Chapter 555: Pinnacle Battle, Meticulous Details

Is this women's intuition?

Honestly, Xu Xiaoshou found it hard to believe that even the Storyteller hadn't noticed anything. Yet, this girl, Luo Leilei, could actually infer something from his continued silence.

And she suggested going to sit in the ancient book space?

Xu Xiaoshou's lips twitched.

I just put in a huge effort to escape that wretched place; going back in now would only be asking for trouble!

She's got something!

But how could I, the Second Leader of the "Saint Slave," be manipulated by a mere young girl like you?

"Stop right there."

With a single word, Xu Xiaoshou halted Mu Zixi's eloquent speech.

"Master?"

Mu Zixi raised her head, her large eyes filled with a bit of confusion.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed, "You've said a lot, but aside from that last useful piece of information, basically, everything you've said... is nonsense!"

"Hmph!"

A snort of anger rang out.

Mu Zixi's forehead immediately furrowed with annoyance.

And on the other end of the spiritual transmission, the connection also trembled, nearly breaking off completely.

A stunned silence fell!

"Feared, Passive Points, 3."

"Senior, I..."

Luo Leilei's hesitant voice emerged. She had no idea how her single remark had offended Senior Wuxiu, when everything had been going so well just before.

Before she could continue, Xu Xiaoshou interrupted her.

"You've been in White Cave for so long, and this is all the information you've gathered?" He pointed at Mu Zixi, speaking with a tone of disappointment, "I've only just arrived here, and I've already gathered far more information than you have."

"Master..."

Mu Zixi forced herself not to leap up and hit him, then reluctantly bowed her head.

Xu Xiaoshou was putting on an act!

I need to cooperate...

But, how annoying!

This guy, he's doing it on purpose, right?!

Xu Xiaoshou raised a hand.

"The Blackfall Scabbard has already fallen into Yu Zhiwen's hands. As a Diviner, that young girl can comprehend the 'Thirty-Six Heaven Sealing Array' given enough time."

"Once she cooperates with Lan Ling, it will likely be difficult for anyone to leave this place."

"And with the sealing array already activated here, the more time passes, the greater the Diviner's influence will become."

"You haven't considered any of these factors!"

Mu Zixi: "..."

"Also, the Red Guard dares to confine everyone here; do you really think they only possess the strength they've shown so far?"

"They know the 'Saint Slave' has entered White Cave; do you think they would be completely unprepared?"

"And what you just spoke about..." Xu Xiaoshou looked at Mu Zixi in disappointment, "I didn't hear a single word in there about the importance of the Red Guard!"

"Feared, Passive Points, 3."

Lei Shuangxing's voice, forced, came out, "Senior, we..."

"What's more!"

Xu Xiaoshou continued to interrupt, looking at his junior sister, who had clenched her fists. "You've already encountered the ghost beasts, and Xing Gugu has dealt with you. Yet, have you forgotten about Jiao Tangtang's existence?"

"Hmm?"

The Storyteller acutely focused his mind.

Was the Second Leader trying to use this opportunity to chastise his disciple and, at the same time, inform the three of them about other entities from the "Xuyue Gray Palace"?

Luo Leilei's voice had completely vanished.

Lei Shuangxing was also completely silent at this moment.

Anyone could see that "Old Sang" was currently furious as a tiger, unapproachable.

"Feared, Passive Points, 2."

"Everyone knows Xing Gugu has no brains, don't they?" Xu Xiaoshou continued.

"Jiao Tangtang is the true mastermind behind the 'Xuyue Gray Palace's' current operation. Unless something unexpected happened, she should also be in Liyuan Sword Grassland right now."

"And the fact that only these two possessed ghost beasts dared to execute this operation, what does that tell you?"

"First, they have backup and are not afraid of the Red Guard's power at all."

"Second, they have trump cards. These two possessed ghost beasts, originating from large, organized, and led forces, after truly transforming into their ghost beast forms—are you certain their abilities will be the same as ordinary ghost beasts?"

"Master is right." Mu Zixi buried her head in her chest.

"Senior is right." Lei Shuangxing quickly spoke up, his voice filled with fear.

So powerful!

In the short time it took Senior Wuxiu to travel from Qinglong County to White Cave, almost every clue he found pointed to a major power.

And so precise!

Is this the true strength of the "Saint Slave" leader?

Acting so swiftly and decisively, without wasting a single moment.

"Admired, Passive Points, 1."

"Suspected, Passive Points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't hear Luo Leilei's voice.

But observing the activity in the information panel, he understood that as long as he didn't directly answer her question, she seemed afraid but wouldn't give up.

"That's enough..."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed, saying, "Sit down?"

"Huh?"

Mu Zixi lifted her head, "Do what?"

Xu Xiaoshou immediately realized that his junior sister's previous words hadn't mentioned "sitting down."

"Disciple, do you think we still have time to just sit and wait here?" he asked.

"Uh."

Mu Zixi's face flushed. What was all this about?!

Why had Xu Xiaoshou suddenly... become like that?

Do what?

"Isn't that... not good?" she said hesitantly, fiddling with her fingers and speaking meekly.

"Of course not good!"

Xu Xiaoshou immediately pressed his advantage, saying, "We are waiting, the ghost beasts are waiting, and the Red Guard is waiting!"

"Everyone is waiting, so what makes you think the aid we're waiting for will be stronger than the Red Guard's aid?"

"I alone can withstand the equivalent combat power outside White Cave, but do you think our opponents are unaware of all this?"

"Would they allow us to wait for reinforcements, idly pacing and waiting for death?"

"Wrong!"

"Even children, when they can't win a fight, call for adults to help. Do you really think all the spirit refiners here are fools?"

"Still waiting?" Xu Xiaoshou scoffed, "I've already entered this place; doesn't that indicate the urgency of the situation?"

"Still sitting around?" He shook his head in disappointment, "I could certainly continue to sit here in this deep pit, sipping tea and tasting wine. But then, who would collect my corpse?"

The bits of dirt from the ceiling pattered down, shaken by his low, angry voice.

As Xu Xiaoshou's voice ceased, complete silence fell within the underground pit.

Mu Zixi dared not speak.

Although she had many questions.

But now, not speaking was probably the best answer.

Because Xu Xiaoshou's words were clearly not directed at her.

"Feared, Passive Points, 3."

"Second Leader, calm down. Miss Luo didn't mean it; she was just worried..."

"Shut up!" Xu Xiaoshou snapped.

Mu Zixi's body trembled with fright.

"Huh?"

She looked up, her large eyes full of bewilderment.

I, I wasn't going to speak...

"Cursed, Passive Points, 2."

Lei Shuangxing's voice appeared just in time, "Senior is right. We were careless. White Cave is full of dangers; we truly cannot wait any longer."

"But Chief..." Luo Leilei's stubborn voice had just emerged.

"Slap!"

This must have been the sound of someone being slapped on the head.

The next second, the girl's tone softened.

"Senior is right. This junior was too presumptuous; we truly cannot wait."

"The Second Leader is right, you two..."

The Storyteller clearly felt he needed to interject with a laugh at this moment to appease the Second Leader's anger.

But his words were not yet finished.

"Move out!"

Xu Xiaoshou was already staring in the direction of the outside, stating decisively.

"Understood."

Mu Zixi immediately puffed out her chest, full of vigor and spirit.

She had long been restless.

"Master, how do we move out?"

"Shut up, sit down." Xu Xiaoshou snapped irritably, "I wasn't talking to you!"

"Oh."

Mu Zixi obediently squatted down.

"Cursed, Passive Points, 1, 1, 1, 1..."

"Yes!"

In the spiritual transmission, three voices overlapped.

At this point, even the Storyteller dared not say anything else.

Waiting, indeed, was no longer an option.

The Second Leader was right.

The fact that he could immediately escape into White Cave after his battle with Gou Wuyue clearly indicated he had discovered something.

But if it wasn't convenient to say it now, then they could only act according to his wishes.

And his indirect hints were already quite obvious.

The Holy Divine Palace would also call for reinforcements.

Furthermore, if all the incoming individuals were at Gou Wuyue's level...

Not many would be needed.

Just two or three could hold back the Second Leader and his brother.

As for the rest of the "Saint Slave" members, they might all be unable to escape!

"Move out!"

The Storyteller immediately gave a sharp command.

Hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou's hanging heart finally settled.

Perhaps it wasn't just Luo Leilei; the Storyteller also harbored some suspicions in his heart at this moment.

But acting as Old Sang now, he should follow his words and actions.

Was Old Sang the kind of person who would allow juniors to question him?

Was he the type who would offer explanations when questioned?

If so, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't have been forcibly fed the "Ashenflame Seed" back then, nor would he only now have fully grasped the old man's identity.

Suppress!

Whether it was questioning or anything else, suppress it all!

This was Old Sang's way of doing things.

Clearly, Xu Xiaoshou had bet correctly.

In the "Saint Slave," the Second Leader was the Second Leader, and the Seventh Leader was the Seventh Leader.

Seniors were seniors, and juniors could only be juniors.

A higher rank crushes those below.

As long as he was firm, others would have to back down!

"Still sitting around?"

Xu Xiaoshou scoffed inwardly.

You little girl, it's already good enough that I haven't fed you a seed. How dare you provoke me, the Second Leader of the "Saint Slave"?

Xu Xiaoshou's communication with the "Saint Slave" members didn't last too long.

At this moment, above the Liyuan Sword Grassland, the envious pursuers finally calmed down after more than ten of them were successively blown apart by demonic energy backlash.

"Senior Red Guard, can this 'Four Swords of Existence' actually be taken?" someone asked.

"This demonic energy is problematic!"

"Surely it's not you manipulating the grand array, secretly... playing some tricks, is it?" The speaker's voice gradually faded.

Xin immediately scoffed.

"Little ones, if the Red Guard wanted White Cave's treasures, they could have plundered them all before you even entered this place."

"The 'Four Swords of Existence' are renowned as fierce swords and were once the Eighth Sword Immortal's personal weapon. Their ferocious demonic energy is to be expected."

"If you can take it, that's your skill."

"If you can't, and you keep swearing..." Xin's eyes narrowed, "Watch out, or I'll slaughter you!"

Everyone in the void who had stopped chasing the sword immediately recoiled in fright.

The logic, it seemed, was indeed sound.

But...

Looking back at the "Four Swords of Existence" still darting everywhere, everyone felt a headache.

This fierce sword could make contact, but no one could grasp it! If they actually managed to grasp it, the more than ten people who had exploded earlier served as a stark warning.

Mere Masters, not even Thrones, not a single person present could control this sword.

"Bang!"

Just then, the "Four Swords of Existence," which was becoming increasingly erratic in mid-air, suddenly erupted with a layer of white sword energy on its blade.

It was obvious.

This discordant sword energy was not emitted by the "Four Swords of Existence" itself.

Its faint power simply couldn't compare to the terrifying aura of the fierce sword.

Yet, similarly, this fleeting white sword energy slightly altered the "Four Swords of Existence'" trajectory, sending it towards a specific point.

The Red Guard's gathering spot.

"It appeared!"

Lan Ling's expression remained unchanged.

But her spiritual sense instantly connected with Xin, and she asked, "Does this sword intent... contain a sword will?"

Finally, someone couldn't wait any longer and wanted to interfere with the situation.

Her intuition told her this must be the next big fish!

"No."

Xin slightly shook his head, "But the sword intent is very pure, roughly at the peak of the Master stage, controlled with exquisite skill. So it definitely isn't from an unconventional background."

"Moreover, although it only appeared for an instant, it's clearly from an ancient sword cultivator."

"So, the ancient sword cultivators present..."

Xin's eyes shifted.

Lan Ling instantly directed her spiritual sense toward the three swordmasters who had been poised, and then raised an eyebrow. "It's not them."

"Right, it's not them," Xin nodded.

The three swordmasters hadn't moved.

So this sword energy couldn't have been emitted by them.

"Can you ascertain the direction?" Lan Ling asked.

"No."

Xin still shook his head, "That sword energy was merely a cover. What truly changed the 'Four Swords of Existence'' direction was a trace of the power of the Heavenly Dao contained within it."

"Throne?" Lan Ling asked.

"No, above Throne, perhaps Dao Severance, or even higher!" Xin's voice grew heavier.

Lan Ling's heart trembled upon hearing this.

Within White Cave, there weren't many who possessed combat power above the Dao Severance realm.

"Saint Slave?"

Xin also realized something at this moment and immediately asked.

Lan Ling didn't answer but looked at Yu Zhiwen, "Can that sword energy just now track spatial fluctuations?"

"It can track Heavenly Divination fluctuations, but it will take time," Yu Zhiwen replied.

"I asked about spatial fluctuations!"

"Uh..."

Yu Zhiwen immediately hesitated, her Star Pupils sweeping over the grand array.

"No, the opponent concealed it very well, leaving no spatial traces whatsoever."

Lan Ling's red lips curled into a smile.

Sometimes, concealing something too well is an exposure in itself.

Even if all the Dao Severance experts on the entire Holy Divine Continent were combined, not many could comprehend spatial rules.

Let alone within a small area like White Cave, where almost all Dao Severance level combat powers could be listed.

"Black Underworld!"

She beckoned to the distance, and Black Underworld could only slowly walk over.

"The 'Saint Slave's' Seventh Leader, the Storyteller... your old opponent, he's yours."

Lan Ling said with a faint smile, "This time it's not an ambush but a direct assault. If you still lose, you'll have no excuses."

Black Underworld: "..."

"Don't worry, I know you can't win against him, so I'll use the power of the grand array to assist you," Lan Ling said, pointing to the "Thirty-Six Heaven Sealing Array."

Black Underworld's mouth, hidden within his armor, twitched. He turned and left in silence.

"You've already pinpointed the target?"

Xin listened from the side, a bewildered expression on his face.

I only said a few words, and you've already found the person?

"How did you do it?" He couldn't help but ask.

The departing Black Underworld's footsteps suddenly paused.

Yu Zhiwen also turned her head to look.

Lan Ling took a deep breath.

"You big oaf, continue with your duties. I don't have time to explain it to you!"