Chapter 878: Shut Up

Yu Zhiwen froze for three full breaths, then a wave of relief washed over her.

So, it was just a coincidence?

“Yes,” she nodded heavily.

“What anomalies?” Rao Yaoyao asked.

A scene flashed through Yu Zhiwen’s mind: two strangers entering Xu Bang’s tent. This was the last image she had seen, and she almost blurted it out instinctively. But the words caught in her throat as her thoughts shifted.

“Would that be appropriate?”

“It was just two strangers visiting Young Master Xu...”

“From their conversation in the tent, I assume Sword Immortal Rao had seen many such scenes before I arrived?”

“If I mention this, will it seem like I’m too focused on Young Master Xu...?”

Yu Zhiwen’s expression became conflicted. She tried to find something else to say, but to her surprise, she couldn’t recall anything unusual about anyone else; they were as if completely unmemorable.

“What anomalies?” Rao Yaoyao urged from the other side.

In the face of such grave matters, Yu Zhiwen remained clear-headed. She knew that wartime opportunities couldn’t be concealed, so she spoke, choosing her words carefully:

“No major anomalies have occurred, and no battles have broken out anywhere. I also haven’t found any traces of Heaven’s Mystery Sorcerers.”

“The only slightly unusual place...” Yu Zhiwen paused, then stated solemnly: “Outside Xu Bang’s tent, there were signs of a domain opening, but Senior Rao, you already told me about it...”

“That’s Yi on a mission, don’t worry about him!” Rao Yaoyao interrupted.

“Then there are no anomalies,” Yu Zhiwen said, letting out a sigh of relief for some reason.

Rao Yaoyao’s somewhat urgent voice came through: “Mainly, it’s about the Heaven’s Mystery Sorcerers...”

“I haven’t found any Heaven’s Mystery Sorcerers!” Yu Zhiwen stated with certainty: “If there were, and they could operate in the dark without being detected, their skill would have to be above mine and my senior brother’s.”

“However!” Great confidence shone in Yu Zhiwen’s eyes: “They don’t understand the structure of the Cloud Realm, so no matter how strong their skill, they can only obscure Heaven’s Mystery through ‘brute force.’ Give me time, and I can definitely help Senior Brother regain control of the Cloud Realm.”

“How much time do you need?” Rao Yaoyao asked.

“One hour!” Yu Zhiwen replied.

By the fissure of the Void Island, Rao Yaoyao stood with one foot in the spatial currents and the other on the void. She was also on a mission, surveying the Void Island fissure. This task, within the entire Holy Divine Temple, could probably only be carried out by her, the one bearing the Profound Azure Divine Sword. Even Teng Shanhai couldn’t do it. Teng Shanhai’s role was to block anyone or anything that might emerge from the Void Island fissure; he was a guardian. Rao Yaoyao’s task was to pioneer!

However, during her pioneering work, Situ Yongren sent a Heaven’s Mystery message, saying that the Cloud Realm had fallen. Who could bear such news? Her home was stolen? Therefore, halfway through her pioneering, Rao Yaoyao had to emerge from the spatial currents and call Yu Zhiwen’s communication bead. But now, after contacting her, she learned that the time needed to resolve the situation was a full hour!

Rao Yaoyao’s grip on the communication bead tightened, and a chill ran through her heart. Although she knew that even if she were currently at the main control seat of the Cloud Realm, she would probably only be able to fret anxiously, utterly helpless. After all, when it came to Heaven’s Mystery techniques, any problems ultimately had to be handled by that brother and sister from the Dao Department. Even so, Rao Yaoyao was still very anxious.

“An hour? By then, everything will be for naught!” she shouted directly into the communication bead.

Yu Zhiwen was clearly ruffled, and her tone became less amiable as she replied: “A world-scale Heaven’s Mystery array isn’t easily seized control of, especially in completely unfamiliar circumstances.”

“If it wasn’t the Cloud Realm itself that had an issue, but a rogue Heaven’s Mystery Sorcerer actually emerged from the Yunlun Mountains, that person’s mastery of Heaven’s Mystery techniques would probably rival the Dao Hall Master’s!” Yu Zhiwen finished explaining, paused, then added: “Heaven’s Mystery consumes life force; under normal circumstances, resolving this in an hour is already my limit.”

“Even if you called Situ back, he couldn’t fix it in less than half an hour!”

Rao Yaoyao’s heart tightened. Was the situation already this critical?

But...

“Half an hour? If they’ve seized control of the Cloud Realm, whatever they wanted to do would already be finished!” Rao Yaoyao knew her tone was harsh, but she had to apply pressure now.

After a moment of silence, a message came back: “Is the situation very critical?”

“What do you think?” Rao Yaoyao retorted.

Before the dark spiritual mirror, at the main control seat of the Cloud Realm, Yu Zhiwen took a long, deep breath and slowly exhaled. She was only there to monitor the spiritual mirror. The task of directing the battle and influencing the battlefield still lay with Sword Immortal Rao, so she naturally wasn’t overly concerned. But if the situation was truly this critical...

Yu Zhiwen closed and opened her eyes, and vast starlight surged within them. The intricate and complex Dao rules of the world, and the mysterious Heaven’s Mystery patterns of the Cloud Realm, instantly became orderly and clear. Her star-like eyes, like gleaming pearls, simplified the complex.

Yu Zhiwen took out a medicine bottle, poured out a golden elixir, lifted her veil, and put it into her mouth, her gaze turning resolute. She gripped the communication bead, said her final sentence, and then cut off the connection.

“Give me fifteen minutes.”

Yunlun Mountains.

On a mountain peak far from Xu Bang’s tent, concealed within the very fabric of the Dao, lay a domain. Xu Xiaoshou held You Si Sword in one hand and a spatial origin stone in the other. The closer he got to this domain, the stronger his ominous premonition grew, and his right eyelid twitched uncontrollably. The danger was imminent!

Xu Xiaoshou knew that something terrible might be happening. He wasted no time, simultaneously perceiving the domain’s spatial nodes and attempting to shift them using his own understanding of space, creating a passage wide enough for him to slip through. This was the safest method. It was also the most effective means for Xu Xiaoshou to deal with such domain-type abilities after gaining some spatial power.

However, Xu Xiaoshou had never encountered spatial attributes before, so he wasn’t sure if it would work. If successful, his infiltration wouldn’t alert the domain lord, and he could remain hidden inside to observe the situation. If it failed, Xu Xiaoshou would forcefully break in, even at the risk of exposure, by striking with You Si Sword.

Very fortunate. The attempt succeeded. The spatial nodes were successfully shifted, and a tiny, almost imperceptible spatial crack appeared, wide enough only for a hair-sized creature to pass through. Moreover, no abnormalities were detected from within. Such a narrow gap meant a normal person’s body couldn’t possibly enter. Xu Xiaoshou, however, was different. He also had the “Transformation” ability, which had just leveled up to the Sovereign rank, and he hadn’t had a chance to test it. Previously, at the Grandmaster rank, the “Transformation” ability had imposed size limitations when changing physical forms. But at the Sovereign rank, it should have undergone a qualitative leap. Xu Xiaoshou tried it, and with a thought, he imagined himself as a thin strand of hair.

Very fortunate. The attempt succeeded again. He truly broke through the physical limitations, passing through the gap that only allowed for a hair.

However...

His luck seemed to have been completely used up by these two seemingly minor details. When Xu Xiaoshou restored his body to its normal size and turned to clearly see the situation within the domain, he froze in mid-air.

Below were three figures. “Old Sang’s” hands were stained with blood, and he was splattered with blood all over, standing closest to him. In front of “Old Sang,” the spotless Liu Changqing stood, acting as a partition between the two figures. And finally, Mu Zixi, covered in blood, lay weakly slumped in a massive deep pit, her consciousness rapidly fading. Yet, until her last moment, her eyes remained fixed on the void, on Xu Xiaoshou’s exact location. Then, smiling...

Xu Xiaoshou stood stunned, clutching his sword. His lips suddenly began to tremble, and his entire body started shaking uncontrollably.

“Xu Xiaoshou...”

From within the deep pit, Xu Xiaoshou read Mu Zixi’s silent lip movements. He could even see the unspoken message in his junior sister’s smile during her last conscious moments: “You’re here...”

But! Why? Why did it turn out like this? How could his junior sister be so severely injured? He had already taken the ultimate precaution, sending Liu Changqing out and specifically instructing him that no matter what happened, Mu Zixi was not to suffer even the slightest harm... Not even a bit!

Xu Xiaoshou gasped violently, his hand clutching You Si Sword so tightly that the fierce blade hummed faintly from the pressure. Liu Changqing wasn’t foolish. He should have understood the implication of his words: that even if his ghost-beast identity was exposed, someone would cover for him. But Mu Zixi, absolutely nothing could happen to her! Absolutely!

Yet... Now? Isn’t Liu Changqing still there? Isn’t this guy a Dao Severer? Even if a Dao Severer couldn’t defeat others, what about Inorganic Ancestor in your body? My words, Xu Xiaoshou’s words, weren’t just for you, Liu Changqing; they were also for you, Inorganic Ancestor!

Xu Xiaoshou’s thoughts were in disarray, his eyes bloodshot, completely unaware that You Si Sword’s fiendish aura, responding to his emotions, was seeping into his body. The primal bestial urge in his mind erupted like a breaching dam, threatening to overwhelm all reason. Originally, all of this could have been contained. Until, from the corner of his eye, Xu Xiaoshou noticed Liu Changqing standing before the blood-soaked Mu Zixi, utterly spotless and immaculate...

Why could you remain so clean? Why is Mu Zixi, however, drenched in blood like that? Don’t you know that it was precisely because I sent you to protect her that I could feel at ease, slow my pace slightly, and begin making arrangements for the aftermath of the First Heavenly Tower?

But... Yet!

Xu Xiaoshou gazed at the scene below, his eyes filled with accusation and self-reproach. As his emotions reached their breaking point, he finally couldn’t help but roar, letting out a hysterical shout from above the void:

“Liu... Chang... Qing!”

“What the hell have you done?!”

Inside the domain, in response, a vast and terrifying pressure, accompanied by chilling killing intent, suddenly descended. The oppressive force solidified instantly, causing the ground to sink several feet. Inorganic Ancestor and Yi were startled simultaneously, raising their eyes upwards. However, no one was visible.

Ignoring everything, Xu Xiaoshou took a step, and his figure appeared beside Mu Zixi. His trembling hand reached out, lightly hooking to draw his completely unconscious junior sister into his embrace. But, just as his enraged roar, still in his “disappearance” state, was impossible for others to hear—a detail he had utterly forgotten in his fury—this embrace... His junior sister was clearly before him, yet it felt as if they were separated by an eternal chasm. His hand passed directly through Mu Zixi’s body.

“No!!” Xu Xiaoshou cried out hoarsely, tears unknowingly streaming down his face. It was only when he realized that all of this was merely his illusion, an anomaly caused by his “disappearance” technique. He immediately disengaged his “disappearance” state, then reached out again... He paused. He imbued his hand with spiritual energy. And carefully, tentatively, embraced her...

There was a touch!

However. It was a sticky sensation, not that of skin. The warmth came from fresh blood!

“No, it can’t be... No...” Xu Xiaoshou mumbled, wanting to desperately hold his junior sister’s body, fearing she would vanish. But he knew that his junior sister, in her current state, absolutely couldn’t withstand his physical strength, fueled by rage. He slowed his every movement. As if cradling an infant, Xu Xiaoshou imbued his forearms with spiritual energy and gently lifted his junior sister’s upper body.

“Mu Zixi...” Xu Xiaoshou smiled through his tears, gently calling her name with great tenderness.

Behind him, Yi and Inorganic Ancestor were startled simultaneously. They each looked at the figure that had suddenly appeared before them, realizing this was the person who had just exerted that strange, oppressive aura. And only when he recognized the unmasked face of this unexpected intruder did Yi’s pupils contract.

“Xu Xiaoshou?!” he exclaimed in shock.

Xu Xiaoshou spun around, his face contorted in a grimace, and roared furiously: “Shut up!!!” A terrifying sound wave, accompanied by a crushing aura, surged forward in a fan-shaped shockwave, instantly shattering the ground, sending rocks and debris flying. Yi’s hair stood on end, and his scalp tingled instantly.

“Whoosh.” With Xu Xiaoshou’s roar, a faint, imperceptible sound emerged, blending with the roaring ground explosion, and slashed directly towards Yi’s position.

With a single glance, Xu Xiaoshou unleashed the sword intent from the slovenly old man.

“Damn it, isn’t this guy just a Grandmaster? Where did he get... so many powerful trump cards?” Yi was greatly alarmed internally. To him, the threat posed by that sword intent was no less than that of an opponent of the same rank. Relying on his combat instincts, in a flash, his body instinctively tried to swerve sideways to avoid the lightning-fast sword intent attack. But it was too late.

With a hiss, an icy-blue frigid energy, unleashed with Xu Xiaoshou’s roar, swept across the entire area, filling the heavens and earth.

“Crack!”

In an instant, everything within the entire domain was dyed the color of ice crystals. The cracked earth, floating rubble, swirling dust... including Yi and Inorganic Ancestor. At this moment, time was stripped from everything. Everything froze.

Three-Day Frost Tribulation: World Frozen! It takes more than a day for ice to freeze three feet deep, but here, it took only an instant!

“Hiss.” The sword intent, like paper tearing, effortlessly sliced through Yi’s frozen, ice-sculpted body, cutting him diagonally in half. In this static world of ice crystals, it tore open the sole dynamic streak of crimson in mid-air—the color of blood.

With a whoosh, the sword intent returned to Xu Xiaoshou’s body, surging into him. Xu Xiaoshou, bolstered by his Sovereign-level “resilience,” remained perfectly still. Though the returning sword intent sent searing pain through his internal organs, his hands, cradling the person before him, did not tremble in the slightest.

“Junior sister...” Xu Xiaoshou looked back, his expression returning to gentleness, softly calling her name once more. He waited for a moment, but still received no reply. Twice! He had called her twice! The person in his arms still showed no signs of waking...

“It’s me, Xu Xiaoshou, your senior brother! Why aren’t you answering me?” In Xu Xiaoshou’s wet, bloodshot eyes, streaks of morbid black had appeared, the fiendish aura beginning to influence his emotions. He fed Mu Zixi a drop of holy blood, then suddenly stretched his lips into a smile. As he whispered into her ear, his voice contained a hint of a sob.

“Don’t joke around, please open your eyes. You’re tricking me, aren’t you? Look, I’ll give you the position of Xu Bang’s leader, I’ll even work under you... Or, I’ll say you’re tricking me, that you’re just pretending to sleep, and then you just tell me, yes or no... Okay? Please?”