Chapter 607: Living On

Discussion received: Passive Value +2.Worry received: Passive Value +3.Gaze received: Passive Value +782.

Following the three powerful figures of the Saint Slaves, Xu Xiaoshou emerged from the spatial rift, almost peeing himself from the shock of these sudden numbers. "More than seven hundred people are watching me at the same time?" Xu Xiaoshou felt it had been a long time since he'd seen such a high "Gaze Received" count. In the past, only arena matches or the surging crowds before the opening of the Eight Palaces would generate such numbers. But now...

With a full sweep of his 'Perception,' Xu Xiaoshou instantly determined that only sixty to seventy White-Clothed figures were blocking their path. So where were the remaining seven hundred-plus pairs of eyes hidden? A chill ran down Xu Xiaoshou's spine.

"Oh, quite a setup!" Cen Qiaofu leapt out of the spatial rift, standing firm in the void. He drew the small axe from his waist and casually loosened his belt. As he straightened, the rain in the sky seemed to be completely held back. His surging aura steadily climbed, and his aura of Dao Severance began to transform step by step, inching towards that terrifying realm.

"As expected, the Grand Void..." Gou Wuyue murmured silently, his gaze shifting from the unconscious masked figure on Cen Qiaofu's back to the young man behind the two of them. A square face, a full beard, long hair... No matter how he looked, he didn't resemble the person described in Yu Lingdi's firsthand report. And the words Shouye had just spoken echoed in his ears once more. "That Xu Xiaoshou, if nine and a half out of ten of his sentences are true, that's enough. It's best not to listen to the remaining half sentence!" Gou Wuyue smiled. Indeed, if anyone understood Xu Xiaoshou best, it was Shouye, who had dealt with him personally on several occasions.

"Saint Slaves?" Gou Wuyue shifted his gaze and asked loudly.

"Saint Slaves!" Cen Qiaofu nodded, his voice deep.

"Buzz—" The famous sword Nu Lan suddenly trembled, as if it was about to open a new chapter of battle. Gou Wuyue gripped it tightly, his head held high, but he could already sense the indignation of the famous sword. It seemed there was a past grievance between the sword and the newcomers!

"Clang—" The Four Swords in Xu Xiaoshou's hand also vibrated violently. The clangorous sound instantly neutralized the approaching formidable sword intent, returning tranquility to the void.

"Pitter-patter..." The rain began to fall again. The silent confrontation seemed to have begun the moment the two sides first met.

"Where's Xu Xiaoshou?" On the other side, Qiao Qianzhi anxiously watched the three people and a comatose body – the Saint Slave Head – emerge from the rift. He didn't pay much attention to them, instead focusing his gaze behind them. However, after the four Saint Slaves appeared, the spatial rift behind them began to close. This meant the White Cave incident was completely over. Everything had turned a new page!

"But... where's Xu Xiaoshou?" Qiao Qianzhi couldn't believe it. If that was truly the case, and he couldn't be found in the space restricted by Gou Wuyue, nor had he emerged from the White Cave... where could Xu Xiaoshou have gone? Was he dead?

"That young man..." Ye Xiaotian gazed at the square-faced, bearded youth, his eyelids lowering as if deep in thought. "Retreat." A moment later, with a wave of his hand, he led the few people beside him to flash to the very rear, away from the battlefield.

"Ye Xiaotian!" Qiao Qianzhi immediately grew anxious. "Xiaoshou is still there..."

"Calm yourselves," Ye Xiaotian said, raising a hand to stop Qiao Qianzhi from speaking further. "You all retreat first; I'll be right back."

"Wait..." Qiao Qianzhi's eyes widened, about to protest, but the white-haired Dao child vanished in a flash. When he reappeared, he was already in the middle of the standoff between the White-Clothed and the Saint Slaves.

"Gou Wuyue," Ye Xiaotian said, turning his head to look at him first, "before you started fighting, you said that as long as I saw the person I wanted to see, I could take them directly."

"As you wish." Gou Wuyue generously extended a hand, seemingly unconcerned with what the Spirit Palace Lord would do next. He was actually quite curious who among the people from Tiansang Spirit Palace Ye Xiaotian wanted to take: the Storyteller, Cen Qiaofu, the Saint Slave Head? Or perhaps, Wen Ming, who didn't look like Xu Xiaoshou?

"Thank you." Ye Xiaotian nodded and then turned his gaze to the square-faced, bearded youth, speaking calmly: "I am the Dean of the Inner Palace of Tiansang Spirit Palace. My purpose here is solely to retrieve the disciples who underwent training in the White Cave. Any inner palace disciple of Tiansang Spirit Palace may leave with me now." His gaze was sharp. He paused, then added, "Just nod, and you can come." As these words settled, everyone present couldn't help but fix their attention on the young man.

Invitation received: Passive Value +1.Worry received: Passive Value +4.Gaze received: Passive Value +782.

"Dean..." A warmth spread through Xu Xiaoshou's heart. With just that one sentence, he was certain that the Dean had not been subjugated by the White-Clothed, nor was he using petty tricks to verify his identity. Xu Xiaoshou had never imagined that after the thrilling and dangerous battles in the White Cave, someone outside would still be anxiously waiting for him. "So, I'm not fighting alone..." But it was too late! A smile spread across Xu Xiaoshou's lips. He now understood that his path to this point had been predetermined since the midpoint of the Outer Palace's "Wind and Cloud Battle" and since meeting Elder Sang. "Dean, you truly are the quintessential person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. But your appearance... it's more than just one step too late! If Elder Sang wasn't a Saint Slave, if he hadn't fed me that seed so early, if..."

"Ahem," Xu Xiaoshou lightly coughed, interrupting his own wild thoughts. His expression returned to calm, and he said unperturbedly, "Thank you, senior, but I, Tan Ji, am not an inner palace disciple of Tiansang Spirit Palace. Perhaps you've mistaken me for someone else."

"Tan Ji?" Ye Xiaotian's heart clenched. This familiar tone... He immediately confirmed that this person was definitely Xu Xiaoshou! Just as he was about to speak further, he suddenly recalled something. "Inner palace disciple?" That's right! Subconsciously, he had also assumed that everyone participating in the White Cave trial this time was an inner palace disciple. But Xu Xiaoshou, it seemed, had never actually become one. Officially, he was only the Senior Disciple of the Outer Palace. Although secretly he had become the Vice Dean's personal disciple, he had no official title, nor had he ever enjoyed the benefits of an inner palace disciple. Even his slot to enter the White Cave was something he had earned himself. "Is he holding a grudge?" This thought suddenly flashed through Ye Xiaotian's mind, only to be immediately dismissed. Xu Xiaoshou wasn't that petty!

He spoke again, emphatically: "Both inner and outer palaces are treated as my own. As long as you are a person of Tiansang Spirit Palace, all you need to do is nod now..." He paused, glanced back at the Storyteller and Cen Qiaofu observing from the side, then declared with conviction: "No matter who you are here with, as the Dean of the Inner Palace of Tiansang Spirit Palace, I will take you away!"

"Even outer palace disciples?" Xu Xiaoshou found it a little amusing. He indeed still remembered the grudge from that day when he won the "Wind and Cloud Battle" but couldn't enter the inner palace. But right now, he couldn't concern himself with such things. It wasn't that he was unwilling; it was that he couldn't! Shaking his head indifferently, Xu Xiaoshou offered no verbal response. He wouldn't go back with the Dean. Because if he did, the White-Clothed's target might shift entirely to Tiansang Spirit Palace. Wasn't Elder Sang's secrecy and concealment all meant to prevent disaster for Tiansang Spirit Palace? Xu Xiaoshou didn't consider himself that great. But he also wasn't "that" Sang. He wouldn't use the same methods to cultivate his own disciples just because his master had fed him a seed. By the same token, putting himself in their shoes, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't want to impose the same confusion and trepidation he felt, having inexplicably fallen into this strange situation, onto the entire Tiansang Spirit Palace.

After all, that place held his earliest memories since coming to this world. Besides the hateful and now deceased Wen Ming and Zhang Xinxiong, it also had Elder Qiao, Judge Xiao, Judge Zhao, who were anxiously waiting from afar... It had Zhou Tianshen, Su Qianqian, Mu Zixi... It had the Spirit Treasure Pavilion that almost burned down, and the Heavenly Profound Gate that almost collapsed... So much more!

Recalling this, Xu Xiaoshou currently yearned to return to his spiritual abode to continue studying alchemy, then find time to remove the alchemist badge that didn't match his true strength, and subsequently take the spiritual array master exam to satisfy his collecting habit. But...

"Goodbye." He whispered goodbye in his heart, subtly shook his head, and took a small step back. This single step declared his decision.

"Click." Ye Xiaotian's fist clenched. The void seemed to crack. In the entire space, raindrops vanished, figures disappeared, leaving only the white-haired Dao child and the square-faced youth.

"Xu Xiaoshou!" Ye Xiaotian roared.

Summoned: Passive Value +1.

Xu Xiaoshou jumped, instantly realizing this was the Dean's Throne Domain. But... wouldn't they notice? He scanned around; had everyone else really disappeared? Was the Dean truly that powerful?

"I have something to say to you," Ye Xiaotian paused, then said in a deep voice, "alone." Xu Xiaoshou's nose inexplicably twinged. In this solitary environment, facing a former elder, the thrilling memories of the White Cave flooded back, and he almost blurted out, "Me too." But he pressed his lips together and remained silent.

"I..." Ye Xiaotian also had a thousand words he wanted to say, but his lips parted and then suddenly closed. Then he spoke again: "Elder Sang..." He paused, furrowed his brow, and changed the word: "Ah Jie..." He stopped. They gazed at each other, speechless, both silent. The void was windless; even time seemed to have stopped. It was as if, at this moment, every small or large matter could be singled out and discussed. This was true for Xu Xiaoshou, and equally true for Ye Xiaotian. He only felt that all the concerns in his heart desperately wanted to leap from his mouth in that short instant, to enter the young man's ears, so he could hear and be at ease. But every subject of every sentence felt so out of place and inappropriate at this moment. Ye Xiaotian seemed to have lost his ability to speak, struggling for a while, unable to utter a complete sentence.

He could see Xu Xiaoshou's unchanging gaze beneath his altered appearance. Those eyes would not deceive. A youth with such limited experience could certainly not deceive this white-haired Dao child who had traversed the martial world for most of his life. Who couldn't tell that this fellow, just like Elder Sang, intended to bear everything alone to prevent disaster for Tiansang Spirit Palace? Who could be that foolish?!

Ye Xiaotian exhaled heavily, holding his eyelids open, not daring to blink, no matter how dry his eyes became. He floated up slightly, reaching out to hover his hand over Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder. "You've worked hard." One sentence, three words. Ye Xiaotian reined in all his emotions. "And... survive!" He patted Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder.

The scene before him blurred, the pitter-patter of rain returned, and the upright, pine-like White-Clothed figures reappeared in view. When Xu Xiaoshou regained his senses, Ye Xiaotian was already gone. He quickly looked towards Qiao Qianzhi, seeing Elder Qiao secretly wiping away tears and snot, and the four Spirit Palace members who had completely vanished after the Dean swept his sleeve.

"Go!" A furious roar, carrying three parts of unwillingness and seven parts of helplessness. Only sorrowful flowers and withered grass were left scattered on the ground, swaying alone in the wind and rain.

"Even though so many people are standing here..." Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt he could sense the temperature of the rain – a lonely cold.

"You're called Tan Ji?" Gou Wuyue seemed utterly unconcerned with the other Saint Slaves, addressing Xu Xiaoshou directly.

Questioned: Passive Value +1.Gaze received: Passive Value +782.

Xu Xiaoshou shivered, shaking off the rain that had dampened his clothes, and immediately collected himself, reining in his emotions. Now was not the time for sentimentality. A great battle was imminent! A slight misstep and, as the saying goes, the fish in the pond would suffer...

Regaining his composure, he countered, "Is a name really that important?"

"It is," Gou Wuyue said with a smile.

"Alright then, I can solemnly tell you, I'm not called Tan Ji!"

"Oh?"

"Tan Ji is just my given name..." Xu Xiaoshou nodded gravely. "My surname is Xiaoshi."

"Xiaoshi Tan Ji?" Gou Wuyue was taken aback.

Doubt received: Passive Value +1.Questioned: Passive Value +782.Mockery received: Passive Value +345.Like received: Passive Value +1.

"Hehehe..." The Storyteller covered his mouth, chuckling. After a long moment, he said, "Xiaoshi Tan Ji, no need to tell them anymore. No matter how much you say, will they let our group go?"

Question asked: Passive Value +1.

"Yes," Xu Xiaoshou nodded, quite earnestly. At this, not only the Storyteller but everyone present was stunned by his confidence. He was so ordinary... how could he be so certain? Could it be that he was a fool?

Doubt received: Passive Value +780.Slander received: Passive Value +663.

Xu Xiaoshou ignored the Storyteller and instead looked up, gazing at the extraordinary-looking middle-aged man dressed as a swordsman before him. Then, he bowed deeply. After pondering for a full three breaths, he stood up, took a deep breath, and said earnestly:

"Presumably, Senior, you are the legendary contemporary peak expert who can make the second Saint Slave flee in disarray, chase the seventh Saint Slave across two regions, and moreover, cultivate disciples with excellent demeanor and astonishing potential. You have repeatedly led the White-Clothed to destroy countless evil forces, risen to the position of Hall Master of the Holy Spirit Temple, claimed the title of Ten Venerables, and are ranked among the Seven Sword Immortals. You are Gou Wuyue, Gou... *spit*, Senior Wuyue?" Xu Xiaoshou's face was filled with reverence.

Gou Wuyue: "..."The White-Clothed: "..."The Storyteller, Cen Qiaofu: "???"

Doubt received: Passive Value +780.Mockery received: Passive Value +423.Conjecture received: Passive Value +644.

"What is he trying to do?" At this moment, everyone's lips twitched in unison, and this question spontaneously popped into their minds. Even the usually composed Sword Immortal Wuyue felt a bit unsettled now. For a moment, he dared not fully acknowledge it. The titles were too grand, he almost didn't catch them all, and he had no idea what trick the young man in front of him was playing. But the other party's face was full of utmost respect; if he didn't respond, it would be too undignified.

"What are you trying to say?" Gou Wuyue pressed down on his restless famous sword.

"This junior merely wishes to express his overflowing admiration for Senior Wuyue..." Seeing the other party's slightly trembling hand, Xu Xiaoshou sped up his speech, skipping the subsequent ten thousand words of flattery and directly getting to the point: "And that given my humble status, I dare not speak presumptuously, nor interfere in senior's affairs."

"What do you mean?""Affairs of affairs?"

Everyone was bewildered, and Gou Wuyue also furrowed his brow, completely at a loss. Xu Xiaoshou gave an awkward smile, rubbed his hands, and after scanning everyone present, said:

"Simply put, in this war among grand elders of the Throne level and above, this junior truly cannot intervene. Could I perhaps choose to merely observe?" He shrunk his neck, somewhat timidly: "Whoever wins, I'll go with them? The kind who obeys willingly and never resists..."