the woman before him.

Yu Zhiwen's condition didn't seem very good.

This girl's cultivation realm wasn't very high; she seemed to have Grandmaster fluctuations, but was actually only at the peak of Innate realm.

It was probably that her strength had reached that level, but like Zhang Xinxiong, she had been suppressing it.

With Xu Xiaoshou's current experience, he could determine the situation with a single glance.

A peak Innate realm cultivator entering the White Cave felt this uncomfortable too?

"Cough, cough..."

The other party didn't reply, glanced at Xu Xiaoshou, then lowered her head again.

But then, as if startled, her head twitched twice, and she looked up again.

"Cough, cough, cough!!!"

"Suspected, Passive Points, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

Am I that scary?

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Yu Zhiwen's heart clenched.

Was this a karmic bond, or a disaster?

Of all the luck, Xu Xiaoshou was teleported right to her?

"Are you okay?"

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated, but still felt he needed to show basic concern for a woman like a gentleman, so he immediately stepped forward and asked:

"Your breathing seems very rapid. Do you want to take off your veil? It might be more breathable."

Yu Zhiwen froze for a moment, "Cough, cough, cough!"

"Cursed, Passive Points, +1."

"No need."

"Really no need?"

"Absolutely not."

Yu Zhiwen could barely speak now.

But she still replied to this guy, out of basic respect, and fear.

"What a pity..."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed, directly grasped the girl's hand, and extended his spiritual essence.

"What are you... cough, cough!"

Yu Zhiwen almost choked on her anger.

"Frightened, Passive Points, +1."

"What are you scared of? I won't eat you. Why are you so timid?"

"If you're so timid, why did you enter the White Cave?"

"And having entered, you even dared to recklessly try to absorb the spiritual energy of this place?"

With just one scan, Xu Xiaoshou immediately understood.

This girl wasn't fire-attributed; on the contrary, she possessed a completely opposite Yin-soft physique.

Yet, the scorching fire element particles within her body were many times higher than those inhaled by ordinary breathing.

Clearly, the moment this girl entered this place, she tried to see if the spiritual energy here could be used for cultivation.

The answer was obvious.

No, it couldn't.

"Should I say you're diligent, or that you're courting disaster?"

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. He pulled her hand towards his mouth.

"You!"

"Feared, Passive Points, +1."

Yu Zhiwen was terrified.

Her large eyes were filled with panic, and even her earlobes turned red.

The most alarming thing had indeed happened.

She was actually going to be alone with Xu Xiaoshou.

Being alone was one thing, but this guy, was he really untrustworthy?

And not only was he untrustworthy, but her hand was gripped so tightly she couldn't even pull it away!

"Resisted, Passive Points, +1."

"Hiss!"

As it turned out, Xu Xiaoshou merely leaned in for a quick suck, then immediately released her hand.

"You let go..."

Yu Zhiwen felt her mind completely disconnect from reality.

His hand was already released before she even started speaking.

But as soon as she spoke, she felt something different about her body.

A quick scan with her spiritual essence revealed that all the violent fire energy factors she had inhaled while attempting to cultivate, and couldn't refine, had completely vanished.

"Huh?"

What kind of technique was this now?

Yu Zhiwen blinked repeatedly.

She was completely bewildered.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed.

"I'm a good person, you don't need to be so afraid."

"Meeting by chance is destiny. I've relieved your pain for now; don't mess around like that again, alright?"

Yu Zhiwen's face flushed. Clearly, the other person immediately knew what foolish thing she had just done.

"Mm."

She replied with a voice as faint as a mosquito.

"So fragrant."

Xu Xiaoshou savored the moment again.

"Uh!"

Yu Zhiwen immediately turned her head away, her neck flushing red. Her mind went blank, and she was utterly speechless.

"Want to team up, Little Yu?"

"Mm."

"Mm?" Having answered casually, Yu Zhiwen immediately realized something was wrong.

How did this guy switch topics so quickly?

"I don't..."

"You don't want to team up with me?"

Xu Xiaoshou's expression darkened: "I've already healed you. Not asking for anything in return is my choice, but can you really act as if nothing happened?"

"So you're that kind of person..."

"I'm not!" Yu Zhiwen felt like crying.

How she wished Cheng Xingchu was here right now!

Xu Xiaoshou, she couldn't handle him alone!

"So, you mean you want to team up with me?"

"...Mm." Yu Zhiwen was filled with grievance.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up. "This White Cave is unfamiliar territory; meeting here is fate. I agree to team up with you."

Yu Zhiwen: ???

When did it become *her* wanting to team up with *him*?

She slightly opened her mouth, suddenly realizing that just now, Xu Xiaoshou had twisted the concept.

Never mind.

Just shut up.

Yu Zhiwen, don't you know your own capabilities? Do you think you can argue with him and win, before even trying to refute?

Just be good!

Yu Zhiwen was mentally exhausted.

"Cursed, Passive Points, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou patted her on the shoulder.

"Excellent. From now on, we are comrades-in-arms, fighting side by side."

Yu Zhiwen, however, flinched in fright and quickly retreated.

She didn't speak, just stood there, her wide eyes staring fixedly at him, trying to make him uncomfortable.

Xu Xiaoshou paused, then stared back.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Do you want me to take off my mask?"

"Alright, a fair trade: I'll take mine off if you take yours off."

"No." Yu Zhiwen panicked, taking a step forward, intending to stop Xu Xiaoshou.

But he was faster. He lifted his straw hat, pulled his face free, and that familiar face reappeared.

His face was somewhat thin but also angular, looking very sunny.

His smile was bright, but also made people anxious and awkward.

Yu Zhiwen's hand, extended in mid-air, froze.

Any further movement would no longer be to stop his action, but to touch his face.

She bit her lower lip, tears almost spilling from her eyes.

"That's not what I meant."

"Huh?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened, his smile gone: "I've taken mine off, aren't you going to? Are you lying to me?"

"I..."

Yu Zhiwen withdrew her hand, covering her face: "I..."

"Want me to help you?"

"No, no, no." She was so frightened that she instantly darted back several dozen feet.

She looked up, but Xu Xiaoshou was no longer in his original spot.

Her spiritual perception transmitted a horrifying image.

Xu Xiaoshou was right beside her, slowly extending his hand...

"Ah—"

A sky-shattering shriek directly stirred the dust on the ground, making it tremble slightly.

"Startled, Passive Points, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely startled.

He immediately jumped away.

"Just teasing you."

"Such a timid young lady. I can't understand how the Holy Divine Hall dared to let you out to play alone?"

Xu Xiaoshou stared at her tightly clutched veil, suspiciously asking, "You're not some cliché princess or saintess who got bored staying at home and secretly ran away, are you?"

"I'm not!"

Yu Zhiwen's answer this time was very firm.

However.

"Deceived, Passive Points, +1."