Chapter 505: The Kind Xu Engong

A deafening "Boom!" echoed from the distance, causing the entire Bai Ku Xiao Shijie to shake gently.

"What happened?"

Lan Ling led a group of Hong Yi, accompanied by a team of Ling Zhanshi behind them, and they all halted abruptly, gazing toward the direction of the explosion.

"My heavens, is that... the sky collapsing?"

The entire team was instantly stunned.

Even from far away, they could clearly see a massive black hole suddenly appearing in the sky.

"Bai Ku Xiao Shijie is supposed to be quite stable. How could something like a sky collapse happen out of nowhere?"

"Oh no, oh no. If it's really a sky collapse, that would be the prelude to the collapse of this heterodimensional small world, right?"

"We've only been here a short time. How could this happen?"

"I want to get out..."

All the Ling Zhanshi were filled with panic.

A sky collapse was no trivial matter.

If it came to that, not only the Ling Zhanshi might be trapped, but even the Hong Yi above the Wang Zuo level might not escape safely.

"Quiet!"

Xin, the bald man, rubbed his head and shouted back, then quickly turned around.

"Lan Ling Jie, about this..."

Everyone turned in unison to look at the woman leading them.

This incident was too inexplicable.

Even the Hong Yi were dazed by the distant blast.

A sky collapse?

It was possible.

But the Hong Yi had investigated, and as one of the higher-rated heterodimensional spaces, Bai Ku should have no risk of collapse as long as "You Si Jian" did not emerge.

Yet now...

"It's not necessarily a sky collapse."

Lan Ling smoothed the hair from her forehead and frowned. "You Si Jian is right in the direction we're heading, and the San Shi Liu Tian Feng Wu Zhen hasn't been activated yet. At this point, Bai Ku can't possibly collapse."

"Then..."

Xin hesitated, "What caused this explosion?"

"What do you think?"

Lan Ling glanced at him reproachfully, and Xin suddenly understood.

"You're saying... someone's fighting?"

"But the power of this blast..."

Xin was skeptical. "Even a Wang Zuo self-destructing couldn't produce this kind of force. Could there be a Zhan Dao-level intruder who's sneaked in?"

Zhan Dao!

What level was that!

If such an existence had entered, why wouldn't they approach the You Si Jian direction and instead cause destruction so far away?

"It's not out of the question for Zhan Dao..."

Lan Ling murmured, then lifted her gaze and calmly issued orders: "Immediately notify the Shou Ye who haven't returned yet to go check it out. If it's Zhan Dao, there can't be just one—they must be fighting each other, leading to the explosion."

"Such beings should know the rules and not wage war in a small world."

"Otherwise, even if the San Shi Liu Tian Feng Wu Zhen hasn't been unsealed, Bai Ku might still be destroyed by Zhan Dao forces in advance."

"The greater possibility is that some accident occurred."

"But we can't rule out situations escalating to the worst."

"So..."

Xin followed up: "So if there are two of them, Shou Ye might not hold them off. Should I go help?"

He stroked his bald head, a subtle eagerness in his eyes.

"You?"

Lan Ling scoffed.

She knew all too well that this guy had been itching for action after being cooped up on the journey.

"You stay right by my side!"

Xin's face fell immediately.

Lan Ling paused, then continued: "For now, have Shou Ye go and act cautiously."

"If it's just one, expel them on the spot. If there are two or more Zhan Dao..."

"Contact us first, then decide based on the situation."

"Additionally..."

Lan Ling turned her gaze toward the distance, sensing something amiss.

If it was a Zhan Dao battle, they would have had to sneak in first.

So, what were those people outside doing?

"Where's Hei Ming?"

She looked at Xin and asked firmly: "Have the people outside been maintaining communication?"

Xin was startled.

"Communications aren't my responsibility. I'll ask around..."

"No need to ask."

Lan Ling cut him off: "Notify the outside immediately. If there's no timely response, that means something's happened out there too."

With that...

Her eyes darkened, realizing the situation might have turned dire.

"Advance at full speed!"

She clenched her fist and stared straight ahead: "As long as we're near the San Shi Liu Tian Feng Wu Zhen, let alone one Zhan Dao, even ten won't be a threat!"

"Don't leave my side."

Lan Ling turned back, fixing her gaze on the bald man in front of her. "Protect me until we reach the great array."

Xin froze.

He quickly realized how serious the situation was.

"Understood."

He perked up, not daring to delay. "Who handles communications? Hurry and send a message outside."

"Yes."

A Hong Yi from the back stepped forward and began connecting with the other communication team members to activate the special transmission Ling Zhen.

"By the way."

Xin turned back, hesitating. "Lu Ke still hasn't returned..."

Lan Ling scanned the team behind her and nodded.

"We can't wait for him. No time."

She shouted:

"Full speed ahead!"

"Buzz, buzz, buzz."

The ground trembled, and the void shook.

The Ling Rong Ze explosion was extraordinarily powerful.

Bai Ku Xiao Shijie originally prohibited battles above Wang Zuo level.

The reason was to prevent fights that touched the heavenly dao from accelerating the small world's collapse.

Because everyone knew.

The "world source point" of Bai Ku had been lost during the last opening.

As long as it wasn't recovered.

The small world's collapse was just a matter of time.

"First Seat, that aura..."

In an unknown place, two figures stepped forward.

Cen Qiao Fu, walking slightly behind, withdrew his gaze, his eyes filled with surprise.

He had detected a very familiar power from the center of the explosion.

But when he turned to the masked man, the other's murky eyes showed no ripple, no emotion at all.

"It's not him."

The masked man shook his head slightly and chuckled. "That guy follows a different dao from mine... probably hasn't come to terms with it yet, so he won't return."

"Naturally, he won't come to Bai Ku."

"Ah."

Cen Qiao Fu sighed, his expression suddenly nostalgic.

Among the "Sheng Nu," few dared to treat him as an equal peer.

Even the storyteller was too young.

He only dared to chatter a bit and tease occasionally.

So, with that guy gone, no one was left to sit and play chess with him peacefully.

And...

Glancing at the First Seat, Cen Qiao Fu felt even more helpless.

Playing chess with this guy was no fun at all!

Life was getting duller by the day...

"What a pity."

Cen Qiao Fu shook his head. "If that guy came back, we wouldn't have been so passive last time..."

He seemed to recall something, his tone turning indignant:

"And besides, he not only left but also interfered..."

"Ah."

The masked man raised his hand to stop Cen Qiao Fu from continuing.

"No need to say more."

He turned back with a smile. "After all, that guy did send those two kids back in the end, didn't he?"

"He's tied to Sheng Nu."

The masked man said confidently.

His gaze sharpened, becoming profoundly deep.

"Though our daos differ, our directions align. His return is just a matter of time."

Rush, rush, rush!

Amid their conversation, several beams of anomalous light shot into the sky from various parts of Bai Ku, and both turned to look.

"Heavenly anomalies."

Cen Qiao Fu was slightly dazed.

"It seems this explosion has unearthed some of the treasures nurtured beneath Bai Ku."

"Now, things are about to get even more chaotic for them."

A smile crept onto Cen Qiao Fu's face.

"The more chaos, the better."

The masked man nodded. "The more distracted the Hong Yi are, the greater our opportunity."

"Exactly. So, shall we..."

"Continue."

The masked man pointed toward the distant void with his hand hidden in a black glove. "I can only sense it's in that direction roughly. You'll have to use your Ling Nian to find the crack."

He paused, spreading his hands with a laugh.

"I'm useless now. I don't even have Ling Nian anymore."

Cen Qiao Fu chuckled and shook his head.

Acquired cultivation.

If the Yuan Fu was sealed, then even Ling Nian would be confined anew.

"Don't worry, I can see it."

Cen Qiao Fu said, then withdrew his gaze from the distant void crack that faintly pulsed with a calling wave.

He turned to look in another direction.

That was where the Hong Yi team was.

"So, what about You Si Jian?"

A hint of mischief appeared in his eyes. "Are we just going to leave it?"

The masked man was taken aback.

"You Si Jian..."

He fell silent.

After a long while, he slowly lifted his gaze.

"We'll see. Let's check the void island crack first. As for You Si Jian..."

"It's fate."

He paused.

"Or perhaps, fated but not destined."

In the Yuan Fu.

"Pfft!"

Xu Xiao Shou spat out a mouthful of blood.

He looked up.

Above were the spiritual herbs and treasures dug from the three layers of Ling Rong Ze.

With no soil available, these treasures were temporarily suspended in mid-air, mingling awkwardly with the dirt.

The pinkish spiritual herb fragrance had already spread throughout the Yuan Fu space.

Xu Xiao Shou frowned and glanced at Yu Zhi Wen, who lay unconscious in his arms.

With a wave of his hand, he isolated the herbs above from the space below.

This Yuan Fu small world was his.

Separating space was just a thought.

"Take care of her."

"I might need to go out again."

He placed Yu Zhi Wen in front of Mu Zi Xi and instructed, but received no response.

"What's got you spacing out?"

He patted the little girl's head, only to find her staring straight behind him.

"What is it?"

Turning around, he saw the pink, nine-ring-scarred little monk gazing back at Mu Zi Xi in the same way.

"Do you two know each other?"

Xu Xiao Shou was puzzled.

These two actually knew each other?

Was it because of their height?

He recalled that in the instant of the explosion, he had not only pulled Yu Zhi Wen into the Yuan Fu but also this little monk he'd met once before.

Xu Xiao Shou hadn't wanted to expose his Yuan Fu.

But letting this possibly underage life perish under his Ning Dan technique didn't sit right with him.

Yet now...

"Demon girl, so you're hiding here!"

Bu Le stood up angrily.

Yu Zhi Wen couldn't withstand it and had fainted on the spot, but his "wish force" held up.

Like Xu Xiao Shou, Bu Le had only been injured by the initial blast's heat.

Once inside the Yuan Fu, not only did his "wish force" recover, but the abundant life energy here restored his combat ability almost instantly.

"Xu Xiao Shou, why did you bring this guy in too?"

Mu Zi Xi snapped back to attention, pouting. "He wants to kill me!"

"Oh?"

Xu Xiao Shou raised an eyebrow and turned. "Why's that?"

"Benefactor, this has nothing to do with you."

Bu Le was clear about right and wrong.

In that explosion he might not have survived, Xu Xiao Shou had pulled him into this life-saving space.

Upon entering, he sensed the extraordinary nature of this space.

For Xu Xiao Shou to expose it without fear of greed, Bu Le felt a surge of respect.

But one thing at a time.

This girl had stolen his "Jail Void Demon Staff," and the demonic energy on her was an anomaly he had to eliminate.

"This female donor has crossed paths with me. She's ill and stole my things. I must purify her."

Bu Le pressed his palms together.

"You're the one who's ill!"

Mu Zi Xi was furious. "You couldn't beat me, so that Zen staff is spoils of war. I just took what the victor deserves. What's wrong with that?"

Bu Le froze, then came to his senses.

"It's not like that, demon girl. You're wrong."

"The monk didn't lose to you. I was defeated by the demonic energy of my Jail Void Demon Staff. It had nothing to do with your eyes."

"Besides..."

He paused. "You couldn't beat me. The one who fought me was someone else!"

Bu Le turned his head.

Glancing around, he realized A Jie wasn't there.

"Didn't he come in? Is he dead?"

Bu Le's eyes dimmed slightly.

He had finally met someone of similar height who could spar with him, and it had excited him like finding a kindred spirit.

But Xu the Benefactor had saved him and not the other?

"Benefactor..."

Bu Le turned back, incredulous.

That guy was clearly with Xu Xiao Shou, so why not save him too?

"What's all this 'benefactor' business..."

Xu Xiao Shou frowned.

The moment he heard this guy wanted Mu Zi Xi's life, he lost all goodwill.

"What's your name, your background, and why do you want my junior sister's life?"

"And what were you running downward back then?"

"Spill it."

"Otherwise, I'll kick you out of the Yuan Fu!"

Bu Le was stunned.

Junior sister?

This...

He didn't know what to say.

The person he needed to purify was the benefactor's junior sister?

"You won't talk?"

Xu Xiao Shou sneered and pulled out a whip.

This was the "Jue Ming Whip" he'd taken from the fallen Zhang Fu elder.

Though he didn't recognize it, Xiao Yu had already explained its effects.

"I'll talk, I'll talk..."

Bu Le panicked, opening his mouth.

But Xu Xiao Shou suddenly stopped.

That's right—this was his Yuan Fu.

He didn't need to expel this guy; he could just trap him.

"No need to say more."

He covered the little monk's mouth and bound him with the Jue Ming Whip.

With a stir of his Ling Nian, the guy was hoisted into the air and confined by the space.

Bu Le: ???

What was going on?

He had so many questions and was ready to explain that if she was the benefactor's junior sister, he could let it go...

But being tied up like this?

"Benefactor, the monk..."

"Shut up!"

Xu Xiao Shou silenced him.

He didn't have time for this guy's excuses.

The fire seed outside was still waiting for him!

Bu Le: ...

He struggled a bit, realizing the heavenly dao power here was terrifying.

Though imperfect, under the owner's control, it was like a mini realm.

Without reaching Wang Zuo level, and with his cultivation sealed, even his "wish force" was useless.

He could only hang there, staring resentfully downward.

"Received curse, passive value +1."

"Received gaze, passive value +1."

"Received plea, passive value +1."

"Listen, ignore this guy for now. Wait till I get back."

Xu Xiao Shou pointed at the little monk above. "I have to go out for a bit. It's not safe outside, so stay here. Wait for Yu Zhi Wen to wake up, and I'll check on you later."

"I want to go out too."

Mu Zi Xi was anxious.

She didn't know the outside situation, but if Xu Xiao Shou said it like that, going alone would be risky.

"And... has it exploded?"

She asked with concern.

"Uh... yeah."

Xu Xiao Shou nodded awkwardly.

"If it's exploded, then it's over. What's the danger?"

Mu Zi Xi stood up.

Glancing at the unconscious Yu Zhi Wen on the ground, she felt a twinge of luck.

Good thing she had the foresight to hide in the Yuan Fu first.

This girl must have returned to the surface early, right?

From that far away, and fainting directly...

"Sigh, you know nothing, yet you dare to fall for Xu Xiao Shou?"

"It could get you killed."

Mu Zi Xi sighed inwardly.

Xu Xiao Shou wasn't someone an ordinary girl could handle!

"The explosion's done, but outside, there are still two terrifying figures..."

Xu Xiao Shou hesitated, seeing the girl's skeptical eyes, and explained: "Like that ghost beast from Tian Xuan Gate that seals people."

"And another freak, don't know his level, but he seems even more dangerous..."

"Mo Shi Jie?"

Mu Zi Xi was startled.

"Yeah, her."

"You're still going out?"

Mu Zi Xi was frantic. "Last time, there was the suppression from the Tian Xuan Gate small world. This time..."

"I know."

Xu Xiao Shou interrupted. "With A Jie, I should be fine."

"Oh."

The little girl suddenly felt downcast.

So, A Jie was the true favorite, huh?

"Then..."

She thought for a moment, then pulled a demonic Zen staff from her ring and handed it to Xu Xiao Shou.

"Take this for now. It seems pretty powerful. I got it for you."

Xu Xiao Shou was stunned.

"A Zen staff?"

How could there be a Zen staff radiating such overwhelming demonic energy?

What was this thing!

Just a quick sense told him his own rampant energy was stirring again.

He quickly suppressed it.

Xu Xiao Shou was alarmed.

It's strong!

This Zen staff was incredibly powerful—on par with the bronze fragment!

In his estimation, the bronze fragment might have broken off from "You Si Jian."

If this Zen staff could match it just with its demonic energy...

Could it be another treasure on the level of "You Si Jian"?

"Where did you get..."

Xu Xiao Shou started to ask, then connected it to the earlier conversation between the little monk and Mu Zi Xi, and suddenly understood.

He looked up.

Sure enough, the little monk Bu Le was staring in disbelief as the siblings divided the spoils.

Glancing at his info bar:

"Received curse, passive value +1."

"Received gaze, passive value +1."

"Received plea, passive value +1."

"Pfft!"

Xu Xiao Shou laughed.

"Alright, I'll take it."

He wrapped his hand in Ling Yuan to grasp the Zen staff, then prepared to leave the Yuan Fu.

Suddenly, his eyes caught Xu Xiao Ji cowering in the corner.

"You..."

"What?"

Xu Xiao Ji huddled up.

He had tried to make himself as unobtrusive as possible, but Xu Xiao Shou still noticed him.

Glancing at the suspended little monk, he felt a shared sense of misfortune.

I knew it!

I knew this Xu family prison would get busier over time.

Oh heavens, when can I escape...

"Nothing."

Xu Xiao Shou withdrew his gaze.

He didn't need Xu Xiao Ji for now.

Maybe when "You Si Jian" appeared, this guy would come in handy.

As he was about to leave the Yuan Fu, Xu Xiao Shou paused again.

"Behave!"

He pointed at the little monk above.

This guy could own such a Zen staff, so his origins were no ordinary.

Once he got the fire seed, he didn't want to make enemies, so he'd probably release him.

But what if, while he was away, this guy broke free?

"It shouldn't be possible..."

"This small world is under my control, like a realm. He's just a kid..."

Xu Xiao Shou pondered, then his eyes stopped on the radiant Buddhist knife on the guy's back.

Bu Le: ???

What's with that greedy look?

"You're going to take the monk's Zen staff and now his Zhan Fo Dao?"

"How despicable!"

" Let the monk speak, ahhh!"

He raged inwardly.

But Bu Le was powerless.

He could only watch as Xu Xiao Shou flew up and pulled the "Zhan Fo Dao" from his back.

"Borrowing this for a bit—I'll return it later, ha!"

Xu Xiao Shou's eyes lit up as he fondled the Buddhist knife admiringly.

It was gorgeous!

He immediately thought of giving it to Zhou Tian Can.

"Received resistance, passive value +1."

"Received curse, passive value +1."

"Received longing, passive value +1."

Bu Le was devastated.

He opened his mouth, hearing Xu Xiao Shou's insincere words, knowing he was trapped.

What kind of benefactor was this?

He was basically an evil god in disguise!

Oh, slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue...

Buddha is merciful.

No breaking the precept of anger.

"All of you behave, and I'll bring you some food when I get back."

Xu Xiao Shou gave a final reminder, then vanished from the Yuan Fu with the Buddhist knife in one hand and the Zen staff in the other.

At Ling Rong Ze.

An unprecedented black abyss had replaced the entire landscape.

The void was chaotic, space shattering and repairing, repairing and cracking.

Endless gray-black destructive energy swirled within.

Clearly, the symphony of ice and fire had turned this area into an apocalyptic scene.

A Jie was curled up.

All his clothes had been blasted away.

Blood stained his body, but his injuries had already healed.

And on his chest...

This was probably the only intact space within dozens of li around Ling Rong Ze.

All because of Xu Xiao Shou's protective command.

Whoosh!

A soft sound emerged.

In the next second, a figure appeared.

A Jie trembled and straightened up.

He twisted happily toward the familiar figure who had been gone so long and was finally back by his side.

"Mama..."