Chapter 762: You go first, I'll cover the rear

Xing Gugu was from the conservative faction.Caramel was also from the conservative faction.Their last mission, to go to the White Cave to find Feng Yujin, was the conservative faction's final struggle.But it failed.Feng Yujin never agreed to join the Xuyue Gray Palace; instead, he was eventually captured by Xu Xiaoshou.It was precisely because Caramel recognized Xu Xiaoshou's potential that he gifted him the God of Greed and ultimately left Xing Gugu by his side.This was a crucial move for the conservative faction.If played well, it could turn the tide and save what was about to collapse.But these were all contingency plans.

Back to reality, back to the present.When seniors Wuxia and Yuexie from the conservative faction truly appeared before him, and were about to be apprehended by the Red Clothes without any basis, Xing Gugu couldn't hold back.This was his childhood belief.It was also the belief of most kind-hearted ghost beast hosts.They shouldn't be treated this way…Senior Wuxia truly was a good person!

Xing Gugu knew everything.He knew that war might bring peace, but the cost would be immeasurable.There had to be another way to protect the ghost beast hosts who wished for no war, while simultaneously finding true peace from another perspective.Senior Wuxia was searching for this method, the conservative faction of Xuyue Gray Palace was searching for it, and Xing Gugu was also searching for it.What differed from others was this.Perhaps what others found was a path.But Xing Gugu had set his sights on a person.

"Momo!"Thinking this, Xing Gugu looked back and transmitted seriously, "Senior Wuxia cannot die. I must find Xu Xiaoshou. Do you have a way to contact him?"

"Wuxia?"Momo was startled, then immediately recovered, "Xu Xiaoshou must be figuring something out right now. Why do you need to contact him?"

"It's too slow!"Xing Gugu was anxious to save them; how could he wait any longer?He transmitted again, "The barrier is broken now, so we might be able to contact Xu Xiaoshou. I have an urgent matter and must find him immediately to explain clearly."

"No..." Momo shook his head, "The barrier is broken, but if we use a communication bead, it might still be intercepted by the White Clothes, Red Clothes, and others. It could even expose Xu Xiaoshou's whereabouts, which would be absolutely unwise."

Xing Gugu fell silent.Was there truly no way?

At this moment, Momo's eyes lit up, and he seemed to have an idea."Perhaps, there really is a way...""What way?" Xing Gugu rejoiced.

Momo said nothing, turning to look at Liu Changqing.This newly advanced ghost beast host, despite his Cutting Dao cultivation, was completely useless in the current situation.However, the Xuan Wuji within him dared to claim to be a Heaven's Mystery Diviner unparalleled outside of Dao Qiongcang!Perhaps, he could do something?

North City District, Heavenly Prayer Forest.Figures in white rustled; several squads of the first wave of reinforcements had already arrived.There was no helping it; fluctuations of Sacred Power were not to be underestimated by anyone.If the Sacred Power leak was just an accident, that would be fine.But if it was truly a prelude to war, and that war could potentially disrupt the plans of the White Clothes and Red Clothes, then late support would be equivalent to no support at all!

However, even with the White Clothes' incredible speed, by the time they arrived at Heavenly Prayer Forest, the battle had already concluded.The Flower Immortal Eyes of the Guests from the Underworld were too powerful.If it hadn't been for the final need to extinguish that half-saint bloodline imprint, the White Clothes might not have even detected their involvement in this raid on the Jiang family.Therefore, all those who arrived at the scene could only find Jiang Chaotian and the unconscious victim, Jiang Xian, outside Heavenly Prayer Forest.After briefly understanding the situation, the White Clothes immediately dispatched teams to search everywhere for the culprit, Yama, and the even more unsettling Saint Servant organization.

Central City District.Before the White Clothes launched their operation, three figures were already speeding through the night sky.Xu Xiaoshou, one of the masterminds, had already escaped from Heavenly Prayer Forest under the cover of the Storyteller's Yin-Yang Life-Death Ledger's spatial power.He couldn't help but marvel at the power of spatial abilities at that moment.His Step to Heaven and Disappearing Art allowed him to travel freely between any territories, provided there were no Cutting Dao seals.But once space was banished, Xu Xiaoshou was powerless.The Storyteller was different.That guy was at the peak of Cutting Dao.Plus his untraceable spatial power, he could practically vanish at will even when encountering an ordinary Grand Void expert.In this world fraught with crises, sometimes immense cultivation wasn't very useful.Escape methods, Xu Xiaoshou felt, were the true standard for measuring a person's combat power level.

"So, Uncle, are you really planning to go directly to Yama's boss, Huang Quan?"While flying, Xu Xiaoshou looked back at the scruffy uncle carrying a sack.This uncle was accompanying him.As for the reason...After learning that the uncle was going after Yama's Huang Quan, Xu Xiaoshou simply said, "I know where Yama's boss is."After that, the uncle followed.No excessive chatter.And no guard whatsoever.Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he had said, "I want to sell you. Can you help me count the money?"The uncle solemnly replied, "Okay," and immediately began counting the money without question.When Xu Xiaoshou realized there might be a trick and tried to stop him, the other party wouldn't allow it!The uncle insisted on counting the money for him.Counting too little wasn't enough; he looked earnestly determined to help completely, like seeing a task through to the very end.Consequently, this shared endeavor made Xu Xiaoshou feel somewhat self-contradictory.

"Mm."Beside him, facing the same question repeated seven or eight times on their journey, the uncle remained silent, merely nodding in response, valuing words like gold.Xu Xiaoshou felt very flustered by him: "Are you really not afraid I'll use you?"The uncle smiled faintly: "Can you even use me?"Xu Xiaoshou: "...""Is there truly no other reason? I don't believe you don't know the situation in the South City District... You're helping me!" Xu Xiaoshou said again.The uncle: "I'm not helping you; I just want the Injured Xuan Sword."Xu Xiaoshou: "Your actions will coincidentally help me!"The uncle: "Shouldn't you be happy about that?"Xu Xiaoshou: "..."He was instantly left speechless.Right!He really should feel happy, he told himself.But...How could such a good person exist in this world?It was obvious someone was about to use you, and you were foolishly going along with it—wasn't that utterly stupid?But to say the uncle was stupid...Xu Xiaoshou couldn't agree.He felt there must be a trick, a scheme he couldn't detect or even grasp the slightest hint of.—A very clever maneuver!

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent, stroking his chin, pondering deeply as he flew.The uncle looked back, saw the young man's expression, chuckled quietly, and repeatedly shook his head.The Storyteller beside them was already dumbfounded.He felt the scruffy uncle's strength more profoundly than Xu Xiaoshou did.Regarding his Sword Dao cultivation, the Storyteller dared say that apart from his elder brother and the Seven Sword Immortals, probably few in this world could compare.Yet such a figure, nameless and unknown, was even happy to be used...Was he crazy!The Storyteller was already going a bit mad internally. What kind of constitution did Xu Xiaoshou have that made him so universally liked wherever he went?

At this point, Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts yielded no results, and he gave up pondering.He turned back and earnestly asked a question that had puzzled him for a long time: "So, Uncle, who exactly are you, and why do you always help me?"The "Sword Contemplation Scripture" from Tiansang City, the Illusory Sword Art from Heavenly Prayer Forest...Xu Xiaoshou sometimes genuinely wondered if this scruffy uncle liked him, secretly followed him, and would act whenever he was in danger.The uncle calmly replied, "I've told you, I am Ba Zun'an."Xu Xiaoshou: "..."He turned to look at the Storyteller: "You... uh, are you sure our Saint Servant Chief is Ba Zun'an?"The Storyteller now also seemed a bit uncertain: "Brother, it sh-should be, right?""What do you mean 'should'!" Xu Xiaoshou's head ached.He was certain that the masked man was the real Ba Zun'an, and this scruffy uncle was an imposter. How could he possibly be Ba Zun'an?"Don't lie to me anymore!"Turning his head, Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the uncle."Seriously, you're such a big shot, why do you enjoy teasing juniors so much?""The 'Sword Contemplation Scripture' was given by you, and you've saved my life.""So, there's really no need to lie to me."Xu Xiaoshou said with utmost sincerity, "We're on the same side!"

The Storyteller was surprised: "The 'Sword Contemplation Scripture'—he gave it to you?""Yes!"Xu Xiaoshou looked back: "You might not believe it, but my Sword Will wasn't learned from your brother; it was learned from an ancient text he gave me called the 'Sword Contemplation Scripture'."Now the Storyteller was truly shocked."Impossible..." he murmured, "The 'Sword Contemplation Scripture' belongs to brother. He said it never circulated outside. How could it be in someone else's hands?"Both of them simultaneously turned their gaze back to the uncle."You, who exactly are you!"The uncle smiled: "Ba Zun'an."

At this, all three fell silent.Xu Xiaoshou seethed with frustration.The Storyteller observed carefully but still couldn't find any flaw.As for the uncle...The uncle still carried his large sack, dusty from travel, like a dutiful worker, adding bricks and tiles wherever they were needed.Sometimes he would be late, but he was never absent.

"You're so righteous..." Xu Xiaoshou muttered inwardly, deciding not to ask any more questions.Just then, he suddenly twitched an ear, noticing ripples in the void before him, beginning to shift.The uncle and the Storyteller simultaneously grew alert and stopped.The void ripples converged, forming a Heavenly Mystery formation diagram."Heavenly Mystery Art?"The Storyteller was greatly startled.For a moment, he even thought Dao Qiongcang had found him and personally intervened.He was about to gather power to attack when the uncle beside him immediately stopped him, saying, "Hold on, it's not that old Daoist."The Storyteller was struck with surprise.That old Daoist...This uncle knew what he was thinking, and also knew that Dao Qiongcang's honored title should not be spoken casually, yet there was not a trace of reverence in his words.Who exactly was this person?

The Heavenly Mystery formation diagram shifted, and in a short while, a translucent human head image appeared."Little Ji Ji?"Xu Xiaoshou barely recognized the head."You know him?"The Storyteller beside him was surprised.Such a Heavenly Mystery Art, projecting a human head for dialogue from a distance, was something he had never witnessed.How long had Xu Xiaoshou been in the Royal City to get acquainted with such a Heaven's Mystery Diviner?"Mm."Xu Xiaoshou nodded: "A ghost beast.""Ghost beast, my ass!"The image of Xuan Wuji inside the Heavenly Mystery formation diagram flew into a rage, correcting him: "I am your ancestor Wuji!""Xuan Wuji?" The scruffy uncle also raised an eyebrow, "The Xuan Wuji who was directly sent in by that old Daoist using a Heavenly Mystery Art? Aren't you on Void Island?"Xuan Wuji's image saw the scruffy uncle's appearance in a flash, and suddenly the projected image trembled violently, and his voice vanished.His mouth was open, seemingly in a gasp of surprise.But not a single sound could pass through; clearly, the Heavenly Mystery Art was unstable at that moment.Then, after a moment, the image began to stabilize."Who are you?!" Xuan Wuji asked, surprised and suspicious."Ba Zun'an," the uncle replied."You're not Ba Zun'an, damn it! You scared your ancestor Wuji!" Xuan Wuji roared in anger."Heh heh," the uncle smiled.

Seeing that the two were about to converse, Xu Xiaoshou quickly interrupted, "Stop chatting! Little Ji Ji, what do you need me for? Did something happen at the scene, or have you escaped?"Although Xu Xiaoshou was pleasantly surprised that Xuan Wuji had contacted him using a Heavenly Mystery Art, for Momo to be forced to think of using Xuan Wuji to contact him, possibly even needing to bypass Liu Changqing, a human checkpoint, Xu Xiaoshou felt there must be a major issue.At that moment, important matters naturally took precedence.

"Escape? Impossible, Rao Yaoyao is here..."Xuan Wuji scoffed at this and continued, "There's a young man named Xing who strongly insists you return quickly, saying something major has happened and that you need to save someone.""Save someone?" Xu Xiaoshou repeated."Or, as you would put it, save a ghost beast.""A ghost beast? Do I know it?""How would I know that? But it's a Grand Void-level ghost beast. Perhaps we can pull some strings, put in some effort, and lure it over." Xuan Wuji began offering his suggestions.Once one is implicated in a risky venture, they inevitably try to salvage the situation.At the very least, shouldn't there be a basic sense of security while on board?

Upon hearing "Grand Void-level ghost beast," Xu Xiaoshou knew he certainly wouldn't know it.But if it was someone Xing Gugu wanted to save, it probably had some connection to the Xuyue Gray Palace.He also wanted to inquire about the situation at the trade fair.But then, the scruffy uncle suddenly waved his hand, directly shattering the Heavenly Mystery formation."What are you doing..."Xu Xiaoshou turned back, bewildered.Just then, he saw both the uncle and the Storyteller simultaneously looking towards the ground.On the ground, a short, hunchbacked old man was straining to look up at the sky.His gaze was directed precisely at the spot where the three of them were hovering.

"Wang Dachui..."The Storyteller stared at the man, muttering aloud, feeling a headache coming on."Who?" Xu Xiaoshou could sense that the newcomer was not simple.Furthermore, this person had a very strong hostile intent towards the three of them.

"You two should leave first!"At this moment, before the Storyteller could explain, the scruffy uncle waved his hand and said:"I won't go looking for Yama's Huang Quan for now. Once this is resolved here, I'll go check out the trade fair you mentioned.""For now, you two go first. I'll cover your retreat."