Chapter 56: The Gaze from the Abyss

This was a wrinkled old face topped with a straw hat, *cao li*, with two large dark circles under the eyes on a gaunt countenance, straining to force a gentle smile.

Yet, at this distance of less than an inch, it could scare someone to death.

Mu Zi Xi didn't even make a single sound; her eyes rolled back, her body went rigid, and she toppled straight backward.

Bang!

The old man adjusted his straw hat and watched her hit the floor, showing no reaction.

"Hmph, you little girl, always learning the bad things instead of the good. If you keep this up, you'll end up digging through walls!"

He snatched the two ancient books from the young girl's hand, dusted them off, and placed them back on the shelf.

With a casual kick, he shoved the prone girl aside. The old man had been about to deal with another person when he suddenly frowned.

He squatted down, grasped Mu Zi Xi's wrist, and his expression changed.

"What's going on?"

"This massive life force..."

The old man was shocked. The life energy in this little girl was overwhelmingly abundant, almost overshadowing her wood attribute.

Not only that, but the suppressed wood attribute showed no sign of weakness; instead, it was greedily devouring the life force to strengthen itself.

That was what surprised him the most.

"What kind of rare constitution is this?"

"Can it enhance the wood attribute by devouring life force?"

The old man looked like he'd spotted a priceless treasure, his eyes gleaming green.

But in the next moment, his gaze went past the bookshelf to the back, and a look of struggle appeared in his eyes.

It lasted only an instant, though, before his gaze turned firm again.

"What a pity..." he sighed softly, "if you'd shown up in front of this old man earlier, I might have chosen you."

Having made his decision, the old man didn't hesitate any longer and kicked the young girl to the side.

He adjusted his straw hat and squatted down next to Zhou Tian Can, looking at the sheepskin scroll. His face wrinkled up in an instant.

"Breaking me?"

"How did this cursed thing get dug up..."

"These kids must be born in the year of the rat!"

The burly young man nearby seemed to stir, so the old man leaned in even closer.

Zhou Tian Can finally snapped out of his daze over the sheepskin scroll. His eyes were full of excitement, and even the hand holding the ancient diagram trembled uncontrollably.

"Well, quite the epiphany, eh?"

It seemed a faint voice echoed in his mind, and Zhou Tian Can nodded frantically. "Absolutely!"

"Xu Xiao Shou said it was all true—this knife technique, if I grasp it, innate knife intent will be within reach!"

"Mu Zi..."

His mind was completely captivated by the ancient diagram, so he reached out to call Mu Zi Xi over to see, but his hand brushed against something.

It was warm, floppy, yet rough...

Zhou Tian Can turned his head in confusion...

And there was an old face!

Right in front of him—an old face!

Those dark, piercing eyes stared at him through his fingers, like the gaze of the grim reaper!

"Holy shit!!!"

Zhou Tian Can's pupils lost focus in an instant. His inner scream hadn't even escaped his lips before his three souls and seven spirits were scared right out of his head.

His body stiffened, and he slammed straight into the wall with a thud, collapsing to the ground.

"Tch!"

The old man wiped his face and kicked the boy into the corner. "One left!"

...

Shh-shh-shh!

Shh-shh-shh!

Xu Xiao Shou was flipping through ancient books with one hand and holding a jade slip with the other, multitasking with incredible efficiency.

Suddenly, his movements hesitated for a moment, but he didn't stop.

The complaint messages from those two in his information panel had vanished a while ago, but now a new one appeared.

"Under observation, passive value +1."

Seeing this, Xu Xiao Shou's hairs stood on end, and a chill ran down his back. He nearly spun around and slapped out.

But he held back!

He kept telling himself not to act impulsively—if he turned around now, it would really be over.

"Who's watching me?"

Xu Xiao Shou was terrified. While forcing himself to continue his actions, he roared inwardly.

In his "perception," he didn't see anyone around at all!

Wait!

What about Zhou Tian Can and Mu Zi Xi's spiritual energy fluctuations?

They were gone!

He tremblingly shifted his focus to where the two had been and saw two figures lying unconscious on the ground.

Holy shit!

Taken out?

Is the scripture guardian here?

Xu Xiao Shou's heart raced. If the person had appeared in front of him, it wouldn't have been this scary.

But the fact that he was being watched without seeing them—that unknown fear was the most torturous.

Xu Xiao Shou carefully blew on the ancient book and put it back, pretending to casually mutter,

"Ah, I wonder how many years it's been since anyone cleaned here. So much dust—it really makes you want to shake the books to get it off."

He stretched lazily, not daring to look back. "I've done so much work on the first floor without expecting anything in return; it's time to head to the second floor and find the spiritual techniques I want!"

Leaning on the bookshelf, Xu Xiao Shou tried to step away, but found his body wouldn't obey.

Holy shit!

Move!

Xu Xiao Shou's face darkened instantly, but he quickly adjusted and slapped his thigh.

"Really, standing this long has made my legs go numb. Work is so tiring."

"It's tough on the scripture guardians here, handling all these ancient books every day. I have so much respect."

He lifted his foot and finally managed a step, overjoyed as he gripped the bookshelf to leave.

"Well, look at that—you can actually sense this old man. You've improved!"

A mocking voice came from behind.

"Ah!"

Xu Xiao Shou clutched his ears. "Must be too tired—I'm hearing things..."

His legs were working again, so he strode forward, but it felt like fate had him by the throat.

"Stop pretending!"

"Turn around for this old man!"

Xu Xiao Shou turned with a mournful expression and saw an old face with a straw hat and dark circles.

"It's you!"

The fear in his heart vanished in an instant, and Xu Xiao Shou was stunned.

Wasn't this the dead old man who had forced him to swallow the "Jin Zhao Fire Seed" that day?

What was his name again...

Sang Lao?

A nameless fire suddenly ignited in his chest, and all the pain from that day rushed back. Xu Xiao Shou, in a fit of impulse, forgot to think about the old man's identity.

He had sworn that if they met again, he'd cut the old man down below. How could he forget?

He stepped back abruptly, drew "Zang Ku" from his chest, and pointed the sword at the old man.

In life, one must seek vengeance and live freely!

Faced with this sword, Sang Lao's sparse eyebrows shot up, and his eyes flicked from the sword tip at his forehead back to their place, glancing at Xu Xiao Shou without any emotion.

"Hmm?"

With just this doubtful hum, Xu Xiao Shou felt as if he'd fallen into a icy hell, his body cooling instantly.

Oh my god!

What am I doing?

Pointing a sword at the scripture guardian???

Am I insane? Those two were taken out silently, and I'm asking for death?

He slowly raised the sword, flicked a sword flower in the air, and put it back in the ring, forcing a awkward laugh.

"Heh, staring at sword techniques for too long stirs up a lot of insights—always makes you want to draw the sword and practice..."

"Heh, heh..."

"Sword techniques?" Sang Lao removed his straw hat and pulled out the book Xu Xiao Shou had just set down. "The Twelve Fists of the Great Wilderness?"

"Uh!" Xu Xiao Shou's smile froze instantly.

...

PS: Well, I successfully got the next recommendation spot, so I really need your recommendation votes now. Even one will do! Let's charge ahead together!