Chapter 585: The Realm of Ten Deaths and No Life

A single "gege" almost killed Luo Leilei on the spot.

She couldn't stop her shoulders from trembling, as if she wanted to laugh.

But the goosebumps all over her body gave her more of a feeling of disgust.

"Xu Xiaoshou, you've met your match!"

Watching Xu Xiaoshou, who was utterly helpless against Shuoshuren's might, Luo Leilei felt a mixture of sympathy and schadenfreude.

She knew how astonishingly capable this young man was.

It was the same in Tianxuanmen.

It was the same in Baiku, and even in Shuoshuren's ancient archive space.

But now, with his identity exposed, he couldn't even make a ripple in front of Shuoshuren—he was directly suppressed.

"Ah."

Shuoshuren felt incredibly refreshed by that address.

He savored it for a long time before speaking: "So, Wenming little brother, since you're so eager to know, I'll tell you."

"Shenwai Huashen..."

Shuoshuren exhaled warmly, his voice full of temptation. "Want to learn?"

"I don't want to!!!"

Xu Xiaoshou was on the verge of his soul scattering; his ears turned red, though he didn't know why.

But could he really say "I don't want to"?

"You don't want to learn?"

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou hesitate, Shuoshuren's face suddenly turned stern as he said heavily: "This is Shenwai Huashen, something only a Bansheng can master. I'm only offering to teach you because I see potential in you!"

"I... I do want to..."

Xu Xiaoshou was about to cry, helplessly saying: "I... ah, forget it! I really want to learn..."

Luo Leilei nearly spat out blood.

What had she just heard?

Xu Xiaoshou, almost getting... assimilated?

"Mm-hmm, that's more like it!"

Shuoshuren finally released Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, turned around, and with light, lotus-like steps, came to stand in front of him.

"I know you actually want to learn, but for me to teach you, there has to be a condition..."

"What condition?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"You have to come with me."

Shuoshuren extended a slender jade finger and tapped Xu Xiaoshou's chest, his red lips parting as he said: "I know gege likes you a lot, but now, I like you too."

"So, if you want to learn, you have to promise to come with me in the end. And afterward... you can't let gege take you away, got it?"

As the man in the red skirt moved closer,

Xu Xiaoshou, still bound by the unyielding force, couldn't even step back.

He could only lean his soul backward as much as possible and ask with difficulty: "Gege—who? The Eighth Jianxian?"

Shuoshuren's intimate motion froze for a moment, his eyes filling with amusement.

"You little brat, even in this situation, you're still trying to pry information out of me?"

"Do you really think I've forgotten what you did earlier?"

"Uh..." Xu Xiaoshou's face stiffened, as if he had no such intention, and he asked again: "Pry what? I'm just curious, that's all."

"Aren't you wondering why I'm more enduring than Lei Shuangxing?"

He shifted his gaze to Luo Leilei and continued: "It's because I met a big uncle before, and he gave me a scripture."

Luo Leilei's face darkened.

Before she could speak, Shuoshuren's interest was clearly piqued.

"What scripture?"

"Guan Jian Dian!"

Finally sensing a normal look of curiosity on Shuoshuren's face, Xu Xiaoshou felt a wave of relief and went on: "That big uncle saved my life and saw I had some talent, so he gave me an ancient text—Guan Jian Dian."

After speaking, Xu Xiaoshou pressed his lips together and kept his eyes on Luo Leilei.

But secretly, his "perception" was still observing Shuoshuren's reaction.

"Guan Jian Dian..."

Shuoshuren's eyes showed confusion. "The Guan Jian Dian created by the Eighth Jianxian?"

"Yes."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, a hint of surprise rising in his heart.

Could he have guessed wrong?

Was that scruffy uncle not the same person as the Shengnu head?

"What did he look like?"

Shuoshuren furrowed his brows, clearly putting aside all other matters for now to focus on his gege.

"Scruffy, with long hair, covered in grime, dragging a big sack..."

As Xu Xiaoshou described, he watched for reactions, but seeing none, he added thoughtfully: "Eight fingers, and a big scar on his neck."

Shuoshuren's pupils subtly trembled.

If not for Xu Xiaoshou's keen "perception," he might not have noticed that tiny detail.

Xu Xiaoshou quickly glanced at his information panel.

"Under suspicion, passive value +1."

"Under scrutiny, passive value +1."

Suspicion?

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled.

What was Shuoshuren suspecting?

The truth of his words?

Or the identity of that scruffy uncle?

Or perhaps, because of what he said, doubts about his so-called "gege"?

"You're lying to me!"

Shuoshuren suddenly declared with certainty.

"No, I'm not."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head vigorously, his eyes earnest. "I, Xu Xiaoshou, never lie!"

"Pah!"

Luo Leilei spat from the side, anxiously saying: "Shuoshuren, don't believe his nonsense. Out of ten things this guy says, nine and a half are true at best—that's being generous!"

Black lines appeared on Xu Xiaoshou's forehead.

What a betrayal!

You little girl, don't get caught alone by me, Xu Xiaoshou!

Otherwise, you'll regret it!

"Hee-hee..."

Shuoshuren's eyes twinkled with even more interest.

"Under fondness, passive value +1."

"Under fondness, passive value +1."

Seeing these messages, Xu Xiaoshou was completely stunned.

Sure enough, the next second, Shuoshuren spoke: "Little brother, I'm getting more and more curious about you."

"Here's the deal."

He paused, thinking it over: "I can let bygones be bygones for what happened before, and you don't have to worry about me killing you."

"But just one condition!" Shuoshuren held up a finger.

"Let me go first, then we can talk."

Xu Xiaoshou cut in without even asking what the condition was.

Shuoshuren raised an eyebrow.

With a soft "pop,"

Ripples appeared in the void.

In an instant, Xu Xiaoshou felt the recognition of the Heavenly Dao return to him.

Whoosh.

He took a step and flashed dozens of zhang away.

"Don't run, oh—you can't escape anyway."

Shuoshuren narrowed his eyes with a smile: "But if you really want to play eagle and chick, I'll happily join in!"

"Under expectation, passive value +1."

Xu Xiaoshou considered using "Disappearing Technique" to vanish and get away.

But he wasn't sure about Shuoshuren's exact abilities.

Compared to Shouye, this guy was far more troublesome.

The technique might keep him safe for a while, but not for long.

If Shuoshuren could lock onto him... getting caught was inevitable.

"I won't run."

Xu Xiaoshou took a breath and looked around, pondering: "I just prefer having my own personal space, that's all."

Shuoshuren's eyes held a smile.

A distance of dozens of zhang was practically nothing to him.

Since his gege's Wenming wanted space, he'd respect that.

He wagged the finger he was holding up.

"One condition."

Xu Xiaoshou felt overwhelmed and had to ask: "What condition..."

His gaze shifted to Luo Leilei. "If it's the same one you mentioned back in Tianxuanmen, then sorry, I, Xu Xiaoshou, can't accept it."

"What did you say?"

Shuoshuren turned to look at Luo Leilei.

Luo Leilei looked troubled and replied: "It's exactly what you're thinking, senior."

Shuoshuren's gaze sharpened.

The temperature in the air began to drop.

Not from any freezing attribute.

It was the cold weight of killing intent, making even the Heavenly Dao fall silent.

"I'll give you one chance to think it over again." Shuoshuren narrowed his eyes: "Remember, only once."

"I..."

Xu Xiaoshou was at a loss for words.

Reason told him he couldn't keep resisting.

But...

He just couldn't do it!

If he went with Shuoshuren, he'd be better off going back with Shouye to the Hong Yi prison for a while.

Who knew what horrors might happen around this red-skirted weirdo?

His reputation would be ruined—how could he handle that?

But refusing...

Xu Xiaoshou was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

He desperately hoped for some accident, like a meteor falling from the sky to smash Shuoshuren flat.

How could anyone be like this?

How could someone be so terrifying?

What kind of freaks and oddballs did this "Shengnu" recruit?

"Your gege said he wouldn't force me to go—he respects me." A sudden idea struck Xu Xiaoshou, and he added that line.

But Shuoshuren wasn't moved.

"Gege is gege, and I'm me."

"Now, it's got nothing to do with him—I've taken a liking to you."

Tilting his head, Shuoshuren smiled and asked: "So, what's your decision?"

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent.

Going with Shuoshuren was impossible!

But not going...

Fight?

Xu Xiaoshou's hand touched the item in his embrace—even against Shouye, he hadn't brought it out.

But now, he seriously doubted whether A Jie could handle Shuoshuren.

This guy wasn't like Shouye—he wouldn't care about blowing up Baiku in a fight.

Clearly...

He wouldn't.

"Mama..."

A Jie's low murmur came; it seemed to sense its "mama's" panic.

This was an emotion it almost never felt before.

"Don't move."

Xu Xiaoshou communicated via spiritual thought, reassuring: "It's okay, you don't need to come out. He won't kill me."

"Mama..."

"Under comfort, passive value +1."

A warm current surged in his heart.

Gripping the stone-like A Jie, Xu Xiaoshou looked at Shuoshuren. "Mind if I ask, what's your current realm?"

Shuoshuren's eyes showed even more interest.

"You want to fight me?"

At that moment, even Luo Leilei felt her heart tighten.

She remembered what Xu Xiaoshou had said back in Tianxuanmen.

"My world, I'll see it myself, even if... I'm covered in wounds?"

"Shuoshuren!"

Luo Leilei quickly sent a message: "You absolutely can't kill him—this is someone the head values highly. If you do, then..."

Shuoshuren glanced back with a cold, indifferent look.

Luo Leilei's voice cut off abruptly.

It was over...

Completely over!

How did things turn out like this? Xu Xiaoshou wasn't just someone the head liked—he was also a disciple of Wuxiu.

Shuoshuren, you can't do this!!!

But despite her inner urgency to stop it, that casual glance from Shuoshuren made Luo Leilei realize.

In this place, she had no say.

The timid and coy act was just a facade—deep down, Shuoshuren feared no one!

Once he set his sights on someone, how could he give up easily?

"Under worry, passive value +1."

"I don't want to fight, I don't want to fight."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hands repeatedly. "I'm just really curious... my curiosity is a bit strong, that's it."

Shuoshuren's attitude toward the young man in front of him was far kinder than toward Luo Leilei.

"Zhan Dao."

He smiled and explained: "Zhan Dao peak."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't believe it: "Shouye from Hong Yi is also Zhan Dao, but I feel like you're way stronger than him."

"No need to flatter me."

Shuoshuren looked refreshed and added: "That old guy didn't dare cross the Jiusi Leijie, but I did."

"How many tribulations?"

"All of them."

Shuoshuren answered straightforwardly, leaving Xu Xiaoshou's mind blank.

If he really passed all of the Jiusi Leijie...

Then Shuoshuren was just half a step from Tai Xu?

Xu Xiaoshou was completely lost.

This was the closest he'd ever been to someone at the world's strongest realm.

Not counting those pathetic saints who could only communicate across realms.

And not like the Shengnu head, who was half-crippled and on the brink.

Shuoshuren was in his prime!

How could someone like this be opposed by a mere Xiantian like him?

Weighing his options, Xu Xiaoshou still wanted to struggle a bit.

"If this junior wants to foolishly challenge you, would Shuoshuren show mercy and hold back?"

Luo Leilei broke into a cold sweat at his words.

Have you lost your mind?!

Xu Xiaoshou, are you insane?!

"Under deterrence, passive value +1."

But Xu Xiaoshou ignored Luo Leilei's gaze and met Shuoshuren's eyes directly.

Shuoshuren's eyes showed admiration and thick fondness once more.

"How should I hold back for you?"

"One move enough?"

He shook his head suddenly. "That's too few. How about this—I let you attack first, and when you're tired, I'll take my turn?"

Xu Xiaoshou's skin crawled instantly.

While quietly sensing "Textile Mastery" and connecting with Baiku's rules, he wiped away cold sweat and said:

"No, what I meant was, could you let me run first, and then chase me after some time?"

Shuoshuren burst out laughing, then covered his mouth: "You're so fun."

"Run?"

He tilted his head, thought for a moment, then suddenly grew serious.

"If you're going to run, why connect with the Heavenly Dao? Planning to blow up Baiku like you did in the archive space?"

With a wave of his hand,

Xu Xiaoshou instantly felt his connection to the Heavenly Dao blocked.

Even "Textile Mastery" seemed to fail.

No matter how he immersed himself, he couldn't detect the rules of this world anymore.

Exile... The word flashed in Xu Xiaoshou's mind, perfectly matching his state.

He was powerless.

Without even being able to detonate Baiku, how could he escape this crisis?

It was impossible...

A dead end!

A hopeless dead end with no survival!