Chapter 771: Buddha Saves the Mortal World, The Sea of Suffering Divides Instantly, Great Buddha Slash

"A Holy Slave?" After a long pause, Situ Yongren felt it was necessary to clarify their respective positions.

"Yes." Yu Zhiwen nodded slightly, her thoughts clearly far away in the Central City, not here.

Situ Yongren clenched his jaw and probed further, "He's also from the younger generation. Among his peers, it seems quite rare for someone to possess a Holy Image and, with that level of cultivation, overpower a Grandmaster?" As he spoke, Situ Yongren's chest puffed out slightly.

He too possessed a Holy Image, bestowed upon him by his master, Dao Qiongcang. He believed that given enough time to summon his Holy Image and allow his holy power to surge, he could achieve everything Xu Xiaoshou had.

However, Yu Zhiwen continued to stare into the distance, her eyes unwavering, despite his questioning.

"Only him." Situ Yongren's breath hitched, and he almost choked.

Xu Xiaoshou was merely leveraging the power of his Holy Image. He only managed to bully those who lacked holy blood or a Holy Image. Even a Grandmaster without holy blood could, by maintaining distance and buying time, avoid a direct confrontation with the holy power. Once the Holy Image's effect wore off, Xu Xiaoshou would be utterly defenseless.

However, the opponent's current accomplishments were indeed rare among his peers. Yet, Situ Yongren thought, those semi-saint successors hidden within major sects and ancient clans, who had not yet revealed themselves, could surely achieve the same feats. Like him, Situ Yongren!

Yu Zhiwen clearly wasn't considering these specifics. What Situ Yongren didn't realize was that her assessment was based on the distant youth's entire past performance.

After another long silence, Situ Yongren decided not to press the issue further. Instead, he suggested, "Since you're so curious, junior sister, why don't we use Heaven's Secret Art to enter the area and observe from up close, waiting for an opportunity?"

Yu Zhiwen instinctively wanted to nod; the suggestion was precisely what she desired. However, a second thought made her hesitate. If they moved closer and Xu Xiaoshou truly revealed a weakness, she would have to secretly conspire with Situ Yongren... This particular reason wasn't the crucial one. The important thing was... She recalled the look Xu Xiaoshou had given her in the White Cave, after Lu Ke revealed his ghostly beast aura. Yu Zhiwen felt she no longer had the right to approach him.

Beneath her veil, Yu Zhiwen's red lips pursed slightly. A flicker of hesitation crossed her beautiful eyes before she finally said with resolve, "No, we'll just watch from afar."

Situ Yongren was taken aback. He hadn't anticipated such a response from his junior sister. He had made the suggestion from her perspective, confident it would align with her desires. Furthermore, he himself felt the need to observe Xu Xiaoshou, this formidable opponent, more closely. Perhaps one day, they would face each other in battle... Yet, Yu Zhiwen outright refused!

Frankly, Situ Yongren even felt a flicker of secret satisfaction at first. But he quickly realized something was amiss. His assessment of her desires should have been accurate. Therefore, Yu Zhiwen's refusal could only stem from other, deeper reasons—a personal history between them that he knew nothing about.

At this thought, Situ Yongren's fists clenched slightly, but he quickly relaxed.

"Very well, then we'll observe from here," Situ Yongren said, his gaze returning to calm. "I'll make some preparations; I might need your cooperation later, junior sister."

"Huh?" Yu Zhiwen quickly turned, clearly caught off guard. "Preparations? What kind?"

Situ Yongren smiled. "Preparations to deal with the Holy Slaves, of course. You didn't think we came here just to sightsee without contributing anything, did you, junior sister?"

Yu Zhiwen's eyes narrowed. After a mere half-breath's pause, she calmly replied, "Very well, I'll cooperate."

Central City.

Within the battle.

After several ridiculous rounds of what could only be called a "fly-high" contest – a competition so absurd it barely qualified as a duel – Rao Yaoyao's face was flushed with anger. These few childish aerial maneuvers, she felt, were utterly destroying the worldwide legends she had forged since becoming a Sword Immortal.

When people do something profoundly shameful, they instinctively, yet deliberately, become acutely aware of how outsiders perceive them. If no one is around, the sense of shame lessens. But if they are the focus of widespread attention, the shame can become overwhelming!

Rao Yaoyao was experiencing precisely this. Through her spiritual perception, she could see the entire Central City, observing the astonished, shocked, and disbelieving expressions of all the spirit refiners keenly following this "great battle." This disbelief, of course, wasn't aimed at her ability to fly higher than Xu Xiaoshou. It could only be because... one of the esteemed Seven Sword Immortals was engaging in such a childish game with a junior in the Central City.

"Enough!!" When her internal shame reached its peak, even though Xuan Cang Divine Sword was still playfully and pointlessly competing with the Four Swords, Rao Yaoyao could no longer bear it. With a furious roar, she sealed Xuan Cang Divine Sword with a swift backhand and banished it into her spatial ring as if it were a cold palace. "I don't need this sword!"

Xu Xiaoshou was flying extremely high at this point. He usually had a slight fear of heights and wouldn't typically ascend to an altitude where he could almost discern the entire outline of the Eastern Heavenly King City with the naked eye. But since Four Swords enjoyed it, he was happy to indulge. Upon seeing Rao Yaoyao's reluctance to indulge Xuan Cang Divine Sword, Xu Xiaoshou felt his perspective broaden significantly.

"Oh, no, Sword Immortal Rao," Xu Xiaoshou said, "as your beloved sword, it surely helps you take down many people. But it has this one little hobby, and you won't even indulge it?" Tilting his head, Xu Xiaoshou held the Four Swords to his chest, gently stroking them as he softly continued, "Unlike me..."

"Shut up!" Rao Yaoyao snapped, her delicate body trembling with rage. She had had enough of his nauseating tone. What was this about "swords" and "sympathy"? Was this truly the successor chosen by the untamed Eight Venerables? If she hadn't witnessed it herself tonight, Rao Yaoyao would have considered it a miracle among miracles that such a person could have grown to adulthood without being crippled, ruined, or even killed.

"Xu... Xiao... Shou..." Rao Yaoyao whispered, enunciating each syllable. She was indeed deeply infuriated by the young man opposite her. However, at her level of cultivation, anger was one thing, but once she decided to act, her emotions would not influence her in the slightest.

She lowered her gaze. Immediately afterward, Rao Yaoyao drew a remarkably slender, feminine sword—Star-Moon Singer—from her sleeve.

This sword was not a renowned blade. It was merely a third-rank spiritual sword bestowed upon Rao Yaoyao by her flourishing clan elders when she first comprehended Acquired Sword Intent. Yet, throughout her journey, this third-rank spiritual sword continuously evolved, nurtured by Rao Yaoyao's growing fame, eventually becoming a first-rank spiritual sword. Moreover, after she was granted the title of Sword Immortal, it received further nourishment and feedback from the Heavenly Dao, granting it powers surpassing even a first-rank weapon.

Though not a renowned sword, it surpassed many. Some asserted that if the list of the twenty-one most renowned swords were re-ranked, Star-Moon Singer would undoubtedly earn a place. Indeed, if all renowned swords were to be strictly categorized, Star-Moon Singer's rank would certainly be high—among the top ten, or even the top five!

The moment the sword appeared, Xu Xiaoshou felt a complete transformation in Rao Yaoyao's demeanor. She seemed to shed the most fundamental human emotions and desires, becoming incredibly rational and calm. It was as if all the things that had just enraged her were entirely forgotten.

In that instant, Star-Moon Singer soared into the air, a faint reddish mist swirling and rising along the sword, as slender as a finger. Xu Xiaoshou's mind momentarily reeled.

"Controlled, passive value, 1." The notification flashed. Xu Xiaoshou's heart pounded with alarm.

"Why another mental control technique?" This completely struck his weakness. Xu Xiaoshou realized that a Sword Immortal of her caliber must have instantly identified his vulnerability and was directly applying a targeted skill.

As he struggled, yet felt somewhat powerless, to resist this force capable of affecting his very mind...

"Whoosh—" From behind him, the Nine Dragons Ancestor Burning Holy Image glowed, injecting a magnificent energy into Xu Xiaoshou's body. He instantly snapped back to full awareness.

But the very next second, he felt himself once again immersed in an unreal state. Even though his mind was clear, he seemed to have shifted into a third-person perspective, unconsciously assessing the entire mundane world from a bird's-eye view.

All living beings, onlookers, actors on a stage... the evolution of the grand world, the culmination of the spirit refining path, the birth, aging, sickness, and death of humanity... the growth, metamorphosis, and even the ultimate outcome of the Dao... All of these flashed through Xu Xiaoshou's mind. Though it was but an instant, Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he had experienced an entire lifetime.

He witnessed two distinct outcomes. In one, the Holy Slaves succeeded, allowing his own ambitions to be realized. After breaking free from the world's confinement, everyone achieved true freedom through grand Dao transcendence. In the other path, the Holy Slaves failed decades later and were once again suppressed by the Holy Divine Temple. With the Holy Slaves subdued, the continent's dark forces finally lost their will to resist, and the world descended into a deceptive "peace."

For some inexplicable reason, a question of "Why?" suddenly arose in his heart.

"Controlled, passive value, 1." The Nine Dragons Ancestor Burning Holy Image vibrated once more, and Xu Xiaoshou, receiving the holy power, finally regained consciousness. Yet, less than half a millisecond later, he plunged back into profound contemplation, resuming his previous line of thought.

"Why?" he pondered. "A person's life, whether successful or not, ultimately ends in death. Why live such an exhausting existence?"

While his body remained in place, Xu Xiaoshou's soul felt as if it had endured the trials of the mortal world. He was like an ordinary person who, in pursuit of success, suddenly became rich overnight, then lost all meaning in life. He was also like a Dao seeker who attained immortality on the long path to eternal life, only to witness the birth, aging, sickness, and death of his dearest loved ones across generations, and the world's transformation from vibrant to desolate, ultimately achieving only eternal solitude.

Yes, loneliness. Apart from loneliness and the self, the immortal possessed nothing. Fear welled up within him!

Having lost the meaning of life, Xu Xiaoshou's black hair rapidly turned white. His face began to age, and his body started to wither. The mundane world's progression accelerated, and the measure of his life diminished. In an instant, Xu Xiaoshou transformed from a young man into an old man.

Everyone observing the battle from behind was utterly dumbfounded. Yu Zhiwen could barely conceal the horror in her eyes, and she unconsciously began to step forward.

"Junior sister?" Situ Yongren, who had been watching with a continuous smile from behind, was now filled with surprise and doubt.

Yu Zhiwen, hearing him, snapped back to reality and instantly understood the positions of both sides. However, positions were one thing; sometimes, one's state of mind simply wasn't governed by them. In that moment, Yu Zhiwen's emotions stemmed purely from her heart, and she chose to follow her true desires.

Runes of the Heaven's Secret Art instantly appeared on her hand, and her figure vanished from the spot with a whoosh, rushing straight into the heart of the battle.

"Junior sister!" Situ Yongren cried out, immediately leaping after her.

Yet, they were ultimately too late. Within the Central City battlefield...

Almost the instant Rao Yaoyao drew her sword, Mei Siren's eyes narrowed. "Mundane Sword..."

Among the nine great sword arts of ancient sword cultivators, if any technique could cause a person to lose the very meaning of life after a single battle, it was the Sentiment Sword Art. This art wasn't about simple romantic love; rather, it encompassed the myriad tumultuous emotions found within the mundane world.

Practitioners of this sword art must first experience the mortal world, then transcend it. From being deeply emotional and true to their nature, they progress to supreme detachment, ultimately achieving the state of "unworldliness." Neither self, nor other, nor non-self. Without emotion, without being, without category. This is what is meant by "unworldliness."

Mundane Sword, Detachment Sword, Unworldly Sword. These are the stages of the Sentiment Sword Art – a technique capable of affirming the entire world's existence while simultaneously denying its very meaning.

The essence of "sentiment" lies solely within "humanity." And the will of "humanity" resides in the "heart." Therefore, it could be said that once Rao Yaoyao unleashed her Sentiment Sword Art, nothing else was needed. With just a single strike of Mundane Sword, anyone in this world who had yet to "sever the Dao" would undoubtedly fail the "questioning the heart" trial. With just a single strike of Detachment Sword, those who had not yet overcome their tribulation to achieve the Grandmaster realm would certainly not surmount the "detachment" barrier. Xu Xiaoshou was merely at the Innate stage; how long had he truly experienced the mundane world? He was bound to be trapped, plunged into the bitter sea of worldly suffering, unable to transcend!

Anticipating this, Mei Siren sighed. He had already entered the fray. At this moment, even if it meant confronting Rao Yaoyao, he had no choice but to act. Previously, it had been advantageous that Xu Xiaoshou could escape the peculiar predicament on his own. Mei Siren hadn't intervened then, allowing him to argue with the Holy Divine Temple later, secure some concessions, and perhaps slow down their plans, adding a variable to the impending chaos. But now, if he moved to rescue someone, there would truly be no turning back.

But it didn't matter. For Mei Siren, it was merely a matter of sooner or later, and this single move wouldn't make a difference to the ultimate outcome. Saving a life was the utmost priority.

However, just as Mei Siren was about to move, a sarcastic, mocking voice suddenly echoed, silencing the entire scene.

"One of the venerable Seven Sword Immortals using a Mundane Sword to overwhelm a mere Innate junior? A Grandmaster losing to an Innate is already disgraceful, but for a Sword Immortal to intervene now? Holy Divine Temple, show some dignity!"

Everyone present was stunned. Although it was a fierce battle, unspoken rules of decorum usually applied. At the very least, such embarrassing failures weren't publicly exposed. But this voice gave absolutely no quarter to the Holy Divine Temple. Indeed, such a public declaration was akin to brazenly slapping the Holy Divine Temple in the face and spitting on it!

"Trying to escape?" On the long street below, Wang Dachui suddenly swung his fist at the air. Meanwhile, the sloppy uncle, who had fallen back, instantly abandoned the opponent trapped within his Illusionary Sword Art and shot upwards into the sky.

A brilliant golden light shone forth. A colossal golden Buddha descended. "Buddha redeems the mortal realm; the sea of suffering parts instantly..." The sloppy uncle's murky eyes turned sharp as he pointed his finger downwards. With Xu Xiaoshou in critical danger, he couldn't hesitate for even a moment. With a single downward sword-finger stroke, the great Buddha in the sky, wielding its sword, cleaved down with immense force, as if to bisect the entire mortal world.

"Great Buddha's Slash!"