Chapter 467: Xu Fly

Chapter 468: I'll Give You Ten Breaths to Run Away

Xu Xiaoshou hung up the phone and watched Zhong Qu crawl out of the pile of small rocks, taking a deep breath.

"Up?"

"Xiao Yu, run!"

After shouting that, he didn't look back and bolted at full speed in the opposite direction.

Yu Zhiwen was completely stunned.

A moment ago, she had been squatting there, finding Xu Xiaoshou's sharp and deadly verbal jabs amusing.

But in the next second, she was utterly shocked by this guy's sudden explosive power.

This terrifying burst of strength—anyone else would need a second life to withstand that absolute physical dominance!

The problem was, after delivering that brief attack, he didn't even check the opponent's injuries.

"Run?"

"Isn't he supposed to finish them off?"

Yu Zhiwen turned her head towards Zhong Qu.

In an instant, her pupils contracted sharply.

Thick black mist erupted, instantly turning the surrounding world into a sinister void.

The scattered corrosive gas, upon touching the ground under Zhong Qu's feet, dissolved it in a flash.

"Gui Shou?"

Yu Zhiwen felt a chill run down her spine.

She completely understood why Xu Xiaoshou had run.

But how had he known the opponent was a Gui Shou?

Her own Star Pupils hadn't even detected the anomaly.

Xu Xiaoshou had spotted it with just his naked eye?

"Run!"

A voice in her mind urged her on.

Yu Zhiwen didn't dare hesitate.

If it was a Gui Shou, even with her Tianji Technique assisting Xu Xiaoshou, it would be a guaranteed bloodbath.

Whoosh—she tried to follow Xu Xiaoshou's path.

But then she saw him dashing away while casually waving his hand behind his back towards her.

"This..."

Yu Zhiwen instantly understood.

Relatively speaking, run?

"For me, he's drawing the Gui Shou away alone?"

In that moment, Yu Zhiwen felt a mix of emotions.

Though it was true that only Xu Xiaoshou had attacked Zhong Qu, as part of the same team, his willingness to prioritize her safety in this crisis made her feel incredibly secure.

Biting her lip, Yu Zhiwen didn't hesitate and instantly burst into speed, running in the opposite direction from Xu Xiaoshou.

But after just two steps, she stopped.

Watching Zhong Qu, now fully transformed into the Gui Shou, charging relentlessly towards Xu Xiaoshou while ignoring her completely, she understood.

"So, I'm unnecessary."

"Why is it only chasing me?"

Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled.

After Zhong Qu took that beating from him, the Gui Shou inside had clearly been enraged.

In its Gui Shou form, even Xu Xiaoshou's "perception" couldn't clearly detect its shape.

That mass of black mist was like an enhanced version of the Gray Mist Figure, blotting out the sky in an instant.

"Corrosive Figure?"

If that thing touched him, even a Zongshi body might not withstand the corrosion.

But...

"Why is it only chasing me?"

"Xiao Yu is also human. In a two-choice situation, does it have to pick me?"

Complaints aside, it was clear that even as a Gui Shou, Zhong Qu still harbored deep hatred towards him.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't panicking—his Zongshi agility wasn't for show. He was fully prepared for escaping.

However, Zhong Qu in Gui Shou form moved just as fast, if not faster.

In the blink of an eye, the distance between them shrank from hundreds of zhang to just over ten zhang. Xu Xiaoshou spun around and flicked his fingers.

Whoosh!

Two small fireballs shot towards the face behind him. With two booming explosions, Zhong Qu's charge halted, and the gap widened again.

"Roar!"

Zhong Qu went berserk.

His eyes were completely red, his hatred for Xu Xiaoshou overwhelming.

This guy even had the nerve to toy with him like that right before falling into the abyss of death?

Boom! Boom!

Another two explosions rang out, sending Zhong Qu flying again.

To him, those blasts were insignificant, but their force was as annoying as Xu Xiaoshou's taunts.

"Roar!!!"

He roared at the sky again.

With that bellow, the void twisted, and black mist began seeping out everywhere.

Xu Xiaoshou was alarmed.

He had been secretly pleased that his tactics were working and thought he wouldn't need to use "Yi Bu Deng Tian," saving his spiritual energy for emergencies.

But in the next second, this thing activated an area-of-effect attack?

"Damn it? Red Yi's support is way too slow. By the time they arrive, it'll be too late to collect the body."

Sizzle...

His muscles corroded by the black mist.

As expected, pain surged through him, and even his Zongshi body, like steel, started to rot.

Notifications flashed rapidly in his info panel. Xu Xiaoshou knew he couldn't hold back anymore.

He had to hold out until Red Yi arrived.

He pulled out a handful of pills and swallowed them in one go.

"Yi Bu Deng Tian!"

His spiritual energy bottomed out instantly, but as the void rippled, Xu Xiaoshou's figure vanished.

Hiss—

Zhong Qu paused.

The target had suddenly disappeared?

"It's still here!"

His powerful hunter senses allowed him to detect Xu Xiaoshou, who had teleported out of the black mist but couldn't escape the throne's gaze.

"You can't run!"

A low voice emerged from Zhong Qu's mouth.

Clearly, at that moment, the Gui Shou Corrosive Figure had fully taken over Zhong Qu's body.

"Run?"

Xu Xiaoshou crouched low, gripping his hidden blade Zang Ku with both hands at his waist, muttering to himself: "Do I look like the type to run?"

He suddenly raised his hand. The Black Mist Figure surged through the corrosive fog, closing in rapidly.

Five hundred zhang!

Three hundred zhang!

One hundred zhang!

Fifty!

Thirty...

Just as they were about to clash, a surge of Zongshi sword intent erupted into the air.

Boom!

A white sword energy burst from Zhong Qu's body, halting him for less than a millisecond, but that was enough—Xu Xiaoshou had already drawn his sword.

"Die!"

With a swift stroke, the sword pierced the clouds, its pressure shaking the ages.

In the shroud of gray-black corrosive mist, a frosty sword light suddenly appeared, echoing through the nine heavens.

It was as if a void rift tore open between them, sucking in the surging black mist directly towards the center.

The sword light slashed upward from Zhong Qu's leg to his face.

Boom!

The ground several li away was blasted apart by the sword force.

Then, Zhong Qu's face met the sword intent, splitting him in two!

"Huh?"

Yu Zhiwen, watching from afar, was totally baffled.

The battle had taken an unexpectedly shocking turn.

The Gui Shou Zhong Qu, who had been so menacing, took Xu Xiaoshou's sword head-on after unleashing that widespread corrosive black mist.

"Wait, this guy had no idea the person in front of him was actually a swordsman?!"

In that instant, a surge of inexplicable joy welled up in Yu Zhiwen's heart, almost as if she had slain the Gui Shou herself.

Xu Xiaoshou won?

"With just one sword?"

Xu Xiaoshou stared numbly at the two severed halves flying past him.

He knew how powerful the sloppy uncle's sword intent was—it had forced a cut on Shou Ye even when he was on guard.

But he never imagined that, used as a surprise attack, this sword move could turn the tables completely.

Whoosh!

Before he could dwell on his joy, the sword intent that had been unleashed flew back like a homesick child.

As expected, it returned and slashed into Xu Xiaoshou's body.

Puff!

He spat out a mouthful of blood and was knocked back several steps.

If he could, he wished this thing would wear out from repeated use and eventually disappear.

But the sword intent grew stronger with each "observation," and along with that...

It became even more "homesick"!

"Well, if it has one-hit kill power, and rejection is useless, might as well accept it."

After experiencing the sword intent's might, Xu Xiaoshou decided he could tolerate its presence in his qi sea.

At the very least, to get rid of it, he'd need to reach a level where he could rival the sloppy uncle!

"One sword, and the Gui Shou is gone..."

This anticlimactic fight had Xu Xiaoshou on edge the whole time, only for the outcome to be so absurd.

He was about to turn towards Yu Zhiwen to share the good news.

"Under surveillance, passive value +1."

In an instant, goosebumps covered his body.

Xu Xiaoshou's spiritual sense couldn't see it, but his "perception" vaguely detected Zhong Qu's bisected body dissipating completely after spilling a pool of blood.

Then, from the empty sky above, another Zhong Qu slowly emerged.

"A clone?"

"A substitute technique?"

"Or teleportation?"

Xu Xiaoshou was terrified.

Since it was "surveillance," that meant this guy had been watching him for a while.

But he had clearly just died by his sword...

"So, I missed?"

A strange, low laugh came from behind, and Xu Xiaoshou realized—this guy wanted payback for being toyed with earlier!

Such a childish notion shouldn't factor into enemy judgment.

But Xu Xiaoshou felt his guess was spot-on based on Zhong Qu's personality!

He forced himself to stay calm.

If he turned around, he might face the opponent's long-prepared killing blow.

No matter what, he couldn't move!

Suppressing his fear and panic, Xu Xiaoshou took a light breath and said in a very calm tone: "Is it fun?"

"Uh?"

The eerie laughter behind him choked off in disbelief: "You knew I was here all along?"

"Under suspicion, passive value +1."

He had it.

As long as the opponent was talking, he had a chance!

Xu Xiaoshou checked his qi sea—after "Yi Bu Deng Tian," his spiritual energy was depleted, and what little remained came from the pills.

So, right now, he couldn't teleport.

Slowly, he sheathed his sword and straightened up, gently adjusting his messy hair.

"Isn't it obvious?"

Only then did he turn around slowly, looking at the figure shrouded in thick black mist, its face indistinguishable.

His gaze shifted downward.

Sure enough, a dense, deathly black energy was compressing there.

If it released, Xu Xiaoshou figured he might not survive.

But he wasn't intimidated and said calmly: "You're on the brink of death and still trying to struggle?"

The figure laughed, two crimson eyes piercing through the black mist: "Kid, you don't seriously think your attacks can hurt me, do you?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't respond.

His pupils dilated slightly as he focused on the distance, his sight landing behind the Corrosive Figure.

He bowed slightly.

"Red Yi senior, it's your turn."

In that instant, even with the naked eye, you could see the black mist before him tremble visibly.

Immediately, the Corrosive Figure spun around at light speed, not even thinking, hurling the black energy in its hand.

"Xie Ying Tian Can!"

The compressed black energy ball tore a black line through the void, then exploded at its peak.

Boom!

Like a black you lotus blooming, it lasted only a fleeting moment.

The next second, it dragged in everything around it, including space fragments, pulling them inward.

Sizzle...

There was no explosion, no roar.

Just a few hisses.

Everything sucked into the black energy ball was obliterated on the spot, not even leaving ashes as it vanished into the spatial fragments.

"No one?"

Everything had been obliterated.

But apart from rocks, grass, and wood, there was no sign of a person.

The Corrosive Figure froze.

The black mist enveloping its body trembled violently as it realized—it had been tricked by Xu Xiaoshou again!

"Roar!"

A mad roar escaped it. The Corrosive Figure's body swelled suddenly, breaking through the black mist.

For the first time, its completely non-human, grotesque form was revealed.

Ten zhang tall, with a lion's head and human body, menacing bull horns, and four clawed limbs.

Black, demonic liquid dripped from its dark red Nether Armor, seeping into the ground and etching countless deep holes.

Yet, even this overwhelming form couldn't hide the trembling of its body from suppressed rage.

The earth shook with its movements.

"You tricked me!!"

It turned and roared down.

Boom!

The ground shattered again, debris flying everywhere.

But Xu Xiaoshou was gone.

"Run... run away?"

The Corrosive Figure felt its intelligence had been crushed once more.

It had been stalled by Xu Xiaoshou, imagining a snake in its cup and wasting its lethal "Xie Ying Tian Can" on nothing.

And now, he had run?

The Corrosive Figure laughed skyward.

Of course!

How could he not run?

He was just bluffing—he couldn't hurt it at all.

Not running meant death!

"But can you escape?"

It watched the figure that seemed to have vanished from sight.

With a lift of its four claws, the black mist that had covered just a few hundred zhang expanded to several li in an instant.

Xu Xiaoshou was exposed with nowhere to hide!

"Black Nether Realm, Void Escape."

Whoosh—the spot left a laughing afterimage as the Corrosive Figure's true body appeared above Xu Xiaoshou.

In its domain, nothing was impossible!

Notifications flooded his info panel.

Xu Xiaoshou stopped.

Feeling the intense corrosive force on his body, his muscles were dissolving rapidly.

"So this is the true power of a Gui Shou with intelligence..."

Xu Xiaoshou smiled bitterly.

He realized his understanding of Gui Shou had been distorted by special circumstances.

The first time, the Gray Mist Figure was suppressed in the Tianxuan Gate's small world, and he only sensed strength slightly above Zongshi.

The second time, Xin Gugu's Gui Shou form had no consciousness, just brute force, and the opponent was Zhang Taiying's illusion, which was shattered by A Jie.

So, he thought he could handle it.

Facing a Gui Shou, he figured with his passive skills and powerful sword intent, even if he lost, escaping shouldn't be a problem.

He had miscalculated.

"This is way beyond what a mere Xiantian like me should touch!"

True, Sang Lao's letter said "White Grotto has no rules."

But that applied to everyone, including the Gui Shou!

Without the world's suppression and with clear intelligence, a Gui Shou's power wasn't just additive—it multiplied.

Every casual move was a killing blow!

"Run?"

The Corrosive Figure reappeared in front of Xu Xiaoshou.

It swayed, splitting into another version of itself.

"Run?"

Two Corrosive Figures looked at Xu Xiaoshou, then split into four.

"Run? Go on!"

"Hiss... why don't you run?"

"Today, even with four legs, even if you can teleport, run!"

"Can you escape my domain?"

The four Corrosive Figures roared maniacally.

Xu Xiaoshou's body cracked instantly under the roar.

The corrosive force constantly weakened his defenses, and even with "Everlasting," he couldn't withstand power far beyond Wangzuo level.

This roar left him nowhere to hide.

Gritting his teeth, Xu Xiaoshou stayed silent.

He admitted defeat.

Golden light scattered from his body.

Xu Xiaoshou pulled out the bronze fragment and shook his head.

"No running."

"Hiss... come on, show your trump card!"

The Corrosive Figure straightened up, unfazed by Xu Xiaoshou's actions.

The four massive forms stood in the four directions, surrounding the tiny figure, laughing wildly:

"You aren't all tough, able to kick me like a ball?"

"Come on, try again!"

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent.

He knew that even transforming into the "Raging Giant," at his current level, he'd be lucky to reach three zhang.

Jumping up, he might just touch their knees.

Gripping the bronze fragment, his fingers trembled slightly.

Honestly, fearing death was inevitable.

But he couldn't lose his composure.

He lifted his head, tilting back slightly to see their faces, correcting them: "You're wrong. What I kicked earlier wasn't a ball—it was a football."

"Hmm?"

Even a mere hum shook Xu Xiaoshou's corroded muscles, making him dizzy.

The Corrosive Figure seemed to savor slowly wearing down and killing its most hated enemy.

It chuckled coldly: "Don't you have pills? Take them, heal up. Your body is about to rot away. If you don't, you won't get to enjoy anything else."

"Oh, right, and your little girlfriend?"

The four hulking heads turned in unison towards Yu Zhiwen, far from the battlefield.

"Don't worry, after you die, her fate won't be any better."

Xu Xiaoshou tightened his grip on the bronze fragment.

The figures instinctively turned their heads.

"Your trump card?"

"Use it!"

"Huff..." Xu Xiaoshou ignored the taunt and simply put the bronze fragment away.

"What?"

"Not using it?"

"Given up?"

The Corrosive Figure's laughter grew louder: "Staying alive is suffering, isn't it? Enjoying death can be quite thrilling, right?"

"It's alright."

Xu Xiaoshou's racing heart calmed.

Putting away the bronze fragment was just because he didn't need it anymore.

"Red Yi senior, it's your turn."

He focused his gaze on the space behind one of the Corrosive Figures, bowing slightly.

"Ah... the same trick again? Thinking of using it twice?"

The Corrosive Figure wasn't falling for it.

The four figures raised sixteen claws, forming a black energy sphere above their heads instantly.

Xu Xiaoshou's words reminded it—the missed attack from before needed to land now.

"Tian Can..."

"Black Nether?"

A slightly hoarse voice drifted from behind the battlefield.

In that instant, the vibrating energy sphere halted.

The black mist stopped surging.

The Corrosive Figure's form froze completely.

Even the wind from the cleared battlefield grew piercingly loud.

Crack, crack.

One of the Corrosive Figures turned its head but saw no one.

Until another turned, the frightening figure appeared.

A single red robe.

The wind stirred.

Nothing more.

Shou Ye stood in the air, empty-handed, just standing there bare-fisted.

The black mist in the heavens couldn't touch him, not even graze him.

It was as if this person had stood there since ancient times, merged with the heavens, the Tao, and the entire White Grotto world—impossible to detect.

"Hiss..."

"Sss..."

"Sss, sss."

"Shou Ye?"

The Corrosive Figure Black Nether's voice faltered.

Staring at the red-robed figure, which might be too small to notice, it began to tremble.

Boom, boom!

The great earth shook as Black Nether retreated two steps, shielding Xu Xiaoshou behind it.

"I have a hostage..."

Shou Ye glanced coldly at Xu Xiaoshou, who showed no sign of being a hostage and was even grinning at him.

Was he not worried at all?

Or did he trust Shou Ye that much?