Chapter 442: Immune to Soft and Hard Tactics, Trump Cards Emerging Continuously

"Try it?"

Shou Ye's eyes gleamed brightly under the starlight.

He glanced subtly at the center of the battlefield, where massive giant footprints lay.

Among those present, not a single one was an ordinary figure.

With just a glance, everyone could tell.

Those massive footprints did not come from one creature, but two!

"Iron-clad two-headed gui shou, what more does Xu Xiaoshou want to argue?"

"Or does he really think that by showing another way to slay gui shou, we'll just ignore these obvious footprints and drop the investigation?"

"Or perhaps, as he claims, one of those footprints is just from his special ling ji, Xu Xiaoshou's?"

Shou Ye sighed inwardly.

Truth be told, seeing such a genius mired in trouble, he felt like lending a hand.

But Xu Xiaoshou had gone too far, not only entangled in this gui shou vortex but also making endless excuses even after being exposed.

Yet...

It was truly perfect!

That kind of excuse.

"I'll give you this chance. Try it, then."

Shou Ye said coldly, "But if you can't demonstrate strength enough to slay a wang zuo, I won't let you speak another word."

"The roar from earlier and the footprints here leave you no hope for defense."

"Do you understand?"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded silently.

He said no more; he'd already explained everything he could.

Anything else would just be futile, like trying to bail out the ocean with a cup.

Shou Ye's suspicions couldn't be dispelled with a few words.

In fact, if he kept talking at this point,

Even Xu Xiaoshou himself would feel it came across as evasive and insincere.

Some things were best not overdone.

As for why he was going through this extra step to show his ability to slay a wang zuo from another angle...

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't doing it out of boredom.

He could easily pull out the bronze fragment, grip it tightly, and instantly enter the "kuang bao ju ren" stance.

But afterward?

It was predictable.

Aside from the unpredictable actions he'd take in that berserk state, even if he simply revealed his trump card, would Shou Ye really believe it?

No!

Xu Xiaoshou was absolutely certain.

Once he showed "kuang bao ju ren," Shou Ye could still find another flaw and keep doubting him until all his secrets were drained.

Things laid out in the open, even if true, wouldn't be easily believed.

Conversely, after someone went through their own relentless exploration and hard study, the answer they got—even if wrong—would be treated as the truth.

That was just human nature.

What Xu Xiaoshou needed to do now was give Shou Ye that process of exploration.

And in the end, even if Shou Ye still doubted him, he wouldn't reveal "kuang bao ju ren."

That way, when Shou Ye tirelessly tried to uncover his secrets and then "accidentally" saw the so-called true answer, "kuang bao ju ren,"

Only then would his wariness toward Xu Xiaoshou completely vanish!

In short, tonight's crisis wasn't really about Zhang Taiying or Shou Ye's arrival.

It was truly just a matter of psychological gameplay—who could think one step deeper.

And in psychological battles, Xu Xiaoshou believed he didn't lose to anyone.

"Be careful."

Stepping back, Xu Xiaoshou held his breath and focused, his eyes suddenly filled with surging sword intent.

In that moment, the night wind howled, and an unnamed gust swirled, making everyone's hearts skip a beat.

"Zong shi jian yi!"

Fu Zhi and the Yin Yang Hu Fa, seeing Xu Xiaoshou's sword dao talent for the first time, were still shocked despite their mental preparation.

So young, yet at such a realm...

The continent truly had geniuses like this!

But now that the zong shi jian yi was revealed, it meant the descriptions of Xu Xiaoshou's talents in other daos from earlier

Were probably not fabricated.

That was terrifying.

A genius this versatile was as rare as phoenix feathers across the entire Sheng Shen Continent!

"It's coming."

Fu Zhi murmured softly.

Under the night sky, as Xu Xiaoshou's sword intent rampaged, a sudden, jarring sense of tearing erupted in everyone's hearts.

Yes,

A tearing sensation!

Fu Zhi's pupils contracted sharply.

He stared at Xu Xiaoshou and saw the young man tremble before a terrifying sword intent burst forth, enough to rip the heavens apart.

No...

"Jian nian?!"

Several people exclaimed at once.

Fu Zhi and the others, seeing such a jian nian from someone so young for the first time, were so startled their jaws nearly dropped.

In stark contrast were Feng Ma and Shou Ye, who had seen Xu Xiaoshou's jian nian in the banquet hall.

"This jian nian is completely different now?"

Shou Ye suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

What was going on?

How could he sense the aura of death from a junior?

This was impossible!

He couldn't believe it.

But the terrifying jian nian rising from Xu Xiaoshou's trembling body utterly crushed his will.

"This absolutely isn't Xu Xiaoshou's jian nian!"

Shou Ye roared inwardly.

He felt like he was being targeted by the grim reaper, his pores erupting in fear.

With a boom, his figure burst back.

"Shocked, passive points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

"So exaggerated?"

He remembered trying to unleash that jian nian from the sloppy old man in his dantian before.

But the enemies back then hadn't reacted this way!

Why was this red-robed man acting like a frightened bird, retreating directly?

Could Shou Ye know the sloppy old man?

Or was this indescribable jian nian more terrifying the higher one's cultivation?

He considered calling it off.

But Xu Xiaoshou suddenly didn't want to.

Frankly, this red-robed man had been too aggressive, overstepping boundaries.

Since you wanted to try it, let's see if you'll end up dead!

"Clang—"

Though there was no sword, a clear sword cry echoed through the nine heavens in an instant.

Xu Xiaoshou desperately connected with the usually arrogant jian nian.

This time, it didn't resist.

As if it too felt indignant about Shou Ye's relentless pressure.

"Take... this!"

With a loud shout, Xu Xiaoshou flicked his finger.

That jian nian from the sloppy old man shot along his meridians like thunder, bursting from his finger.

Whoosh!

A faint sound rang out.

In that moment, the scene seemed to slow down.

The wind from the jian nian's slash barely stirred the hair of those around him.

The next second, Shou Ye, who had already retreated a great distance, had his clothes whipped back by the howling wind.

"What kind of sword finger is this?"

Fu Zhi was shocked.

Even his physical reaction speed couldn't keep up with the jian nian Xu Xiaoshou had unleashed.

His spiritual sense could only barely catch the tail of that rushing... wind!

As for the jian nian itself, he saw nothing!

"Did this thing really come from Xu Xiaoshou?"

The Yin Yang Hu Fa was stunned too.

"Questioned, passive points, 1."

Even Feng Ma, who had come from the banquet hall, now looked at Xu Xiaoshou as if seeing him for the first time, his eyes filled with unparalleled shock.

"Awe-inspired, passive points, 1."

In the distance, unlike the onlookers among the major wang zuo,

Shou Ye, locked onto by Xu Xiaoshou's qi, felt the death crisis from the jian nian even more directly.

His face paled.

The instant the jian nian left the finger, Shou Ye felt his body about to split apart.

He didn't dare underestimate it.

In that moment, Xu Xiaoshou seemed to become the most terrifying gui shou he had ever encountered.

"Da Ban Ruo Yu!"

Shou Ye roared, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

A dark red xuanxu qi instantly spread over him, forming a small Buddha jade mountain just in time.

"Tai Xu Zhi Li?"

Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

Wasn't this the tai xu zhi li that Xin Gugu had mentioned?

But...

"It's different."

"Weaker than the tai xu zhi li from the Di Ji's phantom."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head.

He quickly realized Shou Ye's level.

This guy was definitely at the peak of zhan dao, and he had grasped some tai xu zhi li.

But in terms of true realm, that was all.

He was still one step short of tai xu!

Boom!

The jian nian collided with the Buddha jade mountain.

Only when the explosion sounded did the onlookers, including Xu Xiaoshou, barely see the pale white jian nian's true form.

There was no standoff, no prolonged clash.

In a single contact, amid a resounding clang, the jian nian shot up into the sky.

Then, in Xu Xiaoshou's widening pupils, it suddenly reversed and plunged back into his body.

Pfft!

That terrifying force slashed into his body, and Xu Xiaoshou spat out blood, his figure exploding backward, nearly shattering the void.

Fu Zhi quickly acted.

A gentle force caught Xu Xiaoshou, dissipating the horrific momentum for him.

On the other side, Shou Ye was in bad shape.

The explosion held up briefly with the jade Buddha mountain.

But behind it, he felt that initial tearing sensation pierce through his strongest defensive ling ji, "Da Ban Ruo Yu," and slash him directly!

Splat!

Without any suspense, a slanted line of blood sprayed from Shou Ye's shoulder to his foot.

His entire body flew back with a thud, nearly splitting in half in the void!

Shou Ye, still shaken, endured the pain and stabilized himself, instantly sealing the wound.

But the burst of blood had already stunned everyone.

"Senior Red Robe, you're injured?"

Qiu Xuan stared blankly at Shou Ye's wound, his scalp tingling.

A hall-level red robe, a zhan dao expert, even one who had comprehended tai xu zhi li at the peak...

You got cut and bled by a kid who's just broken through to yuan ting jing peak?

"This is insane!"

"Is the world crazy, or am I?"

Qiu Xuan whipped around.

He saw Xu Xiaoshou, who had just spat blood, steady himself and, upon seeing Shou Ye's wretched state, nearly double over laughing.

"Ha ha ha, old man, you have your day too!"

Xu Xiaoshou almost burst out laughing at the thought.

He never expected even Shou Ye couldn't handle that sloppy old man's jian nian.

What on earth was going on?

Even a big shot like you can slip up?

Halfway through laughing, Xu Xiaoshou froze.

Wait!

If even Shou Ye couldn't withstand this jian nian,

Then what level was that sloppy old man who targeted him?

"This is insane!"

Xu Xiaoshou knew he might have come across as too talented.

But he didn't think that at this stage, he'd been seen by Sang Lao, the masked man, and now this terrifying old man too?

"Damn it..."

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't laugh anymore.

His teeth ached, his kidneys hurt, his whole body hurt.

It really hurt!

Unlike Xu Xiaoshou's feelings,

Shou Ye was truly in pain—teeth, kidneys, everything.

After tumbling dozens of circles in the void without any grace, he barely steadied himself.

"This jian nian... something's off!"

Regaining his senses, Shou Ye realized he was soaked in sweat.

"Tou dao!"

His eyes showed undisguised shock.

Wasn't this the "tou dao" known in the three thousand sword paths as impossible to defend against, only to evade?

"No, not just tou dao—that tearing sensation, that edge that ignores spiritual yuan protection entirely..."

"Besides tou dao, there must be other elements from the three thousand sword paths!"

"But why can't I see it?"

Shou Ye's heart turned cold.

The first thing he did after stabilizing was to stop caring about his image.

His figure flickered, and he darted straight to Xu Xiaoshou.

"Holy crap!"

Xu Xiaoshou jumped.

This bleeding old man...

"You told me to try it, and I didn't expect you to be so weak and get blasted away. That's not on me! You're not going to kill me out of embarrassment, are you?"

"Remember, you're a red robe..."

Xu Xiaoshou fired off words rapidly.

The moment Shou Ye landed, he blurted them all out.

Then, still uneasy, he shouted,

"Fu bro, help!"

"Cursed, passive points, 1."

Shou Ye's face darkened.

What do you mean, "I didn't expect you to be so weak"...

Was this guy still mocking him even facing death?

If it were someone with a short temper, they'd slap him into pulp right now!

"Xu Xiaoshou, behave yourself!"

Shou Ye snapped angrily, and Xu Xiaoshou fell silent.

Then, the young man quietly backed away.

One step.

Two steps.

Many steps...

He didn't speak, but his feet never stopped.

As if he wouldn't halt until he was at a safe distance.

And for him to feel truly safe...

Shou Ye would probably have to vanish from sight!

"Halt!"

Shou Ye growled.

He cut to the chase: "Boy, where did that jian nian come from?"

Xu Xiaoshou paused, his lips parting as if to say something.

But then he hesitated, pondering for a long time before asking, "How did you cultivate that 'Jade Buddha Mountain'? Do you have a jade slip?"

"Hmm?"

Shou Ye was stunned.

What kind of diversion was this?

He almost laughed in anger.

"What do you mean?"

"Just what you think."

Xu Xiaoshou replied.

"Heh, my 'Da Ban Ruo Yu' is a top-tier defensive ling ji of the red robes. You want to learn it?"

Shou Ye sneered, "Don't joke. This isn't something you can learn."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled.

"Wasn't it you who started joking with me?"

"My jian nian is one of my trump cards. How can I just tell you about it?"

"Who do you think you are..."

Xu Xiaoshou instinctively retorted, but halfway, he noticed Shou Ye's face turning ashen with rage.

"Cough cough."

He almost forgot.

This guy was at zhan dao peak—can't mess with him!

"I didn't mean it that extremely. What I mean is, it's my trump card, and I have the right to stay silent..."

Xu Xiaoshou's voice grew weaker.

The onlookers, Fu Zhi and the others, were simply amazed.

It was like opening their eyes to a whole new world—the way Xu Xiaoshou talked left them repeatedly stunned.

Was this really just an innate realm expert?

More like a death-seeker!

Who dared talk back to a red robe like this?

And yet...

They glanced at Xu Xiaoshou, then sneakily at Shou Ye, and realized the old man was left speechless by the retort.

"Impressive!"

"Too impressive!"

Even Qiu Xuan, who usually disliked Xu Xiaoshou, felt a surge of admiration.

Indeed, everyone had the right to keep their trump cards silent.

But to use that silence as a reason for silence—you, Xu Xiaoshou, were absolutely the boldest!

"Admired, passive points, 4."

Shou Ye choked in the void for a while.

His qi and blood were already unstable from the jian nian slash, and now Xu Xiaoshou's words nearly made him spit blood from anger.

"You have the right to stay silent, but remember, this is still the interrogation phase."

Shou Ye's voice rose from low to a roar: "I, as a red robe, have the right to twist your head off right now!"

"Got it."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat from the fright.

Seeing Shou Ye still looked unsatisfied, he weakly added, "Don't doubt it, I really get it! This is probably the third time you've said that."

"I..."

Shou Ye was so choked he nearly lost his breath.

Liu Jing nearly burst out laughing on the spot.

Her eyes twinkled as she looked at Xu Xiaoshou's innocent expression, unsure if he was deliberately provoking or just playing dumb.

"I'll give you one last chance."

Shou Ye trembled at the corners of his mouth, saying sternly, "One last chance to explain!"

"Wasn't that just the last chance?"

Xu Xiaoshou ultimately didn't dare say it out loud.

Shou Ye was on the verge of exploding.

A poked tiger was not to be trifled with!

He spread his hands: "I really am like this. Whether I can slay a wang zuo, judge for yourselves!"

"I don't care about Zhang Taiying, but if you're basing it all on those two roars and the footprints to label me a gui shou host,"

"Then I can only laugh it off."

Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes slightly, pointing to the footprints on the ground: "You've lived this long—haven't you seen ling ji that enlarge the body?"

Yuan Tou, Zhang Xin Xiong, and probably Zhang Taiying with his hidden cards...

Xu Xiaoshou indicated that in just a few months, he'd seen several little giants.

Judging gui shou based on roars and footprints was ridiculous.

Besides, in that domain back then, there was truly only one gui shou, Xin Gugu.

If he admitted there were two, what would that be?

Forcing a lie?

Even if the facts were unclear and explanations weak, there was only one gui shou, so that was it!

If you insist on two, unless that gui shou was pregnant.

Shou Ye was stumped by the question.

Xu Xiaoshou's logic from start to finish was too sound.

And he really didn't have some legendary mind-reading ability.

He couldn't refute a word of what the young man said.

If Xu Xiaoshou had the ability to slay gui shou with sword dao, then saying he could do it with ling ji didn't seem far-fetched.

But...

Why not show it?

Shou Ye said gruffly, "Show me that transformation ling ji. If it's real, I'll drop this tonight."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head calmly.

"Don't try to twist the narrative on me."

"My self-defense counterattack was justified and needs no investigation."

"Forcing responsibility on me is your mistake to begin with."

"I've cooperated to the absolute limit."

"Not every trump card of mine can be shown."

"The aftermath you saw earlier—I don't want to experience that again." Xu Xiaoshou said with lingering fear.

Shou Ye clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.

This was the most uncooperative person he'd ever met.

"I'll give you one absolute last chance..."

"No need!"

Xu Xiaoshou was impatient.

He cut Shou Ye off: "You just don't believe a mere yuan ting jing peak like me could have a ling ji to slay a wang zuo, right?"

"Since the jian nian isn't enough, how about something else?"

With that, a golden light suddenly flashed in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes.

"Zha Lie Zi Tai!"

He roared, and the void boomed as golden star points exploded from his body.

Everyone watched the young man with flying hair in a daze.

"Qi Zhu."

Without another word, Xu Xiaoshou reached out, his fingertip aimed straight at Shou Ye.

In that instant, Shou Ye's heart tightened again.

"What is this?"

Xu Xiaoshou actually had another terrifying move he hadn't used?

They hadn't even seen this in the banquet hall!

Xu Xiaoshou flicked his finger, and the five golden qi zhu at his fingertip instantly drew five black lines through the void.

Boom boom boom boom boom!

Explosions layered on, tearing through space.

Shou Ye was prepared and dodged instantly.

But the qi zhu were too fast, and the blast radius too wide.

Even if he evaded, the successive shocks flung him into the air.

"Xu! Xiao! Shou!"

"Called, passive points, 1."

This time, Shou Ye's face was blackened—not from anger, but from the blast.

The four from the city lord's mansion were collectively dumbfounded.

This young man before them had a temper that didn't lose to Shou Ye at all!

Completely uncooperative.

Push him too far, and he'd just throw bombs.

They even wondered if Shou Ye kept pressing, whether this kid would choose mutual destruction.

"What do you want?"

Xu Xiaoshou narrowed his eyes.

"Good one, Xu Xiaoshou. You've got guts."

Shou Ye gripped his spiritual yuan, fuming with anger.

"Do you know what happens if you refuse a gui shou interrogation?"

"Hmph!"

Xu Xiaoshou tore through the pretense, no longer afraid, and snorted coldly.

"Then have you considered, if the person you're interrogating really isn't a gui shou host,"

"Your repeated pressure, biased judgment, and emotional involvement—if it were someone less articulate, what would happen to them?!"

The five in the field froze, suddenly enlightened.

Exactly!

It was only because Xu Xiaoshou was so eloquent.

Imagine if it were someone else under Shou Ye's relentless push—not a gui shou host, but they'd end up as one anyway!

"Good one, Red Robe. Good one, Sheng Shen Hall."

"You handle gui shou interrogations like this?"

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head with a sigh, showing the resolve of a man ready to break or stand.

"Tonight, I can put up with your unreasonable antics. I can reveal my other dao trump cards for you to see."

"But if you want to see my 'kuang bao ju ren'?"

"Frankly, even if I die, I won't show it!"