Chapter 463: Xu Xiaoshou, Enemy of Humanity

Chapter 464: Xu Xiaoshou, Follow Me

"How could there be so many Bai Kulu?"

Even Xu Xiaoshou felt a pang of panic facing such a tide of Bai Gu beasts.

He prided himself on being able to unleash his full power, as long as he wasn't ambushed by a Wang Zuo first.

But as the old saying goes, two fists can't beat four hands.

In this situation, there were probably far more than four thousand or even forty thousand hands.

Under these circumstances, if he still thought about trying to get some Jin Zhao energy liquid, Xu Xiaoshou figured his brain must be waterlogged.

Yu Zhiwen's eyes also showed a hint of panic.

With her current cultivation level, in close combat, even one Bai Kulu could take her down.

After this beast tide passed, it would be hard to find even fragments of her body.

"So, was it the earlier battle fluctuations that attracted these guys?"

"No."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately denied it.

When those two groups of Bai Gu giants were clashing, the battle noise was many times louder than when he entered.

In contrast, once he joined, the fight ended in a flash.

So, this wave of Bai Kulu couldn't possibly have been drawn by the battle.

Even if something had attracted them, it wouldn't have brought so many!

"Something's off."

Xu Xiaoshou's first reaction was that they'd been tricked.

But then he thought again: everyone had been randomly teleported, and Bai Ku had just started, so no one could have set a trap.

In that case, maybe this group of Bai Kulu wasn't after the two of them, but something else?

"Run!"

He set aside the unsolved mystery for now.

Regardless, the best plan was to flee—thirty-six stratagems, and running was the top one.

Xu Xiaoshou said this and was about to leap into the air.

But Yu Zhiwen had a bitter smile on her face.

"Can we even get away?"

She looked at the Bai Gu beast tide closing in with a pitiful gaze.

At this speed, only a Wang Zuo could possibly escape.

"We can."

Xu Xiaoshou stared steadily at Yu Zhiwen, speaking with determination.

With "One Step to Heaven" and plenty of pills for support, he could probably skirt around the beast tide and escape.

Yu Zhiwen's eyes lit up with hope again.

Before she could speak, Xu Xiaoshou knew the girl had misunderstood.

"I can."

He added, "But I might not be able to take you with me."

Yu Zhiwen's eyes widened in an instant.

What kind of time was this for jokes?

Xu Xiaoshou was just stating the facts.

But right now, leaving the girl behind to save himself didn't sit right with his conscience.

Though teaming up had been a casual invitation, he still had principles.

"Send you into Yuan Fu?"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned.

It was a good option.

But once he revealed Yuan Fu, he'd lose his last layer of protection in front of her.

Yu Zhiwen wasn't the scary part.

What was scary were the others from Sheng Shen Hall.

Xu Xiaoshou had accepted Tan Shen, befriended Xin Gugu, which meant he was already half-opposed to Sheng Shen Hall.

Even if he didn't admit it or think that way, that's how others saw it.

So, he didn't feel that exposing the fact he'd successfully repaired Yuan Fu would be good for him.

At least, if Cheng Xingchu found out, it would bring unnecessary trouble.

"Fly?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked up at the sky.

Could Bai Gu giants fly?

From what he'd seen of those two groups fighting earlier, it seemed not.

In that case, if the two of them flew, wouldn't they be unbeatable?

Yu Zhiwen shook her head directly.

Before she could speak, Xu Xiaoshou saw white figures fluttering in the dust-filled sky.

"Bai Kulu with wings?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a headache coming on.

Yu Zhiwen nodded bitterly: "Wings are this type of Bai Kulu's weapon."

"What about going underground?"

"Underground!"

The two suddenly lit up with the same idea.

If the sky wasn't an option, maybe underground was.

Xu Xiaoshou realized from Yu Zhiwen's expression that there probably weren't any Bai Kulu with such huge bodies that could burrow.

In that case, as long as they went deep enough underground and used spiritual energy to protect themselves, they should be able to survive this beast tide.

With that thought, he acted.

"Hold on for a bit!"

Xu Xiaoshou instructed, immediately drawing Zang Ku.

Yu Zhiwen's gaze fixed clearly on the black Luo sword sheath he hadn't obtained yet.

But with the situation urgent, she didn't say more.

Palms together like a sword, Xu Xiaoshou's gaze suddenly steadied.

His mind flashed back to the scene of Yan Tingting and Gu Qing San fighting.

If you asked what kind of single-target attack was the strongest, capable of piercing hundreds of zhang vertically in an instant...

Without a doubt.

"Dian Dao!"

From the three thousand sword paths, Dian Dao was the ancient sword technique with the most explosive single-point damage that Xu Xiaoshou had seen.

He didn't know how to use it, but that didn't stop him from imitating it now.

He condensed his sword intent to the tip, infused it with sword thoughts, and Zang Ku hummed excitedly in an instant.

"Ha!"

Xu Xiaoshou shouted, without seeming to exert force, but a point of pure white sword energy compressed to the extreme transformed into a black line and burst from the tip.

"Boom!"

Almost simultaneously, the ground was shaken open, creating a pit several zhang wide.

"This..."

Yu Zhiwen was instantly confused.

Such a big pit—was he trying to trap the Bai Gu giants to sleep together?

"Cough, sorry, a little accident."

Sure enough, compressing sword intent wasn't something you could succeed at just by trying.

And for this kind of single-point damage, the more you went on, the harder it was to compress.

When could he do it like Gu Qing San, blasting out a channel just big enough for one person?

The power of this sword technique might even multiply several times over.

But right now...

"Never mind that."

Xu Xiaoshou waved it off and checked the depth of the strike.

The width wasn't ideal, but the depth was okay.

With the buildup, it should be dozens of zhang.

It got narrower as it went down.

Clearly, this strike had made a conical shape.

"Go down first, I'll seal the top with a spiritual array. It should hold."

Xu Xiaoshou said, jumping down first.

The Bai Gu beast tide was advancing relentlessly, so no one would stop to dig a hole.

Even if the ones in front wanted to stop, the ones behind wouldn't give them the chance—or even dare.

In this scenario, once the beast tide started, it couldn't be stopped.

If anyone slowed down, they'd likely be trampled to death by their own kind.

So, as long as they withstood the pressure from above, the two of them could endure this assault.

Whoosh!

A light figure landed beside him.

Seeing Yu Zhiwen come down, Xu Xiaoshou immediately sent out spiritual threads.

"I'll do it."

But Yu Zhiwen stopped him.

She lightly raised her hand, and without any spiritual threads, the soil at the top suddenly began to move.

As if drawn, the earth healed itself, and even the several-zhang-wide pit at the top quietly returned to normal before the Bai Gu beast tide arrived.

It was as if they'd opened a small spherical space underground for just the two of them, with everything else restored.

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised.

He couldn't see it with his eyes, but his "perception" could detect that Yu Zhiwen wasn't using spiritual threads or array disks.

She was truly manipulating the Dao, altering the traces of heaven and earth.

Even if it was just a small change in the earth's pattern, the method involved was astonishing.

Could mere humans alter the heavenly Dao and affect the real world?

"Is this 'Tianji Shu'?"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt that Fu Zhi's Tianji Shu was pathetic.

That guy was still researching Tianji Shu from a spiritual array master's perspective.

So, after all that research, he only came up with those nested structures.

Though in terms of three-dimensional space, it completely surpassed spiritual array masters.

But that level, strictly speaking, hadn't even touched the surface of Tianji Shu!

"What level is your Tianji Shu?"

Xu Xiaoshou asked, full of curiosity.

"There's no level."

Yu Zhiwen had only manipulated the Dao to change a trace, and her face had already paled, sweat pouring down, even wetting her hair.

"Tianji Shu starts at Zongshi, because only Zongshi can barely touch the heavenly Dao."

"So, any Tianji Shu master who's not a Zongshi is just a fake."

She explained.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded thoughtfully.

He glanced at the spiritual threads emerging from his hand and realized his thinking had been boxed in.

"The Dao is objectively present, just invisible to the naked eye."

This was the insight he'd gained from the "Textile Mastery" illusion.

But because of preconceptions, when he set up spiritual arrays, he still chose to use spiritual threads instead of array patterns.

"Why not just use the heavenly Dao to replace array patterns?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt like another door to a new world had been kicked open.

"Textile Mastery" included "Tianji Shu," he was sure of that.

But "Textile Mastery" hadn't taught him how to learn Tianji Shu.

Or rather, he already had all the basic experience and knowledge of Tianji Shu, but didn't know how to apply it.

In that case...

Xu Xiaoshou slightly lifted his gaze, looking at the soil above.

In his line of sight, "perception" barely managed to see faint traces of the Dao beyond the elemental light points.

"Tianren Unity?"

Yu Zhiwen was surprised on the side.

Just by answering one question, Xu Xiaoshou had directly sensed this level?

How terrifying was this guy's talent?

She hadn't even started explaining anything about "Tianji."

And he'd already touched the threshold of Tianji Shu?

"But he doesn't have 'Zhuji Xing Tong'..."

Thinking of that, Yu Zhiwen was even more shocked beyond words.

"Received admiration, passive value +1."

However, even with enlightenment, Xu Xiaoshou ended up with nothing.

Without Zhuji Xing Tong, being unable to see the heavenly Dao was the biggest obstacle.

He couldn't achieve true Tianren Unity yet.

Or rather, he couldn't enter Tianren Unity whenever he wanted.

This was actually something all Zongshi powerhouses craved but couldn't attain.

Without entering that enlightened state of Tianren Unity, no one could see the heavenly Dao, let alone alter it.

But after this slight attempt, Xu Xiaoshou felt he had a chance.

He had the foundation of Tianji Shu; what he lacked was Xing Tong.

Yet, the ability of Xing Tong to peer into the heavenly Dao could be substituted by something.

"Perception!"

Exactly, "perception"!

At Zongshi Lv.1, "perception" only let Xu Xiaoshou vaguely see a bit of the Dao traces.

But with this direction, he figured the subsequent upgrades of this passive skill would definitely develop toward making the Dao traces clearer.

And once his cultivation reached Zongshi and "perception" upgraded to Wang Zuo level...

"Tianji Shu, achieved in one go!"

The sharp glint in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes startled Yu Zhiwen.

"Are you okay?"

She asked with concern: "For the first try, not seeing anything is normal. You've already entered an enlightened state once, which is great. You don't need to..."

The more Yu Zhiwen spoke, the more off it sounded, and words like "don't be sad" got swallowed back.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't look sad at all.

He seemed like not sensing the heavenly Dao was something to celebrate.

He was practically over the moon!

It was as if failure made him happier than success.

"What a weirdo..."

"Received suspicion, passive value +1."

"What are you thinking? Be quiet."

Xu Xiaoshou braced his hands against the top, not daring to use spiritual energy, relying purely on his physical strength to hold back the massive force above.

The surroundings shook and trembled, growing more intense.

Clearly, the Bai Gu beast tide was approaching right above them.

Yu Zhiwen stopped overthinking and slightly raised her head, staring solemnly at the soil overhead.

"Can we hold it?"

She asked in a low voice.

Neither dared to use spiritual energy; if they did, those frenzied guys above would surely notice.

Even if the chances of them digging underground were slim, what if?

"Uh!"

In response, as the tremors peaked, Xu Xiaoshou let out a stifled grunt.

Yu Zhiwen looked over with full worry and saw Xu Xiaoshou's face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, beads of sweat dripping instantly.

Her heart tightened.

She could imagine the scene:

The Bai Gu beast tide roaring overhead.

Down below, two people relying solely on their bodies to forcibly support those incredibly heavy Bai Gu giants.

Most crucially, Yu Zhiwen realized she couldn't help at all!

Using Tianji Shu would definitely be detected.

But just watching...

Yu Zhiwen couldn't bear it.

She hesitated, then slowly extended her hand and tiptoed up to support the soil above.

Xu Xiaoshou felt no reduction in pressure.

Clearly, the girl was giving it her all.

But her all... was like a drop in the bucket.

"What are you doing?"

Xu Xiaoshou buzzed, almost laughing.

With your tiny hands and feet, what help could you be?

"I..."

Yu Zhiwen's face turned red: "I want to help."

"You're helping for nothing."

Now, even Yu Zhiwen's snow-white neck flushed, unsure whether to pull back or not.

"Retract your ability."

Xu Xiaoshou said with a smile in his eyes.

The Bai Gu giants were heavy, but with "strong build," "反震," "韧性," and the ground as a fulcrum, nothing under the sky could bend his knees.

Certainly not these brainless creatures.

Yu Zhiwen obediently withdrew her hand.

Not knowing what to do, she stood there lost, gazing at the towering Xu Xiaoshou, her heart starting to race.

Though the roaring above was deafening, she felt she could hear her own heartbeat clearly.

Beads of sweat rolled down the young man's forehead, slid over his brow, circled into his eye socket, but refused to fall further, accumulating instead.

When the next drop joined, it suddenly drilled into Xu Xiaoshou's eye.

Instantly, it stung so much that even the crow's feet at the corner of his eye twitched.

Yu Zhiwen's lips curved.

"What's so funny?"

Xu Xiaoshou noticed right away.

The space in the pit was too cramped; "perception" saw everything so clearly.

Not just her racing heartbeat, even her breathing was detectable.

Right beside him.

But glancing at the info bar...

No 'received mockery'?

So, what was she laughing at?

"Nothing."

Yu Zhiwen didn't know why she wanted to laugh, but seeing the all-powerful Xu Xiaoshou defeated by stinging sweat just made her want to.

She hesitated, then slowly reached out again.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't mess around!"

Xu Xiaoshou was on guard; this girl wasn't being honest, and now she wanted to touch him?

If you get shaken away, that's one thing, but if those guys above notice, we're all done!

"Sneak attack!"

Yu Zhiwen hummed with a smile, her hand already reaching Xu Xiaoshou's face, opening to reveal a small handkerchief inside.

"You..."

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

His "you dare" stopped abruptly as he watched the girl seriously wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Thump-thump...

He didn't know whose heartbeat it was, but in "perception," it was amplified endlessly.

"Received care, passive value +1."

"Received tending, passive value +1."

The info bar unusually showed a warm side, and for the first time, Xu Xiaoshou felt like he wanted to say something but didn't know how.

"Xu Xiaoshou."

Yu Zhiwen suddenly called softly.

Xu Xiaoshou stared fixedly at the woman in front of him, noticing for the first time how truly beautiful she was.

Slim willow brows and warm jade features, a nose that could melt hearts.

Even with the veil covering the lower half of her face.

And even ignoring those most eye-catching Xing Tong.

Yu Zhiwen's facial features were a perfect, comfortable match.

Just one look, and it was pure gentleness.

"What?"

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't look away.

Yu Zhiwen's hand wiping sweat paused slightly, her lips parting as if it was hard to say.

Her face flushed, she slightly averted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes, and only then did she muster the strength in her toes.

"Xu Xiaoshou, come with me!"

The scene fell silent.

"Received temptation, passive value +1."

Xu Xiaoshou's foot twitched, his hand unsteady, and soil from above poured down, directly turning Yu Zhiwen into a mud-covered mess.

"Received concern, passive value +1."

"You're tempting me!"

Xu Xiaoshou said flatly.

Yu Zhiwen rolled her eyes so hard they nearly reached the sky.

She stretched her neck in annoyance, tilting her head: "What I mean is! Do you want to come with me to Sheng Shen Hall after we leave Bai Ku?!"

"Tian Sang County is too small; the central domain is your stage."

"Staying in a place like that will just waste your talent!"

Xu Xiaoshou watched her increasingly excited expression and smirked, "Keep it down."

"Oh."

Yu Zhiwen realized she'd lost her composure and quickly stepped back, her face red as she leaned against the mud wall behind her.

Huff.

Puff.

The pit fell silent again, the roaring above now jarringly loud.

"So, what do you say?"

Turning her head away, Yu Zhiwen didn't dare to meet his eyes.

Thinking of that "you're tempting me," she felt frustrated but still asked after hesitating.

"Is that really all you mean?"

Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"I..."

Yu Zhiwen paused, then nodded: "Yes."

"You hesitated."

Xu Xiaoshou said bluntly: "You paused for half a breath; you're lying."

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Shh."

Crack!

Yu Zhiwen's clenched fists made a sudden sound.

Both looked down, and she quickly hid her hands behind her, embedding them in the soil.

"You want to hit me?"

Xu Xiaoshou's face darkened.

He was working hard to hold up this space, and his companion wanted to punch him instead of being grateful?

"No."

Yu Zhiwen's face turned red again: "I don't."

"Received deception, passive value +1."

"Heh, women!"

"I..."

"Is this your sincerity? Recruiting me with your fists?"

Xu Xiaoshou sneered.

"It's not like that; let me explain."

"No need to explain; I'm not going with you."

Xu Xiaoshou played dumb on purpose, defining the matter.

He'd heard similar invitations countless times.

Masked man, Luo Leilei, Xin Gugu...

Almost everyone with some backing wanted him.

But what could Xu Xiaoshou say?

He'd tried all kinds of refusals, and none ended well.

With Sang Lao watching from above, how could he leave?

No way out.

Yu Zhiwen widened her eyes in disbelief that a simple fist had made Xu Xiaoshou reject her.

"You can think it over properly."

She bit her lip: "I'm serious."

"Heh, women!"

Exhausted.

Yu Zhiwen felt her heart was tired and didn't even have the energy to wipe Xu Xiaoshou's sweat anymore, just propping herself against the wall with bent knees.

Sweat soaked her back, a chill running through her.

For the first time, she tasted rejection, and honestly, it felt awful.

Like the sky had collapsed, everything silent.

"Hmm?"

Not long after propping herself up, Yu Zhiwen sensed something wrong.

"Really silent?"

The noisy roars above had suddenly quieted?

"The Bai Kulu, passed?"

She asked in surprise.

Xu Xiaoshou also noticed the anomaly; he extended his "perception" upward.

A dense pack of Bai Gu giants!

"They haven't passed."