Chapter 782: Eight Venerables Want to Cultivate the Holy Emperor?

First Pavilion in the Sky.

Xu Xiaoshou finally let out a complete sigh of relief when he led everyone back to their base and safely released them from the Yuan Mansion. This meant the risks of the trade fair had temporarily come to an end.

Over in the Yunlun Mountain Range, Bazun An, by himself, had drawn the animosity of all the Red Coats and White Coats. However, outsiders had no way of knowing the actual outcome. But at the level of the Eighth Sword Immortal, his actions and their results were clearly beyond Xu Xiaoshou's conjecture.

Putting all that aside, Xu Xiaoshou's daring to return with people to the First Pavilion in the Sky implied that he felt he had successfully separated the identities of Xu Xiaoshou, the Saint Slave, and Xu Deyi, the Half-Saint's inheritor, during the night battle in the Imperial City. Although they had to act quickly and many things happened, some details might not have been handled perfectly. The Holy Divine Palace wasn't full of fools; after careful consideration, they would likely still notice some strange discrepancies. But these were minor details, ultimately harmless.

They would deal with problems as they arose. As long as the overall direction remained sound, even if the Holy Divine Palace found some minor flaws, they wouldn't be able to directly incriminate them. Many factions in the Imperial City had their own issues; the First Pavilion in the Sky, a force whose appearance and motives were already highly questionable, was not unique. With the Imperial City Trial at a critical stage and Bazun An having summoned the Void Island in the Yunlun Mountain Range, the Holy Divine Palace was probably overwhelmed at the moment.

If they were truly to initiate an investigation, in terms of timing, it would most likely be after the Imperial City Trial. As for priority, the First Pavilion in the Sky might not even be among the first targets for an inquiry; the established factions in the Imperial City were the ones who should truly be panicking. As one of the participants in the Imperial City's night battle, Xu Xiaoshou was indeed quite nervous afterward, but he also understood the reasoning.

"This world never revolves around an individual."

Looking beyond his personal situation, there were still too many major factions in the Imperial City to share the Holy Divine Palace's animosity. From this perspective, the first to suffer would likely not be an unremarkable small organization like the First Pavilion in the Sky. Therefore, if the enemy doesn't move, he wouldn't move. He would proceed step by step and continue with the next phase.

*Creak.* The door to the cultivation room opened. After sending away the exhausted Xiao Wanfeng, Xu Xiaoshou stepped into the cultivation room alone and immediately saw an old man seated there.

"You're here?" Cen Jiaofu gestured to the young man, poured him a cup of tea, and indicated for him to sit.

As soon as Xu Xiaoshou sat down, he asked, "If I'm not mistaken, protecting me at the trade fair wasn't your primary mission, was it?" In the streets, after Mei Si-ren blocked Shou Ye's sword with two fingers and Cen Jiaofu appeared, he didn't leave but continued to follow and protect them all the way to the First Pavilion in the Sky. He said it was "protection." Yet Xu Xiaoshou knew that with Mister Si-ren present, he couldn't possibly encounter any problems. So, Cen Jiaofu's continued presence surely meant he carried other instructions from the Saint Slave Chief. Bazun An must have departed right after their communication ended, so these instructions were probably decided a long time ago.

Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely curious. What exactly was the masked man ultimately trying to achieve by meticulously arranging him into this position?

"You are indeed very clever..." Cen Jiaofu praised without reservation. "Much stronger than your bald master."

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

"Let's get to the point!" He rolled his eyes, not taking the bait.

Cen Jiaofu set down his teacup and said with a smile, "The Chief sent me to ask you if you're curious about why he had you cause trouble in the Imperial City, and what it was ultimately for."

"Not curious," Xu Xiaoshou shook his head. "Isn't it just the Imperial City Trial and the Void Island?"

"Indeed, it's those two." Cen Jiaofu smiled faintly and continued, "But what's the ultimate goal behind the Imperial City Trial and the Void Island?"

Xu Xiaoshou paused slightly. He was indeed a little curious about this point. But his original intention in coming to the Eastern Heavenly Imperial City wasn't genuinely to help the Saint Slaves to the end.

"I'm not curious about that, and you don't need to tell me. Causing trouble is just causing trouble; I don't want to delve deeper." Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, his face full of resistance. "You... well, our Chief also said he'd grant me authority and maximum freedom, as long as the ultimate goal aligns with the Saint Slaves. So, if you're trying to trick me too, there's no need."

Cen Jiaofu was momentarily stumped. But he had long since learned about Xu Xiaoshou's way of thinking and didn't mind.

"You truly don't want to know?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Uh..." As Xu Xiaoshou looked at the old man's smiling face opposite him, a sudden chill ran down his spine, and he had a bad feeling. Right! Didn't the old man's meaning imply, "If you don't understand, you'll just be led around blindly"? And rather than choosing "not to understand" yet being unable to resist, it would be better to understand the fundamental reasons so he could avoid unnecessary detours. As for refusing to understand, which would be equivalent to refusing Bazun An's control... Xu Xiaoshou believed he wasn't qualified for that yet. He had experienced Elder Sang's schemes more than once. If he truly didn't understand this time, he would likely just stumble blindly into a pit Bazun An had already prepared.

So Xu Xiaoshou pondered for a moment, then changed his words: "Fine then, if you really want to talk, I'm not entirely unwilling to listen."

Cen Jiaofu rolled his eyes and snorted, "This proud little hedgehog..." He collected his thoughts, tapping his fingers as he said, "The Saint Palace Trial, the Four Symbols Secret Realm, you've heard of it, right?"

"Hm?" Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow.

"If you rank among the top three in the Imperial City Trial, you can enter the Four Symbols Secret Realm, and you must go," Cen Jiaofu stated concisely.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled then. He knew this was the path Bazun An had planned for him after the battle in the Eight Palaces. Originally, his plan was indeed the same. But after all, plans often change. Xu Xiaoshou spread his hands, a helpless expression on his face.

"You weren't there during last night's great battle, so you probably don't know that I've already broken through to Grandmaster. It's not that I didn't want to suppress my cultivation; it's mainly that fighting a Grand Void as a Xiantian was truly difficult. I was ultimately forced to forcibly break through my realm. It's a bit easier as a Grandmaster. I suspect this might also be Sword Immortal Rao's method; she probably doesn't want a genius like me to enter the Imperial City Trial and ultimately the Saint Palace Trial!"

Xu Xiaoshou spoke with an indifferent expression. Cen Jiaofu, however, felt his scalp tingle at the display. After the battle in the Imperial City last night, the name of Saint Slave Xu Xiaoshou was almost universally known; how could he not have noticed? This kid was really good at pretending, wasn't he? A Xiantian fighting a Grand Void... Wasn't he just relying on his Saint Blood and Saint Image? In a different place, with different people, as long as there were no worries about the Imperial City, engaging in a distanced one-on-one fight with Path Cutting and Saint Blood would utterly decimate him, did he understand?

But Cen Jiaofu only complained about these things in his mind. He knew Xu Xiaoshou definitely knew as well. So, after a moment of thought, Cen Jiaofu spoke again, his focus now on Xu Xiaoshou's final, unintentional guess.

"What you said is actually quite accurate. Rao Yaoyao used her Mortal Dust Sword to force your breakthrough to Grandmaster, precisely because she didn't want you to enter the Imperial City Trial or the Saint Palace Trial."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes immediately widened. "What did you say?"

"Received fright, Passive Points +1."

This time, Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely shocked. He had thought it was a coincidence...

Cen Jiaofu leaned back with a slight smile and slowly said, "Did you think that with your extraordinary talent, you could forcefully break through the predicament of the Mortal Dust, even when Rao Yaoyao's Mortal Dust Sword could sever Sovereigns and Path Cutters, simply by relying on your strong will?"

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded. "Isn't that how it happened?"

At this point, he stopped being polite. Perhaps for others, modesty was a good virtue. But Xu Xiaoshou genuinely believed that his success in breaking through the Mortal Dust predicament was due to his experiences from his previous life. In this world, no other Xiantian could possibly escape that predicament under Rao Yaoyao's Mortal Dust Sword. Even a young Bazun An might not have been able to! Xu Xiaoshou was absolutely certain of this, so he had no need to be modest, and at this moment, Cen Jiaofu opposite him was clearly not someone he needed to be modest towards...

"You are mistaken." But at this moment, Cen Jiaofu slowly shook his head and said earnestly: "Mortal Dust Enlightenment is inherently one of the best auxiliary enlightenment methods that cultivators of the Mortal Dust Sword can use for themselves and for their juniors. And I must say, even though what you said is quite annoying, the name of Saint Slave Xu Xiaoshou, with his extraordinary talent, was indeed well-known throughout the Holy Divine Palace, and even its Central Region Headquarters, even before last night's battle!"

Upon hearing this, a faint smile involuntarily appeared on Xu Xiaoshou's lips. At that moment, he felt a secret delight, like someone who was wanted but secretly thrilled because the bounty on his head was excessively high.

Cen Jiaofu watched this scene, and his mouth twitched.

"Please continue." Xu Xiaoshou immediately suppressed his smile. He knew the old woodcutter definitely had more important words to say, hidden in the next "but."

And indeed. Cen Jiaofu wasn't there to flatter; his expression suddenly turned severe as he spoke. "While becoming renowned worldwide can certainly make one secretly pleased, it also means that you've been noticed by the higher echelons of the Holy Divine Palace while still so weak."

Xu Xiaoshou's expression stiffened; he finally realized the true intent behind the other man's words.

Cen Jiaofu sneered. "A Xiantian who can toy with Red-Coated Sovereigns and Path Cutters, and within a 'dark' organization like the Saint Slaves, imagine how much trouble such a person could cause if placed in the Imperial City Trial or even the Four Symbols Secret Realm of the Saint Palace Trial!"

Xu Xiaoshou keenly sensed something was off. The old woodcutter had mentioned "Four Symbols Secret Realm" too many times. This seemed to have a similar effect to the "Saint Palace Trial" step, which was an essential part of the path Bazun An had planned for him. Xu Xiaoshou still remembered that when Bazun An said that, he was still a Xiantian, not even at the peak Xiantian stage. But theoretically, if the Holy Divine Palace could see his talent, Bazun An should be even more capable of seeing it. There was no reason for him to believe that Xu Xiaoshou would remain at the Xiantian level and be unable to break through, given the long time until the Saint Palace Trial.

At this point, Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts suddenly froze. He thought about it seriously. It seemed that the Eighth Sword Immortal had only told him to participate in the Imperial City Trial and the Saint Palace Trial, but hadn't told him to suppress his cultivation? Suppressing cultivation... This step was merely a necessary one taken by continental geniuses to enter the Saint Palace. But for Bazun An, whether he suppressed his cultivation or not seemed irrelevant?

"It seems you've figured something out." Cen Jiaofu picked up his teacup, giving the young man opposite him enough time to think.

Xu Xiaoshou frowned. "If what you said is truly correct, and Rao Yaoyao was indeed forcing me to break through to Grandmaster then..."

Hearing this, Cen Jiaofu moved the teacup away from his lips and immediately interrupted: "This old man has no need to deceive you, and I can even directly confirm that your breakthrough to Grandmaster was deliberately orchestrated by Rao Yaoyao! Because to enter the Imperial City Trial and the Saint Palace Trial, one must be below the Grandmaster realm; any cultivation exceeding that limit would be immediately detected. Therefore, if Saint Slave Xu Xiaoshou, who as a Xiantian could contend with Path Cutters, were to break through to Grandmaster yet still insist on participating in the Imperial City Trial... It would be like carrying a banner and marching through enemy lines, simply seeking death!"

Xu Xiaoshou's face turned pale with fright. He had previously thought that if he broke through to Grandmaster, at worst, he just wouldn't participate in the Imperial City Trial. Anyway, he had a little sister from the Burning Bright lineage who seemed to be looking for relatives; as long as it was later confirmed that she was genuinely one of their own and not trying to trick him. Xu Xiaoshou even felt he could bypass the Saint Palace Trial step entirely and enter the famous Great Goose Lake of the Saint Palace to watch the plump geese play in the water.

But hearing the old woodcutter's words... Not only did the Holy Divine Palace think he would participate in the trial after breaking through to Grandmaster, Bazun An also thought he would participate. At this point, should Xu Xiaoshou himself also feel that he ought to participate?

Xu Xiaoshou fell into deep thought, then said after a long while, "I generally understand now. The outcome isn't the goal; the process is what you want?"

Cen Jiaofu corrected him, "Not 'you,' but 'we.'"

Xu Xiaoshou pondered, then tilted his head and asked, "What will happen during the Imperial City Trial, or rather, the Saint Palace Trial?"

Cen Jiaofu smiled and pointed at the ceiling. "See for yourself!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked up, gazing at the dark ceiling. He realized Cen Jiaofu didn't literally mean for him to look at the ceiling. With his "Perception" spread out, the world outside the First Pavilion in the Sky became much clearer. Above... Xu Xiaoshou gazed at the majestic Sky City above the void, which had slowed its movement considerably, and fell silent for a moment.

A Void Island could be summoned even before the Imperial City Trial. Could the Saint Palace Trial also be a major move orchestrated by the big shots?

"Why should I participate in the Saint Palace Trial?" Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely curious now. "It seems unnecessary, doesn't it? The 'Four Symbols Secret Realm' you mentioned is the trial location for this Saint Palace Trial. What's its secret?"

Cen Jiaofu didn't answer directly, but instead counter-questioned, "Why do you want to enter the Saint Palace?"

"I..." Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily speechless. He thought of Elder Sang's words. Initially, Elder Sang had given him this hope, sparking the desire to enter the Saint Palace and see the "Great Goose Lake," a place with one more character than the "Goose Lake." Later, when Elder Sang left, Bazun An took over this expectation, giving him the hope of entering the Saint Palace—a place where saints could be cultivated—to train, and then using it as a stepping stone to reach Mount Gui Zhe and rescue Elder Sang. But was the Saint Palace truly the only place where saints could be cultivated?

Cen Jiaofu smiled, asking the question Xu Xiaoshou had in his heart: "Do you think the Chief couldn't cultivate you into a Half-Saint if he wanted to?"

This time, Xu Xiaoshou was truly stumped. If the subject of this question hadn't been Bazun An, not only Xu Xiaoshou but also any outsider who overheard it would have scoffed, lamenting how outrageous Cen Jiaofu's question was. However, if it was about Bazun An, it seemed... there was no problem?

Cen Jiaofu asked again, "Then do you think a Half-Saint is enough? Does the Chief only want to cultivate one Half-Saint?"

Xu Xiaoshou froze again. Is a Half-Saint enough? Mount Gui Zhe might have more than one Half-Saint. If he truly intended to ascend the mountain, and Bazun An also intended to, they would each need to find their own battlegrounds. How could just one Half-Saint be enough?

Cen Jiaofu didn't wait for an answer, yet he understood all the answers. Finally, he asked, "Then to what extent do you think the Chief intends to cultivate you? Is it... Saint Emperor?"

*Buzz.* Xu Xiaoshou's mind suddenly went blank.

Saint Emperor...

To be honest, Xu Xiaoshou had never even considered it before. He had even pondered the words "Saint Emperor" seriously only a handful of times!