Chapter 867: Killing and Gutting, Big Demon King Xu

Jiang Xian calmly watched Xu Shao approach, but what appeared in his mind was the confrontation in front of the Duo Jin Merchant House that day.

Honestly, he couldn't imagine how such a lackadaisical person could possess such exceptional cultivation.

Whether it was swordsmanship, physical training, alchemy, or spiritual arrays...

Everything about Xu Shao seemed completely mismatched for his age.

At this moment, Jiang Xian also understood that no mere fop could simultaneously master so many different arts.

Xu Shao always appeared to be playing to the crowd, but Jiang Xian realized this was merely a deliberate facade.

God knew how much blood and sweat this person must have shed behind the scenes, unseen by anyone, to achieve his current accomplishments.

And then there were the Ghost Beasts...

When his Three-Anathema Eyes were still active, Jiang Xian had used 'Shifting Mind' on Rong Dahao.

He clearly knew that Xu Shao was colluding with the Ghost Beasts.

Perhaps from the very beginning, he should have followed his instincts and not even sent people to test him.

"Long time no see."

After a long silence, Jiang Xian merely twitched his lips and uttered an indifferent remark.

He had secretly observed the battlefield; the girl possessed by the Ghost Beast was not present.

Perhaps she had already parted ways with Xu Shao.

Or perhaps, they simply hadn't rejoined.

Regardless, after witnessing Xu Shao's combat prowess firsthand, Jiang Xian no longer intended to provoke him.

After all, this was someone who could even destroy the Black Heart Mother Gu.

Outsiders were unaware of the Black Heart Mother Gu's importance to the Black Heart Fruit Clan, but Jiang Xian, also a Half-Saint heir, knew it perfectly well.

He knew that Xu Shao must also be aware of the consequences of destroying the Black Heart Mother Gu.

Yet, he still went ahead and destroyed it without hesitation.

What did this signify?

It signified that Xu Shao had absolutely no fear of retribution from Half-Saint Zang Ren!

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled as he stepped in front of Jiang Xian, sizing him up before clucking his tongue and saying, "Coincidentally, after that rather unpleasant exchange with Young Master Jiang in front of the Duo Jin Merchant House that day, my First Heavenly Tower was attacked by assassins during the night."

"Oh?"

Jiang Xian's eyes narrowed slightly, he let out a soft gasp, but otherwise remained impassive.

Inside, however, ripples of unease began to spread.

Xu Shao was really bringing up an awkward subject!

He clearly wasn't going to give Jiang Xian an easy out; was he planning to settle accounts later?

"What assassins? What does that have to do with me?" Jiang Xian asked, his expression unchanged.

"Whether it concerns you or not, I wouldn't know," Xu Xiaoshou shrugged, speaking with a smile as if nothing was amiss. "But after those two were captured during their night raid, they couldn't withstand interrogation. Perhaps it was a frame-up, but they actually claimed their true identities were members of your Jiang Clan!"

Jiang Xian remained calm, not even a slight twitch in his body.

Perhaps a while ago, if Xu Shao had spoken to him like this, he would have definitely fought back fiercely.

After all, as another Half-Saint heir, Xu Shao was essentially humiliating him openly. How could he tolerate that?

But!

The image of Duo Er being struck out three times was vivid in his mind, and the sight of the Black Heart Mother Gu being shattered to pieces had yet to fade.

Jiang Xian knew Xu Shao was trying to provoke him into action, so how could he fall for it?

"Surely, with your intelligence, Young Master Xu, you can see through such attempts at framing?" Jiang Xian smiled slightly. "Speaking of which, Young Master Xu, your conduct might seem eccentric, but to possess such combat power at the Grandmaster Realm, you must have put in considerable effort, haven't you?"

He couldn't let Xu Shao control the situation and began to attempt a counterattack.

"Not much effort really, just slept a few more times than others," Xu Xiaoshou replied truthfully.

Xu Xiaoshou spoke truthfully, but then immediately steered the conversation back: "Young Master Jiang, aren't you curious about the fate of those two assassins who impersonated your Jiang Clan members?"

Jiang Xian's composure remained unshaken. "Being a Half-Saint heir already brings enough dangers for me. I don't have the leisure to concern myself with trivial matters... By the way, why are you interested in telling me these minor things, Young Master Xu?"

"These are not minor things!"

Xu Xiaoshou said, feigning emotion, "They framed you, Young Master Jiang! As fellow Half-Saint heirs, shouldn't I help you teach them a lesson?"

Jiang Xian fell silent, his heart suddenly clenching.

Xu Xiaoshou bared his pearly white teeth and grinned.

"Those people were quite tough, actually. After interrogation, one died and one was crippled. But whether they died or not, they said what they were supposed to, and they were forced to say what they weren't supposed to."

"As for the dead one, I've already helped bury him. Even fallen petals are sentimental, and the plants in the First Heavenly Tower's courtyard certainly need high-grade fertilizer like a Throne Assassin."

"And the crippled one..."

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly leaned forward, staring intently at Jiang Xian for a long moment, as if trying to discern some trace of hatred on his face.

But to no avail.

He shrugged indifferently, spreading his hands. "The crippled one is currently still at my First Heavenly Tower. If Young Master Jiang misremembered, and you did indeed send assassins, you're welcome to come to me anytime. For a small price, you can take him back."

Even with Jiang Xian's good temperament, at that moment, he wished he could punch out and smash that detestable face in front of him.

This guy...

Not only was he killing, he was also attacking his spirit!

These words implied that Jiang Xian was someone who dared to act but not admit it, even cowardly refusing to acknowledge his own kin after they failed and were captured, willing to abandon his clansmen just to survive.

With two Half-Saint heirs conversing, those around them dared not approach.

However, both Xu Gang and Jiang Xian's team were gathered nearby, listening to the veiled insinuations and indirect insults exchanged between the two.

Everyone knew.

If Xu Shao dared to speak to Jiang Xian like this, then the assassins were most likely sent by Jiang Xian.

Yet, even when pushed to this extent, Young Master Jiang still dared not claim his clansmen?

"Have you understood?"

Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head, extended a hand behind him, and Xiao Wanfeng adeptly handed him a cup of freshly brewed tea.

He took a sip of tea, feeling the fatigue from the battle wash away with its astringent aroma.

The conflict in the Yunlun Mountains was over.

But some scores outside the mountains still needed settling.

Xu Xiaoshou was no longer a meek lamb; he had long developed a nature of repaying grudges.

Being ambushed in one's own home was never a pleasant experience, even if he was thoroughly prepared and had no fear of ambushes.

His ability to resolve matters was his own business.

However, Jiang Xian had once sent people to assassinate him and even implicitly intended to abduct his junior sister.

How could he let this matter drop?

He simply wanted to push Jiang Xian to the brink.

He just wanted to see how far Jiang Xian could be pushed under such overt and covert attacks.

Either Jiang Xian would concede defeat, pay the price, and take that wretched fellow from the First Heavenly Tower home.

If so, Jiang Xian would also have to admit to sending assassins to kill a Half-Saint heir.

This matter could be significant or trivial.

But at the very least, Xu Xiaoshou would then have room for maneuver, even if he were to reveal his 'Three-Anathema Eyes' to the world later.

He could even cling to this point, dragging it out from the Yunlun Mountains until the end of the trial, potentially implicating the entire Half-Saint Jiang Clan.

Alternatively, Jiang Xian could withstand the pressure and abandon Jiang Tai and Jiang Yu as pawns.

If that happened, objectively, Xu Xiaoshou would hold this Half-Saint heir in higher regard, as those who achieve great things don't fuss over minor details.

However, subjectively, Xu Xiaoshou would already look down on this person.

After all, someone who could abandon their companions... no, their clansmen!

Someone who could abandon blood relatives, even with ruthless methods, would always have limited achievements.

From then on, he would have no genuine allies by his side.

It would be impressive enough if he could merely preserve himself; if he didn't become completely alienated, that would already show great capability.

Jiang Xian naturally understood his predicament.

With just a few words, Xu Shao had cornered him onto two dead ends.

He had thought that after his clandestine reconnaissance of the First Heavenly Tower yielded no results, the matter would be concluded.

He never expected Xu Shao to use this very matter to challenge him at this moment.

The remaining dozens of members of the Jiang Clan team were now looking at him with changed expressions.

Although everyone knew that the Royal City Trial was merely a temporary alliance, and Jiang Xian had undoubtedly provided many benefits.

Yet, in comparison...

Of the two Half-Saint heirs, one commanded hundreds of spiritual masters as followers in Xu Gang; the other was contemplating abandoning even his closest blood relatives.

Comparisons are odious.

And comparing goods makes one want to discard them.

It was no different in this case!

Jiang Xian pondered for a moment, but ultimately failed to deviate from Xu Xiaoshou's predictions and find a third path.

He smiled, looked up, and said in surprise, "What's wrong, Young Master Xu? If you want to challenge me, there's no need to go to such lengths. As I've said, false accusations are common; why must you resort to such tactics to deal with me?"

At these words, the Jiang Clan team's morale completely plummeted.

Although everyone knew that what Xu Shao said might not be true, and he might merely be playing psychological games.

However, with such irrefutable evidence presented, Jiang Xian remained indifferent, not even daring to lash out when pushed to such a point.

By choosing the second path, Jiang Xian had clearly placed himself a notch below Xu Shao in terms of stature.

Xu Xiaoshou remained silent for a while, merely staring directly at Jiang Xian.

Jiang Xian met his gaze without fear.

Finally, Xu Xiaoshou smiled.

He extended a hand, patted Jiang Xian's shoulder, and whispered into his ear, "You will remember today. When you break through a certain cultivation barrier in the future, Jiang Tai and Jiang Yu will come for you."

With that, he chuckled and stepped back half a pace.

At this, Jiang Xian finally lost his composure completely. His face turned ashen, and his fist clenched with an audible *crack*.

This was spiritual torture!

This was truly spiritual torture!

It turned out that Xu Shao's words were intended to ensure Jiang Xian would never get off scot-free, right from the beginning.

Whether it was the first path or the second, Xu Shao had already calculated countless subsequent steps. As soon as Jiang Xian made a choice, Xu Shao would naturally have a counter-strategy.

The current situation was Xu Shao's act of spiritual torture!

He was directly elevating Jiang Tai and Jiang Yu to the level of 'inner demons,' aiming to affect Jiang Xian's path of spiritual cultivation.

Perhaps a truly ruthless person would not be affected by the matter of Jiang Tai and Jiang Yu at all.

But Jiang Xian was not such a person!

He even needed time to make a choice; how could he truly be capable of letting go when necessary?

When matters didn't concern him directly, Jiang Xian could remain composed.

But when he realized that this matter could genuinely become a hindrance to his breakthroughs at some point in the future, Jiang Xian's face instantly fell.

"You!"

"How about me?"

Xu Xiaoshou cut him off imperiously, raising a finger and directly touching Jiang Xian's forehead. He smiled, "Remember, my words are always effective. Whenever you, Jiang Xian, decide to admit this matter, prepare a gift, go to the First Heavenly Tower to apologize, and exchange for the person."

Suddenly, the crowd outside erupted.

The members of Xu Gang began to mock mercilessly.

"Oh, so it's true then? I thought Young Master Jiang was just being decisive earlier, assuming they were merely 'impersonating assassins.' So these assassins are actually surnamed Jiang?"

"He's worked up, he's worked up! Look at him, as soon as his own mess is brought up, and he hears about inner demons, he completely loses it. His face is so dark, tsk tsk... Hey, why is there ink on the ground? Who spilled it?"

"He's getting anxious, he's getting anxious! He's clenching his fists, ready to fight back!"

"Leader Xu is mighty! Leader Xu's reign will last for eternity, unifying the martial world!"

Over a thousand people outside the arena erupted in waves of jeering.

Observing their skilled taunting techniques, the endless stream of overlapping trash talk, it had to be the result of specialized training!

Indeed, it was.

Before Leader Mu was forced to step down, after Xu Gang had trapped their enemies with schemes, the gang members would watch Leader Mu single-handedly handle all the enemies. With nothing else to do, they could only act like supreme kings.

The satisfaction of mocking ordinary spiritual masters could never compare to the intense thrill of mocking a Half-Saint heir!

The shouts were too sudden.

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily startled by his own gang members.

He glanced at Mu Zixi in surprise.

The young girl, however, covered her eyes and turned her face away, with an an expression that said, "I didn't train them; they developed this on their own."

The mockery came at a crucial moment!

Jiang Xian was on the verge of completely losing his composure and making a move.

It was only when he felt the lively sword intent emanating from Xu Shao's pointed finger on his forehead that he suddenly recalled the combat power of the man before him, Mu Xiaogong's suspected 'Ultimate Life Body,' and the Ghost Beast host that had yet to appear beside Xu Shao...

Hold it in!

Jiang Xian, hold it in!

You absolutely cannot get involved in this mess!

However much humiliation Xu Shao inflicted upon him today, he would one day face equally strong retaliation from the Holy Divine Palace!

But the prerequisite was that he mustn't be dragged into it...

Jiang Xian mused inwardly, then took a deep breath, regained his composure, and said, "Young Master Xu, you certainly manage your subordinates well!"

Xu Xiaoshou understood the mockery in these words, knowing Jiang Xian was disparaging him for being a Half-Saint heir yet leading such a vulgar and unruly bunch. He was unfazed.

He hadn't personally trained these people.

But the mockery...

Wasn't it quite good mockery?

Against someone like Jiang Xian, such mockery was precisely what was needed!

"Young Master Jiang is truly magnanimous, to tolerate even this?" Xu Xiaoshou lowered his finger, looked at the team behind Jiang Xian, and asked, "So, if you can even abandon your clansmen, then it shouldn't be too much for me to ask for an unrelated person, should it?"

Jiang Xian paused. "What unrelated person?"

Xu Xiaoshou opened the trial map. On it, the coordinates for the Fire-elemental Origin Stone, Spatial Origin Stone, and Lightning-elemental Origin Stone were completely overlapping.

"The third Origin Stone is right here. My people couldn't have stolen it, so it can only be hidden on one of your people."

"Or perhaps..."

Xu Xiaoshou gazed at Jiang Xian with a smile. "On you?"

Jiang Xian was dumbfounded.

If he had the Lightning-elemental Origin Stone, why would he still be involved in this mess?

He should have acted as a fisherman, profiting at the end of the battle, not charged in headfirst from the start.

But as soon as the trial map was opened, the coordinates of the three Origin Stones indeed overlapped.

Jiang Xian looked back in astonishment.

So, there was already a traitor among his own people?

Seeing Jiang Xian's seemingly ignorant expression, Xu Xiaoshou's brows furrowed as well.

However, this didn't affect his control over the overall situation.

His gaze swept across the crowd.

Xu Xiaoshou declared loudly, "Come out. I doubt you'd want me to give the order for all of Xu Gang to search you, would you?"

At his words, silence fell over the mountain.

A moment later, from behind Jiang Xian, a delicate young girl, head bowed in timidity, timidly stepped forward.

"Are, are you looking for this?"

Nangong Jin'er stepped forward, holding an Origin Stone in her hands, yet she dared not even meet Xu Xiaoshou's gaze.

She had originally intended to travel from afar with the Lightning-elemental Origin Stone to stir up trouble here.

She never imagined that someone as divine as Young Master Xu could appear in the Yunlun Mountains, suppressing the entire arena by himself.

Stir up trouble?

Even young lady Duo Er, a Half-Saint heir, had been eliminated. What right did she, Nangong Jin'er, have to continue stirring up trouble?

"What's your name?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, looking at the newcomer.

"Nangong Jin'er," the young girl said, extremely timid. She couldn't possibly defeat this Great Demon King Xu, nor did she even have the intention to make a move.

"How did you get this Origin Stone?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"It, it just popped out of a crevice in the rocks by itself..." As Nangong Jin'er spoke, her face flushed so deeply it looked like it might bleed. She herself could barely believe it, but that was the truth, and she didn't dare to lie.

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled.

He had thought he would need to lead his people to fight again for the Lightning-elemental Origin Stone, but he didn't expect this item to be obtained by this naive and foolish girl in front of him.

"A lucky one?"

"Y-yes, yes."

"You're not Jiang Xian's person?"

"No, I'm not."

"Then come with me!"

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, sending the girl directly behind him, then he made a grasping motion in the air, and the Lightning-elemental Origin Stone flew back into his palm.

"To send an Origin Stone from a thousand miles away – a small gift, but deep affection."

"For the rest of the Royal City Trial... I will protect you!"

Nangong Jin'er looked up blankly, gazing at the unrestrained and audacious man before her. Suddenly, a strong sense of security welled up in her heart.

Her lips moved slightly, but ultimately, she couldn't manage a complete sentence, only nodding with a trembling voice.

"O-okay, okay."