Chapter 575: I Am Xu Xiaoshou

Chapter 576: Reverse the Heavens, Desperate Reversal

The whole audience was stunned.

Even a few people who had been following Lan Ling and Yu Zhiwen's lead couldn't help but doubt.

But when the words "I am Xu Xiaoshou" came from the mouth of Sheng Nu's second-in-command, spoken in such an absurd tone that defied all logic...

No one dared to believe it.

It was simply ridiculous!

This utterly absurd and laughable deduction left everyone speechless!

Sheng Nu's second-in-command!

Standing before them was Wu Xiu, the right-hand man of Sheng Nu, who had escaped Wuyue Jianxian's grasp over a decade ago and now, after all these years, dared to face Gou Wuyue alone.

And Xu Xiaoshou...

Everyone knew he was just a Xian Tian Qiang Zhe.

No matter what powerful abilities he possessed, such as Zong Shi Zhi Shen, Zong Shi Jian Yi, Ling Zhen Zong Shi, or even being a master of explosive alchemy...

At the end of the day, he was just at the Xian Tian level.

Could he really pull off such a facade?

Could he feign the aura, experience, courage, and overall presence?

Yu Zhiwen had managed to maintain her composure and present her deductions in an orderly manner amidst the chaos of Wang Zuo and Zhan Dao battles, leaving all the Hong Yi in awe.

But that was because she was the direct disciple of Dao Xuanji from Sheng Shen Dian Tang, ranked second on the Dao Bu Tian Bang, with an incredibly strong background and resources that shaped her into a prodigy.

These factors allowed her to maintain some composure in such a situation, enabling her to stand firm without her legs trembling and speak her mind.

How many young talents in the world possessed such backgrounds and resources?

And what about Xu Xiaoshou?

He was just a junior who had risen from Tian Sang Ling Gong to his current level in a mere few months.

His talent was indeed impressive.

But what about his vision and insight?

How could he deceive the Storyteller, suppress the entire scene amidst Wang Zuo and Zhan Dao forces, and make everyone too intimidated to speak?

Not even a one-in-a-million chance!

Impossible!

In the crowd of Hong Yi, Lan Ling was laughing maniacally under her breath.

She had figured it out; she had realized the truth.

So many mysteries, when traced back to their source...

Everything had actually been clear from the beginning.

Not to mention, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't possibly have the strength to appear like this.

Even if he somehow managed to impersonate Sheng Nu's second-in-command...

Would the Storyteller, also from Sheng Nu, fail to notice and let him scold everyone?

He was at the pinnacle of Zhan Dao!

A peak expert who had survived the Nine Deaths Lei Jie!

How could they suspect their own while doubting the Hong Yi, or think this peak powerhouse would collaborate with some unknown Xu Xiaoshou in this act?

Impossible!

In summary...

The starting point of that earlier deduction was fundamentally wrong.

Any reasoning built on a false premise was just self-deception at best, nothing more than an attempt to make it fit.

When it couldn't hold up anymore...

You'd have to go back and look.

And then you'd see...

Total devastation!

The Storyteller's presence had already proven everything!

"Zhi Wen..."

Lan Ling smiled bitterly.

She felt so sorry for this girl.

And she had trusted her too much.

No matter how excellent or well-connected Yu Zhiwen was, having come from Sheng Shen Dian Tang headquarters to assist...

Her task was simply to help break the San Shi Liu Tian Feng Wu Zhen.

No one had ever said...

Not even the Sheng Nu higher-ups had implied that Yu Zhiwen could take control in a high-stakes war.

If a real battle broke out...

Yu Zhiwen was just a child!

Lan Ling didn't blame herself for being led astray by Yu Zhiwen's thinking step by step.

She only regretted why she had entrusted such a critical task to this young girl from Sheng Shen Dian Tang headquarters, letting her try to unravel a situation even Lan Ling herself couldn't resolve.

And the outcome...

That single word "run" had ultimately shattered all illusions!

"Lao Er..."

The Storyteller looked at his second-in-command, who was laughing wildly and even wiping away tears.

Honestly, the panic in his heart right now was no less than Lan Ling's.

He had never seen Lao Er so out of control, laughing uncontrollably like this—it was unthinkable.

"Have I gone mad? What am I even doing?"

"Just because of a few words from that Hong Yi girl, I started doubting Lao Er?"

"Even if Xu Xiaoshou is exceptional, could he be identical to Lao Er, like they were cast from the same mold?"

"Not even twins would be that alike!"

"Abilities, appearance, mannerisms, demeanor..."

The Storyteller pressed his hand to his chest and stepped back slowly.

He could still hear Luo Leilei's voice in his ears, but he blocked it out completely.

With Lao Er in this manic state, who knew what he might do next?

He didn't even dare to get distracted!

"Lao Er, you..."

The Storyteller swallowed hard and asked with difficulty, "Are you okay?"

"Received concern, passive value +1."

"I'm fine..."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, gasping for breath. Once he caught it, he seemed to snap back and said, "Ah, I'm fine, I'm fine. How big of an issue could I, Xu Xiaoshou, have?"

"Even you've been intimidated by me. Under the heavens, is there anything Xu Xiaoshou can't handle?"

"Received doubt, passive value +19."

The Storyteller's mouth started twitching.

"Lao Er, take it easy, don't—don't do anything rash. Xu Xiaoshou and all that, we're just joking around!"

"Those people..."

He pointed at the scattered Hong Yi and sneered, "They're just idiots. No need to stoop to their level."

"You're right."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, his gaze meeting the Storyteller's as he said seriously, "But with you, we do need to settle this, don't we?"

"I..."

The Storyteller was at a loss for words in an instant.

A chill ran down his spine, and he nearly blew open the ancient archives space to flee for his life.

Brother, help...

Lao Er is going to kill me!

"Hehe, hehe..."

"I'm not—I'm not..."

The Storyteller's eyes darted around quickly, focusing on the Tian Shu Ji Pan in Lao Er's hand. He quickly changed the subject, saying, "I'm just startled by your Tian Shu Ji Pan, that's it!"

"Isn't this thing the one that little girl mentioned, from Xu Xiaoshou?"

Xu Xiaoshou sighed deeply, "So you believe whatever Hong Yi says... Storyteller, is that what you mean?"

The Storyteller's legs went weak.

"Received fear, passive value +1."

"That's not what I meant!"

He explained in a panic, "It's because what they said was too vivid, I—I..."

He glanced back at Lan Ling, who looked utterly disheartened.

In that moment, the Storyteller truly realized he had been led astray by the Hong Yi's attitude.

Look at Lan Ling.

Her breakdown was the same as admitting the reality—that the person in front of them couldn't possibly be Xu Xiaoshou in disguise, right?

If that's the case, why was I doubting?

This is the real Lao Er standing here.

Yet because of a few words from Hong Yi, I started suspecting him?

The Storyteller felt like he was going to die of stupidity right then.

He wanted to slap himself hard to vent his frustration.

"But this Tian Shu Ji Pan..."

Though he was terrified inside, the Storyteller knew he couldn't let Lao Er focus on him now.

Otherwise, he'd be the one to take the fallout.

Distract him—ask about the Tian Shu Ji Pan. That's the way...

"So, did you get it from Xu Xiaoshou?" the Storyteller asked, avoiding eye contact.

"I'm really going to die laughing at you all."

Xu Xiaoshou flipped his hand and put away the Tian Shu Ji Pan, shaking his head as he regulated his breath. "I did run into a junior earlier, but I don't know him."

"The Tian Shu Ji Pan wasn't my intention either."

"These things..."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed, "I'm completely uninterested in them."

The Hong Yi crowd was stunned.

Uninterested, yet you took it?

"Received contempt, passive value +12."

Not even interested in the Tian Shu Ji Pan?

At that moment, Lan Ling suddenly realized she had overlooked a crucial factor in all their earlier deductions.

"Coincidence!"

What if, in this small Bai Ku, Xu Xiaoshou had encountered Sheng Nu's second-in-command?

"Impossible."

"There couldn't be such a coincidence."

"Unless Sheng Nu's second-in-command deliberately sought out Xu Xiaoshou and took the Tian Shu Ji Pan from him."

"But that's a point of suspicion." Lan Ling's thoughts raced.

"Sheng Nu Wu Xiu is likely an alchemy master and shouldn't be interested in the Tian Shu Ji Pan, as his earlier words suggest."

"He's not after Xu Xiaoshou for that reason..."

Lan Ling had no time for guilt now.

She turned her gaze to the Storyteller, who was deep in thought.

Though there was more fear in his eyes, he was still waiting for an answer that could be confirmed.

If even the Storyteller knew why Sheng Nu's second-in-command had targeted Xu Xiaoshou, and it wasn't just Sheng Nu's second-in-command making excuses...

Then their earlier reasoning was nothing but a joke.

Because the last key factor left was that Xu Xiaoshou was dead!

Sheng Nu's second-in-command had taken everything from him!

So, what could it be?

What would make such a supreme expert target a mere Xian Tian like an ant?

The Storyteller was also baffled by Lao Er's words.

He pondered for a long time.

Suddenly, an image from Ling Rong Ze flashed in his mind.

When he arrived there, the ice-cold realm had just collided with the flame aura and exploded once.

But at that time, everyone was searching for the San Ri Dong Jie.

Even he had been drawn there by the San Ri Dong Jie.

After all, the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong on the other side was a cursed thing he didn't want to touch, and those juniors were powerless against it.

But!

Just before the second explosion, though the image was fleeting, he had seen a vague figure darting out from the direction of the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong.

That was Xu Xiaoshou!

"So..."

The Storyteller's eyes lit up. He slapped his forehead, and cold sweat splattered as he exclaimed, "I'm an idiot!"

"I'm really the biggest fool!"

"This whole thing..."

The Storyteller nearly buried himself in shame, wanting to hide in a space rift.

The Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong, which no one dared to approach, had been sought by Xu Xiaoshou because he obtained some opportunity from Lao Er. He dug it up.

Later, when Xu Xiaoshou and the sealed ghost beast emerged from the ancient archives space, the Storyteller hadn't sensed any Jin Zhao aura on the beast.

That meant the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong had fallen to Xu Xiaoshou.

And the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong, which everyone feared like thunder...

Was a great tonic for Lao Er!

He had gone to search for the San Ri Dong Jie back then, partly thinking that if he could get the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong, it might help Lao Er recover from his old injuries.

Now, Lao Er had entered Bai Ku.

Sensing a power akin to his own, and after battling Gou Wuyue, he was severely weakened and desperately needed replenishment.

In such a state, how could he not seek the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong?

And since it was on Xu Xiaoshou...

Now, Lao Er had also obtained the Tian Shu Ji Pan.

Didn't that mean...

"It's simple!"

The Storyteller crouched in mid-air, holding his head.

He was about to cry from his own stupidity!

Everything was so straightforward!

"So, Lao Er, you sensed the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong aura, found Xu Xiaoshou, and took it from him?"

"And along the way..."

The Storyteller lifted his head with teary eyes, "You also healed all your injuries?"

With a boom.

Upon hearing this, Lan Ling went limp, staggering and collapsing into Xin's arms.

Wrong.

All wrong!

It turned out the last factor wasn't a coincidence at all.

Sheng Nu's second-in-command targeted Xu Xiaoshou only because of the shared power source, because of the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong, because after fighting Wuyue Jianxian, he urgently needed to recover.

So, he took the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong from Xu Xiaoshou?

Lan Ling felt her heart shattering.

In that instant, her worldview seemed to crumble and collapse, scattering beyond repair.

Shou Ye's heart tightened.

Based on this reasoning...

"Xu Xiaoshou, is dead?"

"Received doubt, passive value +1."

"Is that so hard to understand?"

Xu Xiaoshou, suspended in mid-air, chuckled dryly, "Isn't it obvious?"

He fell silent for a moment.

Looking at the completely silent crowd...

Xu Xiaoshou realized that after losing Yu Zhiwen...

Even Lan Ling, who had been led completely astray by that final "run" and couldn't get back on track, had lost her judgment.

Now, no one's mind in the room was functioning properly.

The Storyteller had ideas.

Shou Ye had ideas too.

But their thinking was merely tactical, not true strategic control.

At best, it was combat thinking—the kind that could seize a detail in battle to turn the tide.

As for controlling the situation, without Yu Zhiwen and Lan Ling as the leaders...

Xu Xiaoshou said bluntly...

No one here was his match!

He pondered for a good while, waiting until the crowd had barely regained their composure, then slowly flipped his hand.

"Buzz—"

In an instant, not only did the four swords in his other hand tremble, but the swords worn by the Hong Yi crowd also vibrated incessantly.

"Ming Jian, Yan Mang!"

Shou Ye's eyes bulged.

What Sheng Nu's second-in-command held, struggling and trembling...

Was the Ming Jian—Yan Mang—that he had given to Xu Xiaoshou on behalf of Hong Yi!

"So..."

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

Shou Ye's eyes dimmed.

He had seen Xu Xiaoshou's upright character and admired it greatly.

But he could also foresee that, given Xu Xiaoshou's temperament, if he continued on his path, he would one day face a force he couldn't resist.

And someone with Xu Xiaoshou's personality would rather die than yield!

"So..."

Shou Ye shook his head, still in disbelief.

He had anticipated the outcome.

But he never imagined it would happen so soon, just because of this accident, because Sheng Nu's second-in-command had entered Bai Ku and targeted the Jin Zhao Yuan Zhong.

Xu Xiaoshou had encountered that irresistible force far earlier than expected!

"What happened to him?"

Shou Ye stepped forward, asking involuntarily.

His voice even carried a hint of grave killing intent.

"Received worry, passive value +1."

"Him?"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at his information panel, then turned back with a casual smile.

"He's quite impressive. Didn't that little girl say Xu Xiaoshou was her friend and even taught her a lot?"

"What I mean is..." Shou Ye's anger built, and he demanded bluntly, "What did you do to him?"

"There's a lot of stuff."

Xu Xiaoshou's response was off-topic. He weighed the trembling, resisting Ming Jian Yan Mang in his hand and turned to the Storyteller with a laugh, "Another Ming Jian, an unexpected gain."

"Mm-hmm..."

The Storyteller nodded vigorously, like pounding garlic.

He regretted it to his core.

Lao Er still remembered his brother's desire to collect Ming Jian.

Why had he provoked this huge trouble? Why doubt Lao Er?

Storyteller, you're insane! You're sick!

"Lao Er, so is Xu Xiaoshou... dead?" the Storyteller asked weakly, not daring to draw attention to himself anymore.

One look at Lao Er's meaningful gaze, and he felt his neck growing cold...

"Not dead."

Xu Xiaoshou smiled and stowed the Ming Jian into his ring.

Shou Ye's heart eased suddenly, and even his breathing steadied.

But then...