Chapter 767: Mr. Si, Please Wait a Moment, Let Me Cut Down Another Void

He threw a punch.

A high-frequency, piercing shockwave resonated through the void, and everything began to distort.

“Flash!”

In a flash, a cunning glint flickered in Yi’s eyes.

Then, with his back to Xu Xiaoshou, just as his forward momentum ceased, his old strength waned, and new strength had yet to emerge, he surprisingly summoned spirit essence again, shifting several body lengths to the side.

“Little one…”

Having done all this, Yi looked back with amusement.

He was certain that even if the opponent had activated a Saint Image and wielded Saint Power, their combat experience was insufficient. It would be impossible for them to land this punch fully on him, especially after he had deliberately exposed a small opening.

But as he turned his head, Xu Xiaoshou's punch, which should have missed, was like a leech stuck to bone, still expanding infinitely in his pupils.

“What?!”

The shock on Yi's face barely had time to register for an instant.

The next second, a terrifying force struck him.

“Boom—”

A deafening explosion erupted.

On Yi's old face, which had transformed into Elder Sang's, the first thing to be sent flying and shattered was the straw hat on his head. Then, under the immense force, his facial features suddenly caved in towards the back of his head, his face completely distorted. Next, the fragile cervical vertebrae connecting his upper and lower body, after a soft crack under the unbearable pressure…

“Snap!”

A head streaked through the void, leaving an afterimage. When it reappeared, it was already dozens of feet away in mid-air.

At this moment, time slowed down. The headless body below, and the young man who looked up and smiled, were instantly frozen in the memory of Yi's airborne head!

Up to this point, all of this was merely the aftershock of the Saint Power strike. When “Passive Punch” unleashed its second wave of power, coupled with Xu Xiaoshou's full exertion of the explosive force from the Cinderglow Seed, it fully bloomed.

The head that had been blasted away exploded in the sky with a 'bang,' creating a black hole. It was completely obliterated, reduced to dust.

“My apologies,” Xu Xiaoshou's voice finally began to sound. “You might have anticipated my anticipation, but I didn’t think someone of your Taixu level would be hit by my punch so easily… So, what I was aiming for was your Saint Power aura!”

Xu Xiaoshou pulled back the corners of his lips, grinning. He had already decided to use “Passive Punch” to take down that old face; how could he allow this punch to miss?

As the chief of the Odd Division, Yi was undoubtedly battle-hardened. Xu Xiaoshou didn't know if the opening the opponent offered was genuine or a feint. But regardless of its authenticity, once he threw that punch, his steps never halted. No matter what spiritual skill Yi used or where he flashed to, he would surely follow with “Step to Heaven,” and then, this punch would undeniably land on Elder Sang's face.

What was laughable was… the opponent seemed to genuinely regard Xu Xiaoshou as an inexperienced Innate junior. He only flashed once and then stopped. When Xu Xiaoshou unleashed his punch, he treated it with such caution that he used “Step to Heaven” no less than five times. Although, apart from the first time, the others were just shifts in place, it was precisely out of fear of missing!

The moment Yi also consumed Saint Blood, Xu Xiaoshou knew his chance had arrived. Even Taixu power couldn't completely mask the aura of the Saint Dao; this was his fundamental basis for being certain that Yi would inevitably be exposed to his punch!

Shaking his arm, Xu Xiaoshou gasped in pain. He looked down at his completely shattered right arm, but due to Saint Power, it hadn't exploded after this passive punch. Yet, it was not far from exploding… It was completely unusable!

Honestly, the power accumulated by this “Passive Punch” wasn't as much as the previous time. This was because Xu Xiaoshou had received very few attacks during this period. But after accumulating for so long, the power was still considerable. Moreover, this time it was augmented by the power of Saint Blood and the Saint Image. So, looking at the headless body before him, Xu Xiaoshou didn't know if Yi was dead, but he felt that if he wasn't dead, he must be severely injured, right?

“Thump!”

He hooked Yi's headless body, which was falling downwards, with his foot. Xu Xiaoshou pondered; this was a Taixu, and he had also drunk Saint Blood. One punch wasn't entirely reliable… So, he drew the Four Swords with his left hand and, from top to bottom, firmly impaled the fierce sword into the headless body, leaving only the hilt exposed.

“Whoosh.”

Only after completing all this did Xu Xiaoshou let out a slight sigh of relief.

“Semi-Saint power…”

“Amazing!”

The Saint Blood given by Elder Sang was incredibly potent. This allowed Xu Xiaoshou to summon his Saint Image without going through the lengthy Saint Power amplification process that Jiang Xian experienced when summoning his Saint Image, which seemed incredibly long during combat. In just a few breaths, the Saint Power in Xu Xiaoshou's Saint Image was maxed out.

“So, is he dead?” Xu Xiaoshou looked at the headless body before him, which was now spreading demonic patterns and rising demonic aura due to the Four Swords being impaled in it. In his “Perception,” Yi's aura was completely gone, leaving only this body. He had never faced a Taixu head-on like this before, and Xu Xiaoshou didn't know if inflicting such injuries meant the Taixu's death. It was his first time, after all, so he lacked experience… Therefore, Xu Xiaoshou kept his eyes on the headless body, to prevent it from reanimating.

However, it seemed he was worrying needlessly. After the Four Swords' demonic aura overflowed, the headless body suddenly swelled. Then, with a “bang,” it exploded into fragments.

Xu Xiaoshou gripped the Four Swords, now exposed to the air again, still feeling very uneasy. With a sweep of his gaze, the Cinderglow White Flame directly cremated the remaining fragments of the corpse, helping Yi complete the final process after a human's life.

“Completely gone.”

“Now, that should mean true death, right?”

Even then, Xu Xiaoshou still felt uneasy. He always thought a Taixu wouldn't die so easily, yet the death and demise he remembered were largely like this. He had also seen the death of a Sovereign. Even those whose bodies weren't so thoroughly pulverized, only having half their heads blown off, meant they already had one foot in the underworld. At most, they could crawl and struggle, making a symbolic counterattack like a dying ember, like Red Dog. But a physical body completely dissipated like this now… Normally, it would be impossible to revive.

“Spirit Sense!” At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly thought of his Spirit Sense. He was used to his “Perception” and generally didn't use something as low-level as Spirit Sense to scan his surroundings. But now, he had Saint Power…

“Whoosh!”

Xu Xiaoshou closed his eyes to scan, and when he opened them again, they were filled with shock. With the blessing of the Saint Image's power, his Spirit Sense coverage could almost encompass the entire Dongtian Royal City, with much power still to spare!

As far as his Spirit Sense reached, it included the large group of people at the trade fair, who were inexplicably terrified and staring in his direction; it included the Taixu Ghost Beast confronting a female Taixu with a sword in the sky above that area, and the less conspicuous Nightwatch, Lan Ling, and others below; and nearby, Teng Shanhai, the Storyteller, Wang Dachui, and the Scruffy Uncle, who had stopped fighting and were also staring at him in shock; finally, beyond a few long streets, there was Mr. Si, standing still with wide, astonished eyes… Everyone was looking at him!

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily astonished. More than that, beyond the white Dragon Fusion Boundary, which hung above the central city like a scorching sun, lay widespread ruins and cries of anguish. The boundary had shattered! Therefore, after the Dragon Fusion Boundary appeared, within a radius of ten-plus miles affected by the aftershocks, almost no intact buildings remained. Those were the aftershocks of Saint Power, utterly terrifying!

There were too many Spirit Cultivators in the Royal City. Almost before the battle began, many people, sensing something was wrong, timely relocated. But too many people still couldn't escape far; those who weren't burned by the white flame were either crippled or killed by the shockwaves from Xu Xiaoshou's Saint Power burst… Yes! Just this one outburst caused too many innocent people to die!

At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou watched in silence. He finally understood why battles involving Sovereigns had to take place within a boundary or in the sky. But this world was just that cruel. Survival of the fittest, natural selection. When immortals fight, mortals suffer.

With those gazes of fear, shock, and awe directed at him, Xu Xiaoshou was filled with mixed emotions for a moment. “I’m sorry…” At present, there was nothing else he could do besides this heartfelt, apologetic whisper. It was simply self-defense, out of necessity. And after the counterattack, this was the harsh reality…

Xu Xiaoshou composed himself, returning to his usual state. He no longer harbored pity. From the moment they embarked on the path of spirit cultivation, everyone should have been prepared for the reality that a single triumph is built upon countless casualties. It was like entering a battlefield. Mercy does not command troops. Pity would only plunge oneself into a deeper quagmire. Similarly, every spirit cultivator should be prepared for the day disaster might strike from the sky. After all, this was the Spirit Cultivation world, and this was their destined fate. Today, it was Xu Xiaoshou, who had summoned the power of the Saint Image, disturbing the peace of one side. Perhaps tomorrow, it would be another fight between immortals, bringing disaster upon others. Those who craved comfort were only suited to dwell in a corner of the mundane world, completely unqualified to step into the cruel world of spirit cultivation!

“Xu Xiaoshou?” At this moment, Mei Siren flew over and asked, looking at the young man before him.

“Mr. Siren.” Xu Xiaoshou nodded in greeting, no longer concealing himself.

Mei Siren saw that after the battle, the young man's thoughts were more focused on the bystanders affected by the battle's aftermath. Immediately, he came to a realization. Indeed, the person before him was truly just a young man, still only an Innate…

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't dwelling on it much now; he asked, “Mr. Siren, I took down a Taixu, but I’m not sure if he’s dead or not…”

“He ran away.” Mei Siren had witnessed everything; how could he not know the intricacies of it?

“Ran away?” Xu Xiaoshou was startled. This outcome was reasonable, yet unexpected.

Mei Siren chuckled, “You’re only an Innate. Even with the power of a Saint Image, being able to heavily injure a Taixu and make him flee, shouldn’t that be something to be proud of? What more are you hoping for, that he dies right before your eyes?”

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. He thought for a long time before saying, “His head is gone, and his body was pierced by the fierce sword. He shouldn't be able to survive.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing left?” Mei Siren asked.

“Yes.” Xu Xiaoshou nodded with certainty, “Everything related to him was pulverized. I could also sense the opponent’s Saint Power; even after consuming Saint Blood, it was completely useless.”

Mei Siren listened in silence. This was just an Innate… How could he say that achieving all of this was supposed to be normal and natural? But looking at Xu Xiaoshou's Saint Image, it was truly too powerful! To be honest, Mei Siren had never seen a situation where a Saint Image could exert its full power instantly upon summoning, without any power-up time. He didn't know how Xu Xiaoshou achieved it. But if it were anyone else, it should have been the summoner of the Saint Image who died at this point, how could they have heavily injured the Taixu opponent?

But because Xu Xiaoshou's Saint Image was too peculiar, a fully unleashed Saint Image might not compare to a Semi-Saint, but for Saint Power to overwhelm Taixu power, it was too simple. It was like a baby picking up a great saber, but with a giant supporting him from underneath; when the baby swung, the giant also swung. Perhaps the baby's cut wasn't very painful, but the giant's blade was excruciatingly painful! So painful that even Mei Siren himself might have to give it a wide berth. And in such circumstances, the enemy of the baby wielding the saber was just a normal adult… At most, they had gained a slight combat power increase after consuming giant's blood. So, Yi's defeat seemed… Excusable?

Shaking his head slightly, Mei Siren brought his scattered thoughts back and addressed Xu Xiaoshou's confusion, saying, “He's not dead. You haven't completely annihilated all of him.”

“Impossible…” Xu Xiaoshou subconsciously retorted. But Mei Siren's words couldn't help but plunge him into deep thought. His head was gone. His body was gone too. Clothes, weapons, spiritual essence, and the like were even less likely to exist. And that Yi was clearly not a Taixu who had perfected the Sovereign Dao Realm, so there was no possibility of him relying on the Heavenly Dao for rebirth. So, what else was missed?

As Xu Xiaoshou pondered, his thoughts suddenly settled, and his pupils contracted. “Candied hawthorn?” The thought struck him, leaving him somewhat stunned. Could it be the candied hawthorn skewer that Yi had initially used to pierce his chest, which then fell behind him and was completely overlooked by both of them during the battle? It seemed this was the only item from Yi that Xu Xiaoshou hadn't destroyed at the scene, right?

Mei Siren nodded slightly upon hearing this, “Taixu are very difficult to kill. They can use various methods, like shedding their skin, to evade fatal blows. What’s more, you were facing the chief of the Odd Division, so what you've described is merely a possibility; it's not absolute.”

Xu Xiaoshou clicked his tongue in wonder, a bit bewildered, and humbly asked, “Then how can one make a Taixu die more completely?”

Mei Siren's mouth twitched uncontrollably at this. You’re an Innate! Have you forgotten your place?! What exactly are you thinking in that head of yours?!

“Intent.” Sighing, Mei Siren genuinely answered, “Or rather, intellect. Completely obliterating a Taixu's intellect will cause their complete death. When 'intent' is gone, 'form' is rendered meaningless.”

Xu Xiaoshou seemed to grasp something. As he pondered, the entire world fell silent.

After a long while, Xu Xiaoshou looked up and asked seriously again, “Mr. Siren, is my Saint Image very powerful?”

Mei Siren paused. He looked behind Xu Xiaoshou. At this moment, Saint Power manifested, forming an illusory image. Behind Xu Xiaoshou were nine colossal white-flame dragons, covering the sky, brandishing their claws, roaring, and hissing. Though an illusion, the higher one's cultivation, the more real and powerful the energy they perceived! Even Mei Siren, just standing before this Saint Image and trying to appear outwardly composed, actually had to secretly use most of his power. Because once the Saint Image appeared, outsiders no longer faced the summoner themselves, but effectively confronted a Semi-Saint's will.

Mei Siren stared, unconsciously swallowing, then spoke with solemnity, “Very powerful! Is this ‘Nine Dragons Incinerating Ancestors’? I’ve only seen it on Mu Lin of the Saint Palace; is it a Saint Image passed down by the Cinderglow Semi-Saint?”

“Yes.” Xu Xiaoshou nodded.

“By the way, how can your Saint Image instantly reach the maximum value of Saint Power? This… is very unusual,” Mei Siren asked, voicing the doubt in his heart.

“Just a small trick.” Xu Xiaoshou didn't explain much. He sensed that many people around them were already stirring at the news, and finally asked, “Mr. Siren, are you afraid of my Saint Image?”

Mei Siren was startled, then suddenly chuckled, “How could this old man be afraid?”

Clack, clack, clack. A rapid, crisp rustling sound, quite out of place, echoed. Xu Xiaoshou subtly, without a trace, glanced at Mei Siren, who was wildly tapping his palm with a folding fan. This time, without needing the info panel's verification, he understood. This Saint Image was very powerful! So powerful that he, wielding the Saint Image's power at this moment, was almost like a protagonist chosen by the Heavenly Dao!

“I see…” Xu Xiaoshou, now understanding everything, nodded slightly, turned towards the Storyteller, and finally fixed his gaze on Teng Shanhai, calmly stating:

“Mr. Siren, please wait a moment. Allow me to dispatch another Taixu, and then I will come and have a long talk with you.”