Chapter 969: You Look Very Tempting and Delicious

"Whew...""It's over."In his invisible state, Xu Xiaoshou gazed at Lone Cliff, which was now a scene of utter devastation. He was speechless for a long time.

After the massive wave, everyone who had been there, including Rao Yaoyao, the slovenly uncle, and other peak-level experts Xu Xiaoshou had identified, all fell off the cliff.

The wave didn't just sweep over Lone Cliff; it also affected the surrounding dozens of miles. Forests, wilderness... none were spared from being swallowed by the huge wave, becoming dilapidated and desolate.

Lone Cliff, being the epicenter of the storm, had its very edges disappear. It was directly pulverized, and along with the people, turned into streams of rubble and mud that all surged into the bottom of the cliff. A once beautiful and scenic Lone Cliff, overnight, became the Lone Cliff Ruins.

"Truly terrifying..." Xu Xiaoshou was filled with emotion. If he hadn't had "Vanishing Art," he would have likely, at the last moment, gone with the current and fallen into the bottomless Lone Cliff. As for the dangers below, the "Law-Forbidden Barrier" alone, of which he had only seen the tip of the iceberg, provided a glimpse.

"Who could it be?" Xu Xiaoshou was curious about the identity of the person wearing the golden beast mask. But he suppressed his curiosity, knowing that even if he figured out such a person's identity, it wouldn't significantly benefit him. After all, when that person caused trouble, they truly buried everyone, regardless of whether they were friend or foe!

"Time to go..." Xu Xiaoshou, thinking that the matter here was concluded and he should quickly return to the Imperial City trial, suddenly caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. He spotted a puddle gently rippling in what was once Lone Cliff but was now a desolate wasteland. It was gurgling and bubbling.

In just a moment, a figure in black robes slowly climbed out of it. This figure, standing up from the puddle, was no longer shrouded in mist. But the golden beast mask on their face, and the faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of their lips, fully revealed the person's identity.

"It's him!""He hasn't left yet!"Xu Xiaoshou's heart pounded wildly, realizing he shouldn't look too long, or he might be detected. But then he suddenly thought, in his invisible state, not even the true Yellow Springs could detect him. Could this guy perceive him?

"No, I can't tempt fate. He's the one who buried more than ten Grand Void experts, the one who blasted Rao Yaoyao, Sack Uncle, Martial Uncle Mu Lin, and others toward the bottom of Lone Cliff..." Without thinking, Xu Xiaoshou immediately stifled his curiosity. He lifted a foot, ready to teleport away.

Just then, the black-robed man who had emerged from the puddle chuckled softly and looked around the empty space, saying, "Since you're already here, why not stay and talk?"

In his invisible state, Xu Xiaoshou's foot froze, unable to step out. A thought suddenly arose in his mind: "Yes, since I'm already here, and he can't even see me, why don't I stay and observe? See what he's really up to." The info bar popped up. "Entranced, passive points +1."

Entranced? Xu Xiaoshou suddenly sobered up, realizing that the person with the golden beast mask might be more powerful than a Grand Void expert. After all, he could even influence Xu Xiaoshou in his invisible state. This might be the originator of that "guidance" power!

The black-robed man stepped out of the puddle and slowly ascended the staircase-like rubble that was once Lone Cliff but was now a ruined mountain land, battered by the waves. He continued until he moved away from the cloud sea between the cliffs, arriving at a place where there should have been a forest before, but was now a chaotic mess of broken wood and tangled tree roots.

"Aren't you curious why you came here?" he said with a faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his lips, looking at the desolate, empty surroundings.

Yes, why indeed... Such thoughts suddenly arose in Xu Xiaoshou's mind. The next second, cold sweat broke out all over his body. He had to get out of here quickly! This guy knew he had used Vanishing Art. He was the only one who had escaped the wave's control!

"It's this thing." Xu Xiaoshou hadn't moved yet. The black-robed man pulled out a black scale and gently held it up: "The Holy Emperor Dragon Scale of the Demonic Emperor Black Dragon."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes uncontrollably looked over. The next second, the black-robed man, who had originally seemed to be speaking to no one in particular, directly turned his gaze and fixed his sight on a certain empty spot in the void. "So you're here."

Being directly stared at by the other party, Xu Xiaoshou gasped. He vaguely realized that this guy might not be able to pinpoint his exact location, but he could sense Xu Xiaoshou's general whereabouts through the Holy Emperor Dragon Scale. He didn't hesitate, using "Ascension in One Step" to move, directly teleporting away from his original position, while desperately averting his gaze, continuously warning himself: Never look at that Holy Emperor Dragon Scale again!

"Sigh." The black-robed man suddenly sighed. "I just wanted to tell you everything, but you're so resistant... My heart was set on the bright moon, but alas, the moon shines upon a ditch... Is this what 'misplaced trust' feels like?"

You're full of witty remarks! Xu Xiaoshou was so exasperated he almost laughed. He dared not reply, attempting to continue using "Ascension in One Step" to escape the place.

Once, twice... After only three attempts, he felt as if he had hit a wall, unable to teleport even an inch further, as if he had reached the end of the world.

Xu Xiaoshou's heart sank. This feeling was very familiar. "Exile!" Back in the White Cave, when he encountered the Storyteller, the Storyteller had used this very method, trying to lock down his invisible state by progressively shrinking the space.

But... The Storyteller had used targeted methods because he was already wary and on guard. How could this black-robed man with the golden beast mask be so familiar with "Vanishing Art"? He hadn't even met this guy before, and the Storyteller wouldn't have told him how to counter Vanishing Art... How could he so casually use the power of "Exile" right from the start?

"Don't bother trying." The black-robed man said with a smile, "Every time you try, I can pinpoint your location a bit more precisely. You should be very familiar with this power... Yes, it's 'Exile'."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart sank to rock bottom. The other party knew him inside out and possessed various targeted methods, while he knew nothing about his enemy... This intelligence gap filled Xu Xiaoshou with extreme panic, because he had no idea what he would face next, or how to act against such a master.

The black-robed man, gentle and refined, explained with a smile: "To discard a certain space from the Heavenly Dao is a small trick in power manipulation. It can be done without spatial attributes. I have no ill intentions. If you want to learn, you can show yourself, and I'll teach you."

I don't believe a word you say! Xu Xiaoshou dared not try to teleport recklessly again. Because he had experienced the Storyteller's methods, he knew the person in front of him wasn't lying. If he really found his approximate location, it might be his death sentence. He shouldn't have such thorough knowledge of "Vanishing Art." There must be a reason for this... Xu Xiaoshou tried hard to find the opponent's weakness. Because on the Holy Divine Continent, there weren't many who truly understood his "Vanishing Art" and possessed targeted countermeasures! From this point, he might soon deduce the other party's origin. At the very least... was he friend or foe?

The black-robed man clearly didn't have the habit of giving people time to think. He directly said, "You're still unsure if I'm good or evil? Don't worry, I'm showing you my true self, so I must be a good person." Silence. Receiving no reply, the black-robed man chuckled, "You are indeed cautious." Immediately, he reached into his robe and pulled out a black token, flipping it over in his hand.

The front of the token was engraved with the character "水" (Shuǐ, meaning water), and the back had a painting. It was a graceful, naked woman, hugging her knees, head bowed, in a sorrowful posture. Heavy shackles were on her limbs, extending outwards, disappearing at the edge of the token, seemingly connecting with heaven and earth.

Xu Xiaoshou's pupils suddenly contracted. Although he kept telling himself not to look at what the other person was holding, it seemed that the "guidance" power was constantly active. The moment the other person moved, he would involuntarily look. And that token... Xu Xiaoshou felt a sense of familiarity at first glance. The "Eight Character Token" he had from Ba Zun'an had the character "八" (Bā, meaning eight) on the front, and this exact same painting on the back.

"Saint Servant token?" Xu Xiaoshou felt a bit doubtful, wondering if this was a trick. After all, he had never actually seen any Saint Servant tokens other than the "Eight Character Token" that members might possess.

The black-robed man held the token, and because of Xu Xiaoshou's gaze, he once again pinpointed his location. He looked over and said with a smile, "As a Saint Servant member, you should recognize the 'Nine Seats Token of the Saint Servants' and you should have seen this painting on the token. Now, do you still doubt my identity?"

He's one of the Nine Seats of the Saint Servants? Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. This guy, he's one of us? No, no... Even he didn't know the exact identities of the Nine Seats of the Saint Servants. This guy could totally be using a fake token to deceive him. He couldn't reveal himself...

Xu Xiaoshou remained resolute. The black-robed man sighed. "So you're not just cautious, you're suspicious... Let me put it this way, the power of 'Exile' was a method the Storyteller told me to use against a junior like you. I originally thought I wouldn't need to use it. And I wanted to meet you to confirm if you are indeed as Cen Qiaofu described... 'full of thorns'."

Two clear signals made Xu Xiaoshou drop 99% of his guard. But he still didn't dare to risk that "what if." If there's anything to discuss, they could just communicate through "Vanishing Art." Why did he need him to show himself? You must be up to something!

*Whoosh.*Seeing there was still no reply, the black-robed man's expression hardened. His voice deepened as he said, "I'll give you three breaths of time. If you don't come out, I'll throw this entire 'Exile Zone' down to the bottom of Lone Cliff!"

A white-robed figure suddenly appeared in the void. His face was gaunt, with extremely dark circles under his eyes. His face was squarish, with no discernible features that could be called "handsome."

At Xu Xiaoshou's appearance, the black-robed man shook his head and sneered, "You truly respond to force, not persuasion." At the "honorable appearance" the latter revealed after showing himself, the black-robed man paused, then was instantly exasperated and amused. "Should I say you're as steady as an old dog, or as cunning as a fox? At a time like this, you still won't show your true face?"

He directly pulled out a wanted poster. Pointing to the image on it, he said, "Change back to this face!"

Sweat beaded on Xu Xiaoshou's forehead. He was genuinely afraid the other party would throw him to the bottom of Lone Cliff! That place would certainly be the eye of a storm. All the powerful experts were crammed in there. If he went down, even if he didn't want trouble, trouble would find him! Given the powerful methods of the person in front of him, he ultimately had no choice but to compromise. After all, the other party was 99% likely to be one of them. The remaining less than one percent of worry, he now thought, was indeed a bit like crying over spilled milk.

With a sweep of his hand, Xu Xiaoshou reverted to his original form, revealing his true appearance. At the same time, he lowered his gaze, respectfully bowed, and said, "Greetings, Senior. May I ask why you called me out?"

"Your true form actually looks somewhat presentable... But your temperament truly needs refinement." The black-robed man stepped forward, examined him, and then said seriously, "Three things."

"Before you speak, may I ask for your name, Senior? This junior holds deep reverence. My admiration for your previous world-shaking abilities flows like the waters of three rivers, ceaseless and mighty." Xu Xiaoshou's expression was sincere.

"Heh." The black-robed man sneered, completely unmoved by the flattery. "Who do you think I should be?"

Xu Xiaoshou's mind flashed with the other party's actions of throwing and smashing people in the waves. He thought of the person's ghostly, elusive movements, and thought, "You're not human at all, you're a ghost!"

"Your abilities, Senior, overpower even Sword Immortals and are invincible. In this junior's heart, you should be the Chief of the Saint Servants. It's a pity the Chief's position has been usurped, and the second-in-command is my master... Therefore, I believe that for someone of your capabilities to rank only third among the Nine Seats of the Saint Servants is truly a waste of talent." Xu Xiaoshou said with a look of regret.

If there was anyone in the world who couldn't be flattered, it was only because the one doing the flattering hadn't applied enough force. Immediately, the black-robed man was utterly dumbfounded by Xu Xiaoshou's enthusiastic "rainbow flattery." He paused for a long time before sighing, "Perhaps your mouth should be called 'Storyteller'... Unfortunately, I am not the third among the Saint Servants, but the fifth, codenamed 'Water Ghost'."

Fifth? Water Ghost? Xu Xiaoshou was immediately taken aback. Such a powerful person only ranked fifth? Then who would be the third-in-command of the Saint Servants? And if you're fifth, why is Cen Qiaofu ranked fourth? Could that old woodcutter have abilities I don't know about? Xu Xiaoshou marvelled, then felt that the codename "Water Ghost" perfectly suited the other party's uncanny abilities. He subserviently lowered his head and echoed, "You should change your esteemed title to 'Ghost King'."

Water Ghost hadn't been as flustered even during the recent battle as he was now facing Xu Xiaoshou's glib words. His lips hitched slightly, and he sighed, "You really have a thick skin..."

"Thank you for the compliment, Senior," Xu Xiaoshou humbly accepted.

Water Ghost almost couldn't hold it together and abruptly got to the point: "Three things!" He first shook the wanted poster in his hand: "First, your death date is approaching. Assassins from all over the world will come looking for you, and most of these assassins will be at the Dao Severing or Grand Void cultivation levels, with the latter being more numerous."

Xu Xiaoshou's face immediately stiffened. He dared not act recklessly anymore. He stared directly at the black-gold wanted poster. Only then did he notice the "self-introduction" below the portrait, as well as the bounty amount: "Ten thousand Spirit Quells, one Holy Martial Art, one Holy Weapon, ten drops of Holy Blood, five Void Tokens, three portions of Saint-Sealing Essence, and one opportunity to enter the 'Saint Cleansing Pool' in the City of Living Pagodas."

*Click.* Xu Xiaoshou was instantly petrified on the spot. He wasn't sure what those high-end items listed afterward were, but... "My head is worth a trillion Spirit Crystals?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, raising his eyes wide with disbelief.

Water Ghost put away the black-gold wanted poster, sneered, and his expression became mocking. "Ignorant as expected, only seeing the least valuable things... Let me put it this way: if I turn in your head, setting aside the other worldly possessions, I'd get three opportunities for Saint Sealing. And the 'Saint Cleansing Pool' can increase the chance of Saint Sealing by a full ten percent!" He stroked his chin, his eyes becoming playful. He teased with a laugh, "Don't you think you look quite tempting and delicious right now?"