Chapter 497: Explosives Aura, Sharp Opposition

"Bo Jian Shi!"

Immersed in the true intent of sword dao, facing the torrential flow of flames from the sky, Xu Xiaoshou drew once more the astonishing sword that had been enveloped in white flames earlier.

Even though the Bai Kuluo was burning with rage at that moment.

Even though the power of its white flame waterfall had greatly increased compared to before.

When Xu Xiaoshou thrust his sword into that cascade of flames, the void seemed to freeze completely.

Boom!

In the next second, with a swift turn and slash, the stream of flames that roared down like a waterfall from the nine heavens reversed course with the force of a dam bursting and flooding back!

Roar roar roar—

The Bai Kuluo was furious.

It howled madly in the air, spewing white flames from its mouth without restraint.

Yet, even so, it could only barely block the sword that Xu Xiaoshou had sent back.

After persisting for a while, as it grew exhausted, it even began to show signs of collapse under the overwhelming pressure.

"This sword..."

Yu Zhiwen, hidden within the Bai Gu Men, was utterly astonished.

She had been unconscious earlier and hadn't seen such a heaven-defying strike.

Xu Xiaoshou was only at the Xiantian level, after all!

If you counted the sword intent, he was at most a Jian Zong.

But how could the power of a Jian Zong deflect a blow that was nearly at the Wang Zuo level?

Received admiration, passive value +1.

"So strong..."

Mu Zixi gazed in awe at the faint gray-black silhouette amid the white flames.

Even though she truly believed in Xu Xiaoshou's strength deep down,

When she saw him encircled by the white flames, her heart had skipped a beat.

But before she could even worry, the flaming waterfall that was about to crash down on the Bai Gu Men was casually sent back.

Not a single drop fell!

Except for the scorching heat.

After Xu Xiaoshou single-handedly blocked it all, the area behind him became the safest place in the world.

She stole a glance at Yu Zhiwen.

Seeing the stars twinkling in her eyes, Mu Zixi's face turned bitter.

She pouted, and in her heart, she began to mutter curses.

"That darn Xu Xiaoshou, showing off in front of a beauty again."

Received curse, passive value +1.

"Keep your Ling Yuan sealed—don't use it!"

Xu Xiaoshou shouted loudly.

There had been a similar situation before.

But back then, Yu Zhiwen was on him and unconscious, so she was safe.

If the two women hiding in the Bai Gu Men now used their Ling Yuan to ward off the heat or block the lingering medicinal effects in the air,

Then, at such close range,

Even without direct contact, they risked spontaneous combustion!

So he had to warn them.

Fortunately, after all their interactions, the two women weren't the type to doubt their teammates.

As soon as they heard Xu Xiaoshou, they immediately withdrew their protective Ling Yuan.

For a moment, the white flame waterfall poured down,

But the people below remained unharmed.

Roar roar roar!!!

The Bai Kuluo was on the verge of breakdown.

It couldn't understand why its ultimate move, which could end opponents without even touching them,

Had absolutely no effect on this insignificant human.

He was clearly surrounded by white flames.

Even if he had counterattack techniques, how could he withstand such intense heat at such close range?

And even if he could, his human Ling Yuan core—the Qi Hai—should have been infiltrated by the white flame aura, right?

Received suspicion, passive value +1.

Received fear, passive value +1.

"Mama..."

Arjie stood behind Xu Xiaoshou, watching as his mama effortlessly sent back that powerful move that could have threatened him, and murmured involuntarily.

Thud thud.

It patted its shoulder, crushing the white flames that had splashed onto it.

But even after crushing them, the white flames still smoldered, threatening to burn it.

Whoosh.

Arjie covered its hand, surging with suction force, and absorbed the abnormal energy as a supplement for itself.

"Run!"

Xu Xiaoshou finished sending the sword back.

Without looking back, he dashed past Arjie and charged into the Bai Gu Men.

"You two, follow my steps closely—remember to stay tight and don't get separated!"

With that, he shot straight down into the pitch-black underground depths.

Mu Zixi and Yu Zhiwen exchanged a glance, not daring to delay, and quickly followed in Xu Xiaoshou's footsteps.

Roar!

The Bai Kuluo went berserk.

What did it see?

If not for its sharp eyesight, it wouldn't have noticed that two humans were hidden in its dwelling.

And now, after blocking its move, these three were heading inside?!

Bang bang bang!

The Bai Kuluo seemed to have taken some kind of stimulant, its bones exploding all over.

The white flames scattered around its body and gathered at its feet, transforming into beams of white flame light that shot straight into the sky.

Using the recoil, its massive form plummeted like a giant nuclear bomb, aimed directly at the Bai Gu Men!

Its treasure was still in there.

How could these three humans go in?

They all had to die!

"Mama..."

Arjie looked around bewildered, the only one left in the area.

Mama hadn't given it any orders.

And now this huge figure was smashing down with terrifying momentum...

Even for Arjie, it needed to evade for now.

How to evade?

Without thinking, Arjie turned and shot toward the Bai Gu Men in the direction Xu Xiaoshou had gone.

"Arjie, don't come in—block it outside!"

Xu Xiaoshou's urgent voice echoed from far away.

"Mama?"

Arjie froze mid-step, its eyes filled with disbelief.

Mama didn't want it anymore?

This...

Roar roar roar!

The Bai Kuluo charged madly, smashing through the dozens of zhang high Bai Gu Men.

Amid the flying bones, its blood-red eyes suddenly spotted the little boy turning back with a look of resentment.

"Mama..."

In a flash, Arjie appeared on the Bai Kuluo's back.

The giant bone creature's momentum didn't slow, and it couldn't react in time.

Boom!

With a stomp of its small foot,

A thunderous explosion rang out.

The Bai Gu Men, dozens of zhang high, was finally completely shattered.

The frantic Bai Kuluo, caught in the momentum of that strike, was kicked by Arjie and embedded into the ground more than ten zhang deep.

Roar—

The Bai Kuluo struggled to get up.

At that moment, this opponent of equal strength was no longer its concern.

It had to catch those three humans.

It couldn't linger outside!

But as soon as its hands pushed up to rise,

Thud!

Another stomp landed on its back, sending the Bai Kuluo sinking another ten zhang!

A mouthful of white flames sprayed from its facial orifices.

The bone giant was stunned.

How could that little thing have such immense strength?

It pushed up again with its hands.

Boom!

The Bai Kuluo was baffled.

It refused to believe it.

It braced with both hands again.

Boom!

Boom!

"Be careful."

Deep in the underground cave, Xu Xiaoshou watched the giant stones and dirt falling from above one after another. He realized that even though this pit had been forged by white flame heat, it couldn't withstand the physical brawl between those two massive brutes.

He led the way flying ahead.

Even without checking the white pearl treasure map in his mind, he could directly sense a aura of the same origin deep in the cave.

"Jin Zhao Great Fire Seed!"

Xu Xiaoshou was excited.

This aura was stronger than the Jin Zhao Fire Seed by an unknown margin.

It must be something that could only be nurtured in the Bai Kuluo's mind.

Sniffing the Jin Zhao aura wafting in the void, he pinpointed it accurately and continued downward.

After a long time,

The cave was extremely deep.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know how long he had been flying.

He felt like he might have reached the earth's crust, yet this bottomless pit showed no end.

Fortunately, the Bai Kuluo was quite dim-witted.

The way it dug the cave was completely unrefined.

There wasn't even a single branch path—it just slanted straight down.

In this case, he could probably fly to the end with his eyes closed.

But wait!

After a while longer,

Xu Xiaoshou vaguely sensed something was off.

He suddenly stopped.

"What is it?"

Mu Zixi caught up immediately.

Yu Zhiwen also turned her gaze over.

"Something's not right..."

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated, flew to the side of the pit wall, and reached out to touch it.

"Ores?"

Mu Zixi also touched the pit wall and asked in confusion.

"Not ores."

Xu Xiaoshou rubbed his fingers, faintly detecting the Jin Zhao power on them.

"This is probably a special mud wall formed by long-term exposure to the residual heat of Jin Zhao Heavenly Flame—very hard, but not Ling ore."

"Isn't that normal? That big brute lives here and uses fire, right?" Mu Zixi asked curiously.

"Not normal."

Xu Xiaoshou had a sudden thought and said firmly, "It wouldn't have the energy to come here every day and burn it.

Even if it did, the mud wouldn't withstand the white flame power—it would just vanish, not turn into something this peculiar."

"It looks more like..."

"What is it?" Yu Zhiwen also touched the pit wall but couldn't make out anything.

"A meteorite impact."

Xu Xiaoshou said uncertainly.

Before the two women could ask, he continued, "Don't you think this pit is too straight?

Would that big brute have the time to dig such a long cave underground?

Even if it wanted to, does it have the brains to keep the cave so straight downward?"

"If it wasn't dug by it... a meteorite?" Mu Zixi's big eyes widened.

That explanation was even more far-fetched.

Where would a meteorite fall in Bai Ku?

"Maybe not a meteorite."

Xu Xiaoshou pressed his hand against the pit wall, feeling the soil gradually soften outward, and said deeply,

"Maybe it was a Jin Zhao Great Fire Seed placed on the ground and slid down."

"The pit was burned out that way."

"The residual heat faded, gradually hardening the pit walls."

"But!"

Xu Xiaoshou stopped mid-sentence.

This explanation was absurd.

A "Jin Zhao Great Fire Seed" sliding down without control shouldn't just burn such a small pit.

It might ravage the entire Ling Rong Ze.

So...

"Maybe it's not a 'Jin Zhao Great Fire Seed,' but something similar."

"What could it be?"

Xu Xiaoshou was confusing himself.

"Jin Zhao Fire Seed" couldn't do this.

"Jin Zhao Great Fire Seed" wouldn't stop at just this.

That power in between...

"Could there be a 'Jin Zhao Middle Fire Seed'?"

Xu Xiaoshou amused himself.

Impossible.

If such a thing existed, Sang Lao would have told him.

Then, another explanation!

"A 'Jin Zhao Great Fire Seed' that can self-restrain its power slid down..."

"No!"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized.

Something that could self-restrain wasn't a "Jin Zhao Great Fire Seed" anymore.

Recalling the Bai Kuluo's desperate appearance earlier,

The thing inside must be the true reason for nurturing a Wang Zuo-level Bai Kuluo here.

Its level...

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes turned red with excitement!

The gains from rushing in this time might be even greater than he imagined.

"Xiao Yu, you can't go any further."

Xu Xiaoshou turned to Yu Zhiwen and said decisively.

"If it's like a meteorite impact, this depth could go straight to the magma layer."

"In that case, I'm afraid Arjie might not hold it back, or those two up there fighting might collapse the passage..."

Mu Zixi's big eyes lit up.

She caught on.

"You want me to take you back up?"

Yu Zhiwen, clever as always, understood the implication immediately.

"Yes."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded. "Is there a way?"

He looked up.

By now, his "perception" could barely see the surface.

If they went deeper, even with "One Step to Heaven," he couldn't get out directly.

And shattering the Linglong Stone might lead to a random planar teleport.

If it sent him to some unknown depths underground and he lost his bearings, it would be worse than not teleporting at all.

"It's possible, but this pit is unknown how deep..."

Yu Zhiwen frowned, pondered for a moment, and said,

"I can set up a sub-array here and then set up a mother array on the surface. Combining them could steal heavenly secrets to teleport you two out."

"But there's a downside..."

Xu Xiaoshou lowered his head, knowing what Yu Zhiwen meant.

"We have to return here to get out?"

"Yes."

Yu Zhiwen nodded.

"This pit leads who knows where."

"If it's too far, or if the Bai Kuluo comes in and collapses it,"

"Then you two could be buried, lose your direction—one, you might not find this spot; two, you might be blocked by the Bai Kuluo and can't get out."

"If you can't find this fixed sub-array..."

Yu Zhiwen's star-like eyes fixed on Xu Xiaoshou, "Even if you have teleportation, you won't get out."

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent.

That was true.

He hadn't expected that deep underground would become a trap for him.

And the situation was indeed like that.

Without Wang Zuo level, you couldn't move mountains or seas.

The layout of heaven and earth was meant to limit Ling cultivators.

A few zhang deep was fine.

A few hundred zhang wasn't a big issue.

But ten thousand zhang, or tens of thousands?

If he were trapped, it would be okay—he had "Yuan Qi Full," so he wouldn't die from Ling Yuan depletion underground.

He could climb up step by step, like Zhao Gao.

But Mu Zixi was different.

She faced that risk.

"So..."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at his junior sister.

Mu Zixi knew exactly what this unreliable senior brother was thinking.

"I'm not leaving."

She pouted.

She had finally found Xu Xiaoshou.

He wouldn't let her go when she wanted to leave.

Now he was trying to send her away?

"You stay, and you might get buried alive." Xu Xiaoshou felt the pit trembling more violently and pointed to the falling dirt and stones above. "Are you crazy?"

Mu Zixi shot back, "I just need to leave some tree seeds every so often. Not only can I monitor the pit's situation on the way down,"

"Then, if we need to get out, I can follow the vines to pull us up."

"Oh?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes brightened.

That was a great idea!

He had been so focused that he almost forgot his junior sister was a wood-type user.

Tree seeds...

Those were the tricky things that nearly ended his winning streak in the outer court's "Fengyun Zhengba."

"I didn't realize you were actually useful..."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled and rubbed his junior sister's head.

Yu Zhiwen lowered her eyes and looked away.

Mu Zixi was furious.

"Xu Xiaoshou, what do you take me for?"

"I've already left tree seeds earlier!"

"Even if the pit collapses, I can detonate them all at once and create a path of spiritual trees straight to the surface!"

Mu Zixi paused and added, "We won't need the array."

Wow.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up completely.

He hadn't expected that in this place, Mu Zixi would be more useful than Yu Zhiwen.

Why was Yu Zhiwen quiet?

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at her oddly and saw Yu Zhiwen fiddling with her skirt, her eyes wandering uncertainly.

What was going on with these two girls?

His gaze fell on Mu Zixi, and thinking about her last words, Xu Xiaoshou felt a headache coming on.

In this situation, were they still competing?

He figured Yu Zhiwen, with her introverted personality, probably wouldn't bicker with Mu Zixi.

So, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but say, "If you're that good, why get so aggressive? You're scaring people."

"Aggressive?"

Mu Zixi was stunned.

When was she aggressive?

This was just how she normally talked...

Wait!

She glanced secretly at Yu Zhiwen and saw the girl looking timid and speechless.

Mu Zixi suddenly understood.

Xu Xiaoshou had misunderstood her words.

But...

Fine, Xu Xiaoshou!

After hugging that gentle, big-chested beauty, you've gotten used to it and can't handle your junior sister's style anymore!

"I'll be aggressive with you!"

Mu Zixi's eyes teared up with grievance.

Xu Xiaoshou had changed.

Sure enough, as soon as she let him near an outside beauty, he stopped caring just about her.

That imagined Xu Xiaoshou, who would always be good to her no matter what she did, was almost formed...

One random teleport, and he changed!

"Okay, okay..."

Xu Xiaoshou's head was spinning. "You're right, it's my fault."

"So, here's the plan."

He didn't dare ramble. "Yu Zhiwen sets up the array first, then leaves."

"When leaving, don't go straight to the pit entrance—go sideways."

"Mu Zixi and I will go down."

"If those two up there come down midway and collapse the pit or destroy the tree seeds,"

"We can use the spiritual wood to open a path and teleport out from here to avoid a direct fight."

"And if they reach here and destroy the array..."

"My Tianji Array won't be detected or destroyed by the Bai Kuluo." Yu Zhiwen suddenly spoke up.

Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

He subconsciously felt the atmosphere turn tense.

Something was off!

Very off!

Glancing around, he saw Mu Zixi glaring at him with a hint of hostility, and Xu Xiaoshou snapped back.

Whoa.

So Yu Zhiwen wasn't just someone who took things lying down.

"Yes, the Tianji Array can't be destroyed."

He quickly added, "Yu Zhiwen is really strong, you both are. Whether we get out depends on you two."

"My Xu Xiaoshou will hold onto your thighs—one with each hand, okay?"

Yu Zhiwen: ...

Mu Zixi: ...

Received curse, passive value +2.

Bang bang!

The sudden noises broke the slightly awkward atmosphere.

The situation above seemed to be worsening.

They had only lingered a short while, but the sounds of battle were getting closer.

That meant the pit outside was likely starting to collapse.

"Go!"

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand decisively. "Stick to the plan and adapt as needed!"

"Let's go."

Mu Zixi smiled, stepped forward, linked arms with Xu Xiaoshou, and prepared to fly.

Xu Xiaoshou: ...

So, this was your real aim, junior sister!

Yu Zhiwen stared deeply at where their arms met.

It was nothing, really.

Just a symbol of brother-sister affection.

But at that moment,

Her usually undisturbed state of mind, unshaken by worldly affairs, rippled slightly.

Waves gently stirred.

An indescribable feeling surged from her heart.

She couldn't name the emotion.

But it hurt!

Well, not "hurt" exactly...

But it did hurt.

Even if just a little, it still hurt.

"Wait."

Yu Zhiwen didn't know why she said that.

But after saying it, Xu Xiaoshou indeed stopped.

The ripples in her heart calmed.

Watching the young man slowly turn his head, even in the deep underground where no light penetrated,

Yu Zhiwen's star-like eyes could still see the faint lip powder on his side profile that hadn't been fully wiped away.

"Be careful."

The words slipped out involuntarily.

Yu Zhiwen's face flushed red, her ears turning pink.

She felt like her feet were on fire and couldn't stay put.

Even before Xu Xiaoshou could respond, she turned and flew straight upward.

"Wait."

Xu Xiaoshou called out.

Yu Zhiwen's figure halted instantly.

She didn't dare turn back or speak.

But in her heart, a vague expectation rose.

Would he say "you too"...

Her hands hung at her sides, and she clenched her fists tightly.

Yet, before the expectation fully blossomed, Xu Xiaoshou's straightforward words came.

"You haven't set up the array yet. Set it up before you go, and be careful."

Yu Zhiwen: ...

There was concern, sure.

But why was there no sweetness at all!

Received resistance, passive value +1.

Mu Zixi turned back in shock, looking at Xu Xiaoshou.

She thought this guy would say something affectionate like "you too."

The curse was already brewing.

But Xu Xiaoshou...

Mu Zixi facepalmed.

Did I overestimate him?

So, that kiss earlier was really just a coincidence?

Received contempt, passive value +1.