Chapter 640: Walk to East Tianwang City, on a mission to cause trouble

Aside from those three instances, Xu Xiaoshou had only encountered the power of the Jincan lineage when he entered the illusion upon touching the renowned sword Blazingsnake, and by observing the disheveled saint.

According to Eight-Ancients, that was a Saint Emperor!

Now, considering the reactions of both the Gray Mist Man and Eight-Ancients... it seemed these individuals had all been to Void Island?

"Oh no..."

Xu Xiaoshou panicked.

He had no desire to wade into the murky waters of Void Island.

According to his conjectures, it was a true place of exile.

And those exiled there were human-form ghost beasts, quite possibly all Saints!

Eight-Ancients' very first words were so startling?

Could it be that he had truly mistaken this follower for someone else?

The Gray Mist Man subconsciously recoiled a step, seemingly harboring a deep-seated fear of the person before him, daring not to approach too closely.

After a long silence, he spoke with difficulty, "I am from the Black Vein."

"Heh!"

Eight-Ancients scoffed, then said coldly, "Both the Black and White Veins acknowledge me as supreme. Do you wish to transcend that?"

The atmosphere immediately turned grim.

Xu Xiaoshou's hands and feet grew cold.

Had he not previously experienced conversing with the unusually affable Eight-Ancients, he might have believed he was facing two entirely different individuals.

This person was utterly domineering when dealing with outsiders.

The Gray Mist Man fell silent.

He retreated another step, his gaze flickering, and though he opened his mouth, he closed it without speaking.

"Speak!"

Eight-Ancients bellowed.

The Storyteller himself was startled by the roar.

He had indeed captured a sealed ghost beast.

He also knew his brother had been searching for sealed ghost beasts.

However, he had initially believed his brother merely coveted the power of the sealing attribute, intending to assimilate them into the Saint Slaves.

He never imagined there might be such an inexplicable connection between the two.

"I want to live."

The Gray Mist Man sighed, "I'm afraid I cannot join your plans. The Holy Divine Palace is not as simple as you imagine... I truly wish to live!"

"Seeking only personal gain, while feigning goodwill?"

Eight-Ancients' murky gaze seemed to pierce like a sharp sword, straight into one's heart. "You wish to escape, and you know the power of the Holy Divine Palace. So, how long do you believe you can evade them?"

"Last time you escaped from White Cave, but this time your attempted escape led to your capture by the Storyteller."

"Next time, will you still be able to save your life from the White-Clothed and Red-Clothed?"

The Gray Mist Man remained silent.

Eight-Ancients pressed on relentlessly.

"You wish to escape? Fine, but why did you return to White Cave?"

"After leaving that place, if you truly intended to flee, you could have gone to the Southern, Northern, or Western Regions..."

"The world is vast; there are forbidden lands where the Holy Divine Palace cannot tread. You could have gone there to cultivate, to revert to your origins, to achieve Sainthood. Why did you go to White Cave?"

He paused.

Eight-Ancients scoffed again, as if he had seen straight into the Gray Mist Man's true heart.

"You want the Four Swords!"

"You want the renowned sword Blazingsnake!"

"You attempted to reconnect with the Jincan Ancestor to confirm the plan. You don't want to live aimlessly, like a street rat hiding from the illuminating Holy Light."

"You wish to live, to live openly and honorably, not cowering and hesitating like you claim you do right now!"

Everyone present was struck silent.

Eight-Ancients' display of anger was not something Xu Xiaoshou had ever witnessed. Even the Storyteller, Cen Qiaofu, and Haitang'er seemed to find it exceptionally rare, and they all refrained from speaking, simply staring at the Gray Mist Man.

The Gray Mist Man seemed to lose composure from the accusations.

"Eight-Ancients! Is this how you speak to a Saint?!"

All those observing raised their eyebrows.

A Saint...

This self-proclamation truly startled everyone.

Xu Xiaoshou subtly pulled Mu Zixi's hand, retreating slightly.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong!

What were these individuals scheming, and "a Saint"...

No way!

The one I, Xu Xiaoshou, had confronted at the Tianxuan Gate was actually a Saint?

"Frightened, Passive Points, 1."

Eight-Ancients remained completely unperturbed, even a hint of amusement in his eyes as he gazed at the Gray Mist Man. "A Saint? A mere wretch whose physical body has been utterly shattered, forced to reside within others, yet still dares to claim the title of 'Saint'?"

"Eight-Ancients!"

The Gray Mist Man, enraged, exploded into a dense cloud of mist.

However, it was all bluster; he simply dared not make a move.

Xu Xiaoshou had no idea what this person had experienced.

A man who, in earlier times, might have claimed supreme authority over heaven and earth, was now so intimidated by Eight-Ancients' mere gaze that he didn't even dare to retaliate.

Had he been severely tormented?

Recalling Eight-Ancients' earlier declaration, "Both the Black and White Veins acknowledge me as supreme"...

"So, after being struck by Hua Changdeng's three swords, for decades afterwards, Eight-Ancients was also imprisoned on Void Island? But with his unparalleled genius, he somehow subdued everyone there, and then escaped using some special method?"

As the saying goes: "Speculate boldly, verify carefully."

Xu Xiaoshou, however, was momentarily stunned by his own wild theory.

Because at that time, Eight-Ancients should have only just entered the Sword Immortal realm, correct?

And on Void Island, there was the disheveled Saint, Jincan Ancestor, and the Gray Mist Man...

That would mean anyone imprisoned there would likely be at least a Half-Saint, right?

And all these individuals were beaten by Eight-Ancients, so much so that even after escaping, the Gray Mist Man, upon seeing Eight-Ancients, despite him only being at the Xiantian level, was still too terrified to make a move?

"This is just too exaggerated!"

Xu Xiaoshou gazed at Eight-Ancients' back in astonishment.

This man, using the power of the Grand Void, savagely beat Saints?

Good heavens, what kind of being was he at his peak?

"Frightened, Passive Points, 1."

Eight-Ancients, unwilling to waste further words, flicked his robe and stated unequivocally, "You now have two paths. The first is to continue fleeing; I will give you ten breaths of time. Whether you escape will depend on your own fortune."

"And the second?" the Gray Mist Man immediately asked, without a moment's thought.

Xu Xiaoshou felt he was witnessing the Gray Mist Man's most cowardly side.

He hadn't even considered it, yet he was already prepared to choose the second path?

How incredibly unconfident he must be!

In ten breaths, given his strength, he surely wouldn't be caught, would he?

"The second is a new mission."

Eight-Ancients turned, pointing at the still-astonished Xu Xiaoshou behind him. "Follow him. Whatever he says, that is what you do. Should you dare to disobey..."

"What kind of joke is this?! Me, follow him?!"

The Gray Mist Man immediately bristled, looking as if he might explode, clearly furious to the extreme. "A Saint of my stature... Ugh."

He saw Eight-Ancients' expression suddenly darken, and he abruptly ceased speaking.

The scene remained utterly silent for several breaths before Eight-Ancients slowly spoke.

"You interrupted me?"

At this, the Gray Mist Man's face, shrouded in mist, instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

He uttered not a sound.

Utterly humbled, he found it impossible to utter any more submissive remarks.

He could only slightly lower his head, signaling his subordinate position.

"One, or two?" Eight-Ancients narrowed his eyes.

It was clearly a multiple-choice question, yet at that moment, even the onlookers could discern that there was only one true option.

The Gray Mist Man had no time to think, and "Two" burst from his lips!

Immediately...

"Received resentment, Passive Points, 1."

"Received curse, Passive Points, 1."

"Being thought of, Passive Points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou was amused by the pop-ups in the information bar.

You can't defeat Eight-Ancients, so you take your frustration out on me?

"I have one more condition..." The Gray Mist Man paused, then raised a finger.

"Very good."

Eight-Ancients, however, paid no heed, turning his body away, clearly unwilling to listen further. "Since you chose option two, if Xu Xiaoshou dies, you won't live either. Follow him!"

The Gray Mist Man: "..."

He opened his mouth, veins throbbing wildly on his forehead, but simply couldn't utter the content of his "one condition."

"Brat."

With stiff, awkward steps, the Gray Mist Man actually moved to stand before Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou momentarily didn't know what expression to wear, but seeing Eight-Ancients' overwhelming dominance, he inexplicably found his courage.

"First, you voluntarily chose to follow me; I did not force you."

"Second, if I die, you die too, so you cannot harbor murderous intentions toward me right now."

"Furthermore, considering our subordinate relationship, you shouldn't be calling me 'brat' now, but rather your mas... *cough, cough*!"

Seeing the Gray Mist Man suddenly surge with gray mist, Xu Xiaoshou realized he had overstepped.

"Forget that one... no, forget it. Pretend I didn't say anything. Just follow me."

"No, no, you should just go back!"

"I'm saving my friend; it has nothing to do with you. Only come out when there's danger. This cloud of gas is far too conspicuous."

The Gray Mist didn't utter a word. With a whoosh, the mist retracted, clearly embarrassed to remain.

Mo Mo's pale face was revealed.

The moment he saw that somewhat self-pitying expression, Xu Xiaoshou knew Mo Mo had returned.

"Moving back and forth like this, can you bear it?" he asked with concern.

"Mm."

Mo Mo assented, then hesitated. "He... is very angry. You'd best not provoke him unnecessarily; I can't control him."

"What's the big deal?!"

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand dismissively. Now that the Gray Mist Man was gone, he was nonchalant. "That fellow is currently under someone's thumb; he wouldn't dare lay a hand on me. At most, he'll just rant a bit."

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

A suppressed voice of fury suddenly erupted from Mo Mo.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. "You're back inside, and you can still hear?"

"Of course!"

"Received curse, Passive Points, 1."

Now Xu Xiaoshou had a headache. If the Gray Mist Man could still hear him even when he was gone, did that mean he couldn't badmouth him behind his back anymore?

"I can't be bothered with you..."

Ignoring the Gray Mist Man, Xu Xiaoshou still had important matters to attend to.

He looked at Xingugu, who was standing to the side, and first pulled out a jar of honey, offering it.

"What are your plans?"

Xu Xiaoshou knew that Xingugu yearned for freedom.

However, the other party belonged to the Xuyue Gray Palace and was not free.

Therefore, Xu Xiaoshou intended to let Xingugu make his own decision, with no intention of interference.

"I..."

Xingugu took the honey and skillfully swallowed it, but for a moment, he found it difficult to make a choice.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed, then waved his hand, and another figure appeared.

Compared to Xingugu, Jiao Tangtang was noticeably weaker.

The realization of the dual ghost beast possession fighting style, compounded by the demonic energy impact from the Four Swords and the repeated torment by the Storyteller, had taken a significant toll. Even though she had shone brightly in the ancient texts space, the lingering after-effects were indeed considerable.

Fortunately, within the Origin Mansion space, with the aid of the "Life Spirit Seal" and "Dao Pattern Primordial Stone," she had recovered for quite some time, regaining just enough mobility.

"Jiao Tangtang."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the newly appeared woman, just as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Received curse, Passive Points, 1, 1, 1, 1..."

He clicked his tongue, then grasped his junior sister's head and held it still before saying, "Xingugu said he wants to stay and protect 'me'. What do you think?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "me," expecting Jiao Tangtang to understand his unspoken implication.

Xingugu: ???

He stood to the side, utterly bewildered. When had he ever said such a thing?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't even spare him a glance; he never needed to prepare his lies.

However, this statement was certainly not born from an appreciation for Xingugu's combat prowess, but rather from genuine consideration for the other party.

A ghost beast host who yearned for freedom and sought emotional connection was currently trapped in a cage, desperately awaiting rescue.

For Xu Xiaoshou, it was impossible to ignore, both emotionally and logically.

Jiao Tangtang's gaze withdrew from the surrounding crowd, her heart pounding wildly.

Every single person present was a formidable figure from the records, an unparalleled grandmaster she could not possibly contend with.

Xingugu didn't know.

As the person responsible for this mission, she had a thorough understanding of the Saint Slaves.

With just a glance at Xingugu, Jiao Tangtang knew Xu Xiaoshou was spouting nonsense again.

Yet, under the watchful eyes of numerous grandmasters, Xu Xiaoshou's seemingly baseless words felt imbued with immense power, and she found herself unable to refuse.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tight.

"Precisely what you're thinking!"

Xu Xiaoshou smiled, relieved.

After Eight-Ancients' promise, he felt incredibly relaxed.

Those individuals he usually had to approach with fear and caution now didn't even dare to speak loudly to him.

Was this the joy of having powerful backing?

It was a pity Elder Sang wasn't here.

If that old man were here, the deterrent effect would likely double.

If he replaced Ah Huo and Ah Bing with Elder Sang and Eight-Ancients, and took them out for a few strolls, wouldn't his passive points skyrocket?

"Xingugu, what do you say?"

Jiao Tangtang couldn't discern any clear answer from Xu Xiaoshou, so she could only turn her gaze to Xingugu.

"I..."

Xingugu still hesitated, unable to speak.

But how could Jiao Tangtang not perceive the burning passion and longing hidden deep within her younger brother's eyes?

Following Xu Xiaoshou and returning to the Xuyue Gray Palace with her were two entirely different paths.

And at this moment, the God of Greed was with Xu Xiaoshou, and she had also given away the "Ghost Beast Contract." If Xingugu were truly left behind...

It seemed, it might even work?

Perhaps, they could even advance the contract progress a bit?

Jiao Tangtang did not hesitate long. She made a swift decision: "Even if you truly wish to stay, then do so. I can return alone and report."

Xingugu immediately grew anxious. "It's not that I want to stay; it's Xu Xiaoshou..."

"You don't want to follow me?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened, directly interrupting Xingugu.

Xingugu bared his teeth.

"I do."

More than just wanting?

Following Xu Xiaoshou was incredibly joyful!

The thrill of adventure was a stark contrast to the constant mission-doing at the Xuyue Gray Palace.

This, in itself, was the joy of freedom. Why wouldn't he want it?

"Then that settles it!"

Xu Xiaoshou waved a hand, telling Jiao Tangtang, "You may leave. I don't want you."

Jiao Tangtang: "..."

"Received curse, Passive Points, 1."

Lowering her gaze, she swept her eyes over the surrounding individuals. Unable to utter a single harsh word, she immediately took long strides to depart.

"Wait."

The Storyteller suddenly spoke up, asking, "You're from the Xuyue Gray Palace, aren't you?"

Jiao Tangtang paused, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she nodded.

"I recall you possessing a Ghost Beast Pearl, the Holy War Black Angel, don't you?" The Storyteller smiled malevolently.

Jiao Tangtang's heart now twitched with unease.

Even with minimal thought, she could grasp the Storyteller's intention.

"You may leave, but for our Saint Slaves to protect your Xuyue Gray Palace people, there must be a protection fee, wouldn't you agree?" The Storyteller spread his hands.

Xingugu was utterly dumbfounded.

Protect?

Was he protecting Xu Xiaoshou, or was Xu Xiaoshou protecting him?

This hierarchy was far too convoluted!

Even Xu Xiaoshou himself was taken aback by the Storyteller's audacity; he wouldn't have dared to utter such words.

Jiao Tangtang's delicate fists clenched tightly.

However, when one is under another's roof, one must bow one's head.

The Storyteller alone could overpower her, despite her dual ghost beast possession, let alone the presence of at least three other individuals of similar caliber.

"Whoosh!"

A dark light shot towards Xu Xiaoshou.

"Received sneak attack, Passive Points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou snatched it; it was a dark, obsidian bead.

"A Ghost Beast Pearl."

Jiao Tangtang left a single sentence, then turned and departed without looking back.

The Storyteller chuckled, gave Xu Xiaoshou a fleeting glance, and then, without another word, returned to the cave.

Xu Xiaoshou felt a touch of emotion for a moment.

These individuals, though outwardly impolite, became quite benevolent once they were considered his own.

He had, of course, witnessed the combat prowess of the Holy War Black Angel.

Especially the power derived from its dual ghost beast possession.

This bead was not intended for his own use...

"Why are you looking at me?"

Xingugu saw Xu Xiaoshou staring at him thoughtfully, and his fur bristled.

"Received fear, Passive Points, 1."

"No, that's all!"

With all matters resolved, Xu Xiaoshou looked towards Eight-Ancients, the one in charge.

Eight-Ancients smiled faintly.

"I wish you good fortune."

With that, he led all the Saint Slaves back into the cave.

Under the cover of night, only four figures remained in the clearing, gazing at each other in silence, and the scene grew still.

Holding the Ghost Beast Pearl, Xu Xiaoshou felt as though he grasped an inexplicable power.

He looked at the individuals behind him, particularly the Gray Mist Man residing within Mo Mo's body, and suddenly felt a surge of newfound confidence for this journey.

—An abundance of confidence, indeed!

"Where to?"

Mo Mo, unnerved by his gaze, couldn't help but ask.

Where to...

Xu Xiaoshou's lips curved into a smile as he tilted his head back, gazing at the night sky.

He didn't know the precise location of the Eastern Heavenly King City.

But he knew that this glance showed him the direction.

"Let's go to Eastern Heavenly King City! We've been ordered to cause trouble!"