Chapter 474: You Finally Came

"Xu Xiaoshou, even if you've slain a ghost beast and achieved exceptional merit, that's hardly a valid excuse to defraud everyone with a legendary sword that can't even be drawn, is it?"

The stalemate didn't last long.

Finally, someone realized that this wasn't the time to marvel at Xu Xiaoshou's achievements.

Focusing on the crux of the matter, everyone quickly shook off their shock and began discussing the current situation from a different perspective.

Many people suddenly snapped to attention, and someone immediately echoed:

"That's right, we were just confused by this Xu guy's fallacy and didn't realize that a sword that *cannot* be drawn is fundamentally different from one that is *not* drawn."

"That's just how he is. We shouldn't give him a chance to speak; just make him draw it once."

"It doesn't matter if the sword is yours, but if even this guy can't draw it..."

Someone said, looking at Gu Qing'er, "This gentleman is right. If even the original owner of the famous sword can't draw it, then going there ourselves would just be a waste of money."

"Exactly! Draw the sword!"

"Xu Xiaoshou, draw the sword, now!"

The cries of condemnation instantly merged into a chorus, and even the long queue showed signs of dispersing.

The few people at the front of the line looked hesitant.

To be honest, a million wasn't a big deal to them.

If Xu Xiaoshou would only draw the sword after they had tried, they'd be more than willing.

But after waiting in line for so long, to suddenly be told the sword couldn't be drawn and that the 'original owner' needed to try...

What if Xu Xiaoshou actually drew it?

How would that be explained?

"Received condemnation, Passive Point +147."

"Received mockery, Passive Point +46."

"Received protest, Passive Point +208."

Xu Xiaoshou quietly chuckled, looking at the crowd who disliked him but were powerless to do anything.

"Do you really want me to draw it?" he asked, confirming.

"Yes!"

"If you don't draw it today to prove that this sword can actually be moved, how can we possibly keep throwing money at you?"

Someone said indignantly.

"I can draw the sword, but if I really do, how can you all continue trying it?" Xu Xiaoshou retorted, "So, are you sure you want to proceed?"

The few people at the front of the line hesitated again.

However, they couldn't stand against the boisterous crowd behind them.

At this point, if they didn't unite, they might actually be beaten to death, right?

"Draw the sword! Draw it now!"

"Draw it first, then do business! Learn to be a person before you try to play games!"

"That's right, Xu Xiaoshou, if you're a man, draw it! Just draw it first!"

"Received refusal, Passive Point +3."

"Received request, Passive Point +122."

Xu Xiaoshou felt helpless.

He looked at the large sum of Passive Points he had accumulated and realized that today's situation would probably have to end hastily like this.

What a pity.

He hadn't managed to fleece all the sheep.

But this was an insoluble situation.

Ideally, he could have earned tens of billions.

Reality, however, was harsh.

Earning over a billion was already quite good.

"Draw the sword..."

Xu Xiaoshou turned to look at the famous sword, Blazing Python.

To be honest, he wasn't even very confident about touching the thing.

Even just touching it felt unsettling.

But, ironically...

So many people had already tried.

Even a genius of Gu Qing'er's caliber couldn't trigger that inexplicable strange reaction from the famous sword.

How could he, of all people, be so special?

Would he be targeted just by drawing it?

Xu Xiaoshou pondered.

"Perhaps this famous sword does indeed contain a hidden mystery, but what if this mystery simply exists naturally and and isn't specifically targeting anyone?"

He considered this possibility.

It had to be said, so many people had taken turns trying to draw it.

The reliability of this theory was significantly increased, more than just a little.

So...

"Should I try it?"

Xu Xiaoshou was tempted.

The famous sword had appeared right before him today, and he was the first to encounter it.

In this situation, Xu Xiaoshou had merely conducted some business.

Even if he earned over a billion, if he later admitted he hadn't even dared to touch the famous sword...

Perhaps at this moment, Xu Xiaoshou felt there was nothing wrong.

But he was certain that looking back, he would definitely feel regret.

"Isn't life about being impulsive once in a while?"

"While young blood runs hot, while the body is strong and the heart is not yet weary, why not take a gamble?"

"Gamble a little, a bicycle turns into a motorbike!"

Xu Xiaoshou's blood began to boil, and he hypnotized himself:

"I'm not some Son of Destiny, and this broken sword couldn't possibly have appeared just for me."

"Everyone else can draw the sword, so why should I, Xu Xiaoshou, be timid and completely unable to draw it?"

"Damn it!"

Thinking this to himself, he suddenly turned to face everyone, his expression resolute, and shouted loudly, "Draw!"

With that, he swiftly flew forward, landing directly before the famous sword.

At this moment, all eyes turned to him.

"Received gaze, Passive Point +252."

Yu Zhiwen looked at Xu Xiaoshou with some surprise.

It could be said that among those present, she was the only one who could be certain that the famous sword's restriction had nothing to do with Xu Xiaoshou.

Therefore, the true first question everyone should have faced after the famous sword appeared was why this restriction was there.

It was just that everyone else had been deceived by Xu Xiaoshou.

And as someone who had been similarly impacted by the sword's sudden appearance, Yu Zhiwen knew that after her words, Xu Xiaoshou had already developed some apprehension about the famous sword.

"A grand master's scheme or something like that isn't entirely impossible."

"But to forcibly awaken a famous sword across an extradimensional space and then impose a restriction on it..."

"Even a Grand Void might find that difficult to accomplish, wouldn't they?"

"So..."

Yu Zhiwen's expression was conflicted.

Subjectively, she didn't want Xu Xiaoshou to get involved in this mess.

After all, he was someone she had taken a liking to, and bringing him back to the Holy Divine Palace would be the best outcome.

Therefore, no accidents could occur at this moment.

Objectively, however, so many people had tried to draw the sword with no special results; surely Xu Xiaoshou trying it would be fine?

In fact, if even he failed...

Perhaps she could also try?

"Go, Xu Xiaoshou!"

She secretly cheered him on.

"It's starting, it's starting."

Everyone was eagerly awaiting.

Even Shouye was very serious at this moment.

For ordinary people, Xu Xiaoshou drawing the sword was merely a question of whether the money was worth it.

From his perspective, everything was completely different.

Whether Xu Xiaoshou could draw the sword or not meant whether the restriction truly came from him, and more importantly, whether his own deductions were accurate.

"If he succeeds, then I've been overthinking it."

"This famous sword's restriction was indeed merely set by Xu Xiaoshou's personal ability."

"Though surprising, it's understandable."

"But what if he fails..."

Shouye's eyes narrowed.

Perhaps, this sword couldn't be given to Xiaoshou so easily.

After all, accompanied by unknown great perils, Xu Xiaoshou might not be able to bear it at all!

"Come on, let me see what kind of ending this will be."

"Received anticipation, Passive Point +250."

Xu Xiaoshou rubbed his hands, his gaze fixed.

His drawing the sword meant no payment and no time limit.

Therefore, he could try many times.

"First, use physical strength."

"If there's a bad reaction upon contact, retreat immediately. If there's no reaction, then continue."

"On this basis, if physical strength fails, use sword will, sword thought, sword observation techniques..."

"And if that fails again, use Berserk Giant, Explosive Stance, all sorts of brute force; it shouldn't be impossible to get it out..."

"If all else fails, one 'Passive Fist' move, I don't believe this restriction won't break!"

Xu Xiaoshou mused.

He had many ideas, but all of them were based on the premise of "normal contact."

If "contact was bad"...

"No way!"

Shaking his head, Xu Xiaoshou discarded the thought.

Even Gu Qing'er hadn't been 'chosen,' so what right did he have to make this famous sword disregard so many people and wait only for him?

"Let's do it!"

Feeling the heat in his palm, Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath, withdrew his spiritual energy, and firmly gripped it.

Solid, heavy, coarse...

Just the feel from the contact point of the hilt immediately captivated Xu Xiaoshou.

This weight, so different from its appearance, this rough texture that made it hard to slip from his hand, was almost as if it had been tailor-made for him, fitting perfectly!

With a slight exertion of force.

Under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, Xu Xiaoshou gripped the famous sword.

Recalling the ghost beast's strenuous expression, and Shouye's inability to pull it out even after tearing space, Xu Xiaoshou inhaled, suddenly mobilized all his strength, and pulled.

"Whoosh."

The result.

His strength hadn't even begun to be fully used; it was as if he were holding an ordinary kitchen knife.

When Xu Xiaoshou lifted it, the Blazing Python came up.

When he released it, the Blazing Python returned to its original position.

At this, Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

"What's going on?"

He stood frozen in place; if his memory wasn't playing tricks on him...

Then just now, he had indeed casually drawn this famous sword?

Casually...

"Holy crap!"

"Did I see that right? What did I just witness!"

The eyes of the onlookers suddenly bulged out.

Even Shouye was utterly astonished at this moment.

The sword he couldn't pull out even after tearing space—Xu Xiaoshou drew it out and put it back with effortless ease?

"Xu Xiaoshou, what did you just do?"

Gu Qing'er, who had lingered, suddenly froze.

He rushed and flew to Xu Xiaoshou's front, staring at him in shock.

Having personally tried to draw the sword, he knew even better how terrifying the restriction sealed upon it was.

And that rebound force...

"The sword you pulled out, was it also sucked back in?" Gu Qing'er asked eagerly.

He desperately needed an affirmative answer to ensure his fragile heart wouldn't suffer critical damage.

To his surprise, Xu Xiaoshou's frozen face twitched, and after a slight turn of his head, he gave a somewhat dazed nod.

"No."

Gu Qing'er's expression, before it could even register joy, immediately froze.

"Received curse, Passive Point +1."

Everyone else reacted similarly.

They watched as Xu Xiaoshou tentatively lifted it again; this time, even more annoyingly, he let go with one hand.

Yet, the sword was still lifted with such ease.

"Received doubt, Passive Point +166."

Xu Xiaoshou casually twirled the sword.

"Swish, swish, swish."

The air was directly pierced by the sharp famous sword.

"Received doubt, Passive Point +203."

As if to defy disbelief, he tossed the famous sword Blazing Python away.

With a thought and a flick of his hand, the famous sword, which had seemed to struggle, immediately flew back to him.

"Hum!"

The famous sword landed in his hand, its lingering hum resonating.

"Received doubt, Passive Point +252."

Everyone was shocked.

"This..."

"What just happened?"

"Why, why was the famous sword drawn so easily?"

"How is that possible!"

"Doesn't this mean that Xu Xiaoshou is indeed the true master of the famous sword?"

"Was that restriction truly set by him earlier?"

"My heavens, so this famous sword *could* actually be drawn, and Xu Xiaoshou was really just conducting business?"

At this, sorrow flowed like a river, and everyone was collectively speechless.

Xu Xiaoshou actually pulled off such an unthinkable reality?

Selling a famous sword?

He must be insane!

Was he truly not afraid of someone else drawing this famous sword and taking it away?

"Received envy, Passive Point +175."

"Received jealousy, Passive Point +222."

"Received resentment, Passive Point +69."

Shouye also watched Xu Xiaoshou, his eyes wide with surprise, as he wildly twirled the sword, as if to defy all logic.

Just by looking at his facial expression, Shouye could tell that the young man in front of him was equally surprised and doubtful about his own ability to draw the sword.

But, he was Xu Xiaoshou!

All of this could just be an illusion...

"So, is this guy faking it?"

Shouye let out a breath.

He felt a surge of irritation in his heart.

So the damned restriction he had been worried about for so long was really just Xu Xiaoshou's doing?

And that fleeting holy power, too, was something Xu Xiaoshou conjured up from who knew where?

Shouye completely dropped his suspicions.

"This kid is not simple!"

Gu Qing'er watched Xu Xiaoshou vigorously brandish the sword, utterly bewildered.

His lips twitched; he didn't understand why the famous sword had chosen Xu Xiaoshou so directly.

This didn't make sense!

"Did you do something to it?" he asked.

"No!"

Xu Xiaoshou finally snapped back to reality, his heart practically bursting with joy.

It turned out his worries were truly unnecessary.

This sword didn't have any of those strange peculiarities at all.

Or perhaps, these so-called strange points were remnants of power from the previous wielder of the famous sword?

"I don't know why this famous sword took a liking to me."

"I just casually drew it, and it came out. There's nothing I can do."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, then clarified, "To be honest, it's my first time drawing it, so I'm inexperienced."

Everyone: "..."

"Received curse, Passive Point +256."

At this, they even had the thought of flaying Xu Xiaoshou alive and offering him as a sacrifice to the heavens.

I just casually drew it...

Is that even something a person would say?

The nerve of him!

"Damn it..."

The group of people who had tried to draw the sword, led by Bi Kong, fell silent collectively.

Only then did they realize that they weren't truly unable to draw the sword; they simply couldn't even break a single restriction under Xu Xiaoshou's control.

Not only could they not break it, some even lost hundreds of millions.

This level of critical blow...

"Cough, cough."

Bi Kong suddenly coughed.

He wore a grim face, trying hard to force out a faint smile, and clutched his chest.

"Received curse, Passive Point +28."

Gu Qing'er took a deep breath.

He tried his best to dismiss Xu Xiaoshou's nonchalant tone.

Because even though he knew the guy wasn't doing it on purpose, he just had a way of inflicting damage even unintentionally.

"Xu Xiaoshou, I never thought you could achieve this—quietly making the famous sword acknowledge you as its master!"

Gu Qing'er looked at the Blazing Python with envious eyes.

He wanted this sword.

But if a famous sword spontaneously chose its master, according to the rules of the Sword Burial Mound, he couldn't interfere and seize a sword that had chosen its master.

But how did Xu Xiaoshou manage it?

Was his aptitude really that good?

"Acknowledge master?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked over with a blank expression: "Acknowledge master? What's that all about?"

He knew 'Hidden Suffering' could acknowledge a master.

But that was only after years of companionship that it gained a little sentience.

This famous sword and he had never met before; how could it acknowledge him as master the first time he touched it?

Gu Qing'er looked at his expression and sighed speechlessly.

"Xu Xiaoshou, can you stop pretending?"

"For a famous sword to spontaneously acknowledge a master, while I also think it's impossible, but for you..."

He thought of the path of ancient sword cultivation that this guy had discovered on his own.

Perhaps if Xu Xiaoshou were given a platform, he could truly soar!

"Senior Red Coat was right; there are indeed some things I'm not qualified for, but you are." His tone held a touch of admiration.

Whether it was aptitude or combat strength, Xu Xiaoshou was superior!

"Received admiration, Passive Point +1."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at him speechlessly, unable to utter a word.

What on earth was this guy imagining?

"Xu Xiaoshou, have you performed the blood acknowledgment ritual?"

Gu Qing'san also flew over from behind.

Even if it wasn't Second Senior Brother who obtained the famous sword, if Xu Xiaoshou hadn't deceived everyone and had instead used his strength to prove that he was indeed the true owner of the famous sword...

Then it wasn't in vain that he had defeated him, and it wasn't in vain that he was a swordsman worthy of respect!

Gu Qing'san was very satisfied.

"Blood acknowledgment?"

Xu Xiaoshou was even more bewildered.

He had heard the term before, but he truly understood nothing about the intricacies of famous swords.

Gu Qing'er had already said the famous sword acknowledged its master, yet this guy came running over, talking about blood acknowledgment?

Was it necessary?

"Are you stupid!"

Gu Qing'san immediately saw what Xu Xiaoshou was thinking.

"What my senior brother meant by a famous sword acknowledging a master is that it affirmed you and is willing to be with you."

"But true master acknowledgment requires it to acknowledge you, accept everything about you, be willing to form a bond with you, and fight alongside you with perfect synergy – only then can it be true!"

"And the establishment of this bond requires a drop of your blood, understand?"

Gu Qing'san spoke with great clarity and reason.

Finally, there was a day when it wasn't his Senior Brother or Second Senior Brother lecturing him, but he could use his own knowledge to lecture others.

This feeling was simply too satisfying!

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Gu Qing'er uncertainly.

Gu Qing'san was truly too boastful; he was a bit skeptical.

But seeing Gu Qing'er also nod in agreement, he began to hesitate.

"Blood drop?"

"Is that how everyone does it?" he asked hesitantly.

"Mmm-hmm."

Gu Qing'san nodded: "Swords have sentience. Without blood, how can you communicate with its will, or command it as easily as your own arm?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Gu Qing'er again, and Gu Qing'er nodded once more.

"Received affirmation, Passive Point +1."

"Acknowledge master, huh..."

His brows slightly furrowed; Xu Xiaoshou vaguely felt something was amiss.

But this mystical feeling, he didn't know where it came from.

He glanced at the info panel.

There were no other strange information reactions.

Then he looked down at the quiet famous sword in his hand.

Indeed, it had already acknowledged him, but he didn't feel the same intimate connection with this sword as he did with Hidden Suffering.

So what was he waiting for?

"Drop!"

Xu Xiaoshou gritted his teeth.

Surely dropping a bit of blood and acknowledging a master wouldn't cause any more trouble, right?

With a light swipe of his sword-finger, the wound rapidly healed.

But Xu Xiaoshou had already used that small gap to squeeze out a drop of blood.

"On the blade?"

Looking up at Gu Qing'er, Gu Qing'san eagerly nodded, "Yes, yes, drip it on the blade."

"Plink!"

Holding the sword horizontally.

The blood dropped.

A crisp sound echoed in the silently attentive scene.

Everyone seemed to envision the blood splattering due to the sharp blade.

The next moment.

The famous sword in Xu Xiaoshou's hand seemed to come alive.

The giant python, originally coiled around the hilt, curled up near the guard.

Now, the python's mouth flickered, a flash of light, and it directly consumed the splattered blood drops, not missing a single one.

Xu Xiaoshou's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

As if by a ghostly impulse, he glanced at the info panel.

This glance was significant; his pupils immediately constricted.

He saw that the leisurely scrolling information suddenly interspersed with a pop-up alert displaying a jarring number.

"Received gaze, Passive Point +1."

Xu Xiaoshou's scalp prickled abruptly.

Goosebumps rose all over his body, as if he had been doused with ice water.

"Damn it, this sword really is strange!"

He wanted to move his body, to forcefully throw this cursed sword away, but found that at this moment, the entire world had slowed down.

Even moving his eyeballs was incredibly difficult.

In the scene visible to his 'Perception'.

Everyone was still chattering and discussing, but he couldn't hear anything.

Gu Qing'er and Gu Qing'san still looked at him with concern.

Yu Zhiwen's slender hands were clasped together, her eyes filled with worry.

Shouye...

That old man, his expression...

Why was his expression like that?

He was afraid?

Xu Xiaoshou panicked.

He felt like he was holding a hot potato, and if he held on any longer, it might kill him!

But...

He couldn't move at all!

"Received control, Passive Point +1."

The only thing unaffected was the info panel.

But the information popping up on the info panel was even more despairing.

Xu Xiaoshou struggled to pull his body back, but the helplessness in his heart intensified.

The info panel suddenly stopped.

Things like "Received curse," "Received envy" were completely gone.

It stopped scrolling!

Xu Xiaoshou was almost in tears, but he was utterly helpless, watching everything unfold methodically.

Suddenly, the still info panel began to flicker again.

"Received confinement, Passive Point +1."

"Received traction, Passive Point +1."

"Received gaze, Passive Point +1."

Almost instantly, along with the flickering information, the scene before him switched.

It was a world of blinding white.

The boundless white was utterly despair-inducing.

However, this white was no ordinary white; even with his Grandmaster physique, Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he was being roasted into jerky.

As soon as he landed, sweat poured off him like rain, and his whole body began to smoke.

"What in the hell is this place!"

Xu Xiaoshou roared in his mind.

He collapsed!

He knew it, he could feel it... this cursed sword was extremely peculiar!

Time and again he told himself not to touch it, time and again he hesitated, time and again he was on high alert.

Why?

Why, in the end, did he just have to be so stupid, and grasp it anyway?

Even if he grabbed it, he had clearly noticed something was wrong, yet he gritted his teeth, acted on impulse, and foolishly dripped his blood onto it!

Yes!

You're too foolish, Xu Xiaoshou!

You're simply a piece of trash!

He had guessed everything, yet he still couldn't curb the greed in his heart. What was the point of living like this?!

Might as well die!

Xu Xiaoshou cursed himself wildly in his mind, but this neither made the info panel flicker nor stopped his panic, much less allowed him to escape the predicament before him.

Waiting.

A long wait.

A long, motionless wait...

It felt as if a century had passed.

Until his body was almost evaporated, until his consciousness gradually started to char.

Only then did an ancient, desolate voice, carrying endless echoes, seep directly into his mind from all directions.

"You, have finally arrived?"