Chapter 554: Do You Want to Come into the Ancient Books Space and Sit?

A drop of sweat seeped from Xu Xiaoshou's temple.

The next second,

"Lei Shuangxing, I have met Senior Wuxiu and thank you for your life-saving grace in the past!"

The sweat trickled instantly over the furrowed forehead, circling half around the eye socket before sliding down the high cheekbone and dripping off. Xu Xiaoshou's entire face turned pale.

Lei Shuangxing, Luo Leilei…

Weren't these people from "Sheng Nu"?

Even if they hadn't revealed their identities, just that phrase "Lei family boy, Luo girl" had made Xu Xiaoshou fully understand everything.

Back at Tian Sang Ling Gong, Ye Xiaotian had used force to break the spell, delivering a final strike against Lei Shuangxing and Luo Leilei as they tried to escape through spatial teleportation.

In the moment of spatial collapse, even for these two Zongshi-level experts, with any life-saving techniques they had, there was only a slim chance of surviving the spatial fragments—and even then, they were more likely to get lost.

Yet, these two had ultimately appeared unscathed in the Eight Palaces…

"Sang Lao, did you save them?"

Xu Xiaoshou's throat felt dry, his lips bitter.

Of course!

Wasn't this obvious?

Such a massive event had happened at Tian Sang Ling Gong, and Sang Lao had only shown up at the last moment in the back mountain.

So, had he only noticed the commotion at Ling Gong then?

Impossible!

A powerhouse like that wouldn't miss even the slightest disturbance, so how could he remain indifferent to the tragedy at Ling Gong?

The most logical explanation…

On one side were the Ling Gong disciples, and as vice dean, he might have wanted to help them.

But on the other side was "Sheng Nu"!

It was like choosing between the palm and the back of the hand.

Even for someone like Sang Lao, in the first moment, he probably didn't know what action to take.

And when one side faced a deadly crisis, he finally couldn't wait any longer.

He rescued the "Sheng Nu" members, which delayed his aid to the Ling Gong people, so he only rushed back to the back mountain at the final moment?

Xu Xiaoshou gripped the straw hat tightly.

He couldn't believe it, and he didn't dare believe, that the truth was really like this!

"Sang Lao, are you with 'Sheng Nu'?"

Xu Xiaoshou propped himself up with his elbow against the side of the pit, shifting into a more "relaxed" pose, perfectly covering up his near-stumble.

"Master, what's wrong with you?"

Mu Zixi's words paused.

From her angle looking up, she could just make out half of the pale, paper-white face under the straw hat.

What on earth was going on?

They were talking about something, and she really wanted to hear it!

What's wrong… Xu Xiaoshou let out a bitter laugh in his heart, forcing himself to lift his head and let his now-flushed face come into view.

My dear junior sister, your senior brother's mindset has completely collapsed!!!

Sheng Nu…

Your master is one of "Sheng Nu," you silly girl—can you believe that?

I, Xu Xiaoshou, wouldn't even dare to think in that direction!

But the facts have been laid out right here.

Who can handle this?

Oh heavens, someone come and kill me, Xu Xiaoshou, to celebrate your master's acting skills?

For this wave, I, Xu Xiaoshou, am willing to call your master the strongest!

No one else comes close!

Xu Xiaoshou suppressed his slightly trembling hand, slowly reaching out to gently pat his junior sister's head, his face full of kindness.

"Not bad, you've explained it very well. I've taken it all in."

Mu Zixi: ???

Xu Xiaoshou, what's really wrong with you!

She blinked her big eyes and bowed slightly, "Thank you for the praise, Master."

"Passive value received from curse: 1."

Secret technique: Ice-Cooled Brain!

Xu Xiaoshou used the "Frozen Tribulation Force" to calm his mind.

He restrained his power to absolute perfection, not daring to let even a trace leak out.

If Sang Lao was with "Sheng Nu," then everything made sense.

The first night attack on Tian Sang Ling Gong, where Xiao Qixiu was defeated with one sword, Ye Xiaotian lost an arm, and the nine great elders of Ling Gong were nearly hanged by sword energy in mid-air.

Yet, Sang Lao drove away the "Sheng Nu" leader with just a few words…

The second attack on Tian Sang Ling Gong, where the famous sword "Mu Ming Cheng Xue" was stolen, and they even brought along a Dao-Cutting level woodcutter.

The Ling Gong crowd, including the one with the axe, couldn't hold them off.

But Sang Lao, with a few spiritual techniques and words, forced the attackers back again…

Was that possible?

Absolutely not!

If there wasn't an extremely close relationship between them, how could that old man have such authority?

I should have realized it earlier… Xu Xiaoshou felt helpless in his heart.

He could tell that Sang Lao and the "Sheng Nu" leader had some rapport.

But like everyone else, he never imagined that this rapport meant they were actually accomplices!

And as fellow "Sheng Nu," why did the masked one attack Ling Gong while Sang Lao protected it?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know.

At this point, he had no energy left to speculate about the inside story.

"You damn old man, are you trying to bury me alive, Xu Xiaoshou, before you'll stop?"

Xu Xiaoshou cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he remained kindly.

"Keep going, continue your analysis."

"Tell me everything you can know or deduce."

"Oh." Mu Zixi nodded, "Blah blah blah…"

"Yes, Senior!"

Lei Shuangxing's voice grew more serious.

He didn't dare joke with the storyteller senior, but he certainly wouldn't with this unfamiliar "Sheng Nu" second-in-command. His impression of him was still based on that string of legends.

When the Central Region branch was discovered, Senior Wuxiu single-handedly held off everyone.

Before any reinforcements arrived, he alone blocked the entire Sheng Shen Hall, giving the fresh blood a chance to escape.

Even when surrounded by the strong, he managed to severely wound one of the Seven Sword Immortals, Wu Yue Sword Immortal, and fought his way out of a desperate situation to flee to the Eastern Region.

Now, with Wu Yue Sword Immortal just arriving in the Eastern Region, the still-recuperating Senior Wuxiu dared to charge alone into that crowd of white-clad forces.

And the result…

Of the white-clad forces that had marched grandly from the Central Region, only less than half of the weak and wounded remained when they reached Qinglong County.

In short,

Senior Wuxiu's actions laid a solid foundation for "Sheng Nu" to break through from Bai Ku later.

Such a madman, such achievements—who was Lei Shuangxing to imagine?

He said solemnly, "Within Li Jian Grassland, there aren't many who currently have a chance to obtain the 'You Si Jian'."

"First, it's this person."

As Lei Shuangxing spoke, a certain spot in Xu Xiaoshou's spiritual sense was magnified.

There, he saw Lan Xinzi and the man with the demonic patterns.

No surprise, this must be the ability of the one transmitting the message.

"This person is called He Yuxing. He has the 'Ji Luo Diao Pian' and has comprehended a trace of the Eighth Sword Immortal's sword intent."

"If nothing unexpected happens, 'You Si Jian' will likely recognize him in the end."

"I also have the 'Ji Luo Diao Pian,' but unfortunately, I couldn't comprehend anything from it."

Regret laced Lei Shuangxing's voice.

Xu Xiaoshou withdrew his gaze, nodding slightly. It matched his own speculation fairly well.

"Continue." He said to Mu Zixi.

"Okay."

Lei Shuangxing organized his thoughts and continued, "The second one… actually, the next three."

The image shifted, showing the familiar three swordsmen.

They sat separately, forming a triangle, silent.

But they seemed to be brewing something, their aura growing more terrifying with time.

"These are people from 'Zang Jian Zong.' They've brought two famous swords alone, so you can imagine their strength."

"But that's not the main point. What I'm worried about is that they might have relics from Wen Ting Sword Immortal."

"At the very least, if they bring even a trace of the broken sword 'Qing Ju's sword intent, 'You Si Jian' might just go with them."

The Seven Sword Immortals, Wen Ting?

Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

He recalled the story Fish Zhiwen had told in the Yuan Mansion.

Wasn't this the extraordinary figure whose light was overshadowed by the Eighth Sword Immortal his whole life, only recognized after the other's fall?

So, these three sword-wielding brothers were under Wen Ting Sword Immortal?

Damn, everyone seems to have such a big background!

"And then, the people from 'Xu Yue Hui Gong'..." Lei Shuangxing continued.

The image shook, showing Xin Gugu's shadow.

"This guy's a brute. I've fought him; he's very strong."

"Even without transforming into a ghost beast host, he has terrifying combat power, but he's definitely the simple-minded, all-brawn type."

"'Xu Yue Hui Gong's main person in charge isn't him, that's for sure."

"But I haven't found the others. The only thing to watch out for… this pure ghost beast host force is the most likely to create surprises, so we have to guard against it!"

"The last one…"

"Um, there's another?" The transmitter's voice sounded puzzled. "How come I don't know where they are?"

"Over there."

The image blurred, showing a group with youthful faces.

Xu Xiaoshou's pupils shrank.

People from Tian Sang Ling Gong?

"This bunch of kids?"

The transmitter's voice was full of surprise. "What could they have?"

"The others aren't worth looking at, Senior, but you can focus on the one in the lead." Lei Shuangxing said.

"The one in the lead… this one?"

The image stabilized, fixing on Rao Yin Yin.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned himself.

What was so special about this inner court senior sister?

Flashes of his interactions with the girl played through his mind, but after reviewing it all, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't find anything unusual.

Yet, Lei Shuangxing's tone was extraordinarily serious: "She has the surname 'Rao'!"

"Rao?"

"...Hiss!"

The transmitter repeated it once and seemed to realize something, as the image trembled—he was clearly shocked.

"Rao?"

Xu Xiaoshou muttered the same in his heart.

What was so special about just a surname?

"Yes, surname Rao."

Lei Shuangxing didn't explain further. "In the great chaos to come, you can kill anyone, Senior, but not this person. Just keep that in mind."

"Holy crap!" Now it was Xu Xiaoshou's turn to be shocked.

Just because of a surname, Rao Yin Yin couldn't be killed?

Surname Rao?

So, spare her just because of that?

What the hell is this?

You blind fool, you've lost your eyes, so can't you just speak straight and spill it all?

Beating around the bush, hiding everything—this is ridiculous!

I'm the "Sheng Nu" second-in-command, and I still don't know anything!

But what could Xu Xiaoshou do?

He was powerless!

He had thought to respond with a surprised tone like the transmitter.

But then he thought again.

Rao Yin Yin was from Ling Gong, and as vice dean, he should know something.

He couldn't slip up on this little detail.

"Hmm."

He nodded calmly, as if affirming that Mu Zixi had done well.

"Senior Wuxiu, Storyteller Senior, that's all I've learned before and after entering Bai Ku. The rest is up to you." Lei Shuangxing finished and fell silent.

Storyteller Senior…

Xu Xiaoshou sighed helplessly in his heart.

He had pretty much guessed the transmitter's identity.

But with Lei Shuangxing's words, the truth finally surfaced.

The Storyteller, "Sheng Nu's" seventh-in-command.

He was here too!

That meant, near Ling Rong Ze that day, Shou Ye hadn't captured him at all.

And him being frozen in the ice was indeed deliberate.

So, that ghost beast the guy mentioned earlier…

"Hui Wu person, has he already taken him down?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't have time to be surprised. His "perception" immediately swept the area.

No Shou Ye!

Among the red-clad group, there was no one like Shou Ye.

"Did he die?"

Xu Xiaoshou's heart tightened, suddenly feeling a pang of sorrow.

Shou Ye, you died so tragically…

Although things ended up adversarial between us.

But I'll never forget your special attentions to me, Xu Xiaoshou, and that gift of the sword!

Forget it.

The dead can't be brought back; rest in peace…

If I get the chance, I'll burn some incense for you, Xu Xiaoshou.

Three sticks!

"Senior Wuxiu."

Luo Leilei's voice suddenly appeared.

"Although Bai Ku is about to break its boundary, and I know you're not afraid of that Gou Wuyue."

"But for now, everything still needs to wait until the leader emerges from the 'Xu Kong Dao' rift, and only then can we break the boundary. After all, the situation outside isn't clear to any of us yet."

"I don't know why you can't transmit messages, but…"

Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat.

This woman…

Luo Leilei continued: "If it's because of some restriction, do you want to come in and sit in the Storyteller Senior's ancient archive space? Maybe he can help remove the mark or something?"

"Passive value received from invitation: 1."

"Passive value received from suspicion: 1."