Chapter 849: Sangye Accompanies with a Letter, Inviting You to Enter

Incredible!

Xing Gugu watched the over two hundred grandmasters pledge allegiance to the “Little Xu Gang,” then turned his gaze to Young Master Xu. The surging admiration in his heart flowed endlessly, like the currents of three mighty rivers. Simply incredible!

How does Xu Xiaoshou’s mind even work? Why does he consistently inspire people to dedicate their lives and fight tirelessly for him? And in the end, you’d discover that all he sacrificed were trifles he didn’t even need.

“Admiration received, Passive Value +1.”

Xu Xiaoshou noticed the change, looked back at Xing Gugu, and seeing the man’s incredulous expression, asked with a smile, “What have you learned this time?”

Xing Gugu replied, “I’ve learned true shamelessness, utterly without limits.”

“Get lost!” Xu Xiaoshou burst out laughing and gave the man a hard kick. Xing Gugu’s backside twisted; he couldn’t dodge and ended up embedded in a large rock.

Soon, all two hundred and sixteen grandmasters, with not a single one choosing to withdraw, pledged their allegiance to the “Little Xu Gang.” They were all shrewd. Ten thousand points could be easily earned by simply eliminating a few people if one truly desired it. But source stones were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Currently, Young Master Xu only possessed fire-element source stones, which many couldn’t use, but what about in the future? As he had stated earlier, while everyone else in the Yunlun Mountain Range was still scrambling to prepare for the appearance of unknown source stones, Young Master Xu already had a complete strategy: monopolization!

With this Sword Dao King leading two hundred grandmasters, even Chongyuan, who topped the ranks, would have to kneel! After this, who would fear a lack of other elemental source stones? By the time others reacted, whether they could even establish a force capable of opposing the “Xu Gang” or “Little Xu Gang” remained uncertain. Even if they did, could they withstand it?

Once Young Master Xu made the first move and secured the source stones, given his identity as a Half-Saint Successor, it would likely be difficult for even other Half-Saint Successors in the Yunlun Mountain Range to openly confront him and directly lead an assault to seize them, wouldn’t it?

“Young Master Xu, I request to comprehend the source stone.” Xiao Jing was the first to rush forward after completing his oath. He had already experienced the benefits of the fire-element source stone; ten thousand points were inconsequential to him. What he sought was rapid advancement in his cultivation.

“Alright.” Xu Xiaoshou smiled and handed over the fire-element source stone, saying, “I’m not in a rush for the points. Perhaps you’ll spend over twenty days comprehending it! Once you feel you’ve gained enough, transfer the points to me all at once. After all, you all only have a maximum of two ‘plundered’ opportunities remaining.”

“Understood.” Xiao Jing was touched. Indeed, if he comprehended it just once and his trial jade pendant was plundered, he would disappear from the Yunlun Mountain Range within two days.

The grandmasters nearby grew anxious, seeing the fire-element source stone claimed immediately.

“Young Master Xu, I’m also fire-element! I can add points and request to comprehend it before the captain!” someone exclaimed.

Xiao Jing shot a fierce glare in their direction. What the hell? How could these Little Xu Gang members be so shortsighted, daring to compete with him, their captain, for the fire-element source stone?

“I’m also fire-element, and I request to comprehend it immediately. I’m close to breaking through to the Yin-Yang realm, and after my breakthrough, I can certainly provide Young Master Xu with more assistance.”

“I’m fire-element too…”

“Me too…”

Suddenly, dozens of individuals surged forward. Among the spiritual refiners across the continent’s five regions, those with the five elemental attributes were inherently the most numerous. The grandmasters present, having fought their way from the first battlefield of the source stone struggle to the second, were certainly coveting the fire-element source stone. Among them, fire-attribute spiritual refiners were, of course, the most prevalent.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled instantly as he saw the scene rapidly shifting, hinting at an impending battle.

“Everyone.” With a wave of his hand, everyone showed him respect, suppressed their fighting intent, and looked his way.

Xu Xiaoshou said, “Have you forgotten that we are no longer enemies, but comrades? There’s no rule stating that only one person can comprehend this fire-element source stone at a time!”

Everyone paused, stunned. From behind, Xing Gugu slapped his thigh forcefully.

“Damn it, that’s brilliant!” he swore outright. Indeed. Who stipulated that only one person could comprehend a fire-element source stone at any given time? If this object were placed in the center, any fire-element cultivator could simply sit cross-legged, draw in their spiritual energy, and begin cultivating, couldn’t they? As long as they didn’t fight and maintained harmony. This spot was the ultimate cultivation sanctuary for fire-attribute spiritual refiners!

And now that everyone was a member of the “Little Xu Gang,” was there still a need to fiercely battle over the ownership of the fire-element source stone, as they had before? Even if they fought, the source stone still belonged to Young Master Xu! Everyone instantly realized this and suddenly felt a tinge of envy.

Following this line of reasoning… Initially, everyone believed Young Master Xu could only earn ten thousand points a day from the source stone. But now, the possibilities were endless! If he had ten thousand fire-attribute grandmasters under his command, he could earn a hundred million points in a single day!

“I’m convinced.” Only then did Xiao Jing grasp Young Master Xu’s true objective.

“Me too,” the others beside him chimed in, having also understood the point. For someone of Young Master Xu’s caliber and intellect, earning points was truly effortless!

“Everyone, take a seat. Any fire-element cultivators can begin cultivating. Xiao Jing, please record their names, and once their accumulated points are sufficient, transfer them to me all at once,” Xu Xiaoshou instructed. He knew his motives had been seen through but felt no shame. Such an action was naturally predicated on immense power.

One might ask, how many individuals in the entire Yunlun Mountain Range could manage to have hundreds of grandmasters cultivate together peacefully, without any animosity, and without fear of ambush or attack? At present, there was only one such individual!

As long as Xu Xiaoshou remained, the surrounding array would not be breached. This single fire-element source stone could bring him hundreds of thousands of points in daily income. And this was merely the beginning…

Xu Xiaoshou gazed at the fire-element spiritual refiners cultivating cross-legged, his eyes scanning the unknown distance. He murmured to himself, “I hope more fated individuals appear soon to help me locate more Dao Source Stones.”

Nearby, spiritual refiners of other attributes watched their fire-element companions settle down, each filled with envy. However, Dao Source Stones were inherently single-attribute, so there was nothing they could do at the moment.

“Young Master Xu, while they cultivate, what should we do?” others began to ask. Standing idle felt unproductive; why not go out and earn some points for their upcoming cultivation?

Xu Xiaoshou, seeing through their intentions, raised a hand and said, “Go, but don’t fight alone. If you encounter others, simply swarm them. I’m not short on points, but if even one member of the ‘Little Xu Gang’ goes missing, I’ll be deeply pained.”

Though they understood this was a tactic to win their loyalty, everyone was still moved upon hearing his words. Immediately, the remaining hundred-plus grandmasters planned to travel in groups, eager to start earning cultivation fees for the future source stones.

“Wait!” Xu Xiaoshou, seeing their hasty departure, quickly called out to them.

“What is it?” the group asked, turning back.

Xu Xiaoshou said, “After you go out, before engaging in any fights, there are two things you must confirm: first, ask if your opponent is from the Heavenly First Floor, and second, ask if your enemy is a member of the Xu Gang.”

Everyone suddenly understood. Young Master Xu certainly had too many subordinates; he was clearly worried about accidental friendly fire!

“Understood.” Immediately, everyone promised, and with a fervent, competitive spirit, they rushed out to earn points after Xu Xiaoshou lifted the array’s blockade.

“Tsk, tsk…” A gritting sound came from nearby. Xu Xiaoshou turned to see Xing Gugu rubbing his backside and making a fuss. He smiled, “What’s wrong with you now?”

Xing Gugu pursed his lips and said sardonically, “Oh, Young Master Xu, you’re quite capable. With just a few words, you’ve got another group helping you earn points. You’re already third on the points ranking; I estimate that once their points are tallied, you’ll leave the current top rank ten streets behind.”

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow. “Ten streets? Is that all?”

Xing Gugu fell silent.

“Curse received, Passive Value +1.”

The Little Xu Gang’s situation had stabilized. Fire-element grandmasters began their cultivation, while the others set out to earn points. Xu Xiaoshou, meanwhile, was waiting. He was awaiting the appearance of the next Dao Source Stone. He also used this time to leverage the fire-element source stone’s coordinates, drawing in more prospective members for the Little Xu Gang. By this time, a significant number of people could be seen gathered outside the array.

“Excellent.” Xu Xiaoshou then picked up the black sword Cang Ku and slowly walked over, careful not to disturb his subordinate grandmasters’ cultivation. “It’s time to lift the array’s illusionary effect and let my future gang members come in and cultivate, hehehe…”

***

Yunlun Mountain Range, Southern Region.

On the desolate, rocky ground, not a blade of grass grew. A short, white-haired man with a youthful face, barefoot, drifted aimlessly about an inch above the ground.

“When can I finally emerge…” Ye Xiaotian’s heart was heavy with bitterness. Indeed. He was a stowaway. After sealing his cultivation and altering his appearance, he, as the Dean of the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace, entered the Yunlun Mountain Range, though not alongside the inner court disciples. His objective, naturally, was not the trial itself, but something else entirely.

“Old Man Sang…” He touched his chest. Within his grasp, a letter lay silently, emanating a faint, scorching aura.

Ye Xiaotian had originally wanted no part in this mess. He genuinely hadn’t known at first that Elder Sang was Sleeveless, the Saint Servant. After his suspicions arose, he had dispatched Zhao Xidong to investigate, and when the subsequent findings were revealed, nothing further happened.

What if he knew? What if he didn’t? The Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace held its own stance. Elder Sang’s reluctance to reveal his second identity to the palace members stemmed from a fear of burdening his own people. Ye Xiaotian had believed that if he let go, and consequently released Elder Sang, everything would be fine. However, events unfolded in a direction entirely contrary to his expectations.

During the battle at the Eight Palaces, Sang Qiye was struck by an arrow from the Divine Temple of Universal Love, became corrupted, and was captured. Xu Xiaoshou, in retaliation, joined the Saint Servants. Ye Xiaotian was powerless to reverse these developments. He simply couldn’t stop them. Even if he could, he wouldn’t have wanted to.

Everyone has their own ambitions, like migratory birds parting ways. The Grand Dao stretches to the heavens, with each choosing their own path. Since Elder Sang had chosen the Saint Servants, it meant a complete severance of his ties with the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace. During the Eight Palaces incident, while others couldn’t observe it, Ye Xiaotian witnessed the entire capture of Elder Sang through spatial imagery. One could say, had Ye Xiaotian wished, even with Elder Sang’s demonic transformation, he could have rescued him with a single spatial teleportation.

But it would have been futile. What good would rescuing him do? Would he simply watch Elder Sang die? The arrow from Universal Love was so potent that not only was Ye Xiaotian, a King realm cultivator, powerless against it, but even Elder Sang, a Void realm expert, found it impossible to recover. He chose not to save him!

Ye Xiaotian chose to “completely sever” ties with his past. This journey to Eastern Heavenly King City, escorting inner court disciples to partake in the Yunlun Mountain Range battles, was originally intended to be a minor affair. However, at their parting, Luo Leilei — once an inner court disciple, now a Saint Servant soldier — delivered a letter. A sealed letter, carrying a faint scent of embers. Intended only for Ye Xiaotian’s eyes. And only he could unseal it.

“Completely severed…” Ye Xiaotian pondered his previous decision, struggled for three full days, then chose to break the seal and read its contents. Afterward, he regretted it. Had he not unsealed that letter, by now he would have returned to the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace, content to remain in his inconspicuous corner, an outsider observing the grand currents of the world. But having unsealed the letter, Ye Xiaotian found himself here.

“A nuisance, indeed…” He cursed under his breath.

Ye Xiaotian removed his hand from the envelope in his pocket, shook his head, and glanced. Deep within his eyes, two obscure and intricate array diagrams rotated, and the scene he perceived transformed into another world. Outsiders couldn’t glimpse it. But the world he now saw was the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace, located at an immeasurable distance.

“How are things?” Ye Xiaotian inquired.

From his ear, the solemn voice of Qiao Qianzhi, the Grand Elder of the Spirit Affairs Pavilion, soon came through: “Ye Xiaotian! Have you truly thought this through? I’ve already drafted and submitted your resignation for you; the process is straightforward. I estimate that once the Divine Temple completes its review, the position of Dean will change hands within the next two days.”

“I’ve also spoken with Old Xiao on your behalf; he’s willing to accept the role of the new Dean, however…” Qiao Qianzhi’s words were laced with concern: “But are you truly willing to take on Old Man Sang’s mess? When we left the Saint Palace, we agreed not to interfere in worldly affairs again. He betrayed us; do you truly intend to follow in his footsteps?”

Ye Xiaotian’s pace remained unchanged as he continued to float. Even a profound divine artifact like the Cloud Realm World couldn’t detect the subtle means by which he, a Dao Realm King with spatial attributes, communicated with the outside world from within the Yunlun Mountain Range.

Qiao Qianzhi’s words didn’t cause the slightest ripple in Ye Xiaotian. His lips remained still, yet his voice transmitted, “After three days of deliberation, since my decision is made, there’s no need to try and dissuade me.”

Qiao Qianzhi sighed, “Within two days at most, I will ensure your resignation is processed. From that point on, whatever you choose to do will have absolutely no connection to the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace.” His tone grew increasingly agitated. “But for these two days, you’d better hide yourself properly! If you dare to implicate any of the youngsters in the Spirit Palace, I swear I’ll chop you up and feed you to the geese, even if it costs me my life!”

“Don’t worry,” Ye Xiaotian replied with a faint smile. He paused, then instructed, “Also, tell Old Xiao that the three Gu family brothers have spoken with me, and they are not a concern. As for Old Xiao’s female disciple, let her go with peace of mind; she has a brilliant future ahead.”

Still irate, Qiao Qianzhi scoffed, “A brilliant future? I fear she’ll also be drawn into disputes and find herself unable to escape!”

Ye Xiaotian remained silent, offering no reply. After another moment of profound silence, he changed the subject again. “And you, have you broken through the final hurdle in your study of heavenly secret techniques?”

“What heavenly secret technique!” Qiao Qianzhi cursed angrily. “Ye Xiaotian, remember this: in two days, you will no longer be affiliated with the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace, so keep your mouth shut out there, understood? I’m not studying heavenly secret techniques; I’ve merely been analyzing heavenly mechanism puppets for decades!”

“Merely?” Ye Xiaotian pursed his lips, thinking, *If that’s not studying Dao Qiongcang’s heavenly secret techniques, then what is it?* Otherwise, you old man, you wouldn’t have been stuck at the same level of spiritual arrays as when you left the Saint Palace all these years, despite your ardent devotion.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let it slip,” Ye Xiaotian assured.

Ye Xiaotian continued to float forward. The moment he encountered another person, his form instantly shifted hundreds of miles away to a different hilltop, and he resumed his onward drift.

“So, did you succeed?”

Silence met his question. After a long pause, Qiao Qianzhi sighed deeply and said, “If your items arrive, then yes, I can do it. However, this time it is merely a transaction, receiving payment to perform a task. There will be absolutely no connection between you and me!”

Ye Xiaotian smiled. “Naturally.”

With a blink, the visual disappeared. The sound transmission, which had spanned nearly half of the Eastern Heavenly Realm, lost its spatial support, making it impossible for Qiao Qianzhi to transmit any more words.

“Xu Xiaoshou…” Ye Xiaotian sighed, pulling the envelope from his pocket and unfolding it for the last time. There were few words on it, scrawled and crooked, just a few lines.

“Night is falling, dawn has not yet broken.Given the grand currents of fate, how can one truly transcend?My Saint Servants, your space.As long as the Emberglow lives, the Dao cannot be severed.Yunlun Mountain Range, Holy Source Crystal.”

The words were twisted like snakes, illegible to anyone but him. Yet, based on their past relationship, Ye Xiaotian barely managed to decipher them.

“I’m severing the Dao, and you expect me to sacrifice myself?”

“Heh.” Ye Xiaotian sneered, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. He reread the letter several times, scrutinizing each word, then scoffed, “Pretentious!”

Then, he finally looked at the last line. That line, hidden in the corner, contained the only truly understandable words.

“My foolish disciple, I entrust him to you. — Sang Qiye.”

He pulled out the letter paper for the one hundred and twenty-sixth time. This time, Ye Xiaotian hesitated, then finally resolved to lift it high.

“Shhh!” The letter, which should have been pulverized days ago, turned to dust under the severance of spatial energy, finally scattering into a fine spatial crack. All traces of the embers vanished into the unnoticed spatial currents.

Ye Xiaotian looked up at the sky, his face etched with a look of weariness.

“Old Man Sang,” he mused, “why did I never realize you were so cunning before? He’s been dead for so long; when exactly was this letter written…”