Chapter 779: Sky City, Can It Really Be Summoned by Human Power?

Damn it!

Even Shou Ye, usually calm and composed, couldn't help but curse inwardly now, feeling constrained at every turn by the identity of this half-saint's successor. This was incredibly annoying!

If the Holy Temple's personnel hadn't been deployed elsewhere, and if he weren't facing a half-saint's successor, Shou Ye truly would have kept this Young Master Xu confined within this domain. He wouldn't have let him go until his investigation confirmed whether a Young Master Xu from the Xu family in Taixiang, Northern Region, had actually arrived at the Eastern Heavenly King City. But this was clearly unrealistic. He had no justification for arbitrarily detaining a half-saint's successor for an extended period. No one could bear such a responsibility.

The current situation was a closed loop, a deadlock! If the person sitting opposite was truly Xu Xiaoshou, then his foresight was far too thorough and long-term! Could he have planned all this from the moment he entered the city? At one point, Shou Ye even genuinely wanted to give up. He felt that everything might just be a coincidence, and he had clearly questioned the wrong person.

On the other side of the square table, Young Master Xu, who had clearly lost face after Shou Ye's forceful move, angrily flicked his sleeve and retorted furiously: "I see that you seniors of the Red Robes are accustomed to using force in your daily affairs, and thus you intend to forcefully employ such interrogation methods on me too, don't you? However, if you seniors of the Red Robes cannot produce clear evidence today, then I'm afraid I cannot continue to entertain you. Gentlemen, please leave!"

Turning, Xu Xiaoshou angrily instructed Xiao Wanfeng, "Show them out!"

Xiao Wanfeng felt extremely wronged. *Why are you yelling at me? I'm only responsible for pouring tea!* But when he turned and saw the Red Robes across from him, who resembled a demonic gang, his face immediately paled further. He was caught between a rock and a hard place... But Young Master Xu was his master, and with his master's command, he had no choice but to obey.

So, bracing one foot against the leg of the long chair, Xiao Wanfeng advanced his other foot. His posture made it seem as if he had taken half a step forward, but in reality, he hadn't moved an inch. Then, steeling himself, Xiao Wanfeng extended a hand. "Gentlemen, please leave. My Young Master Xu is tired and needs rest."

Shou Ye completely ignored the mortal, merely regaining his composure and looking at Young Master Xu. "My apologies, but I still have one matter to confirm. Young Master Xu, please sit." He gestured for Young Master Xu to sit down and resume their amicable conversation.

Xu Xiaoshou merely stood there indignantly. He refused to sit or speak, adopting a haughty demeanor that suggested, "Spit it out if you have something to say; I'm leaving as soon as you're done."

Shou Ye sighed, beckoned, and took the teapot from Xiao Wanfeng. He personally poured a cup for Young Master Xu, then pushed it across, saying, "Young Master Xu, I was indeed rash just now. Please sit." With a Red Robe Path-Slayer elder showing him such deference, Xu Xiaoshou could only sigh inwardly and resume his seat.

Seeing him seated but silent, Shou Ye shook his head subtly, then asked with feigned curiosity, "Where are the others from Young Master Xu's First Heaven Pavilion? Why aren't they here? Come, have some tea first and calm down."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the teacup pushed towards him as if it were a hot potato. Meanwhile, Shou Ye cheerfully picked up the teacup Xu Xiaoshou had initially given him and leisurely began to sip his tea. "Good tea!" he declared.

Xu Xiaoshou maintained his feigned anger and picked up the teacup, though his heart couldn't help but quicken slightly at that moment. Shou Ye's words made him realize a flaw in his disguise—a fatal flaw!

When a half-saint's successor travels, they are usually accompanied by at least Sovereign-level guards, and sometimes even Path-Slayers. Yet, he had no powerful individuals around him, only the mortal Xiao Wanfeng. Xu Xiaoshou himself wouldn't believe it if someone claimed Xiao Wanfeng was actually a Void expert who had simply returned to simplicity. How could such a level of security be fitting for a half-saint's successor's travels?

It was at this moment that Xu Xiaoshou realized he was accustomed to traveling alone. Normally, he had Xin Guugu, a Sovereign-level expert, openly stirring up trouble and acting as a distraction. But now, since Xin Guugu had already met Shou Ye, he had sent him away in advance. Due to this oversight, he didn't even have an entry-level Sovereign guard by his side! He was done for...

Indeed, Shou Ye was no ordinary person. After picking up his tea and taking a small sip, he playfully remarked, "Is Young Master Xu truly this confident? Traveling without any guards. What if you encounter villains?"

Xu Xiaoshou's mind was in turmoil. But at this moment, he forced himself to calm down. He maintained his indignant expression, and his tone was now devoid of any respect as he retorted, "My safety is assured by others; there's no need for you seniors to worry!"

"Oh?" Hearing this, Shou Ye's smile broadened. "From Young Master Xu's words, it sounds like the guards you travel with are of the Void level?"

This was, of course, Xu Xiaoshou's unspoken meaning. Shou Ye wasn't foolish; he understood. And similarly, only a Void expert could hide their tracks perfectly from a Path-Slayer and remain completely undetected by Shou Ye.

Xu Xiaoshou let out a cold chuckle, looked up, and instead of responding directly, asked, "Senior Shou Ye, what else do you want to ask?"

Shou Ye's eyes narrowed, and dangerous light began to flash in them. "I'm very curious, Young Master Xu, where did you send everyone around you before the Red Robes arrived?"

Xu Xiaoshou remained unmoved. "My willingness to receive the Red Robes stems from my respect for them, but this doesn't mean I need to be completely candid and reveal all my cards to you, just as I don't like being touched!"

These defiant words sounded very much like something a young person would say. Shou Ye, however, was not swayed by this facade, but fell into deep thought upon hearing the words.

It could be understood this way: Young Master Xu either had Void-level guards around him or no one at all. Shou Ye had locked onto the aura of the entire group from the First Heaven Pavilion before he arrived. Although they were far apart, their sudden disappearance clearly wasn't them scattering, but rather being teleported away by spatial power. Where did they go? What was he hiding?

Shou Ye was puzzled. He was certain that perhaps Young Master Xu himself wasn't the issue, but the people he had hidden were! And if the First Heaven Pavilion itself was problematic... there couldn't be so many coincidences in this world. If Young Master Xu's faction was problematic, then he himself must also be. And if Young Master Xu was problematic... ultimately, his intuition might not be wrong. Young Master Xu was Xu Xiaoshou!

Shou Ye suddenly felt as if he had missed something. He held his teacup, lost in deep thought, but simply couldn't recall what details he had overlooked in this interrogation.

"Wait!" At this moment, Shou Ye suddenly remembered questioning Xu Xiaoshou at the Tian Sang City Lord's Manor. The past events were vivid, as if they happened yesterday. He suddenly realized what he had overlooked. Perhaps it wasn't an "oversight," but rather another astonishing "similarity."

Young Master Xu's answers were too flawless! It was as if all of Shou Ye's questions had been rehearsed countless times in Xu Xiaoshou's mind long ago. From his innocent, angry expression, his proper, unrevealing words, and his cooperative yet selectively cooperative demeanor, what this Young Master Xu displayed was precisely how Xu Xiaoshou had reacted that day in Tian Sang City when questioned about being a ghost beast. Exactly the same flawless response!

Shou Ye's eyes suddenly lit up. He knew that perhaps even Xu Xiaoshou himself didn't realize that sometimes being too flawless was one of his most obvious characteristics. Ordinary young people couldn't achieve such perfection. Furthermore, a person from the background of a half-saint's successor would be even less likely, in such close conversation, to fail to convey the deep-seated arrogance of a half-saint's successor.

Yes, it was arrogance—a common flaw among successors of powerful factions. However, this Young Master Xu before him was desperately trying to project an image of "I am also very arrogant." Unfortunately, pretense could only remain pretense.

When Shou Ye considered Xu Xiaoshou as the person before him, what he felt was precisely the same atmosphere he used to experience when interacting with Xu Xiaoshou. Even the other party's proper and conventional manner of speaking had a ninety-nine percent chance of being an act! Yes... One insight led to a hundred! Shou Ye then realized that the person opposite was, in fact, pretending to be someone else. So how could he use his usual communication style when talking to Shou Ye? It all suddenly became clear!

At this moment, Shou Ye felt everything fall into place. His intuition was correct. Young Master Xu was truly Xu Xiaoshou!

"Hahahaha..." Having understood all this, Shou Ye laughed heartily, looking up at the sky, tears almost streaming down his face. *Amazing!* This young man was truly rare. He always managed to detach himself from situations by adopting an innocent persona.

Even at this moment, Shou Ye still couldn't understand how Xu Xiaoshou managed, after the explosion in Eastern Heavenly King City, to simultaneously maintain the identity of Young Master Xu of the First Heaven Pavilion, with the two identities appearing unrelated. But he understood that even if he asked now, the other party would still provide a perfect answer—an answer so flawless that even if Lan Ling, Rao Yaoyao, and others were brought in, they wouldn't find any flaws. The ability to toy with people's minds was unique to Xu Xiaoshou!

Shou Ye, suddenly laughing wildly up at the sky, clearly stunned everyone. The Red Robes behind him didn't know what had happened to their leader. Listening to the laughter, Xiao Wanfeng felt that this Red Robe had gone mad. Xu Xiaoshou, on the other hand, completely failed to understand where he had made a mistake that would cause Shou Ye's gaze towards him to suddenly change. It had become that look of deep disappointment, a look reserved for Xu Xiaoshou himself, not for Young Master Xu!

"Young... Master Xu..." Shou Ye finally reined in his laughter. He shook his head, sighing as he spoke, "Do you know, in my entire life, I have only seen one such rare genius who can remain as composed as you under any circumstance?"

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

At this moment, he finally understood where he had made a mistake. Shou Ye had affirmed that he was Xu Xiaoshou, based on the premise of his "uniqueness." Should this be joyous, or sorrowful? Xu Xiaoshou knew that using this "uniqueness theory" to confirm his identity, even if Shou Ye wasn't absolutely certain, a 70-80% probability should be enough to make him take a risk and forcefully make a move to test him.

Xu Xiaoshou wanted to leave, but he couldn't. He wanted to teleport and disappear, but that wouldn't work either. Because now, he wasn't just alone; he had the entire First Heaven Pavilion behind him.

Just then! As Shou Ye's gaze suddenly shifted from disappointment to extreme danger, and Xu Xiaoshou struggled for a solution, finding no way to break the deadlock, a thunderous roar came from above. Shou Ye's dark, misty domain was shattered by the immense sound before it could even completely shroud the world in darkness. Simultaneously, everyone present, including the Red Robes, Xiao Wanfeng, and Xu Xiaoshou, felt their bodies sink, as if struck by immense pressure.

Xu Xiaoshou had only ever felt such immense pressure from the sacred power in the Heavenly Prayer Forest.

"What's happening?" The Red Robes behind him were startled and looked up. Shou Ye also gave up on making a move and looked up in astonishment. Xiao Wanfeng and Xu Xiaoshou likewise looked up. As soon as the domain shattered, the pedestrians on the street all made the same movement, without prior agreement. The only difference was that these weaker cultivators were all pressed to the ground by the immense force, yet they were still struggling to look up. Everyone wanted to know what this sudden, terrifying pressure that enveloped the entire city truly was!

"This is..." Xu Xiaoshou, looking up, was the first whose pupils began to tremble, and then he revealed a stunned expression. Not only him, but even Shou Ye reacted the same way.

Above the firmament, where the morning sun was rising and casting brilliant white light across the sky, now, accompanied by that roar, it was as if a celestial dog was devouring the sun. The sunlight began to be swallowed.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—Then, following the apocalyptic rumble and the incessant shattering of the firmament, the sky, in a short while, was completely dyed grey-black. This vast grey-black expanse covered the entire sky above the Eastern Heavenly King City. At this moment, a line of poetry suddenly appeared in Xu Xiaoshou's mind: "Black clouds press on the city, the city is about to crumble!"

Immediately after, above the shattered firmament, a corner of a grey city truly appeared. "A city!" Xu Xiaoshou exclaimed in terror. Xiao Wanfeng shrieked even more fearfully from the side, "A city? How is that possible? A city appeared in the sky?"

That corner of the city emerged from the black hole in the shattered firmament. It was only the tip of the iceberg, yet its emergence in the void made one imagine how vast the entire structure hidden within the black hole truly was.

"The City in the Sky!" At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly understood something. A city almost larger than the Eastern Heavenly King City, yet still able to float in the void—what else could it be but the City in the Sky?

In an instant, as Xu Xiaoshou watched that corner of the city wall move northward, continuously revealing more of the City in the Sky, he suddenly realized something. "The Void Island, Bazun An!" To the north. North of the Northern District, the Cloudridge Mountains. That was where Bazun An was located! That was where the Eighth Sword Immortal, who had been missing for a night and whom Xu Xiaoshou had even blamed for making no progress, was supposed to carry out his mission.

As for his mission... Thinking of Bazun An's mission, Xu Xiaoshou's soul began to tremble at that moment.

He stared blankly at this ancient city, which, with only a corner visible on the horizon, already displayed an endlessly magnificent aura. A joking remark he had made during a communication with Bazun An surfaced in his mind. At that time, Xu Xiaoshou didn't know the Void Island was this big, and he had said something like, "Go to the Cloudridge Mountains, summon the Void Island, and the King City matter will be settled once and for all, won't it?"

Bazun An: "Do you take me for a god?"

At that time, Xu Xiaoshou still thought the Void Island was just something like a resort island. After all, how big could a prison be? Bazun An even had the title of the Eighth Sword Immortal; splitting mountains and severing seas was no difficulty, so how could he not summon a small island?

But now, seeing this ancient city—which, with only a corner of its wall revealed, exuded an aura more profound and immense than the entire Eastern Heavenly King City—Xu Xiaoshou understood why Bazun An had retorted with, "Do you take me for a god?"

But! Such an ancient, mighty city—a place truly named "City in the Sky," not as a joke, but a real City in the Sky—could still be summoned by human power! Others might think the Void Island merely descended ahead of schedule, but Xu Xiaoshou knew that all of this could only have been orchestrated by Bazun An, who had disappeared for a night in the Cloudridge Mountains.

At that time, Bazun An's "Do you take me for a god?" had truly dismissed him, making him think Bazun An was weak and powerless. Now it seems... he was just being humble. And I, instead, took him seriously? Look at this city... Damn it, how is this not a god's work?! To summon a true City in the Sky in one night... Damn it, Bazun An, you must be a true god!