Chapter 571: Give Some Face

The trembling Red Guard, the quivering storyteller, and the motionless Xu Xiaoshou—acting as Elder Sang.

No one spoke.

The silence was incredibly oppressive.

And awkward.

"Feared, Passive Points, 18."

"Awaited, Passive Points, 12."

"Watched, Passive Points, 19."

Xu Xiaoshou knew everyone was waiting for him. But he merely glanced at the constantly scrolling messages in his information bar and paid them no mind.

"Sword Will..."

He inwardly gazed at his body.

The malevolent sword energy from Youfour did not infuse too much power into his Sword Will. Or rather, it had detected that his Sword Will was far too weak at that moment. Like a delicate sprout just born, pulling it up to help it grow would only harm it in the end. When his Sword Will had clearly swollen to an unrecognisable state, Youfour's malevolent power ceased its uncharacteristic actions.

"Are you excited?"

Xu Xiaoshou was certain that Youfour's excitement was inextricably linked to the 'Sword Observation Sutra'. But as long as it remained calm and wouldn't cause him too much harm, it wouldn't be the main focus at this moment. He didn't need to pay it too much attention.

He felt the malevolent power within his body quiet down again, re-establishing a delicate balance with the intertwined ice and fire elemental energies that had leaked out. Although this balance still caused him significant harm, at this moment, the restorative ability of "Endless Life" could completely suppress his internal injuries and even subtly help him slowly move towards recovery.

Xu Xiaoshou felt relieved.

He moved his body slightly.

His body had recovered a tiny bit of mobility.

Not staying silent for too long, Xu Xiaoshou looked at the storyteller and gently picked up Youfour.

"We'll settle what you did wrong after we leave here."

"But since this old man is out now, I must do something."

The storyteller's heart twitched, and he timidly asked, "Do... what?"

Xu Xiaoshou gently shook his head, not speaking. He looked at the Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python, now completely drenched in black. In its crazed state, it seemed to have forgotten the pain of its body being torn apart.

The Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python struggled, attempting to fight again.

"Enough."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed inwardly. The Caramel had truly done enough for Xin Gugu. Its shattered body from the thunder tribulation, plus Youfour's malevolent power... With such severe injuries, what more could the Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python possibly do, even if it struggled to its feet again?

"Fly over?"

Xu Xiaoshou tightened his grip on Youfour. He could faintly sense that with the two Sword Wills within him, he had already gained Youfour's initial recognition. Although there was still a long way to go before it acknowledged him as its master, under these circumstances, borrowing a small part of the ominous sword's power would not be an issue.

With a thought, violent winds raged in the void. The overflowing malevolent power suddenly began to recede, gathering back into the ominous sword's blade.

"It works."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart brightened. If the malevolent sword intent could be recovered, then perhaps The Caramel could still be saved?

He was about to take a step. But as his thoughts turned to movement, a tearing pain shot through his lower body, making Xu Xiaoshou nearly gasp.

"Endless Life" was indeed restoring his physical body, but the progress was too slow. Such a large movement, requiring a step, was truly impossible at this moment.

However...

Glancing at the bewildered storyteller and the Red Guard in the distance who seemed to be facing a formidable enemy, Xu Xiaoshou's lips curved.

"Hmph."

After a disdainful sneer, he calmly and unhurriedly took that step.

"Whoosh."

The wind blew, and the scene became eerily silent.

"Dis-disappeared?"

Everyone who was watching Xu Xiaoshou had their pupils constrict, their faces filled with shock. Even Shouye, who had already mobilised the power of the Great Void within him, still saw the Second Saint Servant completely vanish after taking that one step.

Yes.

Simply vanished!

As if he had never existed in this world. There were no traces of heavenly dao or spatial fluctuations to be found. Complete disappearance!

This ability didn't resemble the integration with the Heavenly Dao that Cutting Dao experts possessed. Instead... Its level was higher!

"An ability beyond the Heavenly Dao... the Sacred Path?" Shouye was utterly horrified. He subtly glanced at the storyteller, hoping to discern something from the eccentric man in the red dress. But with a single look, even the storyteller was stunned beyond words.

"He doesn't know either?"

Shouye froze. This meant that the ability the Second Saint Servant was displaying now was something even the Saint Servants themselves had never witnessed before?

"So, after a fierce battle with the Moonless Sword Immortal, he truly had another breakthrough and entered that realm?"

Shouye closed his eyes heavily.

"Half-Saint?"

If that were the case, how could they fight? It was utterly unsolvable, wasn't it?

"He didn't vanish, he just teleported!" Lan Ling suddenly spoke from the side. Unlike the others, holding the Sky Sealing Grand Array, even she couldn't sense what method the Second Saint Servant used to disappear. But when he reappeared, she immediately sensed him.

Heads turned. Everyone simultaneously looked in that direction. They saw Xu Xiaoshou suddenly appear above the rampaging Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python, maintaining a very safe distance.

"Gained Attention, Passive Points, 16."

"Astonished, Passive Points, 19."

Seeing the pop-up messages in his information bar, Xu Xiaoshou knew that his move had successfully startled everyone again.

"'Disappearance Art', indeed, such awakened abilities completely disregard cultivation levels."

"Unless one possessed a special sensing ability like a Sovereign or Cutting Dao expert, not even the Sky Sealing Grand Array could detect it."

"And while in the state of 'Disappearance Art', to then use 'Ascension in a Single Step'."

"Even if it was spatial transfer, no one could perceive the spatial fluctuations."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded inwardly.

A divine technique!

Actually, for him, to achieve a similar effect, simply using 'Ascension in a Single Step' directly would also be possible. But Elder Sang likely didn't even know spatial-type spiritual techniques. And if he added the 'Disappearance Art', which seemed like an unnecessary flourish...

Xu Xiaoshou secretly observed the storyteller's reaction. Seeing the storyteller's bewildered expression, he knew he had succeeded. A so-called "Sacred Path" application method, capable of deceiving all Cutting Dao-level powerhouses, was thus born! Its composition was actually not simple either. A full two awakened abilities!

"Second Brother, what do you intend to do?"

The storyteller watched Second Brother appear above the Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python and felt an ominous premonition.

Xu Xiaoshou paid him no attention. After taking a deep breath, feeling the increasingly rampant emotions of the Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python beneath his feet, he angled Youfour and lowered his gaze.

"Boom!"

The air was instantly crushed by the immense aura accumulated from 'Devour Mountains and Rivers'. The Eight-Winged Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python, still struggling to flap its wings and rise, seemed to miss its target with that single gaze, crashing helplessly into the ground. A cloud of dust rose from beneath the python's body, scattering in all directions.

"Hiss."

The storyteller gasped directly. Even now, he couldn't discern how Second Brother managed to achieve such a solidified aura attack. If it were simply suppressing with a gaze, he could also do it, but only against those of lower cultivation realms.

But the Eight-Winged Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python... Although this ghostly beast had been ravaged by the thunder tribulation, under Youfour's demonic transformation, it had already forgotten pain. If it sensed someone provoking it from above, it should have flapped its eight wings and pounced, ready to strike. Yet, its actions seemed to fall precisely into Second Brother's eyes, without a single deviation. It was given no chance to counterattack.

A single gaze, suppressing it in advance?

No one knew that Xu Xiaoshou's gaze not only borrowed almost all the power of 'Devour Mountains and Rivers', but also, covertly, he used 'All Things Are Swords', pinpointing Youfour's Sword Will to further heavily wound the Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python from within. After all, if a single gaze couldn't suppress it, then the situation would likely spiral out of control. Xu Xiaoshou would have no remaining strength to deal with anyone else present. Not even a regular Red Guard.

"What is he doing?"

A sudden gasp came from among the Red Guard. They saw the Second Saint Servant, who had suppressed the heavily injured Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python, gently raise Youfour. Amidst the humming sword hum, a large amount of malevolent energy was extracted from the convulsing Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python and flowed directly into Youfour's blade.

The storyteller's face instantly changed color.

"Second Brother, what are you doing?"

Is he trying to steal the gift? Have you no shame? If you truly want to reconcile with your brother, wouldn't you find your own gift? Are you going to ruin the masterpiece someone painstakingly created?

"Saving the python." Xu Xiaoshou replied without raising his head.

"Saving the python?" The storyteller's head throbbed, and he said, "But they're conducting an experiment!"

"Can't you tell? Your experiment subject is already dying," Xu Xiaoshou scoffed.

"Dying?"

"Impossible!"

The storyteller became agitated, extending a slender finger and shrilly declaring, "It can be demonically transformed by Youfour. After the transformation, if its strength can break through again, it might transform from a python into a flood dragon, or even from a flood dragon into a true dragon!"

"You cannot interrupt its evolution!"

Hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou finally raised his head. His piercing gaze made the storyteller's heart tremble, and he eventually lowered his slender finger in silence.

"Shut up."

"Oh."

"Cursed, Passive Points, 1."

"Feared, Passive Points, 12."

The Red Guard contingent was left utterly speechless. What was this even? What was supposed to be a proper war had completely changed since the Second Saint Servant appeared. A large-scale child education session? Since when did this storyteller have such a good temper? He was being reprimanded like this, yet he wasn't resisting? Why didn't they just start fighting!

"Lan Ling."

Shouye turned to look at Lan Ling. Others might think the storyteller had lost his temper. But Shouye, who had fought this man, knew the storyteller couldn't be like this. Such a dramatic 180-degree shift in attitude could only mean that this Second Saint Servant was simply too strong! Even the storyteller dared not defy his words and actions. If they truly let this Second Saint Servant continue acting as he pleased, and then he turned his attention back... What would the Red Guard do?

"Mm."

Lan Ling did not say another word. Covertly, however, she had already secretly formed hand seals, subtly activating the power of the Sky Sealing Grand Array.

"Sss, sss, sss."

Thick black malevolent energy was extracted from the convulsing Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python and drawn back into Youfour's blade. Xu Xiaoshou, enduring the vast and terrifying energy, actually had a face as pale as paper. But the advanced application of "Transformation" meant that no matter his true state, if he wanted to appear rosy-faced, his displayed complexion would indeed be rosy-faced!

"No, stop, don't absorb any more! If you keep going, their little snake will really be gone!"

The storyteller couldn't stand it anymore. He took a step forward, about to fly over. Xu Xiaoshou lowered his eyelids and shifted his gaze. When his peripheral vision landed on the storyteller's repaired, forward-stepping delicate foot, the man's face stiffened, and he dared not make any more unnecessary movements.

Xu Xiaoshou said nothing more, but instead, with a slight smile, tilted his head and looked in the direction of the Red Guard.

*Swish*, the sound of wind shuddered.

All the Red Guard members' robes suddenly drew inward, their bodies completely tensed, like prey being targeted by a hunter, their vigilance sharply rising. Even Lan Ling, who had been making covert movements, immediately stopped her hand seals.

"Feared, Passive Points, 16."

"No need to be nervous. This old man isn't here to kill anyone."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled softly, then mused for a moment. The smile slowly faded from his face, and he said indifferently: "But since this old man has emerged, I ask all of you to grant me a small courtesy. Give this old man this bit of time. Agreeable?"

Lan Ling felt her throat dry. As expected, her subtle movements had been detected? She spoke as if nothing was amiss, "What time?"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled softly, turned his head, and directed his gaze to Youfour in his hand, which was continuously absorbing malevolent energy.

"Thump, thump, thump..."

His index finger gently tapped the ominous sword's hilt. The faint echoes spread through the quiet void, sounding strangely jarring at this moment.

"When this elder is moving, as juniors, you do not need to move. What this old man means..." Xu Xiaoshou paused, then continued, "Not even the tremor of a single finger should appear. Understand?"

As his last word settled, the earth suddenly cracked and fissured. Almost instantly, all moisture in the world seemed to evaporate. Even the void, which had somewhat repaired itself, began to twist, showing a tendency to melt.

High temperature.

Extreme high temperature!

Without even unleashing the full power of his Blazing Sun Origin Seed, Xu Xiaoshou achieved the same level Elder Sang had displayed when facing the masked man. When there was no need to act directly, this creation of an atmosphere, this instillation of unknown fear in others, was the best means of intimidation.

Sure enough, on the Red Guard side, Lan Ling, at that moment, let alone secretly forming hand seals behind her back, didn't even dare swallow the saliva caught in her throat. Even without an Adam's apple, she feared that a subtle movement in her throat might invite fatal disaster. After all, the storyteller was already an eccentric. As the Second-in-Command of the Saint Servants, would what this old man said, "not even the tremor of a single finger should appear," truly include her idle thoughts... It was hard to say. But for her life, she couldn't risk trying!

Shouye's lips parted, about to say something, when he suddenly felt the intense heat around him escalate instantly. Even the spiritual energy within his body showed a tendency to burn at that moment. He stood with his mouth open, not daring to close it for a moment.

"Cough, cough..." The storyteller didn't know whether to retract his foot or not. He suspected Second Brother was indirectly scolding him, and he had undeniable evidence. Therefore, he could only maintain this awkward posture, lightly coughing twice and saying, "Second Brother, we're on the same side, don't forget..."

Xu Xiaoshou did not reply. Once all the malevolent energy was drawn out of its body by Youfour, he gently flipped his hand, sending the Eight-Winged Scarlet Dual-Headed Dragon Python into his Origin Manor.

The entire scene fell into deadly silence. The storyteller's eye twitched wildly, his eyebrow jumped erratically, and he didn't dare utter another word. But Xu Xiaoshou, after completing all this, turned his head and looked at him again.

"If this old man remembers correctly..."

"Those several minotaurs were eventually absorbed into your spatial paper, correct?"