Chapter 564: Inside a Game within a Game, a World within a World

"The White Cave… it’s gone?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt like he was on a roller coaster. From the initial hope to the climax, then to the ultimate despair, his emotions were a tumultuous ride. He had just managed to grasp a sliver of control over the Heaven Sealing Great Array, and found an opportunity to escape the battlefield. And now you tell me the White Cave is gone?

"If everything outside has exploded, then where can I, Xu Xiaoshou, escape to?"

Xu Xiaoshou immediately stopped trying to thin the barrier wall. He was stunned.

"Impossible. I haven't even made my move yet, how could the White Cave have exploded? Could it be that all the Red Robes are in the Sword-Leaving Grassland, and powerful cultivators beyond the Throne realm are battling outside, destroying the White Cave?"

"No, that's not right!"

Xu Xiaoshou was panicking. He had never felt so powerless. But with no one to rely on, he had to force himself to calm down again and again. If he lost his composure now, everything would truly be lost.

"Survive!"

Never before had Xu Xiaoshou's will to survive been so resolute. It even surpassed his previous desire to simply escape the area.

"Calm down. The White Cave couldn't possibly be gone. Night Guardian just came in from outside a short while ago. If the White Cave had simply exploded, he would either be dead in the spatial currents or would have broken through space to the outside of the White Cave. How could he have arrived so promptly then?"

Xu Xiaoshou found the blind spot. Although the area outside the Heaven Sealing Great Array was filled with spatial currents, that didn't necessarily mean the White Cave was gone. Xu Xiaoshou had, in fact, seen a similar scene before.

"But… no, it can't be!"

Yet, the moment he considered that possibility, Xu Xiaoshou nearly went mad. How similar was all of this to the moment the Ancient Scroll space had exploded back then? At that time, when the space exploded, Xu Xiaoshou even had the presence of mind to test the grey-fog man's intentions, which resulted in him being lost alone in the spatial currents for a considerable period.

Now, putting aside the distant battle, didn't this Sword-Leaving Grassland strikingly resemble the Ancient Scroll space just before the world shattered? The only difference was that the Spirit Melting Marsh had become the Sword-Leaving Grassland.

"The Storyteller…"

Recalling the Storyteller's unhurried, calm, and deliberate demeanor from the very beginning until now, Xu Xiaoshou nearly cracked on the spot.

"That's it! He had already started! Everything happening now isn't actually within the White Cave at all, but inside the Storyteller's Ancient Scroll space! He can replicate! Yes, his ability is to copy everything, including topography and even the Way of Heaven... He could completely copy the Spirit Melting Marsh and move it into the Ancient Scroll space. Then, he could replicate the Sword-Leaving Grassland here, all while everyone's attention was diverted elsewhere..."

"Moved inside?"

The realization made Xu Xiaoshou's legs turn to jelly. He fought to suppress the urge to collapse on the spot, forcing himself to appear nonchalant and unaffected.

"This is the only explanation left. When the battle between the Red Robes and the Spectral Beasts began, and the Red Robes were too preoccupied to contact the outside world, the Storyteller had already made his move. He severed the space and secretly transferred everything. Entangled by the Spectral Beasts, and already too busy with matters inside the Great Array, how could the Red Robes possibly pay attention to what was happening outside the array? Only when they've dealt with the Spectral Beasts and try to bring down the Great Array will they realize that they are already birds in a cage! At that point, exhausted from battle and unable to contact outside help, how would the Red Robes resist the Holy Slaves and the Storyteller?"

Xu Xiaoshou was terrified. This was the true strategist! This was the true manipulator! Without anyone realizing it, he had turned them into his pawns, then distanced himself to quietly observe the pawns' struggle within the game. Both forces would dwindle, and the vanquished would perish. As for those who entered the game, even if they survived until the end, how could they break free? Their strength wasn't even a match! Even their strategic understanding wasn't on the same level. They were clearly being played like puppets, completely unaware!

"My goodness..."

Xu Xiaoshou once again gained a new understanding of what Master Ye Sang had said when he took him as a disciple. This world was truly terrifying. These people were simply beyond his current ability to contend with. Xu Xiaoshou possessed a bit of cleverness. But compared to the Storyteller's scheme, even self-abasement wouldn't be enough to describe his feelings.

"How about I kneel before you? My mentality is completely shattered!"

Xu Xiaoshou "calmly" raised his hand towards the Tian Shu Orb. Struggle was useless. At this point, the only way to save himself and get out was... to cling to a powerful figure! To cling to the Storyteller! Right now, he was still in Elder Sang's form, and the Storyteller was quite respectful towards him. If he played his cards right, getting out might not be difficult.

And after getting out...

"Hiss!"

Xu Xiaoshou's scalp tingled. He had no way to break free from this situation. Never mind. He would just have to improvise once he got out. At such a moment, how could he think so far ahead?

"Wait."

Forcing himself to calm down, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized: would the Storyteller, who could manipulate everyone so easily, fail to see through his little trick of impersonating the Holy Slaves' second-in-command?

"Thump, thump, thump..."

His heart suddenly pounded wildly. Xu Xiaoshou instantly felt like a clown, directing and performing naked in front of others, yet shamelessly believing that he appeared splendid and well-dressed in their eyes. Little did he know, it was merely the Emperor's New Clothes.

"No, no, there's still some hope. If this man in the red robe had recognized me, why was he so indifferent to my previous scolding? Moreover, his reactions, besides 'cursing' and 'dislike,' showed nothing else..."

Xu Xiaoshou was already filled with self-doubt. But at this moment, he had to trust his passive abilities. Even Mu Zixi couldn't find fault with the divine ability "Transformation." Unless the Storyteller was Elder Sang's inseparable... intimate friend. Otherwise, it wasn't very realistic for him to see through his true identity.

"So, could they be intimate friends?"

Xu Xiaoshou thought it was unlikely. He had met the Storyteller a few times. In terms of age, he wasn't on the same level as Elder Sang; he was just a young man. Furthermore, with Elder Sang's fiery temper, if a man spoke so effeminately in front of him...

"Phew."

Xu Xiaoshou breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't be seen through. Even if he was seen through, he still had to keep up the act now. Because there was no other path.

"Life is like a play, all about the acting..." Xu Xiaoshou sighed softly, tears welling in his eyes.

He drew his Chicken Sword, threw the Tian Shu Orb into his Inner Domain, then took out a straw hat from his ring and put it on with one hand, covering his slightly bald head.

"Seventh Brother."

"Hmm?" The Storyteller's voice immediately came through. He sounded very curious. There wasn't a hint of concern about the battle. At this point, Xu Xiaoshou understood why.

He held up the Chicken Sword in his hand, flicked it with a finger, and a clang of sword resonance echoed underground. The Chicken Sword went limp. But under Xu Xiaoshou's gaze, which seemed ready to devour someone, it stiffened slightly.

"You mentioned a tactic earlier?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"Hmm?" The Storyteller didn't understand, and his voice suddenly became more cheerful, "Second Brother, are you finally willing to cooperate with me?"

"Hell no!!!" Xu Xiaoshou roared internally, but dared he say no? Could he say no?

"Yes." With an emotionless nod, Xu Xiaoshou looked at the battle.

Xin Gugu's ability was peculiar. Surrounded and attacked by Xin and many Red Robes, he was directly dismembered. However, two split into four. Four blood-soaked minotaurs, as if fearless of death, charged at the Red Robes again and again. Those on the other side clearly found it a massive headache. They couldn't be killed, and dismemberment only led to fission; they were simply infuriating. But Xu Xiaoshou could see that with the Great Array's power boosting them, Xin Gugu, whose combat power was also split into four, could no longer inflict effective damage. It was only a matter of time before they were subdued.

And Cheng Xingchu... Well, it should be called the Holy War Dark Angel. Xu Xiaoshou could no longer detect any trace of Cheng Xingchu's consciousness within that super Spectral Beast, whose power was constantly rising. He was dead. But he had transformed into another form, wielding four swords. Even with Lan Ling and Hei Ming's cooperation, he was dragged into the gates of the Infernal Corpse Hell. Yet, with a single sword, he broke through the spell! When he emerged again, his aura had already reached the Dao-Severing realm, making him practically unstoppable!

"They're being held up, but once Xin Gugu is subdued, the Holy War Dark Angel will lose momentum. Cheng Xingchu, as a host for a Spectral Beast, is indeed a bit weak. Having to face Lan Ling, Hei Ming, and Xin simultaneously is a bit much. And Night Guardian..."

This was a figure Xu Xiaoshou deeply feared. He didn't seem like an ordinary Red Robe; he had even once frozen the Storyteller into ice crystals. And at this moment, Night Guardian, who was searching for Jiao Tangtang, after locking onto a certain location, even directly shattered the spatial currents, leaping into them to drag out the mastermind behind the Xuyue Gray Palace.

"Absolutely terrifying!"

But none of this was important.

"Seventh Brother, do you think you can still stay hidden?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"Hmm?" The Storyteller was startled. With just that one sentence, he knew that his little trick of inviting Second Brother into the Ancient Scroll space had been discovered. But it was normal for Second Brother to see through his methods. However, the implication of that sentence was... The Red Robes had discovered it too?

The Storyteller quickly focused his spiritual sense on Lan Ling's side. But the group there was orderly, their expressions showing no fluctuation, seemingly still unaware of anything.

"Second Brother, are you saying..."

"The Red Robes are not as simple as you think." Xu Xiaoshou slowly said, "Although you've shielded the workings of fate, preventing the Red Robes from finding me, it's enough for them if they simply sense someone interfering with fate nearby. The few of you entered too conspicuously; the Red Robes already know. At this point, by simply matching the combat power, it's clear that either you are here, or all three Holy Slaves are here. Among those in the White Cave, only I can still conceal my identity."

The Storyteller's spiritual communication channel became slightly unstable. Clearly, he had taken those words to heart.

"So?" But he still calmly posed a question.

Xu Xiaoshou let out a wry laugh and shook his head. This fellow... Clearly, the Storyteller wasn't unintelligent and hadn't failed to consider these points. He was simply too arrogant and hadn't taken the Red Robes seriously. But moving forward, would the Red Robes be the only ones he had to face?

Xu Xiaoshou said in a pointed tone, "From the beginning until now, the combat power displayed by the Red Robes has been merely this much. Even when facing the Holy War Dark Angel, they haven't deployed any other forces. That means the power they are currently displaying in the Sword-Leaving Grassland is their full extent. At this moment, do you think they can spare extra energy to deal with us while simultaneously fighting the Xuyue Gray Palace?"

"Of course not." The Storyteller instantly regained his composure. In his plan, he was the fisherman, and the battle between the snipe and the clam would only result in mutual destruction. What would the Red Robes use to resist?

"Knowing our existence, and with no spare energy, what do the Red Robes need to do?" Xu Xiaoshou said, disappointed.

"You mean..." The Storyteller was suddenly startled, his thoughts snapping open, "Contact the outside world?"

"No, they're birds in a cage; they haven't even realized their situation." His startled gasp was immediately suppressed, and the Storyteller's tone instantly turned to mockery. "Second Brother, I must say your brain is indeed sharper than mine, but even if they do discover it, what then? Within the Ancient Scroll space, they can't contact the outside world at all."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed inwardly. Just as expected. His conjecture had come true! This Sword-Leaving Grassland was a replica created by the Storyteller. Everyone had already fallen into an invisible net.

He didn't show it, but instead cursed angrily: "Idiot! The Red Robes can't contact the outside, but what if the outside can't contact *them*? You should know..."

"That old dog?!" The Storyteller suddenly shrieked, clearly having fully understood. What if Gou Wuyue noticed something amiss and severed the White Cave with a single sword? His brothers hadn't gotten out yet. By then, everything here would fall upon him... no, upon him and Second Brother? In an instant, the Storyteller's scalp tingled.

"Alas." Xu Xiaoshou sighed mournfully, "After all these years, you haven't grown at all; you've regressed terribly. Seventh Brother, you must understand that arrogance and looking down on everyone will eventually bring you disaster! Understood?"

"I..." The Storyteller's tone became tinged with shame, rendered speechless by the rebuke.

"Acknowledged, Passive Points +1.""Awe, Passive Points +1."

Just then, the many Red Robes who were fiercely battling the Spectral Beasts suddenly retreated simultaneously, as if receiving a synchronized command. At the same time, Lan Ling roared.

"Gather, form ranks!"

"Swish, swish, swish..."

The figures of many Red Robes, including Hei Ming, Xin, and Night Guardian who had vanished into the spatial currents, abruptly appeared in the sky. They positioned themselves in formation, subtly aligning with the principles of the Heaven Sealing Great Array.

"Break the barrier!"

The moment Lan Ling uttered those two words, the Storyteller was instantly filled with boundless admiration for Second Brother. Sure enough, there was a reason he held the second highest position. Even though the Red Robes showed no outward signs, they had secretly informed everyone and immediately changed their strategy, attempting to break open the Ancient Scroll space. He hadn't noticed, but Second Brother knew it all.

But would the plan really stop here? Was everything truly so simple? The Storyteller, hidden within the spatial currents, smiled faintly.

"So what if they've discovered it? Before absolute power, intellect is merely a decoration!"

Watching spiritual energy erupt from the Red Robes, ready to collectively shatter the Ancient Scroll space, the Storyteller raised a hand.

"Freeze!"

With a hum, the blood-soaked minotaurs' charge was halted, and the Holy War Dark Angel's wings could no longer flap. Among the Red Robes, including Night Guardian and others, each felt their spiritual energy solidify within them, as if burdened by immense force, making it difficult to mobilize. The entire space of the Sword-Leaving Grassland was frozen.

Before the horror in everyone's eyes could fully register, a delicate voice already drifted down from the sky.

"Well, well, that was faster than I expected. To think you found out so easily; it's quite bothersome."

A figure in a red dress floated gracefully down amidst everyone's shocked gazes. The Storyteller appeared beside Lan Ling, one hand gently wrapping around her slender waist, and whispered into her ear.

"Heh. It's you, isn't it? I don't think I'm wrong... Your mind is truly impressive!"