Chapter 1033: The Giant Laborers in the Giant Kingdom

On the other side.

"Damn it!"

Xu Xiaoshou had only managed to carry the Zhenxu Bei a couple of shaky steps before his legs turned to jelly.

Xuankong Island already had its strange gravitational suppression, and on top of that, the Zhenxu Bei itself was incredibly heavy. It was only thanks to his Wangzuo Zhiti body, enhanced by passive skills like "Toughness" and "Shock Absorption," and by activating his "Explosive Stance" to keep blasting out impacts, that he could even lift it. If it were any other Wangzuo Zhiti body, they might not even be able to budge the Zhenxu Bei, let alone hoist it onto their shoulder.

Struggling under the weight of this massive stone that was bigger than a person, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly let out a strange yell.

"What happened?"

Lei Xier watched as Xu Xiaoshou desperately tried to turn the worthless Zhenxu Bei into some kind of treasure. She felt a mix of speechlessness and worry, afraid he might collapse any second and get crushed to death.

"Received concern, passive value, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou looked over in surprise, hardly believing it as he said, "My Lianling abilities are completely sealed!"

"Sealed?"

Lei Xier was stunned. What did that mean?

Could it be...

"The Zhenxu Bei?"

"Yes!" Xu Xiaoshou nodded emphatically. "Ever since I picked this thing up, my Qi Sea suddenly turned into a dead sea. I can't mobilize any Lingyuan at all. Do you know anything else about the Zhenxu Bei?"

"No..." Lei Xier pressed her lips together, at a loss for words.

Over millions of years, you're probably the only weirdo who's ever thought about carrying around a giant rock from the entrance of Xuankong Island.

What other information could there be?

No one else has even tried it, so how would there be any "other knowledge" passed down?

"That must be its unique special ability..."

Xu Xiaoshou was both shocked and doubtful. He tested his Qi Sea again, and sure enough, it felt like encountering the Gray Fog People or entering the Deep Sea World.

His Lianling abilities were totally sealed.

"A prohibition?"

Xu Xiaoshou wondered. The Zhenxu Bei was called the Zhenxu Bei, so what exactly was it suppressing?

It couldn't be suppressing Xuankong Island's inner island, could it? Or even being the source of the prohibition barriers on the inner island, as the legends say?

"If that's the case, what if I carry all the Zhenxu Bei from Xuankong Island and let them suppress just me? Wouldn't that mean the big shots on the inner island could all take off?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt like he'd found a shortcut.

This had to be a path that even the Eight Zun An hadn't tried, right?

After all, back then, what held back the Eight Zun An was his physical body. It was only after his fall and return as the God of War that he mastered that extremely special, Saint-body-level "Indestructible Sword Body."

"It really is a viable path..."

Xu Xiaoshou pondered, thinking that even if this theory was a bit unrealistic, the Zhenxu Bei was definitely a treasure.

If he collected all of them, even if it didn't free up Xuankong Island's inner island, he could bring them into the Yuanfu World to serve as boundary-suppressing treasures and stabilize the world a bit...

Wouldn't that make the Yuanfu World rock-solid?

In the future, if he locked a Bansheng inside, even if they went all out, they wouldn't destroy the world.

Heck, maybe the Yuanfu World could even produce a Bansheng on its own?

Thinking about this, Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up with excitement.

Xuankong Island really was full of treasures. The Water Ghosts and the Eight Zun An hadn't lied.

"Do you know how many Zhenxu Bei like this there are?" Xu Xiaoshou asked eagerly.

Lei Xier shook her head, seeing through Xu Xiaoshou's wild ambitions, and said, "I don't know the exact number of Zhenxu Bei. I only know that everyone who enters Xuankong Island should encounter one, and they're all different..."

She hesitated, sizing up Xu Xiaoshou, whose knees were trembling, and said helplessly, "No one's that bored to go around collecting Zhenxu Bei and counting them."

"Received sarcasm, passive value, 1."

Sarcasm?

Is she saying I'm not human?

Xu Xiaoshou was furious: "This is a treasure! They're just blind to it!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

Lei Xier shrugged slightly, giving up the argument.

Clearly, getting Xu Xiaoshou to put down the Zhenxu Bei was unrealistic.

A low rumble...

In the distance, a faint sound echoed, like thunder exploding far away.

"Someone's causing trouble?"

Lei Xier looked up and quickly figured it out.

Xuankong Island had been peaceful for so many years; everything should have settled.

Now that there was unusual activity, it had to be because a large number of people had flooded in, disrupting the calm.

Xu Xiaoshou had already roughly explained what happened in the Deep Sea World, so Lei Xier knew she and Xu Xiaoshou weren't the only ones on the island.

"Want to go check it out?" Lei Xier turned her head and asked.

"Hold on."

If something was really going down, Xu Xiaoshou got nervous and knew he needed to prepare.

He first opened his Yuanfu World, trying to transfer the Zhenxu Bei, which was suppressing his combat power, inside.

But after several attempts, the Zhenxu Bei completely rejected the foreign world.

Even if Xu Xiaoshou tried to force it, it would probably take ten days or half a month to pull off.

"What a hassle!"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned.

This was indeed a treasure, but it was uncooperative as hell. He couldn't just carry this damn rock everywhere—that would make traveling a nightmare!

As for wasting ten days or half a month to force it into the Yuanfu World...

That was even more ridiculous!

Forget ten days—just one day later, all the other island visitors would probably have made their gains.

By then, they'd all have broken through and come after him, while he was still messing with this rock. What a mess that would be!

—He'd definitely get robbed!

"You can't just wander around carrying the Zhenxu Bei, right?"

Lei Xier smirked, picturing the absurd scene.

Everyone else fighting and snatching treasures, and here comes Xu Xiaoshou, staggering along with a rock taller than him, huffing and puffing, yelling, "Give me a hand, lend a shoulder"—how hilarious!

"Received liking, passive value, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the info bar: ???

What the heck!

Junior Sister, what nonsense are you thinking now!

"I'm keeping it."

After thinking it over, Xu Xiaoshou still couldn't let go of this big treasure.

But the fact remained that the Zhenxu Bei suppressed Lianling abilities.

"Watch me!"

Xu Xiaoshou wanted to take the Zhenxu Bei with him, but he wasn't planning to carry it himself.

He opened the Yuanfu World and called out the two big guys who hadn't appeared in a while but had been quietly cultivating.

"A Bing, A Huo.

"Come out! It's finally your time to shine!"

Lei Xier: ???

That name sounded so familiar... Where had she heard it? She looked on in confusion.

From the spatial passage of the Yuanfu World, two excited roars echoed in response.

"Roar..."

Then, the passage expanded to hundreds of meters wide and long.

Out stepped a massive, flaming white skeleton foot, and finally, the Jinzhao White Skeleton A Huo jumped out excitedly, covered in roaring white flames.

"Hohoho!"

As soon as A Huo appeared, it started flailing around wildly.

Ever since it was tempted by Xu Xiaoshou's "Jinzhao Original Seed" in the White Cavern and submitted, it had embarked on a serious cultivation journey.

How long had it been since it left that skeleton den? A Huo couldn't even count.

But by now, it had undergone a transformation.

The Jinzhao Original Seed was incredibly beneficial for creatures like White Skeletons. Even though Xu Xiaoshou had only shared a bit of its power for A Huo to absorb and comprehend, A Huo had evolved from Wangzuo Zhiti to a level comparable to Zhanjie.

And this was Jinzhao-style Zhanjie, not the ordinary kind.

Even if it wasn't from the Jinzhao lineage, the Jinzhao White Skeleton A Huo had inherited their signature traits.

High combat power, strong... uh, strong frame!

And top-notch explosive abilities. Apart from not being able to refine pills, everything about it screamed Jinzhao!

It had long mastered the Jinzhao White Flame, just waiting for the day it could emerge from seclusion and crush a Zhanjie or Taixu with a kick.

"Roar..."

Right after A Huo, the Ice Blue White Skeleton A Bing also appeared.

Also over fifty zhang tall, perfectly fitting in this giant realm of Xuankong Island.

With the controllable power of "Sanri Dongjie" fueling its growth, A Bing had naturally reached the Zhanjie level in this time.

This one looked quiet and refined, but its combat power was terrifyingly absurd.

Back when it was at Wangzuo Zhiti level, it could use the Sanri Dongjie power to trigger ice-attribute mystical arrays and unleash instant-cast ice magic... no, forbidden spells, to clash with the Gray Fog People's Feng Yu Jin.

If Xu Xiaoshou hadn't taken the Sanri Dongjie in the end, and if the Gray Fog People's sealing power hadn't been so unbreakable, A Bing might have fought to the death without submitting.

The Three A lineup—A Jie, A Bing, A Huo—they were all incredibly fierce.

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't dared to bring them out in the Sacred Continent because, first, he wasn't using his Xu Xiaoshou identity there, and the Three A team was too distinctive, easily blowing his cover.

Second, A Jie could shrink, but A Bing and A Huo were massive—showing up would attract endless attention and make them prime targets.

But now, on Xuankong Island, those worries were gone.

This place looked like a giant's domain, so what was wrong with letting A Bing and A Huo roam?

Besides...

"I'm Xu Xiaoshou, and now I can bring out A Bing and A Huo without fear—I'm not scared of anyone!"

With his current realm and abilities, he didn't look down on any Lianling masters except Bansheng.

And if he couldn't win, he could just recall A Bing and A Huo to the Yuanfu World and use spatial teleportation to escape.

With that safety net, what was there to fear?

Xuankong Island was a danger zone—who would dare chase or run wildly?

Hey, but I have the Eight-Character Command; I dare!

"This..."

Beside him, Lei Xier stared at the two menacing giants, momentarily shocked.

She knew A Bing and A Huo existed, but she hadn't seen them in the Yuanfu World lately, so she never imagined they were still there and had become even more formidable.

"They were cultivating before, hehe..."

Xu Xiaoshou explained with a smile.

The Yuanfu World was vast, and he had set aside two areas, replicating the icy and fiery states of the Lingrong Ze, making it easy for A Bing and A Huo to grow separately.

Now, after raising them for so long, it was time to put them to use.

"Hohoho..."

A Huo couldn't contain its excitement after emerging, like it was infested with fleas, scratching and howling.

It loved this place!

So spacious!

These streets, buildings, cities... they didn't look made for humans. Was this another homeland?

"Hohoho..."

Where was this?

A Huo howled, jumping around and making the ground tremble.

"Don't worry about that."

Xu Xiaoshou had no interest in introducing Xuankong Island to these two—they wouldn't get it anyway.

He glanced at A Bing and A Huo's realms and physical states, nodding in satisfaction.

"You still like the Jinzhao Original Seed and Sanri Dongjie power, right?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

A Huo was excited—loved it!

"Roar." A Bing nodded—yeah.

"Now, you've gotten stronger, haven't you?" Xu Xiaoshou asked again.

"Roar!"

—An affirmative response.

Seeing how confident these two looked, itching for a fight, Xu Xiaoshou laughed.

He pointed to the Zhenxu Bei on the ground and said, "You've gotten stronger, sure, but let's make a bet. Forget fighting others—just this rock, you can't lift it."

"Hoh?"

A Huo was stunned.

It was the first to object!

Now that it had absorbed the Jinzhao Original Seed power, it was invincible. A mere rock? Unliftable?

Step aside; I'll do it!

A Huo pushed A Bing aside, bent down, and sneered at the tiny stone below its fingernail.

It flicked a finger.

"Bang!"

Intense Jinzhao White Flame exploded, the massive force rebounding and causing spatial ripples, whipping up a gale around them.

Lei Xier's eyebrows shot up in surprise; she couldn't believe such a light tap could produce such powerful shockwaves.

But...

This was a Wangzuo Zhiti-level body.

On par with Xu Xiaoshou's physical level, and judging by the Jinzhao White Skeleton A Huo's build, its physical strength might even surpass Xu Xiaoshou's.

No problem, then.

In front of the Zhenxu Bei, A Huo knew Xu Xiaoshou wasn't joking, so it had put in about thirty percent effort.

But after the flick, the Zhenxu Bei didn't budge, and A Huo was knocked back three steps.

"Hoh?" A Huo looked on in disbelief.

"Hoh?" Xu Xiaoshou laughed, mimicking its tone.

"Roar roar roar!"

A Huo felt mocked and jumped around in anger.

Then, it focused, seriously extending two fingers to pinch the Zhenxu Bei.

"Bang! Bang!"

The ground shattered violently, A Huo's massive feet sinking into deep pits, but it could only barely shift the Zhenxu Bei a little.

This damn rock was too small; hard to get a grip!

A Huo turned back to complain, indicating it couldn't lift it—not its fault; the Zhenxu Bei was just too small.

"Watch me."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, his body glowing with golden light as he activated Explosive Stance, lifting the Zhenxu Bei with both hands.

"?" A Huo was dumbfounded.

"!" A Bing was shocked; from A Huo's performance, it knew how heavy this rock was, yet its master lifted it so easily.

Was this really a human?

He had to be a transformed White Skeleton giant, right!

Lei Xier watched in silent amazement.

Without the comparison, she thought everything Xu Xiaoshou did was normal.

But with these two enormous White Skeleton giants side by side, she realized Xu Xiaoshou's current physical strength was on par with ferocious beasts!

"Hold out your hands."

Xu Xiaoshou was starting to struggle, so he quickly pretended to be calm and said to A Huo.

A Huo shakily extended its hands, and Xu Xiaoshou unceremoniously passed the Zhenxu Bei over.

"Bang!"

In an instant, A Huo lurched forward, its overlapping hands smashed into the ground by the Zhenxu Bei, and it face-planted.

"Roar roar roar!"

A Huo was furious.

That was an accident; it hadn't used full strength just now.

"Roar?"

A Bing couldn't watch anymore and gestured if it should help.

"Roar!"

No need!

The stubborn Jinzhao White Skeleton A Huo mustered all its effort and finally hoisted the Zhenxu Bei, raising it high and resting it on its shoulder.

"Hohoho!"

Now, A Huo was thrilled, like it had accomplished something amazing, and signaled to Xu Xiaoshou.

You lost; I lifted this damn rock.

"Impressive!"

Xu Xiaoshou clapped, marveling, "Not bad at all, A Huo. You're so strong... Well, since you're this capable, the task of carrying the Zhenxu Bei is yours from now on. Let's go—off to find treasures!"

A Huo: ???

A Bing: ...

Lei Xier: ...

She watched with twitching eyebrows.

This was too sneaky!

"Received condemnation, passive value, 1."

"Hohoho..."

A Huo wanted to cry, indicating this damn rock was really heavy—could they put it down?

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, jumping onto A Huo's head while gesturing for Lei Xier to climb onto A Bing.

Then, patting the White Skeleton giant's head beneath him, he said, "If you're out shopping, you shouldn't make your girlfriend carry the bags. That's not right, A Huo."

A Huo: ???

A Bing: ???

Lei Xier: ...