Chapter 432: Channel Connection Failed

The scene remained silent for a good ten or more breaths before anyone managed to snap out of it.

If this had happened earlier, Xu Xiaoshou's words would have instantly sparked endless mockery and doubt.

But now...

Everyone had been thoroughly worn down by Xu Xiaoshou's repeated displays, leaving them utterly deflated from the core. Their first reaction wasn't to refute him but to harbor a basic, shallow suspicion.

"Is what he said true? About being a Ling Zhanshi... Xu Xiaoshou's words must be real, right?"

"I think it's very possible!"

"If it were anyone else, they'd definitely be joking, but Xu Xiaoshou... He's already so terrifying in Dan Dao, Jian Dao, and Forging Body, so adding Ling Zhanshi to the mix doesn't seem out of place."

"But how is that even possible? This isn't something you can fix just by starting cultivation in the womb. Did he prepare for this in his past life?"

"Impossible? If it's impossible, then have you eaten your own crap?"

The discussions among the crowd were eerily quiet.

Even those speaking with a tone of doubt didn't dare raise their voices.

They were afraid that one rebuttal might lead to another slap in the face from Xu Xiaoshou.

They were scared.

Everyone was scared.

As they watched Xu Xiaoshou stand up and shout, they thought of his prowess in Dan Dao.

If Dan Dao was already this frightening, what kind of tricks would he pull out with the even more profound Ling Zhanshi path?

Shua shua shua!

Shou Ye stood at the front of the hosting platform.

He stared in shock at the crowd below, who were slowly backing away because of Xu Xiaoshou's words.

They all wore expressions of extreme caution, as if bracing for an explosion.

Some even pulled out defensive Ling Qi.

Glancing around again, Shou Ye saw the elderly Ling Zhanshi who had been approaching but suddenly hesitated in their steps.

One of them, who had been moving quickly, had already picked up a jade slip from the table.

But after Xu Xiaoshou spoke, the old Ling Zhanshi paused.

After confirming the speaker's identity, he unhesitatingly placed the jade slip back in front of Shou Ye.

"What do you mean by this?"

Shou Ye's face turned green, black lines forming on his forehead.

"I..."

The old Ling Zhanshi hesitated, his lips parting as he stammered,

"I'm just a Zongshi-level Ling Zhanshi. I think... I'm not qualified to study this Ling Zhanshi diagram right now."

Shou Ye: ???

Being a Zongshi-level Ling Zhanshi is already quite impressive!

What do you mean by not qualified? Are you joking?

Why is there fear in your eyes? Is Xu Xiaoshou that terrifying?

It's just picking up a jade slip in front of him!

Would that kill you?!

Shou Ye was so angry he could explode.

He never imagined Xu Xiaoshou's oppressive presence had become this overwhelming.

"What about all of you? Is it the same for you?"

He scanned the other dozen or so people who had stopped in their tracks and asked.

All the elderly Ling Zhanshi turned their bodies slightly.

They didn't speak.

But anyone could see from their body language:

"Xu Xiaoshou should go first; we're not worthy to act before him."

"Hu!" Shou Ye let out a long sigh.

After calming his emotions, he turned back with a composed gaze toward Xu Xiaoshou:

"You'd better really be a Ling Zhanshi, or if you disrupt the rules, I'll give you the punishment you deserve."

Though he had noticed some hints of Xu Xiaoshou using Ling Zhanshi techniques during the alchemy earlier,

There are ways to incorporate Ling Zhanshi methods into Dan Dao on the continent, though they're rare.

A true Ling Zhanshi must be able to set up arrays, break them, and create them.

Just knowing how to use arrays isn't enough to qualify as a Ling Zhanshi.

"Under suspicion, passive points: 1211."

"Under expectation, passive points: 1223."

Amid the crowd's anticipation, Xu Xiaoshou flicked his sleeve and walked forward without any explanation.

Though the crowd's reaction surprised him—they were no longer shouting and arguing, which felt odd—

The same could be said for the meager passive points he gained, indicating that the people here had been pretty much drained of their reserves by him.

This was a first for him.

But Xu Xiaoshou knew the psychological barriers of the masses had already collapsed.

Now, no matter what outrageous thing he did, everyone would see it as perfectly normal.

"Numbed worship?"

Xu Xiaoshou sighed softly, "How pitiful... These people have lost all sense of their own judgment."

Stepping up to Shou Ye, ignoring the man's ugly expression, Xu Xiaoshou directly picked up a jade slip and started to walk away.

"Stop right there."

Shou Ye called out: "Examine it here and solve it on the spot!"

Xu Xiaoshou slowly raised a question mark.

"Solve it on the spot?"

"Your earlier implication was that the jade slip would be distributed to others later, right? So, what's the difference between solving it now or later?"

Shou Ye sneered: "There's a difference. Whether you're bluffing or not, I can tell with one touch."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart stirred.

He immediately realized the jade slip must have some trick, perhaps with a verification array added to it as a threshold for Ling Zhanshi.

But with his "Textile Mastery" at Zongshi level, how could he fear that?

"What a waste of effort."

Xu Xiaoshou snorted, pressing the jade slip to his forehead.

Everyone watched intently.

As the jade slip touched his forehead, a light screen enveloped Xu Xiaoshou.

"A trapping array?"

The crowd was startled.

To view this jade slip, you had to break a trapping array first?

"It's not just a trapping array; there's also an illusion array."

"It's a nested Ling Zhanshi array with two layers overlaid!"

The nearest Ling Zhanshi Zongshi spoke up, his eyes filled with shock, and asked:

"Red Yi predecessor, the existence of this nested array basically rules out innate-level Ling Zhanshi, right? Why didn't you mention it earlier?"

"If someone went in unprepared, any Ling Zhanshi below Zongshi level would be trapped for sure."

Everyone listening felt a chill in their hearts.

At once, those innate-level Ling Zhanshi who had already come halfway chose to retreat.

Are you kidding?

A nested array like this is extremely difficult even for Zongshi levels.

What business do we innate Ling Zhanshi have getting involved?

Just this threshold is impassable, let alone memorizing the Bai Ku Ling Zhanshi diagram!

Shou Ye watched as the number of people in front of him dropped from over a dozen to just five, including Xu Xiaoshou, and his brows furrowed.

"Not even at Zongshi level, and you think you can break a Ling Zhanshi array?"

"If this thing were that simple, would I need to bring it here for you to see?"

"With one finger, I could shatter it myself."

He was genuinely frustrated.

Do you really need me to spell things out that clearly?

Do you think Red Yi has no one capable?

Can't even break an innate Ling Zhanshi array?

Fu Yin Hong quickly stepped in to console him: "Shou Ye predecessor, calm down. You were operating in the Bai Ku area, so you're not used to the pace here yet..."

As she spoke, her face flushed: "It's already impressive that we can gather four Zongshi-level Ling Zhanshi here. If you hadn't mentioned it, I might not have thought of this layer."

"After all, in our daily dealings, we mostly handle innate levels. Zongshi ones are rare."

Shou Ye was momentarily speechless.

He finally understood.

Different worlds mean different exposures.

"Forget it, those below Zongshi level, step back!"

He waved his hand and turned to the remaining four: "Even if you're at Zongshi level, you only have a slim chance of solving the array."

"But as long as you have ideas, you can contribute them. Even just a hint will earn a reward."

"The Bai Ku Ling Zhanshi diagram is very powerful. Even a single person at Wangzuo level couldn't solve it alone."

The crowd below was stunned.

A Ling Zhanshi diagram that even Wangzuo level can't solve, and you're bringing it here for Zongshi levels to tackle?

Is this humiliating the local Ling Zhanshi?

"Predecessor, this is putting us in a tough spot..."

Even the four Zongshi-level Ling Zhanshi felt their faces burn with embarrassment.

But Shou Ye shook his head firmly.

"Reaching Zongshi realm gives you the foundation to establish your own sect."

"At least, on the path you've chosen, your insights are far deeper than others'."

"Don't underestimate yourselves. This Ling Zhanshi diagram requires gathering everyone's specialized knowledge, then compiling it all to break through."

As soon as Shou Ye finished, before anyone could react, the nested array enveloping Xu Xiaoshou shattered.

Everyone turned their heads, frozen in shock.

"It's broken?"

The lead Ling Zhanshi Zongshi's face shook in disbelief.

In the time of just a couple of sentences, this nested array—said to be tough even for Zongshi levels—had been broken?

Though it was just a threshold array, the speed was absurdly fast.

Is this a joke?

Xu Xiaoshou, are you not only a Ling Zhanshi but also a Da Zongshi?

"You solved it?"

Shou Ye was equally astonished.

Though he had some expectations, Xu Xiaoshou breaking the array so effortlessly still caught him off guard.

He had encountered this threshold array when it was set up.

An ordinary Ling Zhanshi Zongshi might spend half a day inside without realizing it was a nested array, let alone solving it.

Xu Xiaoshou...

Shou Ye touched his teacup; it was still warm!

"It's solved!"

Xu Xiaoshou shrugged as if it were obvious, his eyes also showing surprise.

He admitted he had underestimated what Shou Ye brought.

Upon probing with his spiritual sense, the outer threshold was a joke, but the real content inside the jade slip exceeded his expectations.

"Tianji Shu!"

He couldn't believe how shocked he was when he saw the true Ling Zhanshi diagram inside.

Having glimpsed the basics of Tianji Shu in the sea of flowers before, and even experienced its full glory on the "Tianji Mechanism Disk," plus repairing it himself, Xu Xiaoshou was no stranger to it.

But the construction of the Tianji array in the jade slip was astoundingly precise and intricate, a rare sight.

It featured thirty-six layers of Tianji arrays nested repeatedly, interlocking like mortise and tenon joints.

Because it was a copy, some crucial parts were lost.

Even the fundamental connection to the rules of heaven and earth couldn't be fully captured in the copy.

Thus, while discerning the structural flaws of the Tianji array, Xu Xiaoshou had no choice but to deduce the missing remnants.

Without "Textile Mastery," which inherently manipulates the rules of heaven and earth, he might have lost face to Shou Ye right then.

Still...

"Though it's tough, I only took... less than the time of one incense stick."

Xu Xiaoshou asked: "Does this count as passing? Can it prove I'm a Ling Zhanshi?"

Shou Ye swallowed hard.

He was stunned.

That was a nested array! Two full layers!

This level of threshold array was already formidable, designed to keep out meddlesome outsiders.

If Xu Xiaoshou solved it so quickly, either his Ling Zhanshi skills were extraordinary, nearing Da Zongshi level,

Or he had deeply studied nested arrays!

The former was fine—Red Yi had plenty of such talents.

But nested arrays were a real challenge!

If Xu Xiaoshou truly mastered them, it would be a huge gain.

This gem could even be taken to Bai Ku to research the legendary "Thirty-Six Heavenly Seals Array"!

"Not bad."

Though excited inside, Shou Ye hid it well.

On the surface, he just nodded calmly: "What did you see?"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the others.

Unlike Shou Ye, these people couldn't hide their shock.

Even without looking...

"Received admiration, passive points: 16."

"Received admiration, passive points: 16."

The info panel kept updating, signifying the on-site Ling Zhanshi's recognition of Xu Xiaoshou's array-solving speed.

"A Ling Zhanshi array."

Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat surprised by their reactions. He put away the jade slip and casually said: "Besides seeing the array, what else could there be?"

"How did you solve it?"

Before Shou Ye could speak, the old man beside him asked eagerly.

"With my eyes, of course!"

Xu Xiaoshou extended his hand: "It's not a physical array, so am I supposed to reach into the jade slip space to solve it?"

Shou Ye was stunned. He vaguely felt Xu Xiaoshou's words were off, as if their thinking wasn't aligned, but he didn't dwell on it.

"See for yourselves; it's pretty simple."

Xu Xiaoshou stopped the old man from asking more.

He picked up another jade slip from in front of Shou Ye and tossed it over.

"Practice makes perfect; I'm not bothering to teach you."

The crowd: ...

"Received curse, passive points: 4."

The old man held the jade slip, hesitating slightly.

A double nested array—was it as simple as Xu Xiaoshou said?

Or was he bluffing?

He glanced at Shou Ye. "Is this guy tricking us?"

Without further hesitation, he pressed the jade slip to his forehead, and the next second, a light screen enveloped the old man.

"What about you all? Want to try?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the other three Ling Zhanshi Zongshi and threw jade slips to them.

He knew these people were hesitant; without his intervention, they probably wouldn't dare take the jade slips.

The other three clenched their fists but didn't move immediately.

Shou Ye was the same. Everyone's eyes focused on the old man already covered by the array.

"What do you mean by this?"

Xu Xiaoshou was a bit surprised.

Why had everyone gone silent?

He waited.

The crowd waited too.

Time ticked by.

One breath.

Two breaths.

The time of one cup of tea passed.

The time of one incense stick passed.

"What are you all waiting for?"

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but ask.

By now, the shock and astonishment on everyone's faces were impossible to hide.

Shou Ye stared at Xu Xiaoshou, pointing at the nested array around the old man: "He hasn't come out yet?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback.

Suddenly, he realized.

"It's not my doing; it's got nothing to do with me!"

Shou Ye: ...

"That's not what I meant!"

Shou Ye said seriously: "The array is indeed normal. How did you get out so fast?"

Xu Xiaoshou—did he really have the strength to break that array in half the time of a tea?

No comparison, no harm.

What Shou Ye thought he could accept now seemed wrong—because the old man still hadn't emerged after so long.

"Kid, tell me straight: What's your actual level in Ling Zhanshi?"

Xu Xiaoshou was startled: "None."

"I haven't taken the exam; I don't have a level."

Shou Ye furrowed his brows and turned to the other three: "You three, break the array right now!"

"Old Zhao hasn't come out yet..."

The three looked at the Zongshi Ling Zhanshi who had entered first and was still trapped, feeling unsure.

This jade slip wasn't simple!

Xu Xiaoshou must have gotten an easy version!

"Now!"

Shou Ye's eyes bulged.

He had to verify whether it was a problem with the jade slip or if Xu Xiaoshou was just that fast.

The three old men couldn't withstand Shou Ye's pressure and pressed the jade slips to their foreheads.

Instantly, three light screens descended.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Shou Ye, and Shou Ye looked back at him.

Finally, the scene fell silent again.

"Isn't this crazy? It's been almost half a shichen, and they still haven't broken it?"

By this point, Xu Xiaoshou realized something was off.

It seemed his "Textile Mastery" treated these puzzle-like arrays like standard answers.

Because he had the standard answers, his speed was probably much faster than others'...

By more than just a little!

The atmosphere below shifted subtly due to this array-solving comparison.

"Isn't this right? What exactly is this nested array? I've never seen my Grandpa Zhao take so long to solve one before!"

"Ling Zhanshi... I'm not sure, but watching Xu Xiaoshou solve it, it looked pretty simple, didn't it?"

"Yeah, very simple. So why haven't these old guys come out yet?"

Doubts filled the air.

At first, the crowd was still composed.

As time dragged on, a flood of "under suspicion" messages began to appear.

Everyone looked at the relaxed Xu Xiaoshou and sensed something strange.

"You're not right!"

Shou Ye pulled his gaze from the four array barriers and stared intently at Xu Xiaoshou: "You're very not right!"

"How am I not right?"

Xu Xiaoshou shrugged, stepping back in surprise.

If Shou Ye came after him, he really had no way to fight back.

From the kicks to his backside earlier, he could tell how strong this guy was.

"How exactly did you solve the array? What did you see?"

Shou Ye asked again.

"With my eyes, of course! I saw the Ling Zhanshi array!"

Xu Xiaoshou said matter-of-factly.

What kind of nonsense questions are these?

"Details?"

Shou Ye pressed.

"Details?"

"It's a nested Ling Zhanshi array, multiple layers nested. The difficulty is decent; it's the strongest nested structure I've seen."

Xu Xiaoshou explained.

After all, the highest nested structure he'd seen before was in Fu Zhi's sea of flowers Tianji array.

"The highest?"

Shou Ye murmured: "If this is your first time seeing such a high-level nested Ling Zhanshi array, how did you solve a combination of trapping and illusion arrays in such a short time?"

"Hmm?"

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow.

"Trapping array plus illusion array?"

He finally pinpointed where his and Shou Ye's disconnect lay.

His gaze fell on the faint light screen in front of him as he asked: "Are you talking about this?"

Shou Ye was taken aback, then erupted in anger.

"I'm not talking about this! What have I been saying? Are you just spouting nonsense?"

His roar made Xu Xiaoshou shrink his neck, but thinking of the earlier beating, he held his ground and lifted his chin:

"Does this thing even need solving?"

"One kick and it's done!"

With that, Xu Xiaoshou kicked out, and with a boom, the nested array's structure shattered directly.

The crowd below was dumbfounded.

"This..."

They compared the shattered light screen Xu Xiaoshou had kicked and the barriers trapping the four Ling Zhanshi Zongshi.

"Is this the same thing?"

"My goodness, not bad for Xu Xiaoshou—always unconventional, always violent. I like it!"

Shou Ye was also dumbfounded.

Unlike the clueless onlookers below, what stunned him was that if Xu Xiaoshou could kick open the barrier in front of him, then what had they been discussing earlier?

"Solving the array?"

"Isn't it solving the array?"

"Wait, maybe from the start, we weren't on the same wavelength."

Just as Shou Ye was about to get angry, a flash of insight hit him, and he was horrified.

"You, you..."

He trembled, pointing a shaky finger at Xu Xiaoshou: "You said you solved the array just now?"

"Yeah."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded.

"The one you solved wasn't this?"

Shou Ye's face paled, pointing at the fragments on the ground.

"Does this thing need solving?"

"No... Then what did you solve earlier?"

"Isn't it the Ling Zhanshi array? The nested one? I've told you hundreds of times already."

Xu Xiaoshou felt like he'd repeated himself too much.

Is Shou Ye deaf or forgetful? Can't remember anything?

Shou Ye's mind went blank.

If what Xu Xiaoshou solved wasn't the threshold array set by Red Yi, then he must have solved the real Ling Zhanshi diagram inside the jade slip!

But how is that possible?

Solving the Bai Ku Ling Zhanshi diagram in half the time of a tea?

That's absurd!

The entire Red Yi Ling Zhanshi organization had studied it for months and only scratched the surface.

Xu Xiaoshou... in one glance?

"Under suspicion, passive points: 1."

The crowd below couldn't sit still.

They weren't fools. Listening to Xu Xiaoshou's words and seeing Shou Ye's reaction, it was clear the two had just connected on the same frequency!

"What's going on? Did Xu Xiaoshou solve not the threshold array trapping the four Ling Zhanshi Zongshi, but the actual Bai Ku Ling Zhanshi diagram inside the jade slip?"

"Under suspicion, passive points: 1210."

"Under expectation, passive points: 1128."

Everyone was excited.

From what the two said, there was no other meaning—it was exactly that!

Xu Xiaoshou listened to the discussions below and felt uneasy.

He looked at the dumbfounded Shou Ye, then at the array fragments on the ground, and said in shock:

"What's your deal?"

"We talked about the Bai Ku Ling Zhanshi diagram for so long, and you were going on about this junk the whole time?"

He stomped his foot, shattering the fragments on the ground instantly.

"Are you messing with me?"

Xu Xiaoshou raised his brows: "Does this even need breaking? Has Xu Xiaoshou lost his punch, or can't hold a sword anymore?"

"It's not even a defensive array..."

"A mere Zongshi-level trapping array—it's just something you kick through!"