Chapter 872: Greedy White Cat, Mutated Gluttony God

Silence... After that command, the chatter among Xu's group instantly ceased. Only insignificant whispers of speculation remained, mingled with the fading footsteps of people withdrawing.

Xu Xiaoshou knew perfectly well that Xiao Wanfeng couldn't keep this crowd in line. He deliberately waited a bit longer to stabilize morale.

Naturally, Xu Xiaoshou had seen the notification from the trial jade pendant the moment it appeared. Originally, he had also been waiting for this crucial midnight hour. But now, nothing, no matter how monumental, was more important than his junior sister's situation!

However... Before leaving, Xu Xiaoshou needed a backup plan.

After all, Liu Changqing was still with his junior sister. Liu Changqing might not understand the gravity of the situation, but Ancestor Wuji did. If it was just a minor accidental loss of contact, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't abandon all his previous arrangements at the First Heavenly Tower for a ridiculous and comical outcome.

"Enter the Yuan Mansion!" The Yunlun Mountains were being watched. Xu Xiaoshou merely entered the Yuan Mansion with his mind, found his "painted body," and possessed it.

"Little Chicken, come here." He waved at Xu Little Chicken from a distance, and the latter nervously scurried over.

The Yuan Mansion world was now much livelier than usual. Basically, anyone Xu Xiaoshou had ever met in his life could find their clone here. Night Watchman, Storyteller, Eight Trigrams, Elder Sang... Even the crippled Ai Cangsen could be found here.

The situation was urgent, so Xu Xiaoshou didn't waste time on pleasantries. Once Xu Little Chicken arrived, he got straight to the point: "I'll talk, you listen, and just remember."

"Oh." Xu Little Chicken nodded dully, looking as if he was used to being exploited. The only thing he found regrettable was that Great Devil Xu's tone still sounded like himself. This guy was so reckless; how had he not been possessed yet?

Xu Xiaoshou began giving instructions: "I'm letting you go out and live it up for a night, same as before. You'll impersonate me, doing whatever you please, but once you're outside, you must listen to Xin Gugu for everything."

Xu Little Chicken: "..." How was this "doing whatever he pleased" when he'd still be restricted by someone? And this old routine...

Last time he let me out, he also pretended to give me freedom, but ended up throwing me into chaos, where I was almost exposed and killed. Now, I guess things outside aren't peaceful either, right? That's right, if things were peaceful outside, why would Great Devil Xu think of me?

Xu Little Chicken's thoughts raced. Seeing no response from him for a while, Xu Xiaoshou frowned and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"No, no problem..." Xu Little Chicken immediately snapped back to attention, answering nervously, "My impersonation technique is now perfected. Last time, I was scared by the grand scene, but this time I have experience, so there definitely won't be any surprises. Tell me, should I impersonate Master Xu himself, or Young Master Xu?"

Xu Xiaoshou had already systematically briefed Xu Little Chicken on the precautions, signature treasures, and special skills associated with both identities: 'Xu Xiaoshou' and 'Xu Deye'. "Young Master Xu," Xu Xiaoshou replied.

"I don't need to use that 'Half-Saint Dao Comprehension' state, right? That thing is like a restriction; it binds me more exhaustingly than living in the Yuan Mansion." Xu Little Chicken had some lingering aversion. "No," Xu Xiaoshou shook his head.

"So, will there be fighting? I'm good at bluster, but if it comes to a real fight, I can only barely muster some Throne-level combat power, and it doesn't last long."

"None of that! Your position is very stable. If there's truly a fight, you'll have plenty of subordinates at your command." Xu Xiaoshou appeared very patient; after all, he needed the chicken's help.

"Sounds pretty good..." Xu Little Chicken feigned stroking his chin, but internally added: 'It seems the situation is critical; Master Xu has even started lying.'

"Good, then. Get ready; we're switching places." Xu Xiaoshou pressed on without delay, pulling out the prepared clothes while explaining: "The situation is a little different now. After you go out, there will be major figures watching in unseen places. Remember, don't talk nonsense, and don't casually entertain people when there's no need. Say less, do less, make fewer mistakes. If you're unsure about anything, ask Xin Gugu. And remember this: if you mess up, you're finished."

Xu Little Chicken was half-scared to death. He could understand the first half of the statement; after all, if Master Xu was calling him, it had to be an extremely dangerous situation. But when life and death were on the line, he was still told to "ask Xin Gugu if unsure"?

"What about Miss Mo?" Xu Little Chicken asked, as he trusted Mo Mo more. Xu Little Chicken had seen Xin Gugu's nature before. After all, that guy had also been in the Yuan Mansion world and undergone special training with Master Xu for a while; Xu Little Chicken remembered his speech and actions clearly. If unsure, ask Xin Gugu... That's worse than praying to gods and Buddha!

Hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou irritably tapped Xu Little Chicken's head and muttered, "If there was anyone else smart around me, would I tell you to ask Xin Gugu?"

"Oh." Xu Little Chicken lowered his head, feeling wronged. So, it truly was the worst possible situation!

"Hurry up and change clothes." Xu Xiaoshou urged, dressing the person in front of him to look exactly like himself, then solemnly handed over a ring. "Remember, if you truly encounter an unsolvable problem, when even Xin Gugu is at a loss, call me."

"Call you?" Xu Little Chicken examined the ring, finding it empty, and was a bit bewildered. "Yes, call me," Xu Xiaoshou affirmed with a nod. "Call the current me."

With that, he transformed into a beam of light and slipped into the ring. Even though he knew the one standing in front of him was a painted body, seeing a living, talking person enter a spatial ring, which could only store inanimate objects, still startled Xu Little Chicken.

"Master Xu?" he called out to the emptiness before him. But the painted body, having entered the ring, had evidently become an inanimate object and no longer possessed the ability to speak.

Xu Xiaoshou's consciousness re-entered the painted body of Eight Trigrams, and he strode over, adjusting to the memories and altering his voice as he walked. "I've placed a wisp of spiritual thought into my painted body. If things go wrong, you can take it out of the ring, and it will activate. I can then use my mind in two ways, simultaneously glancing at your situation..."

Xu Little Chicken finally breathed a sigh of relief. That was great; it meant he wouldn't have to think. "However!" Xu Xiaoshou, however, made a sharp turn, saying gravely, "What if I can't spare a moment? Even if you take my painted body out, it'll just be a limp puppet, utterly useless."

"Uh!" Xu Little Chicken froze on the spot.

"Don't worry, I trust your abilities. You've never disappointed me." Xu Xiaoshou gently patted Xu Little Chicken's shoulder, saying earnestly, "After this is over, I'll definitely give you a vacation. I forgot last time; that was my fault."

Xu Little Chicken: Heh, men! He only dared to complain internally.

"Sustained internal slander, Passive Points +1." Xu Xiaoshou ignored it, saying, "No other problems, right?" He was waiting to switch places; his mind had already flown to his junior sister's side. Delays could lead to complications, so he wasn't in the mood to deal with minor issues.

"I don't have any problems..." Xu Little Chicken had nothing to prepare; he was always ready. But at this moment, he looked towards Glutton, who was diligently working on alchemy nearby, and said, "It's just Young Master Xu's cat; it might have... some issues..."

"Glutton?" Xu Xiaoshou was startled and turned to look. The little white cat was extremely well-behaved. Aside from visibly getting fatter and fatter, its belly now as round as a human head, there was nothing unusual about it. Working hard and enjoying the blessings. This was excellent!

As Xu Xiaoshou spoke, he suddenly felt something was amiss. Glutton working so hard was inherently abnormal. Since he had entered, he hadn't seen Glutton secretly slurping up elixirs or spiritual liquid, not even once! Abnormal! When things are abnormal, there must be a reason.

"What happened to it?" Xu Xiaoshou asked sternly.

Xu Little Chicken opened his mouth, saying vaguely, "Look at that guy. This time, Master Xu, you came in, and it didn't even come over to 'meow' twice..."

"Get to the point!" Xu Xiaoshou interrupted.

Xu Little Chicken shivered and immediately switched to a rapid-fire speaking mode: "A few days ago, during the time you were away, Master Xu, Glutton seemed to get tired of alchemy. It started wandering around, not being as diligent as I am..."

As soon as he veered off topic, Xu Xiaoshou's gaze sharpened. Xu Little Chicken immediately stopped trying to hint, stating bluntly, "It ran into that broken tower and gnawed on something. It seems to have mutated!" He pointed in a direction.

Broken tower? Xu Xiaoshou was startled and turned to look the other way. That was the broken tower he had sliced off from the Scripture Pavilion of the Zhang Mansion in Tiansang City with a single sword stroke. After he brought it into the Yuan Mansion, apart from flipping through some of the cultivation techniques inside, he found it had little other use. So he treated it as a milestone of his growth, put it there, and used it as a treasure vault. All the more valuable treasures Xu Xiaoshou had obtained outside were tossed in there, as he felt uneasy keeping them in his spatial ring.

But... "Didn't I set up a barrier? Glutton, how could it possibly get in?" Xu Xiaoshou quickly pressed.

He was the master of the Yuan Mansion world, with spatial segregation and spiritual array sealing. Let alone Glutton, this little white cat; even if a Dao-Cutting or Grand Void master came in, they might not be able to enter!

Xu Little Chicken pouted and mumbled, "Master Xu, haven't you noticed Glutton has gotten several circles fatter?"

"The Yuan Mansion world is nascent, with abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and life force. Plus, the continuously evolving Great Dao rules constantly feed it back. This guy's growth rate is just too fast."

"You wouldn't know, but during the time you were away, it's become so brazen that it even dares to swallow chaotic mist!"

Xu Little Chicken hadn't complained to anyone in a long time, and once his urge to grumble started, it seemed endless. Chaotic mist... Hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou was truly stunned.

He had also tried chaotic mist, but even at his current cultivation level, he could only withstand it for a few breaths at most. His passive skills, if the duration was long enough, would still be corroded by the chaotic mist as usual. Glutton had grown to the point where it could devour chaotic mist? How long had it been? By his reckoning, it hadn't even been a few months since he got the cat, right?

Xu Little Chicken added, "It can't swallow it normally yet... Last time, after it got a bit high, it took a huge bite of chaotic mist, but it vomited for half a day. Still, it recovered in no time."

"When was this?" Xu Xiaoshou frowned. "Just recently, in the interval between your last appearance and this one. Otherwise, I would have told you immediately," Xu Little Chicken quickly declared his loyalty.

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent. He suddenly understood. No wonder Glutton was so attached to him; no wonder Caramel was determined to give this white cat to a stranger. So it turned out his own life force and his Yuan Mansion space were of such great benefit to Glutton!

"Is this how a ghost beast grows?" Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt he couldn't even compare to a cat. He worked himself to the bone to earn Passive Points. Meanwhile, Glutton, in between alchemy sessions, had already caught up with his own pace of growth.

"Come here!" Xu Xiaoshou sternly called out to Glutton in the distance. He really wanted to know what this little thing had swallowed and what it had mutated into, that it didn't even dare to come near him.

"Mrow!" Glutton in the distance had already heard their conversation. Now, receiving the summons, it had no choice but to turn its plump body, close one eye, glare at Xu Little Chicken, and affectionately pounce towards Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou grabbed the fur on Glutton's neck, lifting it up. His gaze fixed on the little white cat's "abnormal" eye, he commanded, "Open it!"

Glutton's eyes were originally very beautiful, like large gemstones, with an eerie purple hue. Normally, this fellow would want to use those eerie purple eyes to see right through people. How could it possibly look at someone with one eye open and one eye closed? What had it swallowed to make it so afraid...? A faint bad premonition arose in Xu Xiaoshou's heart.

"Meow~" Glutton let out a wronged whimper, clinging to its master's arms, refusing to comply. "Open it!" Xu Xiaoshou commanded again. "If you don't open it now, I'll boil you along with the elixirs!"

"Meow!" This time, Glutton was so startled that its white fur bristled, and its left eye suddenly snapped open. In that instant, Xu Xiaoshou and Xu Little Chicken, who were the first to meet its gaze, both felt their spirits waver, as if their souls were leaving their bodies, tending towards being manipulated.

But Glutton was afraid of death; it instantly closed its eye after a single blink. The dizzying illusion for both disappeared simultaneously. In an instant, cold sweat broke out on their backs.

Then... Xu Xiaoshou stood frozen. Glutton's eye opened and closed, and the moment he emerged from the trance, Xu Xiaoshou's scalp tingled. "Three Aversion Pupils!"

The fleeting, tri-flowered grey-white pupil he had just seen flash — wasn't that the Three Aversion Pupils he had forcefully snatched from the two masked figures of the King of Hell, intending to use it as a bargaining chip in the future?

"You absolute scoundrel!" At this thought, Xu Xiaoshou's composure shattered.

These were the Tear Clan's Pupils, carrying immense karma, and even he currently didn't understand the truth behind the Tear Clan's tragedy, so he dared not casually touch them. These were the Three Aversion Pupils. This wretched fat cat swallowed them???

"Are you insane?!" "What were you doing eating this stuff?" "Did it look like an elixir? Did it smell like medicine? You're a damn alchemy cat; can't you even distinguish between an eyeball and an elixir?"

Xu Xiaoshou grabbed Glutton and shook it wildly, trying to shake the white cat's eyeballs out. But to no avail... Aside from whimpering and meowing, the little white cat showed no resistance, completely devoid of the dignity it had as "Lord Glutton" in the Xuyue Gray Palace.

Xu Little Chicken, on the side, thoughtfully pondered Great Devil Xu's words. Come to think of it, he hadn't understood why Glutton would swallow an eyeball before, but now, compared, it really did look quite similar to an elixir...

"Can you throw it up?" After venting, Xu Xiaoshou calmed down. He gently held his "little darling" and asked.

"Meow~" Glutton let out a wronged meow, as if to say: Are you dreaming?

"Die!" Xu Xiaoshou instantly felt like strangling the cat, and his hand tightened... Fortunately, he still retained some rationality, knowing that this "little darling" was also tied to a great karma and couldn't be randomly strangled.

"Damn it, you've really gone too far! I've got a pile of messes to deal with on my end, and now I have to clean up this broken mess for you?"

As Xu Xiaoshou cursed, he flew towards the broken tower: "Confess honestly, besides the Three Aversion Pupils, what else did you eat?" He conjured a rattan whip and smacked the little white cat's plump bottom.

"Meow~" "Meow~" Glutton had grown very strong; it couldn't feel the pain from the rattan whip landing on its bottom after its master deliberately held back, but this didn't stop it from cleverly whimpering. "No more~ Didn't swallow anything else besides this elixir~ Don't hit me anymore~ If you keep hitting me, this cat will really die~"

Xu Xiaoshou and Glutton's minds were connected, so he could understand the general meaning, but he didn't believe it at all. He continued rummaging around with the cat in hand. Most of the spiritual herbs and such had basically disappeared. However, some inedible items, such as the Fallen Sacrifice Carvings, the Xiao God Spear, the Four Swords of Existence, and the Blazing Python, were still present.

"You troublemaker..." Xu Xiaoshou's face turned ashen with anger, and the rattan whip he held high was about to strike with more force.

But he suddenly thought of something, his heart seizing up, and he swiftly landed at the center point of the world where the Primordial Violet Qi had previously emanated. That small puddle...

Previously, he had hoped to plant one of the nine ancestral trees, the ancient Bodhi tree, there, so he had inserted the Bodhi tree roots. Later, when he obtained the Blood Tree's Yin Branch, he also inserted it there, having nothing else to do. These two progenitors among spiritual medicines, peerless treasures... surely, they hadn't been swallowed by Glutton too, had they?