Chapter 479: First Destroy the Gas Sea, Then Sever the Limbs

"Is this the power of a famous sword?" Xu Xiaoshou sheathed his sword, startled by his own achievement.

If it were Zang Ku instead, even with his current powerful Grandmaster Sword Intent, he would be unable to cut down all the white skeletons here with a single sword stroke. In fact, it would probably be extremely difficult to even sever one with a single sword. While Sword Intent, specifically the Tenth Sword Finger, might inflict some damage, to achieve the current feat without a famous sword, it would likely require the use of that Sword Thought from the slovenly old man.

But with the Blazing Serpent... Xu Xiaoshou turned and stared at the motionless skeleton bodies below the small mound, which had crashed to the ground. For a moment, he was too stunned to speak. A mere "West Wind Withered Snow" technique, which only maximized his current sword speed, was even weaker in terms of raw attack power than his Drawing Sword Style by a significant margin. Yet, this single strike, empowered by the famous sword, had instantly killed thirty-six Grandmaster-level white skeletons!

"Too powerful!" At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou fully understood why every sword cultivator so desperately craved famous swords. Even the most ordinary swordsman, wielding a famous sword, could have any of their sword techniques amplified to a terrifying degree. What's more, Xu Xiaoshou was an authentic ancient sword cultivator!

"Collect the seeds, collect the seeds!" After a moment of daze, Xu Xiaoshou patted Yu Zhiwen, who was still crouching with her head in her hands, then leaped down and began to pierce open the skulls one by one with the Blazing Serpent. A continuous "hissing" sound filled the air. Even the strongest Grandmaster-level white skeletons could not withstand the sharp edge of the famous sword.

Only when he got closer did Xu Xiaoshou notice. Where the white skeletons' heads had been severed, there were not only deep sword marks but also rough, uneven areas, as if corroded by lava. "If even the Grandmaster bodies of white skeletons suffer such damage, surely a single sword strike into a human body, even with spiritual energy protection, wouldn't be able to withstand this power, right?" Xu Xiaoshou watched everything with astonishment. The might of the famous sword truly surpassed his imagination.

"Thunk!" He casually sliced open a giant skeleton's skull, and the energy core inside was effortlessly extracted. Any resistance the famous sword encountered within the skull was practically negligible, thanks to the enhancement of Xu Xiaoshou's Grandmaster Body. "It really is an Ember Incantation Seed..." Holding the black and red seed in his hand and feeling the familiar power within it, Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat dazed.

This was exactly what Elder Sang had given him to consume back then. There was no mistaking it. Now that his previous deduction had been confirmed, Xu Xiaoshou felt a little confused. "If I recall correctly, alternate dimensions basically don't repeat, do they?" He turned to Yu Zhiwen and asked.

Yu Zhiwen placed her hands on the giant skeleton's skull, and without any visible effort, a crack automatically appeared, allowing the Ember Incantation Seed to be easily removed. This sight made Xu Xiaoshou's eyes light up. "Indeed," she replied, turning her head. "Theoretically, repeating alternate dimensions do exist, but the probability of them appearing is extremely low. So far, the number of observed repetitions hasn't exceeded this." She held up five fingers, flicked out an Ember Incantation Seed, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's not a big deal," Xu Xiaoshou said, taking the seed and falling into thought. If that were the case, then the Ember Incantation Seed he had used for his previous cultivation could be forcibly assumed to have been acquired by Elder Sang during the last opening of the White Cave. But what about before that? How did that old man successfully cultivate the Heaven's Burning Ember Incantation?

After all, without an Ember Incantation Seed, this cultivation technique was essentially useless! "Something's strange..." Xu Xiaoshou pondered for a long time, ultimately reaching only this conclusion. Given his current limited understanding of alternate dimensions, he couldn't possibly deduce anything precise.

Or perhaps Elder Sang had his own unique method of acquiring Ember Incantation Seeds? It's possible that while the same alternate dimension doesn't exist, there are creatures similar to the white skeletons that possess Ember Incantation Seeds. Xu Xiaoshou shook his head.

Even though he didn't quite believe it, he could only ponder this way for a bit of comfort. "Let's hope so." Thirty-six Ember Incantation Seeds, along with thirty-six heavy weapons, were quickly separated through the decomposition abilities of the Blazing Serpent and Heaven's Mystery Art. Xu Xiaoshou noticed that Little Yu had also contributed some effort and intended to share some of the spoils.

However, when he offered once, she politely declined, so he didn't press the matter. He pocketed everything. "Want a taste?" After putting away the other items, Xu Xiaoshou kept one Ember Incantation Seed in his palm, a hesitant expression on his face. He still felt lingering apprehension from the harm this item had caused him back then.

Yet, he never expected that such a short time later, he would actually consider consuming one voluntarily. "Are people truly this perverse...?" He sighed helplessly, realizing everything at that moment.

Perhaps once he reached Elder Sang's level, such things would no longer trouble him. Who's to say he wouldn't also develop Elder Sang's brutal and reckless methods when taking on disciples in the future? "Sigh, one shouldn't evolve in a direction one despises."

With a self-deprecating chuckle, Xu Xiaoshou no longer hesitated and swallowed the Ember Incantation Seed in his hand. "This!" Yu Zhiwen's eyelashes trembled in shock. "That's edible?"

The moment she had held it, she had felt the terrifying, scorching energy within. This thing was considered too volatile and uncontrollable even for alchemy. How could Xu Xiaoshou... swallow it whole? "Suspected, Passive Points, +1."

A warm current flowed from his mouth into his abdomen. Xu Xiaoshou smacked his lips and said with a smile, "It's edible, and quite sweet. Want to try?" As he spoke, he pulled out another one. Yu Zhiwen recoiled in fright.

She looked at Xu Xiaoshou as if he were a monster. "Are you... are you okay?" Xu Xiaoshou shook his head gently. Feeling the warm current enter his Sea of Qi, he began to circulate his breathing technique.

With one exhalation, all the Ember Incantation Seed's energy transformed into scorching power, expelled directly from his mouth and nose, causing the space around him to visibly distort. With another inhalation, that terrifying, scorching energy was instantly drawn into his Sea of Qi. His spiritual energy surged throughout his body, and the intense heat pushed outwards. Yu Zhiwen, standing nearby, felt as though her body was beginning to burn. She quickly activated her spiritual energy to protect herself.

In contrast, Xu Xiaoshou, after one exhalation and one inhalation, showed no other unusual signs apart from a sudden surge in his Sea of Qi's spiritual energy. "It's over?" Yu Zhiwen's starry eyes widened in shock. "It's over," Xu Xiaoshou nodded calmly.

He glanced at the information panel. "Attacked, Passive Points, +1." "Attacked, Passive Points, +1." Nothing else. Only these two messages. They had barely appeared during the energy conversion.

This meant that at the Grandmaster Body stage, a single Ember Incantation Seed could no longer cause him any harm. Even placing it directly in his Sea of Qi didn't generate the "one passive point per second" from burning. The only times it inflicted actual damage were during the two instants of exhalation and inhalation.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed deeply. He had anticipated this result, but its actual realization still left him somewhat incredulous. "I've grown stronger..."

This was a clearly tangible feeling, as evident as seeing fish, shrimp, and tiny wiggling tadpoles in a clear pond. A concrete, unadorned increase in power! Remembering how this very thing had tortured him to near death back then, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt a pang of melancholy, a sense of how things had changed.

People constantly grow under duress. The pain felt during suffering, perhaps only after some time has passed and one looks back, truly seems insignificant. As such insights flooded his mind, Xu Xiaoshou felt, in that moment, that he had truly seen life, the Dao of Heaven, and the trajectory of life's growth.

Some hardships, some setbacks, might truly be stepping stones specifically sent by Heaven. If you cling stubbornly to those steps meant to elevate you, unable to move past them, then perhaps your life will remain confined to that level. "Skip this layer of heaven, and there's another heaven beyond... isn't there?" Xu Xiaoshou raised his head.

He thought of Elder Sang from when he took him as a disciple. At that time, Elder Sang had said there were many layers of heaven in the world, like a set of nesting dolls. He hadn't believed it then. But after truly leaving the Spirit Palace and experiencing the outside world, Xu Xiaoshou began to believe. The old man's life philosophies were often disregarded by the young, yet they contained a unique truth.

Even in life itself... isn't growth just like that? After breaking through layer after layer of barriers, one suddenly looks back to find that behind them, the world has changed beyond recognition. "I am born with what I have, I exist where I have nothing."

Xu Xiaoshou smiled in relief. "So that's how it is." As those words settled, his Sea of Qi surged like a tide. Instantly, fierce winds and crashing waves roared against the shore, resounding loudly.

Golden light, bestowed by Heaven, transformed into a wisp of void intent, directly showering his Sea of Qi and melting away the Formless barrier that had been suppressing his Prime Realm cultivation. "Buzz!" The Blazing Serpent trembled softly, its sword hum echoing for several miles.

Yu Zhiwen, to one side, showed even more surprise in her eyes. "He broke through?" Wasn't this understanding, aligning with the Dao of Heaven, precisely the kind of enlightenment that appeared when breaking through a minor realm? "Mm," Xu Xiaoshou responded, feeling his Sea of Qi.

Compared to his Prime Realm, his Sea of Qi's capacity had now expanded by more than double! This was astounding. Xu Xiaoshou knew that for others, the physical body creates the Sea of Qi, and the Sea of Qi enables cultivation.

Therefore, even if others broke through a minor realm, their Sea of Qi would at most expand by half, which was already exceptional. But for him, from Prime Realm to Formless, due to his Grandmaster Body, his Sea of Qi's capacity now even rivaled that of some ordinary Upper Spirit realm cultivators!

"Formless." "Like 'seeing mountains as not mountains'... a single realm of that kind?" Xu Xiaoshou understood. From Acquired to Innate, one had to open the Prime Realm in their Zifu. One could say, that was merely a threshold for touching the Dao of Heaven.

However, from Prime Realm to Formless, each breakthrough required comprehending the Dao of Heaven. He had originally thought he wouldn't need to; his cultivation would naturally progress once his realm was reached. But unexpectedly, by a fortunate coincidence, the Dao of Heaven granted him an opportunity, and his realm flowed smoothly, without even needing to hit a barrier, reaching the Formless stage.

"This should be considered the most complete breakthrough," Xu Xiaoshou was very satisfied. It was this breakthrough that confirmed his spiritual energy foundation was exceptionally solid. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to step directly into this realm without even resorting to external help from pills.

"Formless Realm." Yu Zhiwen couldn't discern Xu Xiaoshou's exact realm, but feeling the familiar Dao charm, she softly identified the young man's cultivation. "But your Formless Realm, why does it feel so strong?" "I'm afraid even an Upper Spirit realm cultivator couldn't beat you, could they?" she said, unsure.

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. "The way you say that, it's as if an Upper Spirit realm cultivator could beat me if I hadn't broken through." Yu Zhiwen: "..." Damn it!

This guy never stops, does he? "Cursed, Passive Points, +1." "Want one?" Xu Xiaoshou held the Ember Incantation Seed in his hand and tempted, "You saw it yourself, this thing is incredibly effective. One allowed me to reach the Formless Realm directly."

"Try it now; maybe even a Grandmaster can break through instantly," he said. "And it really tastes sweet and smells wonderful, want a sniff?" He leaned a little closer. Yu Zhiwen immediately took a step back in fright.

Her eyes on Xu Xiaoshou were as if she were looking at a monster. "Do you think I'm stupid?" she retorted with a glare. "I don't have a Grandmaster Body; how could I possibly eat something like that?" "But it's sweet!"

With a swift blur, Xu Xiaoshou instantly appeared behind Yu Zhiwen. Before she could fully react, a hand holding the seed was already at her nose. "Hiss!" A burning sensation from the spiritual energy assailed her, startling Yu Zhiwen. She looked at the intense spatial Dao charm before her, realizing that Xu Xiaoshou had used instant movement!

She had seen this technique before. Back at the entrance to the small town in the Eight Palaces, Xu Xiaoshou had used this same flash to avoid everyone's attacks. But at that time, he had looked on the verge of collapse after using it. How could a mere breakthrough allow him to use instant movement so easily now? Was he a monster? Xu Xiaoshou was only in the Formless Realm!

Formless Realm, yet instant movement with no consumption? "One-third, not no consumption," Xu Xiaoshou said, checking his Sea of Qi, delighted. Not only had his Sea of Qi doubled in size, but its quality had also reached another peak with this breakthrough.

Previously, a single "Step to Heaven" could drain his Sea of Qi. Now, using it only consumed one-third of his spiritual energy. This meant that in full condition, aided by the super recovery of "Full of Vigor," he could use instant movement at least three, or even four to five, times in a single battle. This was more than just a slight increase in his survival rate! Xu Xiaoshou was excited.

If he had had these three "Step to Heaven" opportunities when facing the Ghost Beast Black Underworld, he wouldn't have been trapped in a desperate situation in the end. His life-saving divine skill had improved again. It was simply amazing! Xu Xiaoshou was content.

"Gazed at angrily, Passive Points, +1." The information panel popped up. Xu Xiaoshou came back to his senses to see the young woman in front of him glaring fiercely at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What do you think?" "Oh, do you want me to feed you?" Xu Xiaoshou said, as if suddenly understanding, and held the Ember Incantation Seed like a piece of candy, about to pop it into Yu Zhiwen's red lips. "You!"

Yu Zhiwen's pretty face instantly flushed red. "You shameless!" She abruptly dodged away, creating a significant distance between herself and Xu Xiaoshou. "Insulted, Passive Points, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou, in high spirits, decided to let the girl off this once and not argue. "If you're not eating it, I will." Like popping a piece of candy, he casually tossed the Ember Incantation Seed into his mouth. With one bite, the incredibly hard Ember Incantation Seed split into energy as if cut by a sword, transforming into a warm current that seeped into his heart and mind.

"Sharpness?" Suddenly remembering this passive skill, Xu Xiaoshou was surprised. His Grandmaster Body could only flatten this item, but he hadn't expected his teeth to also have a sharp effect, directly cutting open the Ember Incantation Seed. "What a good thing! If developed well, this could be an unexpected killing move!" Xu Xiaoshou felt his mind expand.

Yu Zhiwen was about to continue scolding him. But seeing the young man across from her, a freak who could eat even white skeleton energy cores like candy, she immediately fell silent. "Monster!" she muttered under her breath, reluctantly deciding to overlook Xu Xiaoshou's rudeness.

"Alright, I'm done teasing you." "You don't want good things even when offered, really." Xu Xiaoshou clapped his hands, and realizing that the Ember Incantation Seed couldn't instantly advance him from the early to mid-Formless Realm, he gave up on the idea of rushing his level. It was better to cultivate realms steadily.

Even with "Concealment," which prevented others from seeing his cultivation, he understood the principle of not biting off more than one could chew. "Let's go." "Where?" Yu Zhiwen asked, hesitating as she watched Xu Xiaoshou turn.

"To find... the big treasure, of course!" Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. Since the Ember Incantation Seeds no longer met his needs, he would have to continue searching for the Great Ember Incantation Seed. After all, the location of the Great Ember Incantation Seed he saw on the map should be not far from here.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many Grandmaster-level white skeletons here. "Big treasure..." Yu Zhiwen murmured, repeating the phrase.

Looking at the large pile of skeletal remains on the ground, she suddenly felt that the White Cave wasn't as perilous as outsiders claimed. Teaming up with Xu Xiaoshou, she felt like an idle bystander. Even when encountering Grandmaster-level white skeletons, which intelligence suggested required extensive preparation, she remained like a tourist, simply observing. Before she could even blink, the battle was over.

This... who would believe it if she told them?! Watching the young man fly off alone into the distance, her heart stirred once more. Xu Xiaoshou was too strong. Formless Realm! A mere Formless realm cultivator, yet he could do what most Grandmaster powerhouses couldn't, and with such ease.

What exceptional talent and inherent potential must one possess to achieve such feats! It was likely that even among the younger generation of the Holy Divine Palace's main hall, only those with various spiritual or sacred bodies could barely contend with this guy, right? "The Holy Divine Palace needs this kind of talent."

Yu Zhiwen thought, nodding subtly to herself, "I must bring him over!" "Mm," she looked up. "Wait for me."

"This is the White Cave?" Two figures abruptly emerged from a spatial rift. An old man and a beautiful woman. "Elder Mo, are you sure that boy is definitely hiding here?"

Zhang Duoyu, with her voluptuous and alluring figure, had a slightly distorted face due to her gritted teeth. "He took eighteen White Cave entry slots and didn't sell them; he's certainly coming in here," Zhang Chongmou's expression was similarly grim. "There's no doubt about that."

Gazing at the somewhat familiar, scorching surroundings, both fell silent. Zhang Taiying was dead. And he had been summarily executed by the City Lord's Mansion under the guise of being a ghost beast.

When news of this reached the Zhang family mansion, heaven knew what turmoil it caused. If it hadn't been for a timely message from an elder Grandmaster of the Zhang family, these two King-level powerhouses might have been sent to the City Lord's Mansion prison or even killed on the spot. But even after escaping... they remembered that sunrise, a night that should have marked the Zhang family's rise. Instead, a red-clad figure suddenly descended from the sky, accompanied by countless City Lord's Mansion guards.

Hope transformed into despair. Under the morning sun, the Zhang family was drenched in blood. They watched helplessly as their family members died, were injured, or imprisoned one by one. Yet, beneath that red-clad figure, Zhang Chongmou and Zhang Duoyu dared not show themselves in the slightest. They even watched until the end, were discovered by the red-clad figure, and nearly killed on the spot. Having spent countless treasures to escape with their lives, the two now knew.

The Zhang family was no more. The Zhang mansion, cultivated for decades, had, due to a single misstep, been branded with the name of ghost beasts, leading to the extermination of its entire clan. What terrible misfortune! How could things have come to this?

The two King-level powerhouses of the Zhang family, utterly in disbelief, secretly investigated the events of that night at the City Lord's Mansion and had largely come to understand. The red-clad figure had sealed off the matter of the ghost beasts. But everyone knew that after Zhang Taiying's death that night, Xu Xiaoshou had returned with several King-level powerhouses behind him, and there was the massive Ember Incantation explosion at the City Lord's Mansion... these facts simply couldn't be concealed, no matter how hard they tried.

Others didn't believe Xu Xiaoshou killed Zhang Taiying. The two Zhangs didn't believe it either. But even if they didn't, only one source remained for everything! The City Lord's Mansion couldn't have wiped out the Zhang family without reason, nor did it possess the power to prevent Zhang Taiying from sending out any message. So... could it have been Xu Xiaoshou? Impossible! Yet, no matter how impossible, it had all happened!

There was nothing more to say. Once they found and questioned the person involved, everything would become clear. "Where is that boy?" Zhang Duoyu's tone was filled with deep hatred.

"Don't be agitated." "If things are progressing in the worst direction we've considered, then Xu Xiaoshou must have been feigning, and he is the true ghost beast." "In that case, facing him in such a state would be nothing but seeking death." "Therefore, calm down." Zhang Chongmou's eyes were like a falcon's, sharp and keen, yet his thoughts remained incredibly clear. "Once he's in this White Cave, everything will be easy."

"If he dares to be here, the person secretly protecting him must also be present." "After all, Xu Xiaoshou possesses so many Linglong Stones; it would be entirely possible to secretly send in a corporeal King-level powerhouse without anyone noticing." "So, as long as we find the aura of the sacrificial carved fragment, we can basically pinpoint Xu Xiaoshou's location."

"Remember this!" Zhang Chongmou suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Zhang Duoyu, and said gravely, "This battle will be lightning-fast. Once we find him, show no mercy. First, cripple his Sea of Qi, then sever his limbs, leaving him just enough breath to cling to life. With our combined King-level strength, even if that corporeal King-level powerhouse reappears, they surely won't expect us to resort to a sneak attack. Our operation must be swift; our actions, ruthless!"