Chapter 518: Ghost Beast Trial, I Refuse

Xu Xiaoshou? How could it be Xu Xiaoshou? This is impossible!

Shouye's eyes nearly bulged out. He could accept that the ice ability, infused with the power of the Frozen Tribulation, originated from the sealed ghost beast that had emerged from the White Cave. What he absolutely could not accept was that this sealed ghost beast's accomplice was... Xu Xiaoshou?

"How could it be Xu Xiaoshou?!" Shouye was in utter disbelief. If Xu Xiaoshou was truly an accomplice of the sealed ghost beast, then what did that make Shouye himself?

Scenes flashed through his mind at lightning speed, like a movie on fast-forward: their first meeting at the Tiansang City Lord's Mansion, the moment of the flower sea explosion, the series of interrogations after the realm shattered, and the famous sword Yanmang he had given Xu Xiaoshou after entering the White Cave. Each moment, every frame, played out in rapid succession. Shouye began to tremble uncontrollably.

He felt as if he had overlooked a crucial piece of information due to the subsequent events at the City Lord's Mansion. "Ghost beast aura!" His mind rewound to their very first encounter. How did he come to suspect Xu Xiaoshou then? That's right! He had seemingly detected a stench, similar to that of a ghost beast—an almost-stink—emanating from one of Xu Xiaoshou's friends. He had been about to press the issue, but Xu Xiaoshou's sudden appearance had interrupted his train of thought, and Xu Xiaoshou's smooth talking had made everyone forget about it.

Moreover, he now recalled that when he first met Xu Xiaoshou, he seemed to have detected an aura from him as well... "The stench of a ghost beast!" Xu Xiaoshou's subsequent explanation was that he had already encountered the sealed ghost beast in the Spirit Palace. This had initially alleviated Shouye's suspicions. But now... Shouye shook his head helplessly, his gaze darting incredulously between the two figures before him. "This isn't just a slight encounter," he thought. "This is outright collusion!"

Details of past events, previously forgotten, now flooded Shouye's mind with sudden clarity, as if he had experienced a revelation. His thoughts raced, and one by one, pieces of the puzzle surfaced. "If Zhang Taiying was a ghost beast, why did he remain undetected for over a decade, only to be completely exposed and then tragically die at Xu Xiaoshou's hands the moment they met?" "A peak Throne, possessing a ghost beast, yet dying tragically at the hands of a Xiantian?" Shouye gave a bitter smile.

"And Xu Xiaoshou's friend... Xingugu?" "Yes, that was the name!" "I personally saw that fellow leave the City Lord's Mansion before Xu Xiaoshou even exited the banquet hall." "Yet, he never reappeared, even as Xu Xiaoshou killed Zhang Taiying?" "So... where did Xingugu truly go?" Shouye's face grew pale.

"And there's more!" He hesitated to continue his deductions, yet as a Red Coat, he had no choice. Despite how terrifying the implications were, he had to follow the most unlikely but seemingly truest path: "Xu Xiaoshou, a mere Xiantian, had already interacted with this sealed ghost beast back in the Spirit Palace." "Thinking back, his demeanor at the time, seeming so earnest, didn't appear fake at all." "So, how did they interact under such completely unequal conditions of cultivation and power?" "Xu Xiaoshou..." "Ha, back in the Spirit Palace, he might not even have been a Xiantian yet, right?!" "Someone of such low cultivation, worthy of dealing with a sealed ghost beast?" "Or rather, how could a sealed ghost beast even deign to acknowledge him, let alone have a genuine exchange or battle with him?" "It's completely impossible!" Shouye was filled with anguish.

He finally understood. There was only one explanation that made sense of everything: Xu Xiaoshou was also a ghost beast host! And not just any host, but a terrifying entity with superior intellect, highly adept at concealment. Ghost beasts themselves weren't frightening; what was truly terrifying was a ghost beast with profound, deceptive wisdom—an existence so clever it could toy with Red Coats and humanity alike. "So then..." "Xu Xiaoshou, is that truly it?" Shouye closed his eyes, a heavy realization settling upon him.

Xu Xiaoshou was far more than just "it." His combat power, which soared at an astonishing rate, ascending level after level in such a short time... His silver tongue, whose bizarre eloquence could talk the living to death and revive the dead... His cunning, ruthless strategic mind, capable of planning victories from afar... Which of these could a young person of his age possibly achieve? And which could a mere Tiansang Spirit Palace cultivate? None of it! It simply wasn't possible!

After the City Lord's Mansion incident, Shouye had specifically reviewed Xu Xiaoshou's records. They plainly stated that he was a student who had consistently ranked last in the Tiansang Spirit Palace's outer court for two years, almost expelled. Yet, he suddenly emerged victorious, dominating the "Wind and Cloud Competition." Didn't that alone signify something?

"I'm such a fool!" At that moment, Shouye was consumed by bitter regret. He truly was foolish, slow-witted, and ineffective. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been silenced by Xu Xiaoshou's clever arguments, despite the numerous suspicious points surrounding him. It was so bad that after Zhang Taiying's incident, he hadn't even wanted to stay or see the boy again. If it had been Lan Ling, or Xin... or even just a moderately competent Red Coat who rigidly followed protocol, they would have immediately taken the highly suspicious Xu Xiaoshou back to Red Coat headquarters for interrogation.

"I..." Shouye's eyes dulled. He felt his lifelong reputation had been utterly destroyed by Xu Xiaoshou. This person was an expert at deception! He understood human nature and the human heart perfectly. He could even precisely predict Shouye's reactions and emotions, including his speechless confusion during their conversations. That's why Shouye had been so disoriented, allowing Xu Xiaoshou to escape without even bringing him back to the Red Coat base!

"Zhang Taiying..." Shouye let out a bitter laugh. "What a brilliant use of a borrowed blade!" He now gravely suspected that he had, without realizing it, become the very weapon in Xu Xiaoshou's hand, clearing a significant obstacle for the ghost beast. Perhaps Zhang Taiying had discovered something, forcing Xu Xiaoshou to expose his true identity and act brazenly in the City Lord's Mansion to silence the only witness. And yet, Xu Xiaoshou had emerged completely unscathed.

"Foolish Shouye!" he chastised himself. "You've lived your entire life in vain!"(Shouye triggered passive ability: **Shock/Doubt**, +1.)(Shouye triggered passive ability: **Suspicion**, +1.)(Shouye triggered passive ability: **Affirmation**, +1.)(Shouye triggered passive ability: **Conjecture**, +1.)

The information panel went haywire, suddenly flooding his view with a barrage of continuous messages. Xu Xiaoshou quickly got to his feet, and the moment he saw Shouye, floating mid-air, staring at him with an utterly incredulous expression, he immediately knew things had taken a turn for the worse.

"This is bad!" Judging by the flurry of messages, despite Shouye's usual kindness towards him, it was clear that at this moment, Shouye had undoubtedly lumped him and the Grey Mist Person into the same category.

"But that's not how it is!" Xu Xiaoshou was internally frantic. He wasn't a ghost beast, nor was he a ghost beast host. Yet, the Greedy God was currently residing in his Yuanfu. Even if he hated to admit it, he did indeed possess a faint connection to a ghost beast. While it wasn't as absolute as Shouye's resolute gaze suggested, the Grey Mist Person had emerged with him, even gripping him as they appeared. Even if it hadn't said anything incriminating afterward, this undeniable "seeing is believing" moment for Shouye meant he was utterly unable to clear his name.

"Xu Xiaoshou..." Shouye's attention was no longer on the Grey Mist Person. In his heart, Xu Xiaoshou's threat level was now infinitely higher. He clenched his fists, exhaled deeply, and then clasped his hands behind his back, suppressing his murderous intent. Indifferently, he asked, "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"(Shouye triggered passive ability: **Anticipation**, +1.)Xu Xiaoshou thought, *Anticipation? More like anticipating my death!*

Xu Xiaoshou dared not be negligent; his mind raced frantically. But after racking his brain, he came to a stark realization: if he were Red Coat Shouye, he wouldn't believe a single word from Xu Xiaoshou, a master of sophistry, at this moment.

"I..." "You have the right to remain silent," Shouye coldly interrupted. "But anything you say now will be used as testimony in the Red Coat Prison." "Prison?" Xu Xiaoshou froze, shocked that the situation had escalated to this degree. The Red Coat Prison—that was a place reserved exclusively for ghost beasts and their hosts! If he went in there, how could he ever get out? Even if his eloquence exploded and he could explain everything away, even if every Red Coat member's mind became completely muddled, there was still his Yuanfu, and the Greedy God within it... How could he explain that? There was no solution!

In that moment, Xu Xiaoshou realized his grave error. He should never have taken on the Greedy God. His initial arrogance after leaving the Spirit Palace had led him to grasp this hot potato. At the time, he naively thought it was a minor issue, believing he could abandon it anytime as long as no contract was formed. But from Jiao Tangtang and Xingugu's perspective... that wasn't the case! It was precisely because he accepted the Greedy God that Xingugu had opened up and helped him so wholeheartedly, wasn't it? They had known all along. Once he crossed the red line of ghost beasts, there would be no going back. One lie would necessitate countless more to maintain the facade. Exposure was inevitable, merely a matter of time. And once the truth was revealed, he would be irrevocably dragged onto the ghost beast's "pirate ship," whether he liked it or not.

Xu Xiaoshou lowered his gaze. He understood now. He wasn't the only clever person in the world. His constant arrogance, believing he had outmaneuvered everyone, had only led him from one broken cage into yet another trap.

But... "No!" Only Xu Xiaoshou truly knew the reason. He had taken on the Greedy God not for Shouye's perceived reasons, nor for the far-reaching implications Jiao Tangtang and Xingugu might have imagined. It was simply because he was confident... simply because... it was fun? Out of curiosity? With a low sigh, Xu Xiaoshou smiled silently. His self-deception, fueled by curiosity, had indeed killed the cat.

"I have nothing to explain," he said. He looked up, his expression solemn, and suddenly drew the famous sword Yanmang. "Everything I could possibly tell you, I already did, back when this sword first appeared." "Just as you say the Red Coats have their own justice, I, Xu Xiaoshou, have mine as well."

He glanced at the Grey Mist Person, who had retreated into the background, and shook his head with a soft sigh. "I would never commit acts that harm heaven and earth!" he declared. "But my own justice, my own path—I will forge it myself, understand it fully. I don't trust anyone!" Xu Xiaoshou pounded his chest. "I only trust what I see, what I hear, what I feel in my heart... everything!"

In his interactions with Xingugu, he had witnessed the emotions of ghost beasts. Even if their relationship was based on mutual benefit, there were moments when he sensed a profound longing for freedom and peace in Xingugu's eyes, and the reluctant determination to keep fighting when left with no other choice. Xu Xiaoshou had felt it all. While bodies might be separate, hearts could connect. These soul-level exchanges were not baseless or illusory. Since Xu Xiaoshou had witnessed this, how could he simply ignore it? That ghost beasts possessed emotions was an undeniable fact. Yet, the Red Coats' stance on ghost beasts was too absolute: total extermination! Xu Xiaoshou could not condone or accept such an extreme approach.

Humanity, though complex, still distinguishes between good and evil. So why should ghost beasts, merely because a few evil ones committed heinous acts, be condemned wholesale, disregarding those who still held a glimmer of goodness in their hearts, those who were unwillingly drawn into conflict? Mo Mo was one such case. Even the Greedy God, still ignorant of the world's good and evil, still undeveloped, was another. Suppression often backfires. Unrelenting containment would only compel genuinely good individuals to eventually rise in desperate resistance. And the outcome? It would be self-evident...

"Hmph!" Xu Xiaoshou let out a soft sigh. He didn't actually hate the Red Coats' approach; he understood that their existence had its own rationale. However, he disagreed, choosing instead to discern the world for himself. If he ultimately hit a wall, if his chosen path proved entirely wrong, he would accept it. But for now, Xu Xiaoshou believed he had done nothing wrong. In fact, having gained this clarity, he was even glad he had accepted the Greedy God. This allowed him to forge a connection with ghost beasts, providing the basis to delve into their world and truly understand them. Currently, the undeniable truth was that rules and systems were already established in the human world. Regardless of their flaws, Xu Xiaoshou could not directly defy them. Therefore, any critique of existing world structures ultimately stemmed from one's own insufficient power.

"If only I were the rule-maker..." "If only I were the one moving the pieces..." Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fists, abruptly cutting off all such thoughts. There were no "ifs." Looking forward, the light he saw before him *was* the future!

"Xu Xiaoshou, I must admit, you are truly exceptional," Shouye said, shaking his head with a sigh. "In my entire life, I've rarely encountered a young person as brilliant as you. The last one who astonished me was the Eighth Sword Immortal, who dominated the continent and commanded power in all directions. How I wish that everything you possess now was something you achieved through honest, painstaking effort. I admire you!" "But..." His face twisted in pain, his eyes filled with internal conflict. "But there's no choice. I'm now doubting my own judgment. You must come with me to the Red Coat headquarters to face judgment. If you are innocent, I promise that all your losses on this trip will be repaid to you many times over. But if..."

"There is no 'if'!" Xu Xiaoshou interjected coolly, a relieved smile on his face, his resolve hardened. "I will not go with you; I choose to forge my own path." "Audacious!" Shouye erupted in fury. He admired Xu Xiaoshou, but that didn't mean the young man could disrespect the Red Coats' authority! "You are now suspected of being a ghost beast host, under heavy suspicion. You *must* come with me!" "Forge your own path?" He struggled to control his emotions but couldn't help but sneer, "Who do you think you are? The Eighth Sword Immortal?!" "Why can't I be?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes blazed as he stared directly at Shouye in the sky, declaring with conviction, "My ambition isn't confined to Tiansang; it encompasses the Five Domains!"

A boom echoed, and that simple declaration completely stunned Shouye, whose mind was already reeling. For a moment, his mind went blank. He could only stare blankly at the young man below, yet it was as if he saw the youthful figure of Bazun An. Both wielding a single sword, both daring to speak such bold words. Both equally uninhibited, radiating unbridled arrogance. But... could they truly be compared? Bazun An achieved Xiantian in three breaths and became a Sword Immortal in three years! At an age similar to Xu Xiaoshou's, he had reached the pinnacle of this world. Could that possibly be the same? And in the end? The Eighth Sword Immortal... didn't he fall just the same? Shouye's eyes filled with sorrow.

"My ambition isn't confined to Tiansang; it encompasses the Five Domains..." He deeply wished Xu Xiaoshou could, by his own will, truly live up to the profound meaning of those words. But did this foolish boy truly grasp the gravity of his situation? "I may believe you, but the Red Coats won't, the common people won't, and the world certainly won't!" Shouye released his grip, and his spiritual energy surged. "Further words are useless. This is the duty of the Red Coats. Today, you must return to Red Coat headquarters with me, where you will face a specialized tribunal."

Xu Xiaoshou took a step back. "What if I refuse?" "Refuse?" Shouye chuckled. "You have neither the right nor the power to refuse!" A resounding boom filled the air. Dark energy surged, instantly sealing off the entire space. Dark patterns appeared on Shouye's arms as he extended a hand, offering a final warning: "Cease your struggle, or you might die."

"What about him?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, glancing towards the Grey Mist Person. Shouye also turned his head.*What the hell? Why are you looking at me? You two fight! Are you trying to drag me into this mid-conversation?*

"Xu Xiaoshou, stop struggling. Give up. The Red Coats are everywhere outside." The Grey Mist Person, enjoying the spectacle, sneered, "I've already given you the 'Ashlight Original Seed' and the 'Three-Day Frozen Tribulation.' Do you think the Red Coats won't see that connection?" "Even if you don't say anything, won't everyone know once the fight starts?" "This 'good advice' now is just a show; everyone understands tacitly." "Give up. Go to your death... going with the Red Coats seems perfectly fine to me."(Grey Mist Person triggered passive ability: **Counsel**, +1.)

Xu Xiaoshou was so exasperated he nearly laughed. He had genuinely believed that the Grey Mist Person would help him, that it had truly set aside its animosity. But now, it was clear it was all because of Mo Mo. This creature wouldn't be the Grey Mist Person if it didn't try to entrap someone before its demise. "Shut your filthy mouth!" he snapped. "You couldn't get the treasure yourself; I collected the 'Three-Day Frozen Tribulation' for you and even brought you out. Our temporary cooperation ended the moment we escaped confinement, and now you want to drag me onto your sinking ship?" "Absolutely not!"

Shouye's eyes widened at the mention of it. "The Three-Day Frozen Tribulation?" He surveyed the scattered snowflakes, then stared at Xu Xiaoshou. "You did this?" he asked, incredulous. "Yup," Xu Xiaoshou replied, flipping his hand to reveal ice flames dancing in his palm. "Let me explain first, so you don't wrongly accuse me later. It's because I was also in the Spirit Melting Lake when the explosion happened. That red-dressed one..." Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the ice sculpture nearby. "...he sealed both of us into a small pocket dimension. Luckily, the 'Ashlight Original Seed' and the 'Three-Day Frozen Tribulation' were also left inside. I originally thought we'd each take one, then combine our efforts to blow up the space and escape, but this useless ghost beast couldn't even collect an ice flame, so I had to handle everything myself."

Xu Xiaoshou calmly met Shouye's gaze. "I merely saved this ghost beast as an afterthought because its host is my friend," he stated. "As I told you, the friend from the Spirit Palace, the ghost beast I dealt with before, it was her... *it*!" Shouye was dumbfounded, utterly shocked. This terrifying ice-element ghost beast, which he had considered a formidable enemy, believing it had survived the "Nine Deaths Thunder Tribulation"—it was just Xu Xiaoshou? How young was this fellow?!

"The Three-Day Frozen Tribulation..." Shouye stared blankly at the ice lotus in Xu Xiaoshou's hand. He was utterly speechless. So, his initial intuition hadn't been wrong after all. Every major explosion was connected to this young man? Nonsense! More than connected—this fellow orchestrated them all!

"So, the explosion in the Spirit Melting Lake..." Shouye said, still filled with doubt. "Don't pin that on me," Xu Xiaoshou quickly waved his hands, clarifying, "That explosion had nothing to do with me. At most, I was just trying to retrieve the 'Ashlight Original Seed.' In the end, that thing spontaneously emerged and detonated when its power collided with the 'Three-Day Frozen Tribulation.' Even if you want to accuse me of helping a ghost beast, it was purely for my friend's sake, which is understandable. The explosion itself had nothing to do with me."

*This has nothing to do with you?* Shouye froze completely. So, ultimately, you, Xu Xiaoshou, were behind all of it, weren't you? Not just the explosions... but the ghost beasts too!

Glancing at the Grey Mist Person, Shouye composed himself and spoke solemnly: "Your actions might be justifiable from your perspective, but all of this is merely your account. We Red Coats will conduct our own investigation." He raised his hand, his gaze fixed on the ice lotus in Xu Xiaoshou's palm. "Cease, and come with me!" "What about him?" Xu Xiaoshou still wouldn't relent. "The real ghost beast is right there, yet you choose to arrest me?" Shouye exhaled deeply. "Right now," he stated, "you are far more dangerous than any ghost beast!"

(Shouye triggered passive ability: **Praise**, +1.)Xu Xiaoshou clicked his tongue, nearly crushing the persistent information panel. *Now of all times, it's still messing around?* Without another word, he clenched his hands, and the "Frozen Tribulation Power" from the ice flames burst forth with full intensity. A resounding *crack* echoed. In an instant, the encroaching darkness was driven back by the bitter cold. The swirling snowflakes, under the extreme chill, transformed into large hailstones flecked with black, plummeting to the ground. The "Three-Day Frozen Tribulation," imbued with the power of tribulation, was clearly far superior in power to the dark attribute that had yet to unleash its full potential. Xu Xiaoshou observed the landscape, half illuminated and half shrouded in darkness. He then turned his gaze to Shouye, speaking slowly and solemnly: "If you insist on taking me, my answer remains the same." "I refuse!"