Chapter 639: Reassured, I Know My Limits

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly had a moment of realization.

He had known beforehand that Zhang Xinxiong suppressed his cultivation, waiting only for the Royal City trial. Later, upon entering the White Cave, he observed many geniuses from major factions, none of whom surpassed the Grandmaster level. It seemed they were all there for their respective Royal City trials as well. But what he had never imagined was that the so-called Royal City trial was directly linked to the qualification for entering the Holy Palace.

"No wonder…"

Tapping his fingers, Xu Xiaoshou's mind began to race. Having witnessed so many geniuses, he knew that a considerable number of people in this world could fight beyond their cultivation level. At the very least, cultivation alone could not simply determine everything. In a major city like Dongtian Royal City, with the allure of Holy Palace trial qualifications, the people one would encounter there must truly be the elites from all regions, right?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know what level of refinement these elites would possess, nor did he care. But at the very least, such a place might be teeming with Spirit Refiners.

"Spirit Refiners mean passive points."

"What would happen if I put on a black robe there, wielded the Four Swords, and shouted, 'I am Bazun An'?" Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. He thought he might instantly max out a Grandmaster-level passive skill. But the greater possibility was that as soon as the passive skill was maxed, he would be taken away by the white-robed figures.

This idea was indeed a bit dangerous…

After a moment's thought, Xu Xiaoshou asked, "Old Sang truly… *cough*, before he was apprehended, he did mention Dongtian Royal City to me, but he didn't elaborate. Did you two discuss this, or…?" He was somewhat suspicious. Both of these powerful figures wanted him to make a trip to Dongtian Royal City… He couldn't be blamed for his suspicion; he had been tricked too many times recently. Could there possibly be another hidden pitfall? Yet, after much deliberation, this truly seemed to be the best path forward. He couldn't think of any other variables, no matter how hard he tried. Surely, it wouldn't be another White Cave situation there, another grand scheme, where he'd become bait once more, inexplicably acquiring some cursed object, only for a slew of intractable problems to emerge, right?

As Xu Xiaoshou continued to ponder, a chill ran down his spine.

"Don't worry, I won't trick you," Bazun An said with a smile.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately became even more flustered. "I haven't even said anything yet, why are you already confessing? Isn't this clearly an attempt to…"

"How about this!" Bazun An interrupted, "Going to Dongtian Royal City, securing first place in the trial, and successfully entering the Four Symbols Secret Realm will be an assessment for you as a Saint Slave. In other words, it's a mission!"

Xu Xiaoshou was instantly dumbfounded. An assessment? This wretched Saint Slave organization lures people here, and once they're in, there's an assessment?

"What if I fail the assessment?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes, one wider than the other, stared intently at the man before him.

"Then, of course, you'll be directly expelled… *hmm*." Bazun An abruptly halted mid-sentence. He noticed the young man's sudden surge of excitement, and the faint glimmer of expectation hidden deep within his eyes… Expectation? Upon truly discerning what this fellow was thinking, Bazun An was instantly torn between laughter and tears. Any other person, if truly favored by him, the Eighth Sword Immortal, would undoubtedly be willing to go through fire and water. But why did Xu Xiaoshou wear an expression that clearly said, "Please let me fail this assessment so I can leave"?

"If you fail, your privilege of independent action will be revoked. From then on, you must remain by my side, and I will personally instruct you!" Bazun An finished speaking with emphasis, but then felt a sudden inappropriateness about his words. How could this be a punishment for failing an assessment? For others, wouldn't this be a significant reward? However, seeing Xu Xiaoshou's face suddenly turn ashen, he understood a little. "So, my appeal, Bazun An, isn't as grand as I imagined…"

"Cursed, passive points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou, finding a grim amusement in his plight, barely managed to grasp a shred of information from the other party. "Independent action?" he asked.

"Yes," Bazun An nodded.

"You mean, if I choose to go to Dongtian Royal City, I'll make all the decisions and personally handle all the choices, and you… won't interfere?"

"That's correct."

"I don't believe it!" Xu Xiaoshou vehemently shook his head. The more it sounded like this, the more he felt it was a trap.

Bazun An chuckled, "Not only that, but if you truly encounter any difficulties, you just need to send a message to the Saint Slaves, and someone will immediately come to your aid, under the principle of priority support!"

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. He remained silent for a long moment, then confirmed, "You're not lying to me?"

"No."

"You're truly not deceiving me?"

"No!"

He quickly checked the information bar. The information bar remained still. That meant Bazun An's words were indeed the truth. But why?

"Why are you being so good to me?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, puzzled.

"Because you are Old Sang's disciple, and thus, in a way, half my own." After speaking, Bazun An pondered for a moment, then added, "Of course, giving you this information is also to encourage you to act without restraint. Do as you please; I only want something sensational, the grander, the better."

Mu Zixi, standing nearby, was thoroughly startled. Is this man insane? Is he truly the Eighth Sword Immortal? Has he lost his mind? Doesn't this man realize that even with Old Sang's constant suppression, Xu Xiaoshou still managed to commit various unspeakable acts? If he were truly given such authority, wouldn't Dongtian Royal City be utterly destroyed?

Mu Zixi never worried about how strong or vast Dongtian Royal City was, or whether it could truly descend into complete chaos solely due to one person's power. He only knew that Xu Xiaoshou's destructive power, even at the Innate level, was already capable of drawing the attention of Throne, Dao Slicers, and even Taixu cultivators. If he were truly given support…

"Don't… *mmh*." She was about to urgently blurt something out, but Xu Xiaoshou quickly covered his junior sister's lips, pulling her firmly to his side. Ignoring her frantic kicks and struggles, he simply fixed his gaze on Bazun An.

"If something happens to me, how do I contact you?"

Bazun An's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He knew Xu Xiaoshou possessed considerable destructive power, mostly from what Old Sang had told him. As for witnessing it firsthand, he hadn't. After all, the battle with Gou Wuyue in the latter half of the White Cave was something he had already foreseen. None of those things had anything to do with Xu Xiaoshou. The most surprising thing, however, was that Ancestor Jinzhao would abandon waiting and make contact with Xu Xiaoshou ahead of schedule; that truly was something he hadn't anticipated. But aside from that, looking back at Xu Xiaoshou's journey, it seemed acceptable? Was his destructive power truly that great?

Bazun An composed himself. He was planning a grand operation, and an Innate cultivation wouldn't have devastating power, no matter how formidable it seemed. Perhaps in the end, he would even need Storyteller and others to fan the flames. Thinking along these lines, it didn't seem so exaggerated after all.

"The token." He calmly replied, "The token I gave you earlier. If something truly goes wrong, communicate with it using your sword intent, and I will sense it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Xiaoshou instantly felt as if a towering wall had appeared behind him. The wall seemed boundless in length and width, and was incredibly thick. It was the kind of wall that, once leaned upon, would bring such profound peace of mind that one could sleep soundly on the ground, even if Gou Wuyue appeared with a grim expression and drawn sword.

"I've got it." Xu Xiaoshou abruptly stood up, clutching his junior sister's neck — not even realizing he had lifted her off the ground — and solemnly declared, "The moment something happens, I'll definitely call you… *cough*, connect with you via sword intent."

"Cursed, passive points, 1, 1, 1, 1…"

Bazun An tilted his head, glancing at Mu Zixi, whose neck had turned red, and an inexplicable force prompted him to stand up as well. After a prolonged silence, he couldn't shake the feeling that this sudden impulse was slightly amiss. Finally, he uttered one last remark. "Take it easy. Try your best not to provoke anyone above the Saint level."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes instantly lit up. This sentence implied that anyone below the Saint level, including Taixu powerhouses, was fair game. *I, Xu Xiaoshou, am fearless?*

"Don't worry!" With this realization, Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fist tightly and declared excitedly, "Dongtian Royal City is a major city after all, unlike the White Cave. I'll exercise caution."

Mu Zixi forcefully turned her head, seeing her senior brother's expression, and knew he was already getting carried away. She desperately wanted to voice a warning to the Eighth Sword Immortal, but Xu Xiaoshou was holding her so tightly that she could barely breathe, let alone speak.

"Cursed, passive points, 1, 1, 1, 1…"

Bazun An gazed at the night sky and nodded slightly. His objective achieved, he had no further desire to speak. "As long as you have a clear plan, that's good." With that, he began to walk away.

"Wait!" But Xu Xiaoshou called out, "I can agree to all your conditions, but on one premise: you must give me a person."

Bazun An paused. "Hm?"

Under the cover of night, everyone who had been feigning sleep awoke. Upon learning that Xu Xiaoshou would not be accompanying the main group, everyone was somewhat surprised. Among them, the most surprised was undoubtedly the eager-faced Storyteller.

"Brother!" he exclaimed. "This is a gift I carefully prepared for you; how can you just give it away?" He looked at Xin Gugu, who was on one side, utterly weak and ashen-faced, yet revived by "Yin-Yang Life and Death," and felt deeply indignant. Of course, he could do without Xin Gugu. He was just an insignificant Minotaur, whose ability to regenerate from a single drop of blood was merely a minor amusement. But… "This too?" Shaking the spatial paper in his hand, Storyteller was incredulous. He didn't know what the two were discussing in the cave, nor did he dare to eavesdrop. But he never imagined that the sealed ghost beast his brother had long coveted could be given away so readily. Was this a joke?

"Unseal it. Give it to him." Bazun An spoke without emotion, as if the unopened gift was utterly insignificant.

"No!" Storyteller glared fiercely at Xu Xiaoshou, who recoiled repeatedly, shrinking behind Bazun An and not daring to utter a sound.

"Are you truly not giving it?" Bazun An's expression darkened.

"But… I…" *Whimpering sounds*. Storyteller's eyes curved, and large teardrops rolled down his cheeks, causing Cen Qiaofu, who was behind them, to clench his fists tightly.

"Give it to him. I said so!" Bazun An's tone became heavier.

Storyteller, left with no choice, unsealed the spatial paper after giving Xu Xiaoshou a severe glare. A *hiss*. Gray mist instantly permeated the air. At once, everyone's expressions tightened. The four prominent figures of the Saint Slaves, all extraordinary individuals, naturally sensed the faint power of calamity interwoven within the sealed mist.

Bazun An was somewhat surprised. The person Xu Xiaoshou wanted seemed far from ordinary. Before the spatial paper was unsealed, he had been completely unaware that it contained that sealed ghost beast. And the sealing attribute… it seemed he knew of it. In all the world, there was only one such person?

As the gray mist dispersed, a serene woman in white appeared. She appeared to have endured immense suffering, her face ashen. However, upon seeing the assembled group, her expression only momentarily froze before her gaze settled on the young man standing behind Bazun An.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Xu Xiaoshou leaned out, grinning, "Senior Sister Mo, long time no see."

"Cursed, passive points, 1, 1, 1, 1…"

Xu Xiaoshou pulled his junior sister behind him and was about to step forward, but Bazun An suddenly spoke, "Feng Yujin?"

Mo Mo froze. "Senior?" She had no idea who the person before her was. Although he appeared to possess only Innate cultivation, the prominent figures beside him, who were at least Throne-level or higher, subtly deferred to him. Naturally, she could only address him as 'Senior.'

"Tell him to come out." Bazun An stated indifferently. He never readily displayed his emotions to outsiders.

"He…" Mo Mo hesitated. *These people seem to know something?*

"They all know." Xu Xiaoshou transmitted a message, "The person standing before you is Bazun An, the legendary Eighth Sword Immortal. He likely knows the entity inside you. Let him emerge; they can catch up, and perhaps he can even resolve your predicament."

Mo Mo pursed her lower lip. Resolve the predicament? Others might entertain such thoughts, but she had long since fallen into despair. Being possessed by a ghost beast was, in essence, a sealed fate. Besides being possessed and facing death, merely being alive was already an immense stroke of luck amidst misfortune. Escaping such a plight? Easier said than done.

"He doesn't want to come out…" Mo Mo softly refused, but then her face suddenly twisted, and dense gray mist erupted from her body. The next second, a cackling laugh emanated from her.

"Bazun An!" The voice was extremely deep, laden with hatred and a subtle hint of fear.

Xu Xiaoshou's heart immediately tensed. With just that sound, he knew that the two were undeniably acquainted. However, the Grey Mist entity had emerged from the White Cave years ago. Judging by Mo Mo's reaction, she certainly hadn't met the Saint Slaves or anyone like them before this. So, where did these two individuals, seemingly from entirely different eras, come to know each other?

Bazun An walked with his hands clasped behind his back, approaching the Grey Mist figure. His brows furrowed slightly as he said, "According to the White Vein's plan, Ancestor Jinzhao helped you emerge from the White Cave, and you were supposed to immediately head to Void Island to unlock the 'Si Wu Formation.' Am I correct?"

The night grew cold. Xu Xiaoshou shivered. He turned and exchanged glances with Mu Zixi; even his junior sister could glean a significant amount of information from that single sentence. Xu Xiaoshou felt as if things had suddenly become complicated once more. Not only did the Grey Mist entity know Bazun An, but it was also linked to Void Island? And Ancestor Jinzhao? If there was any name in this world that was truly one of a kind, *Jinzhao* might indeed be such a name.

Himself, Old Sang, Old Sang's master… Xu Xiaoshou recalled Old Sang's final words before his capture: "Your next backer: Holy Palace, Long Rongzhi." Without a doubt, that was Master Sang's master, meaning his own grandmaster. Generally, the outside world referred to him as Jinzhao Half-Saint. This "Ancestor Jinzhao" was clearly not Jinzhao Half-Saint!

"So, it's *that* wretched Saint?"