Chapter 165: Ghost Beast

"What are you interrupting for!"

Xu Xiaoshou shoved Mu Zixi aside like pushing a dog, lifting her soft chin to move her out of the way. He truly wanted to toss the Sheng Ming Ling Yin away, knowing full well this girl would scramble to grab it.

But whether he would get it back was another matter entirely.

Mu Zixi glared fiercely at Xu Xiaoshou but didn't make any further fuss.

She wasn't someone with low emotional intelligence; Xu Xiaoshou's earlier words had already tipped her off to something unusual.

Coupled with the memories that had inexplicably surfaced in her mind during the previous fight with Mo Mo,

Perhaps the secrets surrounding Mo Mo were connected to the blank spots in her own memories?

After the two stopped their playful scuffle, they both turned their gazes to Mo Mo, who could no longer bear their intense stares and finally gave in.

"It has always been in my right arm, hidden from everyone."

Mo Mo spoke cautiously, covering her right hand where the entity still lingered. Thankfully, it was currently dormant.

Even so, she didn't dare say more.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't press aggressively for details; that wouldn't be right. Interrogation... no, psychological therapy required subtle, gradual guidance.

He cleverly echoed her words:

"It?"

"Yes." Mo Mo was drawn into the moment, her expression turning reflective. "Even now, I don't know what it is, but my innate attribute power was awakened through its guidance."

This revelation made Xu Xiaoshou's heart tighten.

To guide the awakening of innate attribute power—and in a specific direction—how immense must one's cultivation be?

Even Elder Sang could only casually give him a fire attribute technique back when he was at the acquired stage, merely increasing the chances of awakening a fire attribute upon reaching the innate stage.

Before he could continue his subtle probing, he heard Mu Zixi chime in from behind:

"On the continent, experts with sealed attributes are as rare as phoenix feathers. What's your connection to Feng Tian Sheng Di?"

"Feng Tian Sheng Di?" Mo Mo's eyes flickered with confusion. "I don't know."

"You're lying!"

Mu Zixi declared firmly.

Xu Xiaoshou whipped around and glared at her. Has this girl lost her mind? Asking like that won't get anywhere.

Don't you understand the idea of taking it step by step?

"Xu Xiaoshou, what are you winking about?"

Mu Zixi rolled her eyes.

Sister, that's the signal!

Don't you understand the signal?

Idiot!

Xu Xiaoshou zipped his lips shut, gesturing for her to stay quiet and let him handle it.

He turned back and said gently:

"It's fine. Even if this person... well, this thing reveals its identity, it's not entirely reliable."

"But you must have been curious about what it is. It probably doesn't watch you every second, right? You... haven't looked into it?"

Mo Mo hesitated before nodding slowly.

"Yes."

"Hmm?"

Xu Xiaoshou let out a soft hum and leaned in slightly, adopting the posture of a listener.

He recalled that in another time and place, when he was still in the white ward, those white-clad individuals had used tactics just like this.

But Mu Zixi yanked his collar and pulled him back, grumbling:

"Why are you getting so close?"

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

My dear little grandmother, can't you just be quiet!

Wouldn't being mute be more enjoyable?

Mo Mo watched the two with a hint of amusement and continued slowly:

"I've investigated it and summarized it with one word: Gui Shou!"

Gui Shou?

Xu and Mu both froze—this was a completely new term to them.

"What is Gui Shou?"

Mu Zixi asked curiously.

This time, Xu Xiaoshou didn't stop her, as it was exactly what he wanted to know too.

Mo Mo checked the aura on her right arm, confirming that the entity was truly asleep, then said uneasily:

"Tian Xuan Men is a small world—you know that, right?"

The two nodded.

"This small world was created by Tian Sang Ling Gong as a training ground specifically for inner court disciples."

"But beyond the Ling Gong, on the continent, there are quite a few similar heterodimensional spaces."

Mo Mo paused, shifting her tone:

"Most of these spaces occur naturally."

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow; he was familiar with heterodimensional spaces, but what did this have to do with that gray fog entity?

Mo Mo went on:

"Most heterodimensional spaces yield strange objects not native to this continent, making them treasure lands."

"But there's a type that goes further—it not only produces treasures but also spawns heterodimensional creatures resembling humans."

"Creatures with low intelligence only have destructive urges, while those with high intelligence can rival humans."

"Gui Shou?"

Xu Xiaoshou interjected.

Mo Mo nodded:

"That's right. Gui Shou are extremely rare—sometimes an entire heterodimensional space won't produce even one, but if it does..." She gave a bitter smile.

Xu Xiaoshou got the gist.

Such creatures probably weren't content with mere destruction—who wouldn't want to explore the wider world?

But escaping a heterodimensional space—whether it was possible, how to do it, or if they'd be caught by the space's guardians—was all fraught with issues.

Some Gui Shou might even end up slaughtered by guardians, just like ordinary heterodimensional beings.

In such a brutal environment, the ones that managed to slip out to this continent...

Their intelligence and power must be staggering.

Xu Xiaoshou quickly pieced it together and spotted the gap in Mo Mo's story.

"Based on what you're saying, when this Gui Shou targeted you, your strength must have been weak. So how did you get into a heterodimensional space?"

Mu Zixi stared at her with the same curiosity.

Mo Mo smiled bitterly:

"Are Gui Shou only found in heterodimensional spaces?"

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback.

Of course!

Just because heterodimensional spaces had Gui Shou didn't mean the real world was free of them.

In fact, those that had escaped early and evaded the spirit refiners' pursuits must be even more formidable.

Xu Xiaoshou felt a chill run through him.

It was truly lucky that he'd encountered the gray fog entity in Tian Xuan Men, where the small world's rules kept it in check, preventing it from unleashing power far beyond the grandmaster level.

If he'd met it out in the open, with his fresh breakthrough and that overconfident aura, he definitely wouldn't have held back!

And not holding back would have been disastrous...

With that thought, Xu Xiaoshou quietly added to his "enemy strategy":

"Gray Fog Person: The enemy is far stronger than you imagine; stay low to survive!"

Yes, stay low!

That word had real weight—he had to keep it in mind. From now on, without absolute certainty, he couldn't act recklessly!

Sighing inwardly, Xu Xiaoshou asked in confusion:

"Gui Shou are so powerful; they must cause massive destruction, right?"

"Why don't the major forces band together to wipe them out?"

Mo Mo sighed lightly:

"Sheng Shen Dian Tang does hunt them down without mercy—kill on sight, no exceptions."

"But that just makes the survivors even more cautious, and when it comes to hiding, who can outdo them?"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly understood:

"So you were targeted by one of the survivors?"

"No!"

To his surprise, Mo Mo shook her head.

"I was probably eroded by a Gui Shou from inside a heterodimensional space—I'm the first-generation 'Gui Shou host'!"

Xu Xiaoshou was at a loss for words; after all that circling, they were back at square one?

Mu Zixi couldn't hold back:

"First-generation? That means you really entered a heterodimensional space when your cultivation was low? How on earth is that possible?"

Heterodimensional spaces required money, influence, and power—you couldn't just waltz in.

Mo Mo shook her head again:

"I didn't enter."

The two were dumbfounded.

You didn't enter, but you're the first-generation? Are you joking?

"A few years ago, the heterodimensional space riot in Tian Sang County—you've forgotten?"

Mu Zixi looked puzzled, furrowing her brow in thought.

Xu Xiaoshou stared blankly, racking his brain but failing to pull up any related memories from his faded past.

Mo Mo looked at their expressions and was utterly speechless.

What kind of people were these? Completely cut off from the world?

Was their entire lives just about Tian Sang Ling Gong? They didn't even know about an event that shook over a dozen nearby counties?

Unable to hold back, she said directly:

"White Cave!"