Chapter 633: This Return, I Will Slaughter Seven Hundred in White Robes

Demonic energy erupted in a mist.

As the spatial rift closed, Xu Xiaoshou, holding a straw hat in one hand, could faintly see Elder Sang, unable to control an arrow, instantly pierced by it and then engulfed by boundless demonic energy.

That arrow could pierce the flesh of those who hadn't undergone body tempering.

However, against Elder Sang, it failed to completely shatter his body.

Yet, the terrifying aspect of the Sin Bow's arrow wasn't its explosive impact, but its demonic transformation.

With a faint hiss.

The spatial rift closed.

Xu Xiaoshou could no longer witness what followed.

He used the Three-Day Frozen Tribulation to completely freeze himself, preventing the turbulent spatial currents from tearing his body apart.

A flash of red light streaked past his eyes.

"Little one..."

The Storyteller appeared, embracing the ice sculpture with one hand.

At this moment, even he had no mind for jokes.

Silently, he retreated with Xu Xiaoshou, and the two of them escaped the turbulent spatial currents, entering another void far from the battlefield.

As for the second brother...

The Storyteller chose not to return for aid.

With his abilities, going back would only be suicide.

After all, even Gou Wuyue, who had been punched in the head, couldn't easily die.

He already couldn't withstand the Grand Void, only managing to protect himself.

Let alone a Sword Immortal within the Grand Void!

"Quickly!"

"Keep up, keep up."

"The Sword Domain is broken; the battle must be over. This is where we come in. Cleaning up the aftermath is essential; we can't be late."

"Oh my heavens, I can't believe the Saint Servant's second-in-command also appeared. I wonder what the final outcome of the battle between him and Senior Wuyue was..."

"Nonsense!"

"Why would you even wonder? Senior Wuyue surely defeated the Saint Servant completely. Is there any other outcome?"

"You know, that's one of the current Seven Sword Immortals, one of the two ruling masters of the Holy Divine Palace... huh?"

A group of white-robed figures rushed to the battlefield.

Their conversations were filled with regret at not having witnessed the battle firsthand.

After all, it was a Grand Void battle.

Even Dao Severers tried to gain some insights from it, hoping to advance themselves into that legendary realm if there was even the slightest possibility.

However, despite their fervent discussions, when they truly arrived at the battlefield, everyone was stunned into silence.

Amidst the crumbled mountains in the distance, a headless corpse slowly floated.

Everyone gazed towards it.

They saw that even though the headless corpse was ragged and stained red all over, a faint blue could be vaguely seen between its torn clothes and tattered sleeves.

Among everyone present, the only one wearing blue was none other than Sword Immortal Wuyue!

"This..."

Everyone was aghast.

Sword Immortal Wuyue had been decapitated?

"My heavens, is this the damage dealt by the Saint Servant's second-in-command?"

"These shattered mountain peaks, these ruined cliffs, this place... what happened here?"

"Senior Wuyue, is he still alive?"

Number Thirty-Three, still holding the unconscious Cen Qiaofu with one hand, gazed at the floating blue-robed figure with a mixture of shock and uncertainty.

He could sense a faint trace of life from it.

But if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he simply wouldn't believe Senior Wuyue could suffer such heavy injuries!

Was that Saint Servant's second-in-command truly so powerful?

"Whoosh!"

With a flicker of his figure, he instantly appeared beside the headless body.

"Senior Wuyue?"

"I... am fine." Gou Wuyue extended a hand, stopping him from coming closer to help.

Number Thirty-Three looked at the shattered body, which lacked both head and neck.

Fine...

He fell silent for a moment.

"Look!"

Amidst the white-robed figures, several exclamations burst forth again.

Everyone turned their heads, seeing a mass of power swirling in mid-air, black like the surrounding black holes, yet distinctly different from the power of black holes.

"Demonic energy?"

Everyone was surprised and suspicious.

This demonic energy didn't resemble the fierce demonic aura of the Four Swords; it seemed more like demonic energy unleashed when one's inner emotions and desires were simultaneously ignited, leading to qi deviation.

"Who?"

Engulfed by the demonic mist, no one could discern its appearance.

However, judging by the situation, it was almost certainly the other combatant, the Saint Servant's second-in-command, Wuxiu!

"The Sin Bow's arrow?"

Among the white-robed figures, those with experience already recognized something.

The arrow that had pierced through the void earlier was not only visible to those within the Eight Palaces' battleground.

Across the entire Eastern Region, almost everyone above the Sovereign cultivation level had caught a glimpse of its terrifying power.

Now, Wuxiu's current state could only mean he had been hit by Ai Cangsen's arrow.

"So, Senior Wuyue alone couldn't defeat Saint Servant Wuxiu and needed Lord Cangsen's assistance, an arrow, to completely subdue him?"

Immediately, some white-robed figures started drawing their own conclusions.

The scene was such that it was impossible for them not to overthink.

"Shut up!"

Number Thirty-Three immediately rebuked them.

Were these people tired of living? Senior Wuyue had only been decapitated; his consciousness hadn't completely vanished yet!

The white-robed figures, startled, seemed to realize they had spoken out of turn and all fell silent.

Azure Grand Void energy swirled around him.

Gou Wuyue's head slowly regenerated, taking a full quarter of an hour to fully regrow.

"Xiao Shitanji..."

With a low murmur, Gou Wuyue's eyes held mixed thoughts; he seemed to be pondering something.

With a flick of his wrist, he opened his domain, and Yu Zhiwen appeared beside him.

Number Thirty-Three was surprised.

Others might not have seen this woman, but his knowledge base contained her information.

"Miss Zhiwen."

With a slight bow, Number Thirty-Three's voice held a hint of reverence.

Yu Zhiwen paid him no mind; as soon as she appeared, she eagerly looked at Gou Wuyue.

"Where's Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Xu Xiaoshou?" Gou Wuyue was slightly startled.

"The golden giant!" Yu Zhiwen's starry eyes were filled with worry.

Gou Wuyue understood at once.

Xiao Shitanji...

So it really wasn't his real name.

Would Xu Xiaoshou also be a false name for that young man?

"You and him, are you very familiar?"

Gou Wuyue asked softly.

His gaze fell upon Sang Qiye, who was still roaring and struggling in the void.

This Saint Servant's second-in-command, stripped of consciousness and left with only rampant desires, could be held in place by Gou Wuyue with a single "Man is Sword" technique, even before his head had fully regenerated, preventing him from lashing out wildly.

"Very!"

Yu Zhiwen nodded heavily, turning her head to look as well.

She knew Ai Cangsen's arrow had been shot at Xu Xiaoshou.

Although she didn't know the reason, judging by the outcome...

"He, he..."

Yu Zhiwen pointed at the demonic mist, her voice trembling slightly. "Was he hit by the arrow?"

Observing the scene, Number Thirty-Three had already realized something.

He silently retreated, his figure disappearing from sight.

The following conversation was clearly not for his ears.

"Not him."

Gou Wuyue shook his head: "His master, Sang Qiye, was hit by the arrow. As for the Xu Xiaoshou you mentioned... he left."

Yu Zhiwen's expression stiffened.

Then, as if a weight had been lifted, her voice softened.

"He's gone?"

She seemed to be muttering to herself, unconsciously repeating it.

Gou Wuyue observed her reaction, a slight smile playing on his lips, and stepped forward, asking, "You two are very familiar. What's your relationship?"

"I..."

Yu Zhiwen immediately caught the underlying meaning, and her ears flushed red.

"No, Senior Wuyue."

"It's not what you think. I met him in the White Cave. This person is very capable. I just wanted to... bring him into the Holy Divine Palace."

"That's all."

Gou Wuyue smiled faintly: "That's all?"

"Mm."

Yu Zhiwen's gaze flickered, averting her eyes.

She saw the group of white-robed figures and realized that she had already left the White Cave and was now within the Eight Palaces.

That meant the battle there had most likely ended.

What she had just witnessed was merely the final scene.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

Gou Wuyue murmured to himself, not pursuing their relationship further.

Or rather, his focus on this young generation Saint Servant had, at this moment, overridden his pure curiosity about the Saintess's private matters.

"You said you met him among the Saint Servants. Do you know him well?"

"Mm."

"How well?"

Gou Wuyue paused, then added, "To the extent that you want to bring this person into the Holy Divine Palace, what's the reason for that?"

Xu Xiaoshou's unreliable demeanor flashed through Yu Zhiwen's mind, and she spoke somewhat eagerly.

"This person is very capable, whether it's his potential, his strategy, or the skills he's mastered..."

"He's different from everyone I've ever met."

Yu Zhiwen turned her head, looking steadily at Gou Wuyue, emphasizing, "Among all the young talents I've seen at headquarters."

She paused, then summarized.

"He's very strong. Given time, he will surely reach a height like yours, Senior. He must be brought into the Holy Divine Palace, into headquarters."

"Because he's currently at a crucial juncture. If he makes even a slight misstep, it's very possible..."

Seeing Gou Wuyue's sudden pensive expression, Yu Zhiwen's voice faltered.

"Senior?"

My height... Gou Wuyue ignored her, looking directly at the demonic mist in mid-air.

Xu Xiaoshou's performance under Ai Cangsen's arrow had truly astonished him.

And this person was not only Sang Qiye's disciple but also Bajun An's protégé.

Gou Wuyue did not slight Yu Zhiwen's words in the slightest.

He even thought that with such backing, if that young man truly grew, "Perhaps he'll surpass my height..."

Musing to himself, Gou Wuyue did not voice his thoughts.

He looked at Yu Zhiwen and sighed, "Little Yu, you know a lot about that young man, but you seem to have forgotten something."

"Huh?"

Yu Zhiwen's red lips parted slightly, looking bewildered.

"I told you."

Gou Wuyue pointed at the demonic mist. "He, Xu Xiaoshou's master!"

Yu Zhiwen didn't react immediately.

Gou Wuyue sighed: "Are you still unaware that your 'Xu Xiaoshou' has fully joined the Saint Servants?"

*Thump*.

Yu Zhiwen's heart clenched.

When she realized, her face instantly turned ashen.

Stiffly, she cast her gaze back to the demonic mist, and Yu Zhiwen suddenly understood.

That's right.

This was the Saint Servant's second-in-command, Wuxiu.

Which meant this was Elder Sang, the Vice Dean of Tiansang Spiritual Palace.

Xu Xiaoshou's master...

This meant he truly had been a Saint Servant all along?

The conclusion she had drawn in the White Cave, but then immediately dismissed internally, now popped back into her mind with a jolt.

Yu Zhiwen was speechless for a moment.

Powerless to reverse it...

This was her true feeling at that moment.

"So, all of this was predetermined?"

"Sigh."

As someone experienced, how could Gou Wuyue not see through the young woman's personal thoughts, beyond her sense of duty?

But their positions were different, their factions were different.

Some people, some fates, were destined; they could not be changed.

He said no more, nor did he offer persuasion.

As the Saintess of the Holy Divine Palace, Yu Zhiwen possessed the highest awareness of the Holy Palace's tenets; these external emotions could not sway her inner resolve.

He sighed and then strode towards the demonic mist.

The remnants of the battle should also come to an end...

"Sword."

With a beckoning hand.

The famous sword, Nu Lan, rose from the ground with a clang, flying directly into his palm.

Gou Wuyue raised the famous sword high.

"Everyone..."

The white-robed figures waited solemnly.

Even Number Thirty-Three stood rigidly.

But before Gou Wuyue could give the order, suddenly, beneath the demonic mist in the void, a faint, illusory pink and white begonia flower quietly bloomed.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Instantly, numerous white-robed figures turned their heads in alarm.

The begonia flower began to close from its base, seemingly intending to quietly spirit away the people within.

"How dare you?!"

Gou Wuyue's heart trembled.

One thing he genuinely hadn't expected was for Haitang'er, who had already escaped, to dare to return.

With a furious roar, the famous sword transformed into a stream of azure light, shooting from his hand. Just as the begonia flower was about to close, it slammed through it, utterly obliterating and scarring it.

Gou Wuyue's heart was in his throat; he couldn't put his guard down.

He took a step and swiftly darted to Sang Qiye's side.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he immediately retrieved him.

Only after accomplishing all this did he realize he was drenched in a cold sweat.

Indeed, this return of the Saint Servants, striking at everyone's most relaxed and complacent moment, almost caught even Gou Wuyue off guard, allowing them to succeed.

"Fortunately."

"Fortunately, Sang Qiye couldn't resist..."

Before Gou Wuyue's relief could fully blossom, his thoughts suddenly froze as he realized something was amiss.

If Haitang'er returned, then what about Bajun An?

If Bajun An had also returned, how could he not have stolen Sang Qiye back when Gou Wuyue was momentarily distracted?

A chill ran down his spine, and Gou Wuyue's pupils contracted; he had already realized something.

He abruptly turned his head, looking in Number Thirty-Three's direction.

"Oh."

A soft hiss sounded.

"A bit slow, aren't you? Are you getting old, Gou Wuyue?"

Bajun An's tone was teasing, but his clouded eyes were filled with cold murderous intent.

The temperature across the entire area plummeted with that single sound.

"The Eighth Sword Immortal?"

"Bajun An!"

The white-robed figures exclaimed, filled with horror.

No one at this moment could have foreseen that the legendary figure would actually dare to return!

"Bajun An..."

Number Thirty-Three felt his entire body stiffen.

Through the shocked gazes of the numerous white-robed figures, even without spiritual perception, he could infer from the direction everyone was looking who was standing behind him.

"Die!"

Still holding Cen Qiaofu, Number Thirty-Three dared not hesitate, immediately throwing a punch with his backhand, unleashing it with a roar.

"No!"

Gou Wuyue cried out.

But it was too late.

The arrow was on the string; it had to be loosed.

Number Thirty-Three simply dared not expose his back to the man only whispered about in legends.

As he turned to retreat, a furious punch was about to descend upon his head.

"Ohm"

The void's airflow rippled.

Time, however, seemed to completely slow down at that moment.

In the corner of Number Thirty-Three's eye, he could still see Senior Wuyue's anxious expression as he cried out in alarm, and the worried looks and actions of his white-robed companions.

And the person before him...

Bajun An was smiling.

With the punch mere inches from his face, he merely cast a slight sideward glance.

"Splat!"

Number Thirty-Three felt something sharp emerge from his arm, then saw his right arm fly through the air, completely severed from his body.

"This..."

His heart trembled greatly.

Instinctively, Number Thirty-Three kicked out, delivering a knee strike upwards.

But his movement was still extremely slow, not even one ten-thousandth of a turtle's pace!

Bajun An was still smiling.

He lowered his head, his eyes narrowing.

A similar sharp pain originated from his knee.

"Splat!"

His severed leg swung through the air, slowly detaching.

Number Thirty-Three still wanted to struggle and resist.

"Alas."

Bajun An sighed, stepping forward and onto the very front of the begonia flower.

Everyone present felt time and space return to their normal order.

However, Number Thirty-Three, who had been before them, was sliced into fragmented pieces by countless intersecting sword intents, then exploded.

A golden energy core was sent flying.

Just as everyone thought to offer assistance, they felt the flow of time in the world slow down once more.

Then, they saw Bajun An, holding a small withered branch, gently poke and twist the energy core.

"Pop!"

The energy core shattered.

Time and space returned to order.

Gou Wuyue's foot had barely lifted, and the white-robed figures' heartbeats had only just subsided.

Yet.

Number Thirty-Three was gone!

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Pieces of the Celestial Secret Puppet clattered to the ground, making thudding sounds.

Cen Qiaofu's body fell, swallowed by the begonia flower.

Everyone gazed at the man standing atop the flower petals, falling into a deathly silence.

He clearly only had Post-Heaven cultivation...

He clearly had been so hesitant before, not daring to act...

But why...

"Hmph."

Bajun An's light cough interrupted everyone's thoughts, his eyes now completely different from before.

A single glance made everyone's eyes sting and their souls turn cold.

The icy murderous intent made him seem like a completely different person from before.

"I didn't intend to kill anyone..."

Bajun An murmured, the withered branch in his hand slowly tapping his palm. Then he looked around, his eyes devoid of any pity, and his tone shifted.

"You can take Sang Qiye; I wouldn't undo Ai Cangsen's demonic energy anyway."

His voice paused.

He slightly puffed out his chest, his aura piercing the sky, and his words, now tinged with anger, reverberated in all directions.

"But now that I have returned, I shall slaughter seven hundred white-robed cultivators to honor my friend!"

"You may take your people and leave... but if my friend dies, I will surely ascend to the Holy Palace and break every osmanthus flower on the mountains!"