Chapter 531: Overbearing Presence of the Conqueror's Haki

"F-Flew away?"

"My goodness, what happened? Did Xu Xiaoshou make a move? Why did he just fly?"

"This is impossible!!"

The crowd of onlookers immediately erupted in an uproar.

Some people had anticipated Xu Xiaoshou's demeanor, and given his extraordinary feat of single-handedly securing eighteen White Cave spots at the City Lord's Mansion, they had guessed he would be very strong. But no matter how strong, he was just an outer disciple! And now, you're telling me that an outer disciple of Tiansang Spirit Palace, with just a glance, sent thirty-three veteran inner disciples flying?

A glance!!!

Everyone's eyes nearly popped out.

"What the hell? Can anyone tell me what spirit skill Xu Xiaoshou just used?"

"Was it really... a gaze kill?"

After exchanging bewildered glances, no one could offer an explanation.

Which of those present wasn't a prodigy in their own right? Even if not a prodigy, any ordinary Spirit Master would have been able to give a definitive explanation. Xu Xiaoshou's move just now genuinely didn't use any spiritual essence. So, without spiritual essence, and without his renowned physical or sword techniques... how did Xu Xiaoshou manage to send people flying with just a glance?

"Au... Aura?"

After a moment of silence, a timid voice spoke up. However, before the words even settled, he was immediately drowned out by jeers. "Aura? Are you kidding me? Show me! Can you kill with a gaze?"

"Seriously, use your brain, okay?"

"Aura is an absolute suppression of cultivation levels, achievable only when crossing a major realm, or even two major realms. But..."

"It can't send people flying!"

As that person spoke, their expression became completely dazed. What does it mean to kill with a gaze? Xu Xiaoshou had just proven it!

"But if it wasn't aura, what else could it be? Just that glance, that fleeting glimpse, made my legs go weak."

"I'm also a Spirit Ascendant!"

"What is Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation level? How could he make me feel so powerless for no reason?"

"This isn't right!"

The Spirit Masters in the arena were so engrossed in debating and discussing this single glance that, for a moment, it completely overshadowed the conflict itself.

Until another discordant voice rang out. "By the way, aren't you concerned about what happened to Tan Ji?"

"He's a veteran Spirit Ascendant peak, who suppressed his cultivation for years, all for 'East Heaven Royal City'."

"Xu Xiaoshou did nothing, just sent him flying with a glance."

"There's been no response from him until now... He's not dead, is he?"

This instantly brought everyone back to their senses.

Rao Yinyin also snapped back to reality, her eyes wide with incredible shock. She acknowledged the 'aura' explanation that had just been discussed. After all, besides that explanation, there was no other way to account for Xu Xiaoshou's previous actions. But aura...

"How is this possible?"

With an exclamation in her heart, she waved a hand and urged, "Two of you, go check! He shouldn't be dead... right?"

Tan Ji!

Gazing deeply at Xu Xiaoshou, Rao Yinyin fell silent once more. That was Tan Ji! A guy who even gave her quite a headache, and Xu Xiaoshou did it with just a glance?

"Gulp."

"Gulp!"

Zhou Tianshen felt that the amount of saliva he'd swallowed since Xu Xiaoshou arrived could fill several stomachs. But even so, it couldn't alleviate the shock in his heart.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

"Hmm?"

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head, putting his long spear back into his ring.

"What's your cultivation level... now?" Zhou Tianshen asked cautiously.

At this moment, he felt that even if Xu Xiaoshou claimed to be a Grandmaster... or a Throne! Even a Throne, he would believe it!

"My cultivation level?" Xu Xiaoshou's lips curved into a smile, his eyes darting. "Can't you tell? Haha, I've recently cultivated a special spirit skill that makes my cultivation level undetectable."

"So?" Zhou Tianshen craned his neck.

"Let me tell you, don't be too surprised, and don't tell anyone else..." Xu Xiaoshou glanced around, lowering his voice.

Gulp. Zhou Tianshen stood with his saber, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Indwelling, peak!" Xu Xiaoshou said with a grim expression.

Buzz!

Zhou Tianshen's mind instantly went blank.

"Haha, pretty fast breakthrough, right?" Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. "Let me tell you, the world outside the Spirit Palace is truly amazing. Any random treasure can make your cultivation soar."

"Let me see..." He looked Zhou Tianshen up and down a few times and said, "You're probably not doing so well, still only at Yuan Court Realm. I've left you far behind."

Gulp. Zhou Tianshen's Adam's apple bobbed again, his lips parting as if to speak, but he held back.

"What's wrong?" Xu Xiaoshou noticed something was off with the big guy.

"Indwelling, peak?" Zhou Tianshen repeated it as if in a daze.

"That's right!"

"Are you sure?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"How is that possible!" Zhou Tianshen instantly collapsed, his face pale. "Him!" He pointed at the vanished Tan Ji, exclaiming, "Spirit Ascendant, peak! He suppressed his cultivation for so many years, his foundation is incredibly deep."

"You're telling me, you, at Indwelling peak, dealt with him with just a glance?"

"Mmm-hmm." Xu Xiaoshou looked strange and said, "You already know, didn't I cut down Zhang Xinxiong back when I was in the Yuan Court Realm?"

"You saw it then, didn't you?"

"Are those concepts the same?" Zhou Tianshen roared, suddenly flustered and stammering, "B-back then, you fought so hard..."

"Mmm-hmm." Xu Xiaoshou nodded and spread his hands. "So, I broke through, didn't I? That's why it was easier to fight!"

Zhou Tianshen: ???

He suddenly felt drained, as if the last bit of air he was holding had escaped, and he gave up struggling. Xu Xiaoshou... We're different. He can't be measured by common sense. If his 'easy' and my 'easy' were compared, it would be enough to infuriate someone to death.

A gaze... Just a gaze... Glancing back at Tan Ji, who was being carried back from afar, Zhou Tianshen shivered inexplicably.

"This is too terrifying!"

"How did he do it? How did he grow to this extent in such a short time?"

The idea that had cooled due to their loss of contact now flared up again. Zhou Tianshen recalled his motto from back then: "Indeed, follow the champion, and good things will surely come!"

"How do you cultivate?" He eagerly grabbed Xu Xiaoshou's arm.

"Sleeping." Xu Xiaoshou answered honestly. He didn't like to deceive friends.

Zhou Tianshen: "..."

(A curse was received, passive value +1.)

"Xu Xiaoshou, I consider you a friend. You can joke with others like this, but is this how you treat me?" Zhou Tianshen was displeased.

Xu Xiaoshou puzzled, "It's precisely because I consider you a friend that I don't want to lie to you."

"You're full of it!" Zhou Tianshen suddenly spat on Xu Xiaoshou's face. "Who the hell can cultivate to your level by sleeping every day?"

"Tell me!"

"Me!" Xu Xiaoshou pointed to himself.

Zhou Tianshen: ???

"You're insane!"

"I'm not insane, you are. Calm down." Xu Xiaoshou pulled his hand free and grasped Zhou Tianshen's shoulders, gesturing for him to calm down.

"Impossible, impossible..." Zhou Tianshen shook his head incessantly, completely dumbfounded. Xu Xiaoshou didn't seem to be joking? But what the hell kind of joke was this? How could one cultivate by sleeping every day?

"So, what spirit skill was that 'gaze kill'?" Zhou Tianshen shook his head and asked again, "Teach me! That move was too cool, I want to learn it!"

"That move, huh..." Xu Xiaoshou smiled happily. It was his first time unconsciously using "Aura of the Devouring Mountains and Rivers." He wasn't sure when it started, but perhaps it was when Tan Ji began cursing, that Xu Xiaoshou, listening, began to feel annoyed. If you're going to fight, then fight. Why babble senselessly? But Tan Ji was so arrogant that Xu Xiaoshou decided to use a more overwhelming display to crush his arrogance. Emotions suppressed for a long time accumulated during his conversation with Zhou Tianshen. When he finally looked back, Xu Xiaoshou had originally intended to send the opponent flying with a simple flick of his finger. But unexpectedly, a glance, as if divinely aided, perfectly manifested the power of "Aura of the Devouring Mountains and Rivers" from his previous illusion. And so... He turned his head. Looking at the completely unconscious Tan Ji, lying in a pool of blood, Xu Xiaoshou smiled.

"Very strong."

"This move is called 'Aura of the Devouring Mountains and Rivers'."

"I really want to teach it to you, but honestly, I don't even know how."

Zhou Tianshen became anxious: "How can that be? I'll trade you! I have a super powerful spirit skill, from an ancient saber god, called 'Sever Myself'."

"You just need to cut off one of your arms to learn it. Once fully comprehended, you won't need cultivation; your saber intent alone can reach Grandmaster, or even Throne!" As he spoke, he pulled out a jade slip that had been pre-copied.

"Whoa, hold on, hold on." Xu Xiaoshou was startled. What kind of joke was this? One arm? Glancing at Zhou Tianshen's single arm, Xu Xiaoshou felt a headache coming on. "I have no intention of losing an arm, so let's skip that spirit skill."

"If I truly could teach it, I definitely would, but I really can't." Xu Xiaoshou paused, looking at the suspicious Zhou Tianshen, knowing that telling the truth wouldn't be believed. "Inheritance, you understand?"

"The kind that gives you instant enlightenment, like a sudden jolt. That's how this spirit skill came about."

Zhou Tianshen's eyes widened, then dulled.

"Oh."

"I see..."

He dragged his saber, realizing that Xu Xiaoshou wasn't someone who hoarded treasures, and departed dejectedly.

"Tsk tsk." Xu Xiaoshou found it amusing. Glancing at the rapidly scrolling information bar, he truly felt the immense power of "Aura of the Devouring Mountains and Rivers." Not only was its power exceptional, but it was also a great skill for wildly accumulating passive points! Look. In just this short while, a dozen or so people present had contributed hundreds of passive points. If this were on an arena stage, without a barrier, with hundreds of thousands of spectators... After one glance... A million passive points?

"Hehe, hehe..." Xu Xiaoshou thought, drooling.

"Hey!" Rao Yinyin walked over, frowning as she saw Xu Xiaoshou lost in thought, his eyes unfocused, seemingly daydreaming about something.

Xu Xiaoshou snapped back, "First of all, my name isn't 'Hey'..."

Rao Yinyin glared at him with her beautiful eyes.

"Whoa, whoa."

"What's up?"

Xu Xiaoshou subconsciously shrank his neck. No matter how strong he was now, the thought of having seen her naked when they first met made him feel like he was in the wrong from the start. His tone dropped a notch. Damn it. Xu Xiaoshou, man up! This girl still has Su Qianqian chasing you down from behind, have you forgotten that? He inwardly encouraged himself.

"Tan Ji..." Rao Yinyin frowned, glancing in that direction.

"I didn't kill anyone. You can't bluff me." Xu Xiaoshou retorted, unwilling to show weakness.

Rao Yinyin: "..."

"I was going to say, nice hit. I've wanted to punch that guy for a long time too."

"Uh."

"So, that glance just now..." Rao Yinyin raised an eyebrow.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately puffed up with pride. "Impressive, right?"

"Mmm."

"What's it called?" Rao Yinyin asked.

"Conqueror's Haki!" Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fist.

Rao Yinyin: "..."

(A curse was received, passive value +1.)

"Xu Xiaoshou, do you think I'm easy to fool?" She ground her teeth in annoyance. "Just now you called it 'Aura of the Devouring Mountains and Rivers,' and now you've changed the name?"

"Oh, really!" Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, "You already know it's called 'Aura of the Devouring Mountains and Rivers,' so why are you asking when you already know?"

"You ask knowingly, I answer knowingly..." He shrugged. "Seems perfectly reasonable to me!"

Rao Yinyin was speechless. She merely wanted to inquire about the origin of this spirit skill by asking its name. But Xu Xiaoshou... It was clear that this guy had already seen through her intentions and didn't want to say.

Never mind. Rao Yinyin changed the subject. "Since you're already here, and Tan Ji has been thoroughly defeated by you, then you'll be the leader of the second squad." She pointed at Zhou Tianshen. "You lead them."

"No." Xu Xiaoshou immediately rejected it. He originally didn't want to meet up with the Spirit Palace contingent. His reluctant presence here was solely due to the 'Dao Pattern Primeval Stone'.

"No?" Rao Yinyin's eyes flashed, and she said blandly, "It's the Headmaster's order. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm not afraid of him."

Rao Yinyin opened her mouth, intending to say something upon hearing the first word. But when the latter half came out, she choked.

"Alright." Nodding, Rao Yinyin casually turned her head and said, "If you're not doing it, then what are you doing here? It can't really be a coincidence, can it? Or that you just came to chat with Zhou Tianshen?"

Xu Xiaoshou squinted his eyes with a smile. Good, she's hit the nail on the head. He was also very curious. The Tiansang Spirit Palace team, and Fu Xing and his companion... How did it happen that they just so coincidentally set up a protective barrier and rested right here? It couldn't just be a coincidence? It couldn't just be fate?

"What about you?" He gestured with his chin. "You first."

"Me?" Rao Yinyin chuckled and looked back. "We encountered a White Skeleton clan and fought for most of the day, so we're recovering here."

"I don't see many injuries on you!" Xu Xiaoshou's gaze dropped.

"What are you looking at?!" Rao Yinyin snapped indignantly, "No injuries? That's because I've recovered. What, do I need your permission, Mr. Xu, to rest here?"