Chapter 175: Killing Corner

"You actually hung up on me? How rude!" Xu Xiaoshou complained to himself.

It was such a pity; he hadn't been able to ask the question he most wanted to, and as for the other few Zhenjie Zhibao, they were probably impossible to get his hands on.

Still, thinking about the dean's instructions, he turned his attention to the jade slip in his hand.

"This doesn't seem like just an ordinary communication jade slip? Placing it in the seal of the Zhenjie Zhibao could stop the collapse of the Tianxuan Gate's small world?"

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself that it made sense—an ordinary communication jade slip couldn't possibly allow communication across two worlds.

His heart burned with excitement; this was definitely no ordinary item. Perhaps, roughly, maybe...

No, no, this was a lifesaving object—he couldn't be greedy!

"Everyone!"

He looked at the group and said regretfully, "I have some bad news to share. You might have to wait a bit longer before you can get out."

"What do you mean?"

"Although I'm not particularly fond of it, as the chosen one, I might have to play the role of savior this time!"

Xu Xiaoshou flicked his sleeve, tilted his head to the sky, and sighed lightly, "Alas, Heaven is about to entrust a great task to this person..."

"Receiving suspicion, passive value: 7."

"Receiving mockery, passive value: 4."

"Xu Xiaoshou, stop flattering yourself. What did the dean want with you? Spill it!"

"Exactly! If we're talking about saving the world, you're not even in the running—Luo Leilei is right here!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Leilei felt a sinking feeling in her heart. That's right, she was still here, so why had the dean contacted Xu Xiaoshou?

She had a vague inkling of what was going on...

Xu Xiaoshou didn't bother explaining; there was no point with these people.

Although they were all among the thirty-three inner court members, they probably hadn't even figured out why Tianxuan Gate was collapsing, so what was the use of telling them?

He scanned the crowd, his gaze finally settling on Luo Leilei.

"Guard the passage until I return!"

With that, he turned and left.

"Xu Xiaoshou, leave the jade slip behind! Don't drag us down with you if you're going to die!"

The others were instantly furious. In their eyes, with Xu Xiaoshou's initial Yuan Court Realm cultivation, what could he possibly achieve?

By taking the jade slip, he was taking their lives with him! How could they not be angry?

Someone tried to chase after him, but Luo Leilei blocked their way.

"Luo Leilei, what are you doing?"

Luo Leilei said nothing, her beautiful eyes narrowing as electric light swirled around her.

"Shut up!"

Though she had her suspicions, the only way out right now was this passage. No matter what Xu Xiaoshou said, they had to believe him.

Besides, unlike the others, she knew full well that among everyone present, Xu Xiaoshou was undoubtedly the strongest. Could he really save the world? Perhaps he could, just as he claimed!

"You..."

The three enraged individuals were stunned by her blunt rebuke. They were all new additions to the thirty-three, not very familiar with Xu Xiaoshou, but they knew Luo Leilei well!

Was she planning to take on all three of them?

What a joke!

"He's just doing this to go save Zhou Tiancan!"

"That's right. Look at how this world is collapsing—who wants to stay here and wait to die?"

The three were still rational enough not to start a fight if they could avoid it.

But Luo Leilei was getting irritated. She snapped, "I said, shut up!"

The situation seemed on the verge of exploding, with the group about to fight.

Just then, Mu Zixi and Mo Mo stood behind Luo Leilei, their support clear.

Zhao Qingteng hesitated for a moment before joining them.

The other three laughed in anger.

"With just you and these three new inner court weaklings, you think you can stop us?"

Luo Leilei scoffed, "You're overthinking it. I alone am more than enough!"

The three lunged forward, but Luo Leilei raised her hand, and a bucket-thick purple thunderbolt crashed down from the sky, instantly charring them outside and in.

"Urk!"

These few didn't have a master's body; they collapsed to the ground, spitting blood and convulsing.

"How... could she be this strong..."

They were baffled. Luo Leilei was like a completely different person compared to their previous sparring sessions.

What was going on? Had she improved so much since entering Tianxuan Gate? Or had she been holding back all along?

After casually dealing with these minor threats, Luo Leilei glanced at the now completely blackened sky, a faint unease stirring in her heart.

She wasn't too worried about this world, but the outside one...

She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away.

Boom!

Another thunderbolt struck from the sky, slamming the struggling group back down.

They wanted to cry but had no tears.

We didn't even want to fight—we were just trying to get up!

But with Luo Leilei like this, they didn't dare move a muscle.

"Wait here!"

Luo Leilei looked toward the south, the direction where Xu Xiaoshou had gone.

Xu Xiaoshou sped like lightning toward the location of the "Killing Corner."

If things went as expected, Zhou Tiancan should be there too.

"That guy wouldn't have gotten so carried away with his cultivation that he didn't even notice the world was about to explode!" Xu Xiaoshou thought. If it were that tall guy, it was entirely possible.

Truth be told, if not for this jade slip, he would have wanted to save Zhou Tiancan too.

—But that was just a thought!

Making him run back and forth like this—if he returned to find the passage opened and everyone gone, what then? Would he be left to die?

He got along well with Zhou Tiancan, but realistically speaking, it was better for one to die than two.

Now, with Ye Xiaotian's orders, Xu Xiaoshou felt much more at ease.

Since he needed to find a trial secret realm to place the jade slip, he might as well check on what that guy was up to along the way.

Bang, bang, bang!

The void echoed with explosions as Xu Xiaoshou, riding a small fireball, shot toward the growing darkness at incredible speed.

At full throttle, a journey that might take others half a day, he covered in less than fifteen minutes.

A high wall blocked his path.

A nearly tangible killing intent rushed at him, the thick stench of blood so nauseating that Xu Xiaoshou covered his mouth and nose, feeling the deep-seated urge to destroy stirring again.

But with his previous experience awakening the "Frenzied Giant," this level of killing intent couldn't form a demonic barrier or make him lose his reason.

"What a cursed place!"

Xu Xiaoshou realized why Zhou Tiancan hadn't come out.

That tall guy was either dead or overwhelmed by the killing intent, lost to inner demons, and unable to leave.

"He overestimated himself; I shouldn't have let him come..."

Xu Xiaoshou felt a bit regretful. Even he wasn't confident he could stay here for half a day—Zhou Tiancan...

Was he even still alive?

He pressed on, soon flying past the high wall and seeing the scene inside.

It was a black arena, the ground stained with hardened blood. Eight iron gates around it stood open, endlessly releasing knife-wielding steel puppets.

Each puppet was over two meters tall, exuding an intimidating presence!

In the midst of four or five puppets stood a one-armed youth with red eyes, his muscular build imposing, wielding a dazzling golden tyrant blade.

Clang, clang—

His strikes were cunningly angled, nearly grazing the stump of his severed arm, and with each swing, he sent pieces flying off the surrounding steel giants.

"Zhou Tiancan?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes fixed on his severed arm. Had this guy done it to himself?

Judging by his fighting stance, it was likely. Was this stubborn fool practicing some kind of sinister spiritual technique?

It was incredibly powerful, though...

The burly youth in the arena showed no sign of noticing the newcomer. Xu Xiaoshou's figure blurred and vanished from the sky.

Thud, thud, thud!

A few dull impacts sounded, and the terrifying steel giants were sent flying like toys. Xu Xiaoshou pressed down on Zhou Tiancan's shoulder.

"Hey?"

Zhou Tiancan turned, his blood-red eyes locking onto him.

In the next second, a golden blade light slashed down from above, the fearsome killing intent cracking the stone slabs beneath Xu Xiaoshou's feet.

Clang—

But Xu Xiaoshou caught it effortlessly with two fingers. Even in his red-eyed state, Zhou Tiancan was stunned.

This flesh-and-blood guy was harder than the steel puppets?

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at his information panel—nothing new. Seeing no gains, he got angry.

"You dare attack me?"

He flicked a finger against the big guy's forehead with a bang, sending shockwaves rippling out. Zhou Tiancan spun through the air and embedded into the black wall behind him.

His eyes rolled back, and he fainted!

Xu Xiaoshou dusted off his hands and nodded in satisfaction.

With his current combat strength, dealing with these early Houtian Realm trash was effortless, even if they were in a frenzied state.

Usually, he was fighting above his level, often several realms higher, leaving him half-dead.

Now, finally experiencing the joy of same-level combat.

Instant kill!

He looked around and saw that the steel puppets emerging from the eight iron gates paused at the sight, then silently retreated.

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."