Chapter 1127: Slaying the Divine Official, Ran Ming

Ban Sheng!

On the shoulder of the Wang Ling Da Fa Shi, Ye Xiao’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of surprise, but that was the extent of it.

This Han Ye had managed to swat away her attack, which was infused with the power of the Si Shen, using just a single move. Naturally, this exposed the Ban Sheng-level might hidden within the Bing Yi assault.

Yet, for someone sealed in the Bu She Ting, Ye Xiao wouldn't believe for a second that Han Ye was merely an ordinary Tai Xu. This was a scenario she had already anticipated, so it wasn't overly shocking.

At the very least, he wasn't a Sheng Di.

Still...

"This guy's moves are way too overpowering. That's an attack laced with Zu Yuan Zhi Li, and he just swatted it away so easily?"

The thoughts crossing Xu Xiaoshou's mind at that moment mirrored Ye Xiao's exactly.

He judged that Han Ye wasn't your average Ban Sheng—perhaps he could even rank among the top in that category.

"I wonder how he stacks up against Jiang Buyi..."

One was a Ban Sheng who snuffed out threats in their infancy the moment Teng Shan Hai Mo Shen's aura leaked out.

The other casually fanned away an attack empowered by the Si Shen Zhi Li using his Bing Yi, right on the spot.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't definitively say how Han Ye's cultivation compared to Jiang Buyi's. If the two could face off in front of him to determine superiority or even fight to the death, that would be ideal... but it was just a fantasy.

"You're a Ban Sheng?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't linger on Ye Xiao's reaction after her attack was swatted away. With a mix of shock and uncertainty, he glanced at the prison door's hole. "If you're a Ban Sheng, and you called me big brother, this is getting awkward. How can I dare let you out now?"

He was the first to back down.

Some things were best addressed openly; the fear was that petty people might hold grudges and remember these slights.

After all, Xu Xiaoshou had just used the Bu She Ting's seal to force a Ban Sheng to call him big brother, even if it wasn't sincere—it had happened.

"Jiji jiji..."

Han Ye responded with a strange cackle, as if he didn't care about such trivial matters at all.

"You humans... well, people under the eaves have to bow their heads—that's an old saying."

"Kid, now that you know my strength, I'll give you another chance. Are you going to let me out?"

"...Don't worry, once I'm out, I'll let bygones be bygones. You can still enjoy the good life, eating delicacies and drinking fine spirits."

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Ye Xiao, who was no longer making any rash moves, then turned his gaze to the massive Bing Yi shielding him, and asked in a low voice:

"Han Ye, why didn't you wait until the seal was fully broken and you were actually out before speaking up? Aren't you just asking for trouble in your current situation? How can I dare let you out?"

His implication was clear: you brought this three-way standoff on yourself.

If you, Han Ye, had slipped out quietly during the chaos and then stepped in as a Ban Sheng to stop everything in the Bu She Ting, we probably wouldn't have all this mess now, and you'd be in control.

But as it stands...

Anyone in Chen Tan's position would hesitate to release an unknown Ban Sheng.

Han Ye inside the prison fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly after a while. "Who could've thought you'd know about Ling Zhen?"

Even if I didn't know, if you made more noise here, it would've caught the attention of both Ye Xiao and me! So, you probably couldn't escape on your own and had to rely on outside help, right? We both know that, but we're not saying it out loud...

Thoughts raced through Xu Xiaoshou's mind.

He already had a clear idea, but this conversation only confirmed that Han Ye was essentially a smart person.

Han Ye was giving him a way out, and surprisingly, a Ban Sheng like him was doing it. Wasn't he supposed to have the lofty attitude of someone like Jiang Buyi? Even Ye Xiao issued commands like they were orders.

This Han Ye was hands down the most polite—or humbly attitude—Ban Sheng Xu Xiaoshou had encountered so far. He even called someone below Ban Sheng level "big brother"... Xu Xiaoshou couldn't quite figure out Han Ye's intentions.

"Feels like we could cooperate?"

The idea flashed through his mind, but he still felt uneasy. What if all this was just Han Ye's disguise...

"Kid, you're the same kind as me. The only thing holding us back is mutual trust. So, help me break the Bu She Ting seal and let me out first."

"Once I'm out, I'll handle that woman for you. It's just Si Shen Zhi Li and Si Wang Zhi Ti—useless without reaching Ban Sheng. What do you think?"

His tone was sincere... Xu Xiaoshou's eyes flickered as he started weighing his options for the path ahead.

A notification popped up: "Under the influence of temptation, passive value +1."

Mental awakening!

Damn... Xu Xiaoshou twitched at the corner of his mouth, scratched his head, and said innocently, "I need to think about it."

"Chen Tan." On the Wang Ling Da Fa Shi's shoulder, Ye Xiao halted her attacks and spoke up as a reminder. "A Ban Sheng is like a tiger by your side. Don't forget, the seal still has that hole in it."

Xu Xiaoshou lowered his gaze and saw that the frost-white chill from the prison was still seeping out through the hole, continuously merging into the Bing Yi that protected him and gave him a sense of security.

"You wretched woman..." Han Ye's scolding voice rang out.

"Sorry, Han Ye, I need some time to consider this. For now, I might have to keep you locked up a bit longer. I can't be sure if letting you out would leave two corpses here."

Xu Xiaoshou's tone was full of regret, as if he felt bad about treating a Ban Sheng like a tool for his own protection.

"Do as you like. I'll catch some sleep first." Inside the prison, Han Ye sounded like he yawned, then cut off the frost-white chill on his own.

"This..." Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

This turn of events was completely unexpected!

Shouldn't there be shouting and raging, with schemes exposed leading to frantic attacks on the seal's Ling Zhen to break free?

How could this Ban Sheng just hand over control of his fate to a minor figure like him? Didn't he care about face?

"This is tricky..."

Xu Xiaoshou dreaded dealing with clever people; it left him unsure how to decide.

If Han Ye had insisted, Xu Xiaoshou might've thought he had ulterior motives and sealed him up without a second thought.

But Han Ye's sincerity, even entrusting his life to him, made it hard to know what to do.

"No ordinary person!"

With that thought, Xu Xiaoshou quickly wove another Ling Xian to patch up the prison door's seal.

The isolated Bing Yi lost its connection to its master, its Ban Sheng aura faded, and it shattered into pieces of ice that melted into a puddle of water rich in Ling Qi.

Xu Xiaoshou casually glanced at it, intending to purify the water.

But Ye Xiao moved faster. With a cold glance, she had the Wang Ling Da Fa Shi swing his staff, and the Ji Mie Zhi Guang erased the puddle on the spot, nearly startling Xu Xiaoshou into poking another hole in the prison door's seal.

"Damn, she's even more cautious than me. These two sharp ones are no easy opponents!" Xu Xiaoshou's heart tightened again, not daring to relax for a moment.

"Chen Tan." After dealing with everything, Ye Xiao swept him with a cold look and flipped her hand. "I'll stop attacking you. Hand over the Zhan Shen Ling, and we'll call it even."

Another grab for the Zhan Shen Ling?

Xu Xiaoshou almost laughed in frustration. "Didn't I say it before? We cooperate in exploring the Bu She Ting—personal gains are ours alone, and team gains are split evenly. Why are you so fixated on my share?"

"The Zhan Shen Ling isn't something you should hold. It will only bring you disaster." Ye Xiao shook her head, speaking more than usual.

"So, what exactly is it?" Xu Xiaoshou had already hidden the Zhan Shen Ling away, replying stubbornly like a mule, though only he knew that the more Ye Xiao valued something, the less he could give it up.

This was a matter of principle, not about the Zhan Shen Ling's deeper meaning—something Ye Xiao would never understand.

Ye Xiao fell silent, at a loss for words once more.

Xu Xiaoshou turned and poked a hole in the prison door, asking Han Ye about the origins of the Zhan Shen Ling. This Ban Sheng seemed knowledgeable enough to know.

Ye Xiao saw this and spoke up again: "I can compromise. You keep the Zhan Shen Ling as your merit. Come back with me to the Sheng Shen Dian Tang. As long as you pass the background check, you can follow me, and exchange your merits for cultivation resources."

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback.

"Are you saying you want me to join the dark department? Your dark department?"

"You can think of it that way. Or I could recommend you for the Dao Bu or Yi Bu."

In terms of Ling Zhen skills, Chen Tan qualified for the Dao Bu; in terms of the "Xie Shen Zhi Li aura," the Yi Bu could study it for mutual benefit; in terms of brains, skills, and strategy, joining the dark department would likely lead to a bright future for him...

From any angle, Ye Xiao believed she was offering Chen Tan the best path in life. Helping a stray cultivator from the Nan Yu join the mainland's top organization to serve and legitimize his cultivation—she didn't think Chen Tan would refuse.

"Am I supposed to go die?" Xu Xiaoshou cursed inwardly.

He couldn't even pass the background check, so how could he join the Sheng Shen Dian Tang? Ye Xiao was just like those from Shou Ye.

"I've gotten used to being a free wanderer. I don't want to go."

Xu Xiaoshou waved it off, not even bothering to consider faking loyalty and then betraying her later.

After all, that would mean sticking with Ye Xiao, increasing the chances of slips and exposure.

Only someone insane would casually join major organizations—it meant exposing yourself to everyone, inviting endless unknown troubles.

Xu Xiaoshou had refused Yan Wang for the same reason.

Ye Xiao fell silent, not expecting her olive branch to be rejected so outright. This was unprecedented; for the first time, she truly wanted someone.

"You could..."

"I don't need to think about it anymore."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, cutting her off. He looked up with a grin, a flash of menace in his eyes, and said:

"Let me tell you straight, Ye Xiao girl, I wiped out the Qing Jing Men Ting. That old man taught me stuff, and it felt like he became my dad or something."

"I'm sick of those nagging voices. Those bastards keep assigning mandatory tasks, making me feel like a puppet."

"So..."

Xu Xiaoshou spread his hands, chuckling mockingly, his eyes filled with fond memories as he sighed:

"That old man's corpse is buried under Da Fan Shan. If you're interested, Ye Xiao girl, you can go dig him up... well, if he still has any lingering spirit left."

He spoke casually, with an air of indifference, yet it left a nauseating feeling.

For the first time, Ye Xiao went from wanting someone to desperately wanting to kill them on the spot!

She was cold-blooded, but not heartless enough to stoop to Chen Tan's level. From his words... this was clearly a beast who betrayed and murdered his master!

"A Nan Yu Xie Xiu..." Ye Xiao murmured, her eyes in the shadows growing even colder.

"Under the influence of disgust, passive value +1."

"Under the influence of fixation, passive value +1."

"Chi."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't care about any of it. He turned and poked open the prison door's seal again.

"Oh, made up your mind? Chen Tan old bro, you planning to save me now?" Han Ye's voice carried a lighter tone, clearly pleased that Chen someone had come back so quickly.

Dependence was addictive.

He didn't mind the trouble; he just feared Chen Tan would ignore him, leaving him trapped behind the seal to fend for himself.

"The Zhan Shen Ling—what is it?"

Xu Xiaoshou got straight to the point.

"Hey, you're asking the right person. You should've come to me earlier. That wretched woman would never tell you."

Han Ye grumbled first, seemingly fully aware of the outside situation, then paused before continuing:

"You've grasped the aura of Shu Zu Zhi Li and witnessed her Si Shen Zhi Li, so you must have some understanding of Zu Yuan Zhi Li, right?"

"Mm." Xu Xiaoshou nodded.

Glancing to the side, Ye Xiao turned her head to listen in.

But as if knowing that any move from her would provoke Han Ye's retaliation, Ye Xiao restrained herself for now, not interrupting the conversation.

"In ancient times, geniuses abounded, producing not just the ten Shen but also a Zhan Shen Guan named Ran Ming. He could sever Zu Yuan Zhi Li... his combat power was slightly above the ten ancestors as a whole."

Zhan Shen Guan, Ran Ming?

Xu Xiaoshou paused, the name feeling unfamiliar yet vaguely familiar.

He racked his memory, cross-referencing with his "perception" records, and suddenly realized where he'd heard it before.

When he contracted the void general Hong through the "Hong Zi Gui Qian," he had experienced Hong's shattered life. In Hong's final moments, after being pierced by the Mo Shen's sword, the last remnants of his will mentioned this Zhan Shen Guan.

"Ran Ming... sorry..."

"I... can only... go first... one step... ahead..."

Xu Xiaoshou blinked, snapping back to reality. He glanced at the unmoved Ye Xiao and suddenly felt less interested in the "Zhan Shen Ling"—it seemed like another hassle.

Han Ye continued: "After Zhan Shen Guan Ran Ming died, people scoured the world for his relics to inherit his power. Later research apparently found a method."

"What method?" Xu Xiaoshou prompted, though he was thinking that even someone that strong had died.

"Gather the three Zhan Shen Ling from Ran Ming's era, and you'll find his hidden treasures. The ultimate source guiding all this lies in the Ran Ming Yi Ji."

"Chen Tan!" On the Wang Ling Da Fa Shi's shoulder, Ye Xiao couldn't stay quiet any longer, shocked that Han Ye knew so much.

"Don't forget, he's a Ban Sheng." She warned.

"I know." Xu Xiaoshou checked the notification panel but saw no "under the influence of temptation" or "mental awakening."

In his Yuan Fu world, his second true self was still holding the Sheng Di Long Lin as a tool, and the message confirmed that Han Ye wasn't lying—at least, Han Ye believed what he said was true.

"Has the Zhan Shen Ling ever been gathered?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

He deduced this from Han Ye's mention of the "Ran Ming Yi Ji," which implied someone had found it, or the information wouldn't have spread.

"You're a smart one, kid—just like me!" Han Ye let out a "jiji" laugh before adding, "It was gathered once, but after the Ran Ming Yi Ji emerged, the Zhan Shen Ling was scattered again. No one entered it."

"So, it's both the key to the treasure and the guide to the ruins?" Xu Xiaoshou pulled out the half-person-tall Zhan Shen Ling, his heart pounding with excitement.

In midair, Ye Xiao grew visibly agitated, her death aura faintly seeping out, as if debating whether to attack.

She's panicking—Han Ye really knows a lot, and he might be right... Xu Xiaoshou judged without even looking back, then pressed on: "Do you know where the other two Zhan Shen Ling are?"

"Jiji jiji..." Han Ye cackled strangely, his voice from the prison full of confidence. "If you asked most Ban Sheng in the world, they couldn't answer. Some don't know, and some won't say... but I know, I dare to say it, and I'm the expert on all things!"

"Chen Tan!" Ye Xiao snapped coldly.

"Under the influence of warning, passive value +1."

"Hah." Xu Xiaoshou dismissed it entirely.

"Where are they?"

"Sheng Shen Dian Tang!"

Xu Xiaoshou had braced for Han Ye to use this intel as leverage to demand release, even preparing to give up on the answer. But Han Ye didn't play by the rules and just said it outright.

From what "perception" showed, Ye Xiao on the Wang Ling Da Fa Shi's shoulder suddenly looked up in disbelief.

"Is he messing with me?" Xu Xiaoshou muttered silently.

If not for knowing these two had no connection, he'd suspect Han Ye and Ye Xiao were in cahoots—one talking, the other acting—to trick him.

"What about the Ran Ming Yi Ji? Han Ye knows so much—surely you know about that too?" Xu Xiaoshou pressed on, half in disbelief. Was this guy really an expert on everything?

"Jiji jiji..." Han Ye burst into laughter, and sounds of him slapping the floor echoed from the prison. Then, frost-white chill burst from the hole.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't stop it, watching as the chill condensed into ice, forming two massive bat-shaped Bing Yi that guarded him. Once again, they swatted away Ye Xiao's frenzied attacks.

"Chen Tan, you'd best not."

Ye Xiao vanished from the Wang Ling Da Fa Shi and joined the assault. Countless three-legged black owls slammed into the bat-shaped Bing Yi, trying to melt them, but they couldn't break through.

The might of a Ban Sheng was an insurmountable gap for a Tai Xu wielding Si Shen Zhi Li—that was a difference in realms.

"You really want to know?" Han Ye hesitated inside the prison.

"Mm." Xu Xiaoshou nodded resolutely, his curiosity overriding caution. Worst case, he could abandon the Chen Tan alias; what harm could knowing one piece of intel do?

"Boom boom boom..."

Behind him, endless explosions sounded as the Bing Yi shattered and reformed.

With the hole unsealed, Han Ye's power kept flowing, and Ye Xiao could never break the defense.

After waiting three breaths without a deal from Han Ye, Xu Xiaoshou got a firm, unconditional answer.

"Si Xiang Mi Jing!"