Chapter 573: Three Questions, Three Lives

"Hmm."

Shu Shu Ren, who had been hovering in mid-air, originally planning to enjoy the show, suddenly felt his leg go weak, causing his body to sway.

Wen Ming?

If it were any other name, even that of a remarkably talented young prodigy, Shu Shu Ren probably wouldn’t have remembered it clearly, even if he had heard it before.

But…

Wen Ming?

This name—wasn’t this precisely the name his brother had mentioned, the one he described as extremely interesting?

Shu Shu Ren had thoroughly searched through almost all the young talents in Bai Ku, yet he hadn’t found the Wen Ming his brother spoke of.

Could it be that Wen Ming was actually Lao Er’s disciple?

Was that why his brother was so interested in him?

Shu Shu Ren suddenly found the situation developing in a rather absurd direction.

He had scoured the entire Bai Ku without finding the person, and now, he had learned about him directly from Lao Er!

"Is it possible this is another Wen Ming?"

He felt doubtful, but immediately dismissed the idea.

"Impossible."

"There couldn't be two Wen Mings in this small Bai Ku, could there?"

"One caught his brother's eye, and the other caught Lao Er's?"

"Heh."

With a twitch of his mouth, Shu Shu Ren rolled his eyes. "Who are you trying to kid!"

But regardless…

Lao Er had a male disciple, and what an interesting one at that!

"Heh-heh, heh."

"Heh-heh."

"Wen Ming…"

Yu Zhiwen fell into deep thought.

Such an absolute-level powerhouse wouldn’t joke around with a little girl like her for no reason.

However, she had never even heard of this Wen Ming!

Turning her head, Yu Zhiwen looked at Lan Ling.

From the confusion in her eyes, Yu Zhiwen knew without asking that the entire Hong Yi group was unfamiliar with this figure.

"I see."

She nodded lightly and continued the conversation with Sheng Nu Lao Er: "I'm not very familiar with Wen Ming, but I have this question because I have a friend whose abilities are very similar to yours, senior."

Xu Xiao Shou’s heart skipped a beat.

Exposed?

Xiao Yu had seen all sorts of his abilities.

Now, connecting the dots, it really seemed possible to link him to the Sheng Nu.

But Sang Lao was Sang Lao, and he was himself.

Before and even after knowing him, Xu Xiao Shou had never understood the connection between Sang Lao and the Sheng Nu.

He wasn’t about to dump that mess on his own head in front of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang people.

"Abilities…"

"Heh-heh."

Xu Xiao Shou forced a dry laugh, responding casually, "The way of heaven is unpredictable; this old man has bestowed opportunities on many in this world."

"Maybe you have a few friends who happened to gain abilities like this old man's."

"But…"

As Xu Xiao Shou spoke, his face darkened, "What does that have to do with this old man?"

Yu Zhiwen felt anxious inside.

She knew Xu Xiao Shou's abilities weren't that simple.

This couldn't be achieved through ordinary opportunities.

As the thought crossed her mind, she wanted to speak up again.

But at that moment, Xu Xiao Shou stepped forward, cutting her off.

"Besides, Hong Yi, Bai Yi, or rather, Sheng Shen Dian Tang…"

Xu Xiao Shou shook his head indifferently, a hint of killing intent appearing in his eyes as he said coldly, "When this old man wants to ask questions, he'll ask them himself. When he's interested in answering yours, he will."

"But at this point, do you think you still have the right to ask questions?"

His gaze swept down domineeringly.

The void rippled with waves, as if the space could no longer bear the pressure and was about to collapse.

"Be careful!"

Lan Ling quickly pulled Yu Zhiwen behind her.

The person before them was a "Sheng Nu."

With Shu Shu Ren's erratic behavior as a precedent, no one knew if this straw-hatted old man, whose background was incomplete, was also someone with unpredictable moods.

If they asked too many questions and provoked him…

He might really strike and kill all the Hong Yi present!

"How about this?"

Xu Xiao Shou looked at the Hong Yi group, now on high alert, and said with interest, "Since you all love asking questions so much, this old man will give you a chance."

"Hmm?"

Lan Ling and Shou Ye felt an unexpected surge of joy in their hearts.

They each had a multitude of questions.

If they could get answers from Sheng Nu Lao Er at this moment, it would indeed be a great opportunity.

But in the next second, the joy on their faces froze.

Shu Shu Ren in the void slowly raised a bony, thin index finger and smiled, "One question, one life… I'll answer everything I know. How about it?"

"Received resistance, passive value, 16."

"Received fear, passive value, 18."

"Received curse, passive value, 19."

"Hiss."

The observing Shu Shu Ren felt a twinge in his heart.

This guy was even more ruthless than himself!

"Lao Er, don't act recklessly. My brother said that in Bai Ku, try not to fight if you can avoid it…"

"Are you joining the game?" Xu Xiao Shou turned his head toward him.

Shu Shu Ren: "…"

He immediately fell silent, stepped back, and distanced himself from the game's boundaries.

He hadn't said anything.

Anything you just heard was just farting sounds.

"Received curse, passive value, 1."

"Senior…"

Yu Zhiwen's pretty face stiffened, and she stammered, unable to speak.

"Senior, this is a bit excessive."

Lan Ling stepped forward despite her nerves, saying, "As for the game, we don't intend to…"

"Oh?"

Xu Xiao Shou raised an eyebrow. "Not playing anymore?"

In the next second,

The accumulated, overwhelming momentum gathered wildly as his gaze focused.

The space in front of Lan Ling exploded under the pressure.

At the critical moment, a burst of green light from mid-air directly pulled her out of the blast radius.

"Thump-thump…"

"Thump-thump…"

Lan Ling, having narrowly escaped, felt her heart pounding wildly.

She realized the straw-hatted old man had held back.

Perhaps because he didn’t really want to kill.

Otherwise, that glance might have crushed her, not just the void.

But this sudden attack made all the Hong Yi realize.

The "Sheng Nu" were none of them normal.

Normal ways of communication were useless with these people; they only backfired.

Unpredictable moods were exactly this straw-hatted old man’s true nature!

"Damn, did I miss?"

Xu Xiao Shou almost frowned but forcibly suppressed the impulse, looking expressionless toward where Lan Ling had reappeared.

The void heated up rapidly.

Everyone felt a strong sense of discomfort and impending danger.

Shou Ye built his momentum to its peak; if he had to fight, even if outmatched, he would charge in first.

Lan Ling and Yu Zhiwen couldn’t die.

"Senior, wait!"

At the crucial moment, Yu Zhiwen spoke up again.

Even Shu Shu Ren couldn’t help but admire this little girl.

Not everyone could speak so calmly in such a situation.

And she was just a junior!

Xu Xiao Shou paused his raised hand, a flicker of interest in his eyes.

"You have guts."

"You're probably the only one here daring to play this game."

After a brief pause, he continued with a smile: "But each question from now on is a life. Have you thought it through?"

At that moment, the Hong Yi at the back all broke into cold sweats.

One question, one life!

Even in this situation, the girl from Sheng Shen Dian Tang dared to speak recklessly…

She wouldn’t die, of course! With her background from Sheng Shen Dian Tang.

But if she kept messing around, the next time she spoke, it might mean one of them would lose their life for no reason!

Even Shou Ye couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

Yu Zhiwen might have a big background, but as a junior meddling like this, she’d only cause more trouble.

Just as he was about to stop her, a voice reached his ear:

"Trust her!"

Shou Ye glanced sideways—it was Lan Ling’s transmission.

Has she gone mad?

That was his first thought.

But then he realized that if even Lan Ling endorsed Yu Zhiwen’s actions…

Had she noticed something?

Had he overlooked some detail in all this?

Or was Yu Zhiwen’s statement, or plan, actually Lan Ling speaking through her?

Sensing the unusual mood beside him, Shou Ye quickly held back his companion and signaled Hei Ming to stand down.

All the Hong Yi turned their eyes to Lan Ling.

But Lan Ling kept staring at Yu Zhiwen, her gaze shifting along.

Suddenly, the atmosphere among the Hong Yi grew heavy.

Death?

Even with some secret mission, dying like this would be too frustrating!

Xu Xiao Shou naturally noticed the odd atmosphere among the Hong Yi but said nothing.

To him, he just needed someone to provoke him now.

Then he could act, force the Hong Yi to resist, and ultimately destroy the ancient text space.

That was the real path to survival.

Otherwise, turning and leaving would leave Xu Xiao Shou with nowhere to go.

He couldn't just say, "Shu Shu Ren, let this old man out first, then you can fight?"

Heh.

That would be ridiculous.

Even a fool might catch on, let alone Shu Shu Ren.

"Heh-heh."

With a sinister laugh, Xu Xiao Shou watched as Yu Zhiwen spoke again.

"It seems you have quite the background, enough for the Hong Yi to let you lead the conversation… From Sheng Shen Dian Tang? Headquarters?"

Yu Zhiwen nodded without fear.

"Yes, I am Yu Zhiwen, and my master is Dao Xuanji." She held her head high, wanting to see what reaction this Sheng Nu Lao Er would have.

Xu Xiao Shou glanced at the sky and waved dismissively.

"Time is limited—three questions, three lives!"

Dao Xuanji and all that—he didn’t care.

Even if your master was the Eighth Sword Immortal, you wouldn’t detect any fluctuation from this old man’s “changes.”

The atmosphere in the field was tense.

All the Hong Yi faces darkened.

Even Shu Shu Ren felt uneasy about Lao Er’s inexplicable actions.

"This guy, when he goes mad, won't he take his own life too?"

"He didn't specify it has to be from the Hong Yi, did he…"

"Received fear, passive value, 14."

"Received curse, passive value, 17."

Yu Zhiwen’s starry eyes didn’t tremble at all, as if she truly didn’t care about lives, and she said calmly, "The game—I can play, but I request it on credit."

"On credit?"

Not only the Hong Yi were stunned.

Even Xu Xiao Shou himself was momentarily baffled by Yu Zhiwen's bold move.

Lives, on credit…

That wasn’t like this girl at all. How could she say something so absurd at a time like this?

"You're interesting."

Xu Xiao Shou forced a creepy smile and nodded. "Fine."

Shu Shu Ren involuntarily stepped back again.

He sensed a shift in the situation.

Lao Er seemed to be getting carried away…

He couldn’t possibly have taken a liking to this bold little girl, could he?!

To refine a human pill?

Using Dao Qiong Cang’s niece?

"Hiss." Shu Shu Ren shuddered.

"Senior, what you said earlier about 'one question, one life,' I took it seriously."

With that, Yu Zhiwen waved her hand with a light smile.

Suddenly, three white skeletons with slightly dazed eyes appeared in mid-air, each with strength around the Zongshi level.

"Roar-roar-roar!"

As soon as they appeared and regained their senses, the three white skeletons let out strange cries and swung the heavy weapons that had grown on their hands toward Yu Zhiwen behind them.

"Bind."

Yu Zhiwen clasped her hands together, and three obscure ring-shaped lights emerged on the white skeletons.

In an instant, apart from a few meaningless groans from their mouths, these low-intelligence Bai Ku creatures were immobilized.

A smile played on Yu Zhiwen’s face as she said, “‘One question, one life’—I’m playing strictly by your rules, senior. That’s not too much, is it?”

Shu Shu Ren's expression froze.

Xu Xiao Shou in mid-air also instinctively twitched his mouth, momentarily unable to control it with “changes.”

All the Hong Yi were stunned, then collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

So that’s what happened!

This girl was incredibly clever!

"Playing smart… is not advisable."

After his mouth twitched, Xu Xiao Shou’s eyes erupted with tangible killing intent. "If you want to play like this, then for your first question, this old man’s answer is…"

"Huh?"

Yu Zhiwen’s smile froze.

First question… Had she even asked it?

"Over the top."

As those two words fell, everyone’s mentality shattered.

That was the first question?

Yu Zhiwen was slow to react.

Did every questioning tone count as a question?

"Received curse, passive value, 11."

"Received resistance, passive value, 17."

"Received insult, passive value, 6."

Xu Xiao Shou ignored everyone’s emotions completely. With a shift of his gaze, the three white skeletons were blasted away by his momentum.

Then, his eyes narrowed.

"Puff-puff."

A faint sound emerged.

White flames suddenly appeared on the flying white skeletons.

In just a few breaths, without any Yuan energy to protect them, the three fire-attribute white skeletons were incinerated into nothingness.

Not even ashes were left.

They vanished without a trace!

"White flames…"

Everyone was terrified.

This unrestrained attack instantly extinguished any remaining luck in their hearts.

Of course!

He was Sheng Nu, Sheng Nu Lao Er!

The rules were his to set.

If he wanted to ignore them, it was as easy as a word.

And this straw-hatted old man, who looked just as unstable, seemed like the type to follow rules?

Xu Xiao Shou indifferently withdrew his gaze and snorted.

"This old man isn't unreasonable. If you, a little girl, want to play word games, then you've lost."

"These things, which haven't even fully developed intelligence, don't even qualify as living beings."

"Heaven’s mandate is granted by the great dao."

"Zongshi is just approaching the dao, gaining the qualification to contend for the Sheng Dao."

"Wang Zuo is the true enlightenment, the beginning of entry, where one can birth their own wisdom."

Xu Xiao Shou counted on his fingers and said calmly, "If you want to use white skeletons to pay for lives, that's fine."

"Bring out Wang Zuo-level white skeletons. If they're at that strength, they'd have wisdom."

"Then, this old man will play the 'life game' word games with you."

"Got it?"

Yu Zhiwen’s face turned pale.

Xu Xiao Shou remained unmoved and continued, "And, if you still don't agree with this view, this old man thinks that if you want to play 'word games,' you need to learn it properly."

"Because this thing doesn't tolerate overlooking details due to personal tension."

"At least…"

Xu Xiao Shou laughed: "This old man added a line earlier, 'three questions, three lives.' Do you remember?"

Yu Zhiwen’s body trembled slightly.

How could she remember?

She felt this old man was tricking her!

But she turned her head.

If even she, with her strength, couldn't remember, these Dao Zhan-level powerhouses would have perfect recall.

Seeing the ashen faces of the Hong Yi behind her, Yu Zhiwen already understood. Her heart began to tremble.

Xu Xiao Shou also turned to the Hong Yi and smiled, "Now, due to some well-known reasons, one of you has already died."

"Can you understand?"