Chapter 404: I Know This Question

According to what Fu Zhi had said, this "Tian Shu Ji Pan" was likely something he had accidentally obtained from Bai Ku a few years ago.

At that time, it seemed that no other items had been brought out.

Now, with Bai Ku on the verge of reopening and the "You Si Jian" no longer a secret, could it be that the faint sword intent on the "Tian Shu Ji Pan" is related to the "You Si Jian"?

What exactly are they sealing?

Xu Xiaoshou quickly pieced together these speculations.

The current situation left him no choice but to think deeply.

The things that emerged from Bai Ku were inherently connected in countless ways to the impending reactivation of the dimensional space.

The subtle sword intent on the "Tian Shu Ji Pan" only fueled more wild speculations.

Could the "You Si Jian" and the "Tian Shu Ji Pan" really have no connection?

Had Fu Zhi noticed this sword energy? After all, it had been unsealed for four years.

No, it's entirely possible he hadn't noticed!

Xu Xiaoshou thought it over briefly and suddenly understood.

He was a sword cultivator, a swordsman who had mastered "Jian Shu Jing Tong," yet even he hadn't spotted that trace of sword energy at first glance.

Fu Zhi, on the other hand, lacked those passive skills. Having reached the level of Ling Zhen Da Zong Shi through array cultivation, he probably hadn't spared much energy for sword techniques.

Even if he had dabbled in them, he wouldn't have followed the path of ancient sword arts.

He might not even possess acquired sword intent, so how could he have detected that sword energy?

In that case, it's entirely possible that both the "You Si Jian" and the "Tian Shu Ji Pan" are under double seals, suppressing something.

Due to some unknown reasons, the swords were drawn, and the device was lost.

Then Fu Zhi stumbled upon the "Tian Shu Ji Pan," and with the "You Si Jian" losing their sealing purpose, they reemerged after some time?

Xu Xiaoshou felt his guess was probably spot on.

Based on the information he had gathered, this was the only conclusion he could draw.

Of course, if there were other variables in between, the outcome might differ.

But if there weren't, or if those variables had minimal impact, then his overall direction was likely correct!

Thinking about this, Xu Xiaoshou grew alarmed instead of pleased.

What kind of thing requires both the "Tian Shu Ji Pan" and the "You Si Jian" to seal it?

Both of these are divine artifacts!

Could there be a great demon imprisoned inside the "Tian Shu Ji Pan"?

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly recalled what Fu Zhi had mentioned earlier about the "Shi Jie Yuan Dian," but he was puzzled.

This "Shi Jie Yuan Dian"—could it have a mind of its own and wander around?

It's called a "source point," so it couldn't possibly be a person, right?

Yet, aside from the "Shi Jie Yuan Dian," there didn't seem to be anything else worth sealing.

The secrets of Bai Ku?

Xu Xiaoshou murmured suddenly.

He remembered Fu Zhi's original words. At the time, Fu Zhi had said not only that obtaining the "Shi Jie Yuan Dian" could provide direction or guidance, but more importantly, it might unravel the secrets of Bai Ku.

But what secrets did Bai Ku hold?

Xu Xiaoshou clearly couldn't figure that out.

Without entering Bai Ku, how could one glimpse its secrets?

Setting that question aside for now, he turned back to Xu Xiaoji and asked:

"Why did you steal this 'Tian Shu Ji Pan'?"

Xu Xiaoji had been watching the young man in front of him furrow his brow in deep thought and hadn't dared to interrupt.

Right now, he was just hoping that after Xu Xiaoshou finished asking everything, he might let him go.

Though the chances were slim, even if it meant making a deal, he had to get out of this dreadful place.

With A Jie around, Xu Xiaoji couldn't stay here any longer.

He'd go mad eventually!

Hearing the question, he answered without thinking.

"A feeling."

"This thing, it's calling to me. It seems like if I get it, I can unlock some secrets."

Xu Xiaoji pointed at the "Tian Shu Ji Pan," and suddenly his mind cleared a bit, learning to hold back.

Spilling everything might get him killed even faster.

"Have you unlocked it?"

Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"N-not yet..."

Xu Xiaoji instantly looked pitiful.

He had only just gotten the thing before being caught and locked up—who had the chance to unlock it?

"Secrets..."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't doubt him.

But compared to the secrets of Bai Ku and Xu Xiaoji, the immediate priority was to get Mu Zixi out.

"I'm giving you time now. Can you unlock this thing?"

"I don't know... I can!"

Xu Xiaoji hesitated, but seeing Xu Xiaoshou's expression, he quickly changed his answer.

He had to unlock it, whether he could or not!

He grabbed the spirit box from the ground and began examining the array patterns on it.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't waste any time either, joining in to ponder it.

Although the box was inscribed with Tian Ji Ming Wen.

Fu Zhi had studied it for four years and only barely scratched the surface.

But Xu Xiaoshou wasn't from a traditional spiritual array background.

He practiced "Fang Zhi Shu," so whether it was Tian Ji Ming Wen, spiritual array patterns, or anything else...

As long as it involved lines, he could unravel it using the principles of weaving!

Soon, setting aside the mesmerizing sword slot in the middle, he immersed himself, completely captivated by the Tian Ji Ming Wen.

This "Tian Ji Shu" was entirely different from the path of spiritual arrays—it was on a whole other level.

Its inscription method didn't rely on physical objects at all; it was purely outlined through the ways of heaven.

As long as the greater world existed and didn't perish, this outlining could eternally borrow the power of heaven, leading to self-sustaining evolution and achieving permanent sealing.

Xu Xiaoshou felt like a whole new world had opened up to him.

"Fang Zhi Shu" did share some similarities with "Tian Ji Shu" in terms of outlining, but their directions were completely different.

The former encompassed far too much.

Lines, patterns, layouts, rules, and the heavens...

At least in terms of intent, it was nothing like "Tian Ji Shu" could compare to.

But that didn't mean "Tian Ji Shu" was inferior.

On the contrary, by focusing solely on heavenly inscriptions and specializing in sealing and combat, it far surpassed Xu Xiaoshou's current understanding in battle applications.

As he examined it closely, his expression gradually turned strange.

It seemed that no matter how unconventional "Tian Ji Shu" was, as long as it relied on inscription patterns, everything fell within the scope of "Fang Zhi Jing Tong."

That meant unraveling the array patterns of the "Tian Shu Ji Pan" using "Fang Zhi Jing Tong" thinking might actually work.

This started as a tentative idea, but Xu Xiaoshou felt like he had kicked open the door to a new world.

And behind that door was Fu Zhi's dumbfounded face.

He had pondered for four years and only just begun.

Xu Xiaoshou, with one look, had caught up to that progress.

After a long while.

The more Xu Xiaoshou studied, the clearer it became, his eyes growing brighter, as if the fog had lifted to reveal the clear sky.

"It really works!"

The mysterious veil of "Tian Ji Shu" might leave Fu Zhi scratching his head in frustration, forever out of reach.

But in front of Xu Xiaoshou, with his vast foundational knowledge from "Fang Zhi Jing Tong," it was all laid bare, like bold text spread out for anyone to see.

Completely exposed!

Xu Xiaoji watched from the side, his head spinning in confusion. He realized he had overestimated himself.

This "Tian Shu Ji Pan" was indeed calling to him, but after getting it, he had no idea how to use it or what it was for.

Was it worth risking his freedom for this thing?

He looked up at the sky, tears nearly welling up, and suddenly noticed the "I got this" expression on Xu Xiaoshou's face, leaving him utterly stunned.

What was going on? This guy... could understand it?

Earlier, Xu Xiaoji had been lurking outside the flower sea, watching the whole process—Xu Xiaoshou entering, triggering the spiritual array, and subduing Fu Zhi—so he knew full well that this "Tian Shu Ji Pan" had stumped Fu Zhi for four years!

Yet Xu Xiaoshou, seeing it for the first time, wore that infuriating look?

This had to be cheating!

"Suspected, passive points, 1."