Chapter 532: True and False Xu Xiaoshou

"Oh, don't say that. That would make us too distant."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hands repeatedly, then changed the subject. "So, with the White Cave's anomalies, treasures appearing one after another, and so many heavenly phenomena... are you just going to stick around here, barbecuing and recuperating? Are you just going to waste time like this?"

Rao Yinyin's eyes narrowed. "Xu Xiaoshou, what do you mean?"

"I think there's something off about you," Xu Xiaoshou replied with a smile.

"What's off about me?"

"Everything!"

Silence suddenly fell. Rao Yinyin went quiet for a moment.

Xu Xiaoshou's lips curved into a smile. No longer pressing, he coaxed, "So, according to you, you're just here to heal and do nothing else, right?"

"Yes." Rao Yinyin looked up. "Why?"

"That's good," Xu Xiaoshou clapped his hands delightedly. "You rest, and I'll look for what I need. We won't interfere with each other."

"What you need..." Rao Yinyin's gaze sharpened, finally unable to hide her curiosity. She asked urgently, "What do you need?"

"That's none of your business," Xu Xiaoshou casually clasped his hands behind his head. "Anyway, I don't need your help. You can leave once you've rested, just don't hold us back."

"You!"

Received a glare, Passive Points +1.

Rao Yinyin paused, then couldn't help but state, "Xu Xiaoshou, you also want the 'Initial Dao Stone'?"

"Heh."

"Also?" Xu Xiaoshou pointed to the others. "Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

At this, the small groups nearby were also drawn in by their argument. They had initially thought it was just a private spat between the two and didn't want to pay much attention. But now... things seemed different?

"'Initial Dao Stone,' what's that?"

"I don't know, never heard of it, but judging by how Senior Sister Rao and Xu Xiaoshou are vying for it, it must be a supreme treasure."

"Not 'must be,' it *is*!"

"Initial Dao Stone..."

Some voiced their confusion, while others murmured in contemplation. None of those present were ordinary individuals. To be admitted into the Heavenly Sang Spiritual Palace and rank among the top thirty-three in the inner court meant nearly everyone had some level of background. Consequently, after some thought, someone finally seemed to recall something.

"'Initial Dao Stone,' isn't that a supreme treasure used by Sovereigns to comprehend the Heavenly Dao?"

"Apart from the 'Ancient Bodhi Tree,' one of the Nine Divine Trees, this item is almost the best treasure for comprehending the Heavenly Dao."

"I heard that if one could find the legendary 'Chaos Dao Stone,' they could even achieve sainthood by solely relying on that stone for comprehension!"

"Hiss, that powerful?" Someone was startled.

"Absolutely!"

"But how do Senior Sister Rao and Xu Xiaoshou know there's an 'Initial Dao Stone' here?"

Everyone fell silent at that question. Their eyes darted around, their intentions becoming unclear. They were indeed part of the same team. And most of them were from the Heavenly Sang Spiritual Palace. However, inner court rivalries were akin to a miniature spiritual refining realm. Moreover, the Heavenly Sang Spiritual Palace had no regulation stating that treasures found in the White Cave must be handed over. Under these preconditions, although the team had detailed the distribution of obtained treasures, in the face of such a peerless treasure...

There was only one Initial Dao Stone. How could it be distributed? Sliced? What a joke! The correct approach was to secure it for oneself and then offer others some additional compensation.

"Senior Sister Rao, is what Xu Xiaoshou said true? Is there really an 'Initial Dao Stone' here?" Someone couldn't help but ask aloud.

Rao Yinyin's eyes narrowed, but she didn't reply. Xu Xiaoshou, however, was amused. "Oh, so you didn't tell anyone else? That means this was your personal plan, then? To take it for yourself the moment it appears, while others aren't paying attention, then fabricate an explanation, and finally just brush everyone else aside? Or perhaps..."

"Xu Xiaoshou!" Rao Yinyin suddenly reprimanded, "Don't go too far!"

"Uh." Xu Xiaoshou was startled, seeing the unexpectedly serious Rao Yinyin. He lowered his gaze and fell into thought. For some time now, he had been facing transcendent beings like Zhang Taiying, the Grey Mist Man, and Night Watchman. When dealing with such individuals, a slight misstep could lead to instant death. This had led him to habitually consider the worst possible outcome before every strategy. Over time, this cynical speculation and way of thinking had indeed affected his normal words and actions.

For instance, now. Rao Yinyin was merely a Spiritual Palace disciple. What bad intentions could she possibly have? At worst, she just wanted the 'Initial Dao Stone,' just like him. Regardless of how she got the information, even if her intentions were unclear, having been rooted in the Spiritual Palace for so long, anyone would develop feelings of loyalty. Xu Xiaoshou himself was no exception. And now, to maliciously speculate about a woman with the kind of destructive thoughts only someone like the Grey Mist Man would have... Xu Xiaoshou himself had to admit it was excessive.

"My apologies." He gave a solemn nod, his gaze becoming serious. "But, I cannot give up the Initial Dao Stone."

The scene quieted. The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat grim. Everyone quietly shifted, gathering with their familiar companions. Soon, the situation became clear at a glance. Although they each had their own thoughts, in this crucial moment, the Heavenly Sang Spiritual Palace team still stood together. Behind Xu Xiaoshou were only Mu Yu and Zhou Tianshen. As for Su Qianqian... although this young girl already appeared quite mature, she was now in a dilemma. On one side was her Senior Sister Rao. On the other was Brother Xiaoshou... How did it suddenly look like a fight was about to break out?

Su Qianqian bit her lower lip, wanting to speak. But seeing the two in the center staring at each other in silence, she didn't know how to speak.

"Xu Xiaoshou." Rao Yinyin's gaze shifted from the cowering Zhou Tianshen. Her voice was calm. "If I'm not mistaken, Back Mountain, Waterfall, Sovereign Pill."

"Uh..." Xu Xiaoshou's stern expression immediately relaxed, and his ready-to-fire verbal assault sputtered. "Cough, cough, yes, I, Xu Xiaoshou, am a man of my word. I still owe you a Sovereign Pill."

"Very well," Rao Yinyin's red lips curved. "So?"

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head. "So, it's still no. The Sovereign Pill is one thing; I can even buy you one after we leave the White Cave. But the 'Initial Dao Stone' is different. This item is very important to me; I must have it."

"It's also very important to me," Rao Yinyin said, biting her lip, her voice equally firm.

"Since it's so important to both of us, then let's use our own methods. Anyway, it's just the two of us here—" Xu Xiaoshou was speaking when his voice suddenly hitched.

Both of them, in unison, turned their heads.

"Boom!"

Simultaneously, the surrounding protective barrier exploded after a shimmering tremor.

"Clack, clack." Rao Yinyin's fists clenched, cracking loudly, and she shot Xu Xiaoshou a fierce glare. "You jinx!"

"This..." Xu Xiaoshou hadn't expected his words to be so prophetic. Had his mouth been blessed? People arrived before he even finished speaking?

He looked out and saw a large number of dark figures pouring in after the barrier broke. More than twenty people. In terms of numbers, they completely dwarfed everyone previously present. Similarly, in terms of quality... A quick scan revealed that more than half of them were Grandmasters. There were both older and younger individuals.

"What's going on?"

"Where did this group come from?"

Xu Xiaoshou knew that even if there were trespassers in the White Cave, it was nominally a training ground for the younger generation. These guys had a considerable average age and didn't look like normal noble family disciples. Instead, they looked more like... With a thought, Xu Xiaoshou recalled that there was indeed a special group of people in the White Cave. But shouldn't these spiritual array masters who came to the White Cave have been gathered by the Red Guards to break the so-called "Thirty-Six Heavenly Seal Array"?

"Did something happen with the Four Swords?" Xu Xiaoshou immediately connected many dots. His 'Perception' ability couldn't recall many people, as there were too many. But indeed, there were several faces he had seen at the large teleportation array in the Eight Palaces.

"Who are you?" Fu Xing extinguished the bonfire and stood up directly. He had set up this protective barrier, and now that it was broken, he naturally felt he'd lost face.

"Who are we..." The leader of the uninvited guests was a man wearing a black robe, a large hood, and a mask, his face completely obscured. By his voice, he seemed quite young, at least not middle-aged.

"Hahahaha!" He glanced at the people inside the barrier and suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter was so abrupt. But when he laughed, those behind him also had to laugh. Immediately, a ripple of loose, dry laughter filled the scene.

"What the heck..." Xu Xiaoshou felt a wave of awkwardness. If he hadn't been able to discern the cultivation levels of the opponents, just by their attire, he would have almost thought the "Saint Servants" had arrived. But, Saint Servants? This was at most a low-tier version! The lowest tier, bar none. He exchanged a look with Rao Yinyin; both saw the strangeness in the other's eyes. Without further words, they all tacitly chose to continue observing.

"Who am I?" After laughing enough, the black-robed leader suddenly stopped. "Brothers, tell them, who am I? What are we here to do!"

Under everyone's gaze, the second black-robed man next to the leader stepped forward. "You've come to the White Cave, so you know about Heavenly Sang Commandery, right?" He flicked his sleeve and stood with his hands behind his back.

"Hm." Fu Xing nodded. How could I not know about a commandery under my jurisdiction?

"Then, do you know about the Heavenly Sang City Lord's Mansion?"

"Hm." Fu Xing and Fu Yinhong exchanged glances, then nodded again. My home, what about it?

"Hahahaha, you all know it, then this will be easy!" The man laughed aloud and continued, "Since you're in the White Cave, you haven't just been here, right? Do you know about the emergence of the famous sword Blazing Python?"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly froze. He looked at the attire of the leading man beside the speaker, and a strange feeling abruptly rose in his heart. He opened his mouth, suddenly wanting to say something, but ultimately choosing to observe a bit longer.

Fu Xing, meanwhile, frowned, unsure what the person opposite him was trying to convey. Famous sword? Related to this group's arrival? "I've heard a little," he continued to nod.

"You've heard of that too? Even better!" The speaking black-robed man seemed even more pleased, continuing to count on his fingers. "What about the Spirit Melting Marsh? Have you heard of that?"

At this, Xu Xiaoshou's pupils contracted. How did this string of terms all feel related to him?

Fu Xing, however, was completely bewildered. "I've heard of it, but what does that have to do with you?"

"Heh." The black-robed man scoffed disdainfully. "Relationship? It's a huge one. This one!" He pointed to the leading man, his tone respectful: "Is none other than the illustrious figure who single-handedly claimed eighteen White Cave spots in the Heavenly Sang City Lord's Mansion, preemptively secured the famous sword Blazing Python in the White Cave, then proceeded to the Spirit Melting Marsh, emptied its treasures, and incidentally blew the place sky-high—Xu Xiaoshou! I ask you, do you recognize him?"

With a clatter, Fu Xing staggered. His face twitched wildly as he looked at the so-called "Xu Xiaoshou" leading the group, speechless for a moment. Recognize him? More than just recognize him? I was just sitting with Xu Xiaoshou!

"This..." Almost simultaneously, as the black-robed man's words fell, Fu Xing and Fu Yinhong, along with everyone in the Spiritual Palace team, all turned their heads in unison and saw Xu Xiaoshou's location. Surprise, oddness, confusion... A myriad of emotions.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"No way, he came to the White Cave and already did all that?"

"Famous sword?"

"I heard that when that wave of famous swords appeared, among those who went, there were not only people from the legendary 'Sword Burial Mound' in the Eastern Region, but even Red Guards and ghost beasts showed up."

"So, Xu Xiaoshou took the famous sword?"

"That's not important, okay? The Spirit Melting Marsh was where ghost beasts truly appeared; I heard it was even a sealed ghost beast."

"But wasn't it rumored that the ghost beast and Red Guards battled, causing the entire Spirit Melting Marsh to explode?"

"What, it's related to Xu Xiaoshou again?"

"This guy never changes; is he involved in every explosion?"

Discussions instantly broke out. Almost everyone subconsciously and selectively ignored the "Xu Xiaoshou" on the other side, instead looking at the real Xu Xiaoshou whom they knew, and began discussing. The situation was very clear. No matter how convincingly that side spun the tale, it was a case of the fake encountering the genuine article. One could only say their research was thorough. But this group seemed to have never seen the real Xu Xiaoshou himself.

"It seems you are the leader?" The "Xu Xiaoshou" on the other side watched as everyone looked back in unison, his gaze shifting from Fu Xing to Xu Xiaoshou.

"Leader?" Xu Xiaoshou immediately shook his head, denying, "No, I'm not."

"You're not?" The man scoffed. "If you're not the leader, then why are they looking at you, waiting for your stance?"

"What stance am I supposed to take?" Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

"Heh. What stance? Isn't it obvious? We, over twenty brothers, are tired from fighting in various places. Now, we're going to use this place to rest. As for you all..." He said, sweeping his gaze around the group, then flicked the back of his hand. "Get out!"

"Whoa!" This indifferent tone immediately ignited the Spiritual Palace team's anger.

"You talk about getting out? We were here first! The protective barrier was already set. You broke the spiritual array without warning and trespassed. You're the ones who should get out!"

"Exactly. What Xu Xiaoshou... I think you're tired of living."

"A word of advice: while a certain someone hasn't gotten angry yet, you'd better pack up and leave quickly. Otherwise, you won't even know how to cry later."

"Hahahaha..."

"Get out!"

"Get out of our sight!"