Chapter 765: Awaiting My Ascension to the Throne, Then I Dare to Raise My Sword on the Sacred Mountain

"What is it?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up with excitement.

Who wouldn't want to be a child, reaching out for gifts every day, whether there's a reason or not? Looking back at his journey, it would certainly be a lie to say he didn't envy his peers.

Xu Xiaoshou had beaten up many people. Each time they revealed their backgrounds, trump cards, or ultimate moves, all he could do was hide a "Passive Fist" that took a long time to charge, just in case.

Yet, he clearly had Elder Sang behind him, a Grand Void who could easily defeat half the world. And behind Elder Sang was Long Rongzhi, the Semi-Saint of Emberlight from the Holy Palace.

Thinking this way, Xu Xiaoshou's identity as a Grand Void successor, or even a Semi-Saint successor, could well be true. But reality showed that Xu Xiaoshou couldn't say or do anything about it.

These layers of backing couldn't be openly displayed. He couldn't, like others, face a strong enemy and declare, "You dare hit me? I have someone backing me up!" and expect the enemy to retreat. Impossible. It just wasn't feasible!

Even his identity as the Semi-Saint successor of the First Heavenly Tower was a fabrication by Xu Xiaoshou himself. It was a case of borrowing power. When truly facing powerful enemies, none of these would work.

But now! The three elixir bottles Elder Sang placed before him contained immense, even terrifying, energy, Xu Xiaoshou could feel it. These were true trump cards!

Xu Xiaoshou understood that this time, Elder Sang wouldn't prepare three more bottles of Yuan Court Elixirs for him without reason. The Grand Void world the Elder had constructed was meant to help his disciple defeat enemies when encountering Grand Voids or even Semi-Saints.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Elder Sang with a hopeful expression.

Elder Sang smiled, no longer playing coy. He pointed to the first elixir bottle and said, "This is a Phantom Image."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes suddenly lit up. "A Phantom Image?" "Yes," Elder Sang nodded, continuing, "The process of making a Phantom Image is extremely difficult, requiring a Grand Void several years of effort. Typically, even in Grand Void families, only the most highly valued disciples receive such a gift from their elders."

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou became certain that the Phantom Image Elder Sang spoke of was the kind he had seen before. Zhang Taiying's Imperial Princess Phantom Image in Sky Mulberry City had left a deep impression on him.

At the time, the opponent couldn't even move. But relying solely on the Phantom Image's defensive power, Xu Xiaoshou and Xin Gugu—one a berserk giant, the other a ghost beast—couldn't break through its defense in the slightest, even to the point of near exhaustion!

Until A-Jie's kick ended everything... But that was only the remaining defensive power of the Phantom Image when Zhang Taiying couldn't control it. If the opponent could have unleashed the Phantom Image's offensive capabilities, Xu Xiaoshou believed that even with A-Jie, he might not have been able to defeat Zhang Taiying.

"Does it have a name?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, coming back to his senses. He remembered that Phantom Images usually had names, like Zhang Taiying's "Imperial Princess Phantom Image," which sounded very imposing. A shout before battle could weaken the enemy's morale by a third.

Elder Sang, however, shook his head. "I have never created a Phantom Image for anyone in my life. This is the first, and it doesn't have a name yet."

"Then you should name it," Xu Xiaoshou said. "I've decided to accept this gift."

Elder Sang's eyelid twitched. The tone implied Xu Xiaoshou was granting a favor. But he didn't dwell on it. After some thought, Elder Sang mused, "Let's call it 'Black Flame God' then!"

"Black?" Xu Xiaoshou was a little puzzled. The Emberlight lineage was known for white flames, so why "Black"? But then he reconsidered, Elder Sang's signature skill didn't seem to be white flames; it was his self-created "Sleeveless Scorched Hand."

Xu Xiaoshou had witnessed those scorched hands in the Eight Palaces. Absolutely scorching! They could even incinerate the laws of heaven, truly invincible.

He now understood why Elder Sang had named it "Black Flame God." Grabbing the elixir bottle, Xu Xiaoshou looked at the second one. "What about this one?"

Elder Sang shook his head at his disciple's eagerness, but said little. He pointed to the second bottle on the ground. "This is a Saint Image."

"Huh?" Xu Xiaoshou's heart immediately stopped, his eyes wide with shock. "A Saint? Did you mispeak?"

The oppressive feeling from Jiang Xian's Saint Image in Heavenly Prayer Forest was still vivid in his memory. If it weren't for the Yama duo's extensive preparations, those two Dao Slayers could only prostrate themselves before a Saint Image.

Elder Sang also had a Saint Image?

As if sensing Xu Xiaoshou's doubt, Elder Sang smiled. "This is a Saint Image left by your Grandmaster. However, I severed ties with him long ago and don't wish to use it, so I'm leaving it for you."

"Are you crazy?!" After his initial shock, Xu Xiaoshou's first thought wasn't of himself, but of the arrow from Ai Cangsheng in the Eight Palaces.

If Elder Sang had activated the Saint Image then, would it have been possible to withstand that arrow from Ai Cangsheng's Evil Sin Bow? Not just possible! It should have been entirely feasible...

"Whack." Elder Sang suddenly leaned forward and sharply rapped Xu Xiaoshou on the head again. "Watch your tone!"

As Xu Xiaoshou looked at him with a mix of grievance and inquiry, Elder Sang sighed deeply, saying wistfully, "Xu Xiaoshou, you are indeed very intelligent, but some matters aren't as simple as you think."

"What do you mean?" Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled.

Elder Sang pointed overhead, a mysterious smile reappearing on his face. "I should have told you before: beyond the heavens, there are heavens, and beyond those heavens, there are still more heavens."

"Some matters, you might think you've figured out three layers, but they actually have five layers of meaning." "Even with your current talent and ability, if you can see three layers, I can tell you for certain that those three layers are merely what others want you to see."

"Your abilities will only ever allow you to glimpse the tip of this world's iceberg."

Xu Xiaoshou fell into deep thought. What did this mean? Having a Saint Image but not using it, then choosing to be struck by an arrow... Could this somehow be part of Elder Sang's plan?

Did Elder Sang intentionally want to get himself into the Holy Divine Palace's prison? Xu Xiaoshou was startled by the thought, then immediately dismissed it.

Impossible! If Elder Sang had wanted to, years ago, when Gou Wuyue was active, he could have descended the steps and entered prison then. Why would he bother waiting for Ai Cangsheng's arrow?

Besides, what would be the point of going to prison? To endure the tortures of the Holy Divine Palace? Was Elder Sang actually a...

"Whack!" Just as he was pondering, Elder Sang slapped Xu Xiaoshou awake again, scolding him impatiently:

"Stop thinking about it. As I said before, before you have absolute power, just focus on being a good pawn!" "There are many intelligent people in this world; one Dao Qiongcang is enough to give you more than you can handle."

"Do you really think your current abilities can compare to figures from the previous era?" Xu Xiaoshou shook his head. "I'm not that arrogant..."

Elder Sang immediately interrupted, "But what I'm facing now, and what you'll face later, is far more than just one Dao Qiongcang!"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly looked up, as if enlightened. Right! He was indeed still just a junior; he didn't need to consider so much.

But Elder Sang and Eight Trigrams were already contending with the peak powers of this world. If such figures, regardless of whether they were friend or foe, could have their schemes easily figured out by a junior like him, would they still be called mighty?

"Xu Xiaoshou." Elder Sang suddenly lowered his voice. "Remember, you can temporarily focus your gaze on your peers, but to surpass them, or even catch up to those of the previous era, your vision must not be limited to just your peers, or even just the previous generation!"

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent. He understood Elder Sang's unspoken meaning. What a terrifying reality this was.

Xu Xiaoshou was born an era later, yet he had to pursue those from the previous era. But at the same time, people from the previous era wouldn't stand still; they would also be striving to catch up to the era before them.

Everyone seemed to be "blindly" rushing toward a "goal." It seemed there was a goal, but no one could see where it was.

Xu Xiaoshou felt that his description of "blindness" was quite accurate. As for the "goal"... perhaps it shouldn't be called a "goal," but rather an "answer."

That "answer" hidden in the deepest parts of the continent, which everyone was pursuing but no one could provide. Xu Xiaoshou had asked before. Most people couldn't give it. Even Elder Sang had never explicitly stated it.

But Eight Trigrams had given it to him. That "answer" was called "freedom."

Whether it was the Holy Divine Palace's absolute control, Elder Sang's "cage theory," or Eight Trigrams' vivid tales of "outsiders" in the White Cave... everything could be categorized as "for freedom."

However, the "freedom" the Holy Divine Palace wished to bestow upon the continent seemed entirely different from the concept of "freedom" held by Elder Sang and Eight Trigrams.

"This is a serious continental-level involution, isn't it..." Xu Xiaoshou thought, concluding with a helpless sigh.

At that moment, Elder Sang's figure wavered, and the world blurred, as if everything was about to disappear. Xu Xiaoshou snapped back to reality, startled. "What? Is time almost up? Are you going to die again?"

"Whack." Elder Sang unexpectedly slammed down another forceful, angry blow. "So much nonsense!"

This time, he didn't waste any more words. He returned to the main topic, pointing to the second elixir bottle. "This Saint Image is called 'Nine Dragons Burning Ancestor.' Summoning it with your current cultivation would essentially be 'killing a thousand enemies but harming eight hundred of yourself.' So..."

Elder Sang's speech quickened as he pointed to the third elixir bottle. "This is a bottle of Saint's Blood, also from your Grandmaster. Before summoning the Saint Image, take one drop; it can save your life."

Xu Xiaoshou was profoundly shaken, asking in a startled voice, "A bottle of Saint's Blood?" If he wasn't mistaken, the unit of measurement for Saint's Blood was... drops?

"Yes," Elder Sang nodded. "A full bottle of Saint's Blood! I told you, I severed ties with your Grandmaster long ago, so I haven't used his things. But since it's his blood, it's not easily obtained. You must use it carefully; once it's gone, it's gone."

"How many drops are in one bottle?" Xu Xiaoshou swallowed.

"A dozen or so drops, I don't know. Who counts these things for no reason?" "Anyway, it's enough for you!"

Elder Sang waved his sleeve, paused, and added, "Oh, and by the way, this is Saint's Blood specially made by your Grandmaster. Don't forget he's also a skilled alchemist, so this Saint's Blood doesn't have the overbearing side effects of other Saint's Blood. You can even ingest it like a divine healing medicine such as 'God's Blessing' when you're on the verge of death."

"Gulp." Xu Xiaoshou was truly frightened. This, this, this...

The Emberlight lineage's protectiveness of its own had once again redefined his understanding. Grabbing the last two elixir bottles, Xu Xiaoshou asked, full of curiosity, "Grandmaster was so good to you, why did you sever ties with him?"

"Whack." Elder Sang slapped him again, then rubbed his hand, as if relishing the moment, knowing he wouldn't be able to do it much longer. "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

"Oh, right." Xu Xiaoshou rubbed his head. With his reaction speed, Elder Sang's small illusion couldn't have hit him at all. But he strangely didn't want to dodge; his inner thoughts aligned perfectly with Elder Sang's.

After these few slaps, he probably wouldn't get hit like this again.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Xu Xiaoshou asked after a moment's thought. "You could also write a will or something, if you have any unfulfilled wishes..."

"Whack." Elder Sang slapped him again.

Xu Xiaoshou clutched his head and chuckled. After slapping him, Elder Sang saw his disciple's silly grin and actually found it amusing, chuckling himself.

Master and disciple, in this Grand Void illusion where time did not flow, looked at each other and chuckled. The scene was utterly bizarre.

As they laughed, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly stopped, his nose stinging, unable to laugh anymore. Because at this moment, Elder Sang truly resembled someone at the end of his life.

His figure began to fade, swaying as if about to disperse. Even this Grand Void world started to show cracks in the void, gradually crumbling.

"Hehe..." Xu Xiaoshou let out two more dry chuckles. He had so much he wanted to say, but at that moment, he didn't know where to begin.

"Hehe..." Elder Sang was also chuckling slyly. This scene suddenly reminded him of the awkward time in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion when he was teaching Xu Xiaoshou alchemy and a spark flew into his nostril.

He stopped laughing. With the important matters discussed, they faced each other in silence, both wanting to speak but holding back.

It was Xu Xiaoshou's first time formally becoming a disciple. He had never had family before, so he didn't know how to start a conversation with a relative after a long absence, beyond discussing important matters.

Like, "How's life in prison?" or "Did the Holy Divine Palace people abuse you?" or "How's the food?"

It wasn't Elder Sang's first time taking a disciple, but Xu Xiaoshou was the only one he had taken who was still alive. He also didn't know how to talk about truly desired topics with his disciple during this final meeting, beyond teaching alchemy and fighting.

Such as, "You haven't told me about the White Cave yet," or "You should be in East Heavenly King City now, what's the situation there?" or "With so many lovely girls outside the Spirit Palace, have you found a girlfriend yet?"

With a sudden boom, the world shattered. At that moment, Elder Sang and Xu Xiaoshou seemed to think of something simultaneously, and both spoke at once:

"Oh right, your junior sister..." "Yes, Mu Zixi, she..."

They spoke at the same time, then paused at the same time, and exchanged a smile.

From a gentle smile to hearty laughter.

As his figure faded, Elder Sang waved a hand, as if all his wishes had been fulfilled, and spoke indifferently:

"Xu Xiaoshou, take good care of your junior sister. These three items are for you to protect her with." "And remember what I told you last in the Eight Palaces."

"If I die, on this continent, you need not fear anyone in the world!" "If anything happens, tell Long Rongzhi to help you solve it!"

"Also..." Even though his lower body had already vanished, the old man's speaking speed grew faster and faster, as if only now did he have something to say:

"And don't blindly idolize Eight Trigrams. In this world, you can only trust yourself." "Don't give up on alchemy. Swordsmanship is garbage; don't believe his nonsense." "Cultivate Emberlight Heaven Burning diligently; it can reach Sainthood!" "And, and..."

The closer to the end, the more frantic Elder Sang became.

"Old man!" Xu Xiaoshou suddenly interrupted him. His nose stung, his eyes reddened, and tears welled up. He hadn't expected that even at the very last moment, he would be moved by the old man's eloquent words.

Then he drew Hidden Misery, swearing his will with the sword. A surge of white flames erupted from him, as if Elder Sang's Flame God had been reborn.

The white flames spread down his right arm to Hidden Misery. Then, Xu Xiaoshou pointed the black sword skyward and roared hoarsely at the old man, who was now just a fading illusion of a head:

"Old man, wait for me!" "When I ascend the throne, I will dare to ascend the Saint Mountain with my sword, save you from your sea of suffering, overturn that rotten chessboard, and teach that damned Ai Cangsheng to be a decent person again!"

With a boom, the Grand Void world shattered. Elder Sang's phantom completely vanished. But Xu Xiaoshou clearly saw Elder Sang's fading image, who had been compelled to speak but held back because of Xu Xiaoshou's words, condense a thousand words into one final word, and then nod with a smile.

"Good."