Chapter 82: I Have a Story to Tell You

Elder Sang was just that kind of person: if someone didn't catch his eye, their life or death was irrelevant to him. But if he did value someone, he would cherish them like a precious treasure, something no one could ever take away. It was similar to how he viewed the Nine Elders and Xu Xiaoshou. Although, there was no comparison.

Seeing the young man fall silent, the old man adjusted his straw hat and turned to Xiao Qixiu. "Tonight's capture plan failed," he stated. "The masked man's strength exceeded expectations; after killing two inner disciples, he calmly retreated." He paused, then added, "Just announce it that way."

Xiao Qixiu was dumbfounded and looked towards Ye Xiaotian. Ye Xiaotian stared at Elder Sang in astonishment, seemingly still reeling from his audacious move.

Elder Sang chuckled. "If you want this arm reattached, just nod."

Ye Xiaotian was speechless. He clutched his severed arm; the bleeding had already stopped, but without a high-grade alchemist, he might remain in this condition indefinitely. Ye Xiaotian fell into deep thought.

Moments later, Xu Xiaoshou watched as the white-haired Daoist child, floating in the air, gently nodded.

"Alright."

Xiao Qixiu could only nod reluctantly.

Xu Xiaoshou was utterly shocked. The Grand Elder of the Spirit Law Pavilion, rumored to be impartial and selfless, was defeated with just one sentence? Is this the power of authority and status? This was simply too good to be true! Xu Xiaoshou was overjoyed, realizing that his act of killing tonight would probably be swept under the rug.

Actually, that made sense. If he argued his case, he would be fully justified, but it was better to avoid trouble. No one wanted to face the Spirit Law Pavilion's execution platform anyway!

Xiao Qixiu didn't dwell on this minor matter. His gaze, fixed on Elder Sang, once again ignited with the same excited glint as before.

"So..."

"That masked man just now was..."

Elder Sang looked at the newly formed tender flesh on his chest and said, "Haven't you already had a taste? You have the answer, so why ask me?"

"It was really him?"

"Yes."

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled by their enigmatic exchange. He asked curiously, "So, who was it?"

Six gazes instantly pierced him like knives, and Xu Xiaoshou quickly recoiled. "Didn't you tell me to stay here?" he mumbled weakly. "It's bad enough you're gossiping amongst yourselves, but you're excluding me..."

The three were bewildered. What gossip?

Elder Sang patted Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder. "Cultivate diligently," he said. "These are not things you should concern yourself with yet."

"Oh."

Instead, Xu Xiaoshou grew infinitely curious about the masked man. This person was clearly a sword cultivator, and had even walked the path of pure sword intent combat. But... He recalled his first encounter with this person; the discouraging tone didn't seem feigned, as if this path truly led nowhere. Yet, if it led nowhere, how could he be so strong? One person single-handedly battling the entire Tiansang Spirit Palace?

Xu Xiaoshou felt an insatiable itch in his heart; the answer to the mystery was right before him, yet no one was willing to reveal it. Darn it!

"Alright, everyone, you may leave now."

Elder Sang shook his head and looked up at the sky. It had brightened, and the air after the rain was incredibly fresh.

Xiao Qixiu bid farewell and left, but Ye Xiaotian stared at Xu Xiaoshou, making him feel bewildered.

"Are you the champion of this year's 'Wind and Cloud Hegemony'?" a child's voice piped up.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded blankly, unsure what he was getting at.

"Starting tomorrow, you can enter the inner campus."

What? What's going on? The inner campus he had fought tooth and nail to enter, but couldn't, was now settled with a single sentence?

Elder Sang rolled his eyes and slapped Ye Xiaotian on the head. The white-haired Daoist child instantly looked at him with aggrieved eyes.

"What inner campus?" Elder Sang scoffed. "Go back and tell those old geezers: Xu Xiaoshou doesn't need to enter the inner campus anymore!"

*But I want to!* Xu Xiaoshou screamed internally, but he was somewhat dumbfounded at the moment and decided to observe the situation.

As a result, the white-haired Daoist child glared fiercely at Elder Sang, and then just left. He left...

Xu Xiaoshou stumbled slightly. So, was he in or out? Could someone just give a clear answer! This is so frustrating!

"Ye Xiaotian, be more decisive in the future!" Elder Sang shouted after the white-haired Daoist child as he slowly flew away. "When it's time to make a decision, make it! I've told you countless times!"

Ye Xiaotian waved his severed arm, gesturing for him not to forget the treatment, and then disappeared.

Xu Xiaoshou withdrew his gaze and suddenly realized that only he and Elder Sang remained. He felt a pang of unease. Why was it Goose Lake again, and this old man? Painful memories resurfaced.

"So, I'll head back now?" he asked tentatively.

"You can't leave yet." Elder Sang dropped his usual sly smile, his expression turning very serious. "I have a story to tell you," he said.

He walked ahead. Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to flee, and slowly followed.

"The Sacred Divine Continent has five regions," Elder Sang began, clasping his hands behind his back, his gaze filled with yearning. "In the distant Central Region, Sacred Divine Heaven, there is a 'Sacred Palace.' It is a sacred place in the hearts of all spirit refiners on the continent."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded. He only knew that the region he was in, Eastern Region Sword God Heaven, was predominantly inhabited by sword cultivators. He had only a superficial understanding of the continent's other four regions. As for the 'Sacred Palace,' he had never heard of it.

"Inside the Sacred Palace, there's a lake," Elder Sang continued. "It's similar to Goose Lake before us, but about twice its size." Elder Sang pointed to Goose Lake, within the white jade railings, where more than half the water had evaporated. "It's called 'Great Goose Lake'," he slowly said.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

"By the Great Goose Lake, a young man often appeared," he continued. "He was about your age and liked to train his body in such a quiet place. Before long, he achieved the Innate Physical Body."

Xu Xiaoshou paused his steps and looked at the old man's back, still wearing the straw hat, seemingly realizing something.

"The young man's joy was short-lived," Elder Sang continued. "One night, an old bald donkey appeared and forcibly made him consume the 'Ashen Radiance Fire Seed'." "Yes, at that time, he resisted."

Xu Xiaoshou's face darkened. Wasn't this story about himself? Could it be that young Elder Sang was force-fed the fire seed and was now taking revenge on him? He continued to listen.

"A month later," Elder Sang said, "his Innate Physical Body was indeed incinerated and crippled!" "The old bald donkey appeared again," Elder Sang continued. "He force-fed the young man another fire seed, and gifted him yet another. At the same time, he also bestowed upon him a cultivation method."

"'Ashen Radiance Skyflame'?" Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fists. This guy was much more miserable than him; his Innate Physical Body was crippled, yet he still consumed fire seeds. Wouldn't that be a dead end?

"Exactly!" Elder Sang nodded. "The old bald donkey told the young man, 'Do you hate me? If you hate me, then cultivate this method and defeat me!'"

"The young man had no choice," Elder Sang continued. "Filled with hatred, he began to practice this cultivation method, working exceptionally hard. In a year, he re-entered the realm of the Innate Physical Body. Just three days later, he achieved the Grandmaster Body! Only then did he realize that, unbeknownst to him, he had already broken through the continent's rumored barrier: 'the Innate Physical Body cannot break through to Grandmaster'. All in all, it took him only a year."

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded; the story's direction was completely unexpected.