Chapter 231: Madness

Xu Xiaoshou froze, stammering, "Why are you telling me all this?"

"Why... heh, why?" Lan Xizi's shoulders trembled uncontrollably, as if suppressing an outburst of laughter.

What a childish question!

Why?In this world, there aren't that many "whys."Why don't you ask me why I was born to be nothing but a slave or servant?Why, even as one of the thirty-three in Nei Yuan, I still don't dare to fiercely retaliate against that Chao Qingteng brat who mocks me?Why, even though I've reached the point I once envied the most, I still can't leave?Ling Gong... is it really, as Chao Qingteng said, a prison of my own making?

"Hah!"

Lan Xizi suddenly took a step forward, hooked her finger under Xu Xiaoshou's chin, and lifted it. She said coldly, "Do you think I should tell you these things?Her emotions surged instantly, and she roared fiercely, "People trapped in a cage have no right to ask 'why' – they should just wallow in despair!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than the sky and earth changed dramatically, with thunderous booms echoing through the void.

As the wind and sand swirled, Lan Xizi held back no longer. The Ling Yuan she had been building up surged from her Qi Hai and rushed straight into her right hand, which was gripping Xu Xiaoshou's chin.

From the moment they met, she had already resolved to kill him right here and now!Even if it violated Nei Yuan's rules!

Just at that moment, a sharp sound pierced the sky, halting the surging Ling Yuan that could make heaven and earth tremble.

The scene seemed to freeze.A shadowy black sword, stained with blood, thrust out from Lan Xizi's chest, then let out a triumphant cry as it twisted back, piercing her again.Blood sprayed everywhere in a second strike through her chest.

Xu Xiaoshou remained unfazed, calmly removing the woman's hand from his chin and stepping back."You're sick."

This calm voice sounded like the whisper of death to everyone around.

Lan Xizi lowered her head, her eyes wide with disbelief.Yet the two fist-sized bloody holes in her chest told her everything: not only had she tried to kill Xu Xiaoshou when they first met, but he had turned the tables...And done so decisively!

But how dared he strike here?And how could he break through her defenses so easily?Even without full protection, she was at the peak of Shang Ling Jing!

The crowd erupted in chaos.At first, everyone thought the two were just fooling around, but as they watched, they realized something was off with Lan Xizi.In the end, at the critical moment, it was Xu Xiaoshou who seized the upper hand.Had these two been plotting to kill each other from the start?

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, their minds reeling in confusion.Lan Xizi's actions made sense, but Xu Xiaoshou? That was unexpected...

"Big trouble! Someone go get help, call the enforcement team!""It's over, Xu Xiaoshou is finished. My Lan fairy... someone fetch Zhang Xinxiong. Things have escalated now.""Not just Zhang Xinxiong – if He Fengzi gets out of the punishment platform, he might go berserk all over again!""Huh, when you put it that way...""This is going to be exciting!"

"Received admiration, passive points: 2.""Received suspicion, passive points: 7.""Received resentment, passive points: 9."

The barrage of whispers didn't make Xu Xiaoshou regret his actions at all.Along his path, he had killed plenty who didn't deserve to die, and he felt no remorse then – what made this woman any different?

If there was anyone in Ling Gong that Xu Xiaoshou truly wanted to kill, the answer was yes.Zhang Xinxiong topped the list, and this woman before him was equally guilty.Sometimes, it's not the grim reaper that's frightening – it's those who enable the tiger that are the most detestable!

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know if the one who sent assassins after him was Zhang Xinxiong, this woman, or that unseen He Yuxing.But from her earlier words, he had already sensed something was wrong.She was clearly psychologically twisted, killing for pure pleasure without any reason.Even if she was just in a bad mood, she could suddenly decide to spill his blood on the spot.Who could tolerate that?

Both had attempted sneak attacks, but Xu Xiaoshou's skills, combined with his "perception," greatly enhanced his ability to predict.At least, before she launched her attack, from the faint fluctuations of her Ling Yuan and the sudden tensing of her muscles, he could easily judge...This woman was asking for death!

"Are you still alive?" he suddenly asked.

Lan Xizi clutched her chest, and at his words, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

Her eyes burned with resentment, but she quickly retreated.Ling Yuan erupted from her body, instantly searing her wounds black to staunch the bleeding.She pulled out a pill, but as soon as it appeared, it turned to mist and drifted away.

Lan Xizi whipped around in terror, only to find Xu Xiaoshou right at her side, making her body shudder violently."What kind of pill is this? It seems a whole grade higher than Chi Jin Dan?"

Lan Xizi: ???

What kind of sorcery was this?Was he even going to let her recover?

Seeing she didn't answer, Xu Xiaoshou put on an apologetic expression."Sorry, if you won't talk, you might never get the chance."

With that, a white bathtub suddenly appeared in his hand, and he swung it down directly at Lan Xizi's head.

Everyone was stunned.Xu Xiaoshou showed no mercy at all – this massive tub crashing down would likely turn anyone into a pulp.

Clang—

The deafening clash of heavy objects colliding made everyone flinch, necks shrinking as their bodies instinctively leaned back."Black clothing!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes narrowed – was the enforcement team here already?

With a resolute heart, he ignored it, leaping over their heads and raising the bathtub again to chase the fleeing Lan Xizi."Xu Xiaoshou, stop!"

The desperate shout sounded utterly helpless.

Everyone watched as the enforcer was slammed into the ground, only half their head visible, and no one knew what to say."Is Xu Xiaoshou some kind of monster?""He heavily wounded an veteran of the thirty-three with two swords, and now he's smashed an enforcer into the earth?""Wait... wasn't he only at Lian Ling Ninth Realm the last time I saw him?""Be clear – who's at Lian Ling Ninth Realm?""Xu Xiaoshou, of course. Who else could it be? Not me, that's for sure."

Clang—

Another massive crash cut off the chatter, making everyone's faces twitch.This was madness – another person planted like a radish...

"Xu Xiaoshou, you can't kill me! This is Nei Yuan – murder is against the law!" Lan Xizi cried out, her hair disheveled and eyes filled with terror."I know, so come over here and die quickly."

Xu Xiaoshou was getting anxious; enforcers were closing in from all sides. If he delayed any longer, he might not be able to finish her off.

But Lan Xizi was a veteran of the thirty-three, and her movement techniques were strangely elusive.Though severely injured, she always managed to dodge and flee just as he was about to grab her.And twice now, that enforcer had blocked his best opportunities!Damn it!

"A Zongshi-level agility technique at least?"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned. These old-timers were all ridiculously wealthy!

Since he couldn't catch her, he decided to stop chasing. He planted his feet, set down the bathtub, and extended his hand.

As Lan Xizi fled, she noticed the pursuit had quieted and immediately glanced back.What she saw made her scalp tingle!In Xu Xiaoshou's hand, five fire seeds emerged, their violent energy so overwhelming it made her legs weaken.But that wasn't all – he seemed worried the power wasn't enough and extended his other hand.

Lan Xizi: ???