Chapter 552: Old Second, Why Are You Here Too?

"Oh, no!""He's possessed by a ghost beast already?"A commotion instantly erupted in mid-air.

"Are you serious? Just by acquiring the 'Four Swords,' he's deemed a ghost beast's host?""This person might have even achieved the Throne realm within the White Cave, and his status as a stowaway hasn't even been confirmed. How can you so quickly label him a ghost beast's host?""If that's the logic, does that mean if any of us obtain the 'Four Swords,' we'll be the next to be possessed by a ghost beast?""Uh, what's everyone saying? A ghost beast's host... what is that?"A flurry of noisy discussions erupted.

Lan Ling's ill-timed announcement certainly caused a great deal of misunderstanding.Despite their inherent trust in the Red Robes, everyone had instinctively paused.Similarly, after imagining themselves in that position, no one wanted to be falsely accused.Even though they weren't the ones currently holding the 'Four Swords,' everyone had, by unspoken agreement, chosen to voice their concerns.However, it was abundantly clear.These individuals, with their limited influence, were entirely insufficient to halt the Red Robes' advance.

The instant Lan Ling finished speaking, several shimmering teleportation arrays suddenly appeared around the sword-wielding man in the void.The next second, over a dozen Red Robes swiftly emerged.

"Slander!""Red Robes... pure slander!"The square-faced man, clutching the menacing sword, showed undisguised panic.He cursed furiously, glancing back at the people hovering motionlessly in mid-air."This is the true nature of the Red Robes, do you see?""If I'm summarily taken down without cause right now, the next one to die will be someone among you!""A ghost beast's host, what a monstrous accusation! Red Robes, you are truly..."He stopped mid-sentence.The man seemed to choke, his voice suddenly cutting off.The next second, his body began to swell violently.

"Boom!!!"Following the deafening explosion,Terrifying demonic energy erupted from his body, surging past the Red Robes, who were protected by spiritual energy.Everyone was startled.How could someone perfectly fine a moment ago suddenly explode?They all looked up to see that the person who had been whole was now completely mutilated after the blast.Limbs torn asunder, torso shattered...No, barely half of him remained.Whether any consciousness survived was another question entirely!

"Is that... a Red Robe tactic too?"Someone in the crowd exclaimed in terror."It's the menacing sword's backlash!"One of the Red Robes turned back, growling a retort, then waved a hand."Take him!"*Swish, swish, swish.*Each of the Red Robes produced a white jade slip.As the light from the slips illuminated the area, the man holding the 'Four Swords' was sealed completely and then vanished, without even managing to put up the slightest resistance.

A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers in the void.Such a swift and decisive method...He was taken down without even uttering more than a few words.A combatant of the Throne level, neutralized just like that?Was this, then, the true power of the Red Robes?

"No, this demands an explanation!""Whether that individual is even a ghost beast is debatable! Taking him down so indiscriminately is nothing short of a travesty! A travesty!""Heh, an explanation?"Xin, who stood before Lan Ling, scoffed, then soared into the sky, scattering a handful of papers."This, is your explanation!"Though the papers fluttered chaotically and were visible to the crowd for only a fleeting moment,Everyone present was a Spirit Refiner, possessing spiritual perception.With a single glance, they all recognized the face on the wanted posters.One of them was the spitting image of the man who had just been apprehended!

"Xu Xiaoshou..."Deep within the underground pit,Mu Zixi closed her eyes, as if trying to deny what she knew, yet she couldn't help but murmur the name of a familiar face from the wanted poster."Master?"She turned her head, deactivating her energy-draining Divine Demon Eyes, and looked at Xu Xiaoshou."Did you see it?"Xu Xiaoshou said with a chuckle, gently ruffling his junior sister's hair. "Don't worry, I'm not a ghost beast. But the Red Robes do indeed have a bounty on me. That's precisely why I had to transform before I dared to come here.""I believe you," Mu Zixi nodded emphatically."Affirmed, Passive Value +1."A warmth spread through Xu Xiaoshou's heart.Sometimes, knowing someone's true emotions too clearly wasn't necessarily a good thing.He was genuinely afraid that, at this very moment, his information bar would suddenly pop up with "Deceived," in which case..."This verification system is too real."Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, pushing the thoughts away.

The handful of wanted posters scattered by bald Xin had genuinely startled him.Not because he saw his own face among them,But because the Red Robes' judgment was nearly infallible!On those few papers, Xu Xiaoshou had seen many familiar faces:Xin Gugu, Jiao Tangtang, Mo Mo...He was even certain that these individuals had had very little interaction with the Red Robes.Yet, despite this, the Red Robes had managed to precisely identify their targets for judgment.Even if some of these targets might currently be under mere suspicion,This predictive ability was simply too terrifying.

"How did they manage that?"Xu Xiaoshou felt a surge of unease.It was fortunate he hadn't yet signed a ghost beast contract with the Gluttony God.Otherwise,Just that single glance might have been enough to make him want to turn tail and flee immediately.The Red Robes truly were somewhat terrifying!

"Master, the Red Robes' net, it seems to be closing a bit quickly, doesn't it?" Mu Zixi turned her head and asked.Xu Xiaoshou was slightly taken aback.His junior sister actually understood the term "closing the net"?As soon as Mu Zixi heard no reply, she immediately grasped what her senior brother was thinking."Cursed, Passive Value +1."Xu Xiaoshou clicked his tongue. "The net might seem to be closing fast, but if you think about it, do you really believe the Red Robes haven't considered what you're thinking right now?""Huh?" Mu Zixi looked confused.Xu Xiaoshou hesitated for a moment.He hadn't really intended to explain, but then he recalled his junior sister's peculiar "Divine Demon Eyes."What if, one day, she found herself alone in a similar predicament? What would she do then?

"Junior sister, remember this well: in this world, no one who reaches the Red Robe level is foolish.""Since even you feel their net is closing quickly, yet the Red Robes continue to close it, why is that?""Why aren't they waiting a bit longer?""Exposing such a massive formation so swiftly, allowing more people hidden in the shadows to realize they're surrounded—is that truly a good strategy?""So?" Mu Zixi blinked her large eyes. "Why?""I don't know either; you'll have to figure that out yourself," Xu Xiaoshou said. "But you just need to understand that they aren't foolish. If they dare to do this, there must be a profound reason behind it."Mu Zixi: "...""Cursed, Passive Value +1, +1, +1, +1..."

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent.Did he truly not know?No.He could vaguely discern some possibilities.Perhaps these insights were only a fraction of the Red Robes' true plan.But he was certainly not as utterly bewildered and clueless as Mu Zixi.

"Whoosh!"Within his 'Perception,' after the ghost beast's host—who hadn't even had time to offer the slightest resistance—was subdued, the Red Robes surprisingly chose not to claim the 'Four Swords.' Instead, they allowed it to fly off freely in a different direction."What...?"Those still hovering in mid-air were momentarily stunned and uncertain, hesitating to give chase immediately.

"Senior Red Robes, what exactly is going on?""Indeed, regarding these 'Four Swords,' are we truly permitted to take them?""You may!" Lan Ling replied with a smile. "I solemnly declare here that the Red Robes have not the slightest interest in the 'Four Swords.' Our scope of responsibility is strictly limited to ghost beasts and stowaways.""As I've said before, as long as you entered the White Cave through legitimate channels, the 'Four Swords' is simply another treasure. Nothing more.""Whether you can obtain it or not depends entirely on your own capabilities.""But if outsiders dare to intervene..."She paused, then pointed to the spot where the ghost beast's host had just been sealed, and said ominously, "This, is the consequence!"A stir erupted in the air.With that declaration, everyone finally chose to trust the Red Robes once more.Not only did those hovering in the void immediately turn back to pursue the sword,But from below, another dozen figures surged forth.The sword flew, and people chased!However...It was utterly impossible to catch!Above the demonically suffused Sword-Departure Grassland, the desperate scene unfolded like a heated tug-of-war.The sight was both comical and rather heartbreaking.

Inside the underground pit."Are the Red Robes telling the truth?" Mu Zixi asked, turning back with a look of disbelief.Xu Xiaoshou scoffed. "Even your knees would know that's impossible.""But they said it themselves, in front of so many people...""You mean they shouldn't go back on their word, right?" Xu Xiaoshou countered. "Yes, the Red Robes did state they wouldn't intervene, but what about the White Robes? And the Holy Divine Palace?""Did you see Yu Zhiwen?""That girl was just walking with us earlier, and now she's gone and can stand among the Red Robe leadership. That alone speaks volumes about her status.""Under such circumstances, even if the Red Robes wanted to claim the sword, wouldn't it ultimately fall into her hands anyway?""Rather than directly taking it, it's better to go with the flow, give these White Cave cultivators some hope, and let them inadvertently disrupt the situation.""Understand?"Mu Zixi nodded, appearing to grasp some of it but not all. "I think there's more to it than that.""Oh, tell me more," Xu Xiaoshou said, a little surprised.Could this girl actually be thinking on a deeper level now?Good company certainly rubs off!

Mu Zixi lowered her voice. "I, on the other hand, think that once they've said this, as long as no cultivators from the White Cave make it out alive, then the Red Robes haven't technically broken their promise."Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily speechless.He was somewhat shocked. How could his junior sister harbor such a terrifying thought?Wipe out all survivors?Just as he was about to object, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly hesitated.Didn't that, in fact, align with the Red Robes' consistent methods?Genocide..."That's highly unlikely!"After a moment's thought, Xu Xiaoshou still shook his head. "No matter how much I might dislike the Red Robes, an organization that belongs to the continent's foremost power wouldn't stoop to such inhumane acts.""Oh," Mu Zixi simply nodded, saying no more as she continued to watch the battle unfold.

"So, it's an entrapment operation..."Xu Xiaoshou sighed softly.Using the 'Four Swords' as bait to lure in big targets like 'Holy Slaves' and ghost beasts.Only a supreme power like the Holy Divine Palace would likely possess the confidence to execute such a maneuver.

"Boom!""Boom!"Consecutive explosions echoed from the void.Each time such a sound occurred, it signified that the wielder of the 'Four Swords' had been replaced.And those who had previously obtained this menacing sword but failed to withstand its backlash,Without exception, had all exploded and perished.

"How cruel..."Xu Xiaoshou watched as, despite such dire outcomes, more and more arrogant individuals, like moths to a flame, still rushed towards the 'Four Swords.' He couldn't help but sigh with resignation.'People die for wealth, and birds die for food.'This remains a timeless truth in any world.

"What will the next big fish be..."He stopped focusing on the 'Four Swords.'Xu Xiaoshou knew that with these individuals and their level of strength, not only would they be incapable of wielding the 'Four Swords,' but barely anyone could even withstand the surge of demonic energy that entered their bodies upon merely touching the blade.These cannon fodder were clearly not the 'big fish' the Red Robes sought to catch.So...He turned his head to look at the colossal barrier that encased the entire Sword-Departure Grassland.

"Can the Red Robes alone achieve something of this magnitude?"Xu Xiaoshou was highly skeptical.He could discern more than just a trace of Heavenly Dao patterns on this grand formation.

"Lan Ling is merely a Spirit Array Grandmaster. To accomplish this, Yu Zhiwen must have provided significant assistance.""As Mu Zixi mentioned, this net is closing too rapidly; at this moment, no other 'big fish' are willing to emerge and face death.""Even so, the Red Robes still deployed this barrier. What could be their true intention?"

His thoughts raced furiously.Xu Xiaoshou racked his brain, arriving at a single conclusion:The Red Robes could see all potential sword contenders.And their ultimate targets had already gathered within the Sword-Departure Grassland.Only then would they be able to deploy the barrier without reservation!

"Holy Slaves, ghost beasts..."Xu Xiaoshou's 'Perception' instantly focused on Xin Gugu's direction.The man was so composed it was entirely uncharacteristic of him.Even when the wildly flying 'Four Swords' whizzed over his head several times, he remained completely unfazed."What is he waiting for?""Is he waiting for Jiao Tangtang?""No."Xu Xiaoshou couldn't sense Jiao Tangtang's aura.After obtaining the Spirit Compass, that woman should have gone to search for the 'Sacrificial Carved Fragments,' so it was plausible she wasn't here.However...Recalling how Jiao Tangtang had appeared silently before him previously,A stronger possibility was that she had used the 'Heavenly Prosperity Spirit Compass' to locate Lan Xinzi and the man accompanying her.And at this very moment, they too were within the Sword-Departure Grassland!

"How will they break through?"Xu Xiaoshou racked his brain, unable to comprehend how Jiao Tangtang and the others could possibly obtain the 'Four Swords' and then breach the White Cave, especially under the encirclement of over a dozen Throne-level experts.Furthermore, they would also need to pass through the external blockade of the White Cave, which was..."The Moonless Sword Immortal!""What the hell, how could that be possible?"Xu Xiaoshou himself couldn't fathom it, and thus he dared not make any rash moves.Red Robes, ghost beasts, Holy Slaves...And then other assorted factions.This small Sword-Departure Grassland was, incredibly, the stage for a grand scheme orchestrated by no fewer than three major powers!And at this moment, he could only discern the intentions of one side, and not even completely.In such a situation, self-preservation was undeniably the wisest course of action.

"Junior sister, listen to me: until the very last moment, we absolutely must not make any rash moves. And always be ready to retreat into the Origin Palace and escape this place!"Xu Xiaoshou's expression was exceedingly solemn. "Did you hear me?""Oh," Mu Zixi replied obediently, her gaze fixed straight ahead.Xu Xiaoshou was about to give further instructions.Just then, his spiritual perception suddenly stirred, as if it had been pulled into a specific channel.The next second, a voice filled with joyful surprise reached him."Second Brother, why are you here as well?"