Chapter 488: Trash Beast Fire, What Can You Do to Me?

Chapter 489: The Things That Xiao Yu Looks Down On

"Excellent!"

Xu Xiaoshou watched Zhang Duoyu's reckless actions, and the joy in his heart was almost overflowing.

This woman would never suspect.

The true reason for Zhang Chongmou's death wasn't Xiao Yu's Tianji Array, nor was it his own named sword energy.

Quite the opposite.

Their presence in this battle was, at best, just adding fuel to the fire.

Without the deadly white flames from the Bai Gu Jing, Zhang Chongmou could never have been completely defeated.

But Zhang Duoyu didn't know that!

In this situation, thinking the Bai Gu Jing had an owner, she had completely let down her guard against the massive figure in front of her.

All her focus was now on that unseen enemy who couldn't attack but had somehow shifted positions.

"Hide well, hide well, we absolutely can't be discovered."

Xu Xiaoshou gripped Yu Zhiwen's hand, staring intently at Zhang Duoyu, who had lost any chance of escape and was about to be engulfed by the white flames.

Yu Zhiwen lowered her pale, pretty face and saw Xu Xiaoshou's hand, causing a slight blush to return to her cheeks.

But she stopped struggling.

After all, struggling more wouldn't free her from this guy's strange strength anyway.

"No need to hide."

"'Da Yue Ling Kong' performs teleportation through direct space replacement, even bringing over the sky curtain from that area just now."

"They couldn't detect us back then, and it's even less possible now."

Yu Zhiwen said with complete confidence.

"Teleportation..."

Xu Xiaoshou steadied his mind slightly and asked in confusion, "Since it's teleportation, there must be spatial fluctuations. A Zongshi might not sense it, but a Wangzuo would definitely use that to pinpoint our location."

Yu Zhiwen shook her head with a smile.

"No, the Tianji fluctuations during the replacement process are completely erased once 'Da Yue Ling Kong' is formed."

"My teleportation is silent and traceless."

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily speechless.

This Tianji Array was simply too powerful.

Not only had it transported them directly to the other side of the battlefield at a critical moment, completely dodging Zhang Duoyu's attack, but it had also made the Bai Gu Jing's massive flame cascade miss its mark, locking onto only Zhang Duoyu.

Throughout the fight, Xiao Yu hadn't even launched a single attack.

Yet, with just "Da Yue Ling Kong", the battle situation was being manipulated time and again, steering everything toward the intended goal.

Brave warriors charging into battle were admirable.

But using such means to plan from afar and secure victory a thousand miles away opened another door to the world of combat for Xu Xiaoshou.

Xiao Yu's strength was only average.

But in this array, even a Wangzuo like Zhang Duoyu, the Bai Gu Jing that had slain a Wangzuo, or Xu Xiaoshou himself who had been by her side—all had become pawns.

How the pawns moved and how the game was broken all depended on a single thought!

"What the hell is this thing?"

The "Yu Ling Shield" could deflect fire.

But after deflecting it, the absolute heat around her, as if it could ignite the entire world, still made Zhang Duoyu jump in fright.

"Pop, pop."

At that moment, amidst the splattering white flames, a muffled sound came from her protective Lingyuan.

Zhang Duoyu swept her spiritual sense over it in alarm.

"It's ignited?"

"How is that possible?"

She was shocked.

With the Yu Ling Shield blocking it, what in the world could get through, except for those elusive energies?

And this white flame was just one of the five elements, a straightforward force of the heavenly dao.

This was exactly what the Yu Ling Shield was best at blocking, so how could it fail and let the fire burn from within?

"Damn it!"

Zhang Duoyu immediately increased her Lingyuan output, trying to shake off the white flames infiltrating from inside.

But as her output grew more intense, the white flames blazed even fiercer, as if fueled by oil.

"What kind of monstrosity is this? Is it specifically designed to burn Lingyuan?"

Zhang Duoyu finally realized something and wanted to sever the ignited part of her Lingyuan.

But at that very moment, a sharp pain hit her Qihai.

She used her spiritual sense to look inward.

Somehow, that scorching aura had followed the Lingyuan straight into her Qihai!

Now, Zhang Duoyu's arrogant face showed a hint of panic.

This white flame could not only ignite Lingyuan but also the Qihai, the root of one's cultivation?

"Could it be..."

"Mou Lao must have fallen to this trick!"

Connecting it to Mou Lao's fate and her own situation, she easily guessed this might be the truth.

Zhang Duoyu's beautiful face turned pale with terror.

The massive flame cascade was too deceptive.

Anyone seeing such a widespread, indiscriminate attack would either run or hold their ground.

After all, it wasn't a targeted strike—if you defended one spot, the technique would be useless.

But the white flame's true power lay in its extreme heat.

That heat could penetrate space and the heavenly dao itself, igniting everything in its path!

Her face began to twitch.

Zhang Duoyu wasn't Zhang Chongmou; she didn't have "Tian You Dan Ying".

With the white flames on her, she couldn't unload even a bit of the pain.

All she could do was endure it with sheer willpower.

"Begone!"

In desperation, she shouted and tried to borrow the power of the heavenly dao.

But the next second, Zhang Duoyu despaired.

The heavenly dao power she had just begun to gather was instantly ignited by the terrifying flames and burned away completely.

"What on earth is this damn fire!"

Zhang Duoyu was in despair.

Her Qihai began to tear apart, her body started to melt, and unable to hold back the agony any longer, her "Yu Ling Shield" weakened slightly.

"Boom!"

The flames from the sky poured over her entirely.

Now, not just her Qihai, but her physical body was directly ignited by the white flames.

"Ah—"

A shrill scream echoed through the void.

The intensity of that cry was no less than the horrific wails from her earlier "Ti Xuan Yin Palm".

But unlike before, when those sound waves could attack, now Zhang Duoyu's screams only conveyed terror and deep despair.

"Ho ho."

After hearing that familiar scream, the Bai Gu Jing finally stopped its output and began dancing wildly in the void.

This was the normal reaction enemies should have after its technique!

Every time it used this move, the fight ended right there.

The little swordsman who escaped earlier was a total fluke.

That human elder was the same.

Though he could penetrate its power, he still died under its brilliant technique.

What good was penetration?

The real killing power of its white flames was that undetectable heat!

"Shiiiah—"

"Damn it!"

"You ghost thing!!!"

Zhang Duoyu was like a madwoman.

Just a slight slip of the "Yu Ling Shield" let the white flames reach her body, and then it was unstoppable.

Her hands, her chest...

Her head, her entire body...

In just a few breaths, her plump figure had melted down to scattered bits of flesh clinging to bones.

"Bloody and mangled" didn't begin to describe Zhang Duoyu's state after being doused in white flames.

It was more like bare bones exposed, and even the bones melting away—that was the true horror of being ignited.

"Break!"

"Break for me!"

Zhang Duoyu tried every trick she knew.

But as soon as she channeled Lingyuan, it was incinerated.

As soon as she called on the heavenly dao, it was burned to nothing.

She couldn't even execute a single spiritual technique.

She couldn't even take a step.

"How could this be..."

Giving up the struggle, the skeletal Zhang Duoyu could only weep with her soul.

She had all these abilities.

She had so many treasures.

But once touched by the white flames, everything was suppressed.

She couldn't use any of it.

In that moment, she finally understood why Mou Lao had died.

The Bai Gu Jing's white flames were the absolute bane of spirit refiners.

Even a Wangzuo, once ignited, couldn't escape death.

"It's over..."

Her eyes completely burned away, but even blind, Zhang Duoyu could still lock onto the Bai Gu Jing's direction.

She never imagined her life as a Wangzuo would end in this Bai Ku.

In her final moments, she still hadn't found where the Bai Gu Jing's owner had gone.

But grudges started somewhere, so they should end there.

"I'll take you down with me!"

She roared, using every ounce of strength to ignite her soul fire amidst the white flames, turning into a beam of spiritual light shooting toward where the Bai Gu Jing was dancing.

"Self-destruct?"

Xu Xiaoshou watched Zhang Duoyu's skeletal remains swell up and suddenly understood.

A Wangzuo self-destruct?

Just glimpsing that distorted, collapsing space made him realize that even at this distance, if it succeeded, they would be dragged into hell!

"Is this like a nuclear bomb..."

"Run!"

Xu Xiaoshou no longer felt safe under the sky curtain.

He grabbed Xiao Yu's hand, intending to send her into his Yuanfu and then use "One Step to Heaven" to escape.

But just then, a casual, faint voice came from the side.

"Yue Mo."

Yu Zhiwen uttered two words lightly.

In the next instant, Zhang Duoyu, who had charged to the Bai Gu Jing's front with her bones already cracking from swelling, deflated like someone had sucked out all the air from her.

"Ssshh."

She collapsed.

Not only her, but the violent heavenly dao fluctuations around her also withered away.

"This..."

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

He remembered that when Zhang Duoyu tried to expand her domain earlier, it had been directly interrupted by Xiao Yu's technique.

Now, even a Wangzuo self-destruct could be forcibly suppressed?

"Of course!"

Xu Xiaoshou thought it over.

A Wangzuo self-destruct essentially involved drawing on heavenly dao power to disrupt it and then explode one's own cultivation.

But any attack involving the heavenly dao...

If the external heavenly dao was lacking, how could the technique form?

It was like fire without oxygen—how could it burn?

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head, staring blankly at the girl beside him, at a loss for words.

"I told you, no need to run."

Yu Zhiwen's lips curved into a slight smile.

She knew what Xu Xiaoshou was thinking.

It was rare to see him so surprised, so Xiao Yu felt playful.

She patted his hand, signaling him to let go, then tiptoed slightly and gently tapped the dumbfounded young man's forehead.

"With me here, you don't have to be afraid."

"Just lie back and relax..."

Yu Zhiwen paused, her face flushing as she realized her words might be misinterpreted, so she added,

"I'll take you flying."

"Received protection, passive value, 1."

"Thud."

With one finger, the Bai Gu Jing shattered Zhang Duoyu's remains.

Under the white flames, no one could resist.

Even if the enemy tried to self-destruct in the end...

Well, self-destruct? Who hadn't tried that?

What the Bai Gu Jing was most proud of wasn't this rarely used white flame, but its own Wangzuo body!

For other beings, a Wangzuo self-destruct could cause massive damage.

But for a Wangzuo body like itself, it was just a bit painful.

And pain...

The Bai Gu Jing indicated that back when it was small, that thing in its head had already tortured away any such emotions.

"Ho ho."

Though it didn't understand why the human had given up on self-destructing, that didn't affect the Bai Gu Jing's joy at crushing another ant.

It started hopping, leaping, and spinning.

Its strange cries rang out continuously, full of delight.

Clearly, defeating two near-equals in a row, yet neither being a match, greatly satisfied its vanity.

"Ho."

Mid-cry, the Bai Gu Jing suddenly stopped.

It remembered.

Besides these two ants, the smaller one it had been chasing was the real primary target.

But with these interruptions in between, it had completely forgotten where that guy had flown off to.

"Roar roar!"

Frustrated, it howled a couple of times, then suddenly lay down on the ground.

It had released too many white flames.

It was tired.

Suddenly, it wanted to sleep.

Fine, then sleep!

"Ho kuakuakua..."

"It's over."

Xu Xiaoshou listened to the snoring, slightly dazed.

He never imagined the Bai Gu Jing would be this strong.

With just Xiao Yu's coordination, it had wiped out two Wangzuos.

The two from Zhang Estate hadn't even managed to inflict a scratch, let alone mutual destruction.

Xu Xiaoshou knew a Zongshi body had impressive recovery.

So, after these two fights, the Bai Gu Jing's Wangzuo body had probably only lost some physical energy and a bit of mental strength.

"Sleeping?"

"Huh?"

Yu Zhiwen turned back in shock.

Xu Xiaoshou froze, then pointed ahead, "I mean, it seems tired. Is it starting to sleep?"

Xiao Yu snapped out of her playful daze from teasing Xu Xiaoshou.

"Oh, oh, yeah, it seems so."

"It has fire, so sleeping here shouldn't be cold."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

When did I ever care if it's cold!

Helplessly holding his forehead, Xu Xiaoshou used his perception to probe the spoils on the ground.

The Bai Gu Jing might not care about them, but he had been eyeing them for ages.

That whip, that shield...

And the ring from the Zhang Estate elder that hadn't been burned by the white flames.

They were all lying not far from the Bai Gu Jing's sleeping body.

"You want them?"

Yu Zhiwen had finally cleared her mind and asked.

"Yeah."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't dare go out alone.

With the sky curtain and cover, he was safe.

But if he went out rashly, even in its sleeping state, the Bai Gu Jing would likely react instantly.

After all, it was a Wangzuo-level being.

Even without spiritual sense, perception, or much brains, it must have basic awareness.

"The Wangzuo ring... The white flames came so suddenly, that elder must have more treasures he didn't use."

"The Zhang Estate is declining, so he might have brought his entire fortune to Bai Ku to find someone!"

Xu Xiaoshou thought of this, and his eyes burned with excitement.

"Is it possible?"

He looked intently at Yu Zhiwen.

"Yes."

She nodded gently.

Within the "Da Yue Ling Kong" Tianji Array, taking an item was simple.

With just a small seal, not even a ripple stirred on the ground, and the ring vanished.

"Here."

Yu Zhiwen handed over the ring.

Xu Xiaoshou reached out excitedly but suddenly stopped.

Logically, this battle was mostly Xiao Yu's doing; he had just been along for the ride.

How could the spoils end up with him?

People were greedy, but there had to be limits!

When he had acted earlier and she watched, she hadn't taken anything.

"You take it."

"This time I was just freeloading; it shouldn't go to me."

Xu Xiaoshou chose to refuse.

It hurt, but one had to have principles.

"I don't need it."

Yu Zhiwen furrowed her brow and placed the ring in Xu Xiaoshou's hand. "Besides, I only influenced the battle a bit."

"The damage was done by the Bai Gu Jing, and you finished them off."

"So, this ring should be yours."

Xu Xiaoshou paused.

"You make a good point..."

He flipped his hand and put the ring back in hers. "But I can't accept it. Without your influence, there wouldn't have been this victory."

"I don't need it."

Another flip...

"You need it."

Back again...

"I have no use for it."

"You..."

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated. "This."

No use for it?

You're not playing by the rules!

Yu Zhiwen pouted, ending the pointless argument with a smug look.

She grabbed the ring as if to throw it away.

"If you don't want this ring, I'll toss it."

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Xu Xiaoshou panicked and grabbed her hand, glaring. "Are you crazy with money?"

"My family is wealthy; I can afford to waste!"

"You!"

"So, you take it."

Xiao Yu smiled in her eyes and placed the ring directly in Xu Xiaoshou's palm.

"I..."

Xu Xiaoshou held the ring, his heart a mix of emotions.

What kind of feeling was this...

He was used to fighting alone.

All resources had to be seized by himself.

Even with Sang Lao around, that old guy barely provided any material support.

Instead, there was plenty of mental torment, all in the name of training.

But now...

For the first time, he tasted the sweetness of freeloading to victory, and the spoils were handed to him. Xu Xiaoshou felt an indescribable sensation well up.

He finally understood why so many young people didn't want to strive anymore.

This addictive feeling was too easy to get hooked on.

Maybe, instead of going it alone, choosing a partner and having backers along the way...

Was the right path on this endless spirit refining journey?

"Xiao Yu..."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes teared up, his voice full of emotion.

"Hmm?"

Yu Zhiwen tilted her head, her starry eyes smiling, brows arched like willow leaves.

"You really have no use for this ring?"

"Mm."

"Then..."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at her longingly, glancing at the ground. "Those two things, you probably have no use for them either?"

Yu Zhiwen: "..."

"Received a curse, passive value, 1."

"No use for them!"

She said gruffly.

With a wave of her hand, the two treasures on the ground landed in Xu Xiaoshou's hands.

"Thank you."

Xu Xiaoshou thanked her sincerely.

It was basic manners to thank someone for a favor and add, "You're a good person."

"...You're welcome."

Yu Zhiwen didn't mind much. Her goal for this trip was always just one thing.

Any current investments were just tools to eventually take Xu Xiaoshou, that big prize, back to the Sheng Shen Hall.

Besides...

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou soften like this gave Yu Zhiwen a very satisfying feeling.

She couldn't quite describe it.

But it was satisfying.

Did Xu Xiaoshou like it?

Did he want it?

As long as, in the end, this person followed her with the four swords back to the Sheng Shen Hall...

Everything would be perfect!

"So, what do you plan to do now?"

Yu Zhiwen watched as Xu Xiaoshou happily put away the items.

"Can we leave?"

Xu Xiaoshou eyed the soundly sleeping Bai Gu Jing and said seriously, "Can your spiritual array trap it and let us escape?"

"Yes."

Yu Zhiwen nodded. "The Bai Gu Jing is strong in combat, but its intelligence is far below humans'. Even if the array patterns show, it probably won't know what they are."

"Trapping it is just a matter of a command."

"But once it's trapped, where do we go?"

Yu Zhiwen remembered Xu Xiaoshou had a goal.

If she guessed right, that goal was likely this massive figure.

But...

After seeing its true power, she knew even Xu Xiaoshou couldn't fully defeat it.

Let alone taking the fire seed from its skull.

"Go..."

Xu Xiaoshou murmured, deep in thought.

The Jin Zhao fire seed was out of reach for now.

To beat this big guy, he'd have to wait until he found the Jie Bao.

By then, he'd make sure it tasted the bitterness of fleeing for its life...