Chapter 607: Survive

“Received discussion, passive value, 2.”

“Received worry, passive value, 3.”

“Received gaze, passive value, 782.”

Following the three Shengnu leaders as they stepped out of the spatial rift, Xu Xiaoshou was nearly scared out of his wits by these sudden numbers.

Over seven hundred people were watching him at the same time?

Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t seen such a high “received gaze” value in a long time. In the past, it had only reached this level during arena matches or the bustling crowds before the Eight Palaces opened.

But right now…

With a quick sweep of his "perception," Xu Xiaoshou could instantly tell that the white-robed figures blocking their path numbered only about sixty or seventy.

So, where were the remaining seven hundred pairs of eyes hiding?

For a moment, his heart raced with unease.

“Wow, quite the lineup!”

Cen Qiaofu leaped out of the spatial rift, standing firm in the void. He drew the small axe from his waist and loosened his belt for good measure.

The rain in the sky seemed to halt completely as he straightened his posture.

His overwhelming aura surged higher and higher, and the energy of his Dao-slaying intent began to transform step by step, inching toward that terrifying realm.

“As expected, it’s Tai Xu…”

Gou Wuyue murmured softly, his gaze shifting from the masked person slumped on Cen Qiaofu’s back to the young man behind them.

With a square face, bushy beard, and long hair…

No matter how he looked, this didn’t match the first-hand information from Yu Ling Di.

And the words from Shou Ye echoed in his ears once more:

“That Xu Xiaoshou—out of ten things he says, nine and a half are true. It’s best not to listen to the rest.”

Gou Wuyue chuckled.

Indeed, no one understood Xu Xiaoshou better than Shou Ye, who had clashed with him multiple times.

“Shengnu?” Gou Wuyue turned his gaze and called out loudly.

“Shengnu!” Cen Qiaofu nodded gravely.

A low hum—

The famous sword Lan from Ming Jian Nu trembled abruptly, as if heralding a new chapter of battle.

Gou Wuyue gripped it tightly, not lowering his head, but he could feel the sword’s indignant fury.

It seemed this sword had some history with the newcomers!

Clang—

The four swords in Xu Xiaoshou’s hand also shook violently.

Their resounding clash instantly dispelled the oncoming sharp sword intent, restoring peace to the void.

Drizzle…

The rain fell again.

The silent confrontation had begun the moment the two sides met.

“Where’s Xu Xiaoshou?”

On the other side, Qiao Qianzhi stared eagerly at the three people and the unconscious body—the Shengnu leader?—jumping out of the rift.

He paid them little attention, focusing instead on what was behind them.

After the four from Shengnu appeared, the spatial rift behind them started to mend.

That meant the Bai Ku incident was completely over.

Everything was in the past!

“But… where’s Xu Xiaoshou?”

Qiao Qianzhi couldn’t believe it.

If he hadn’t found him in Gou Wuyue’s sealed space and he hadn’t emerged from Bai Ku…

Where could Xu Xiaoshou have gone?

Had he died?

“That young man…”

Ye Xiaotian stared at the square-faced, bearded youth, his eyelids drooping as if lost in thought.

“Retreat.”

With a wave of his hand, Ye Xiaotian led those beside him to flash back to a safe distance, far from the battlefield.

“Ye Xiaotian!”

Qiao Qianzhi immediately grew anxious. “Xiaoshou is still…”

“Stay calm.”

Ye Xiaotian raised a hand to stop Qiao Qianzhi from saying more. “You all fall back first. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait…”

Qiao Qianzhi’s eyes widened, about to protest, but the white-haired Daoist child vanished in a flash.

He reappeared in the middle of the standoff between the white-robed figures and Shengnu.

“Gou Wuyue, before you start fighting, you said that as long as I see the person I’m looking for, I can take them away directly.” Ye Xiaotian turned his head first and addressed Gou Wuyue.

“Go ahead.”

Gou Wuyue gestured casually, as if he didn’t care what the Ling Gong leader would do next.

He was curious, though—who from Tian Sang Ling Gong did Ye Xiaotian want to take? The storyteller, Cen Qiaofu, the Shengnu leader? Or that young man who didn’t look like Xu Xiaoshou at all?

“Thank you.”

Ye Xiaotian nodded and shifted his gaze to the square-faced, bearded youth, speaking calmly:

“I am the dean of Tian Sang Ling Gong’s inner court. I’m here only to retrieve the disciples from our Ling Gong who were training in Bai Ku. Any disciple of Tian Sang Ling Gong’s inner court may leave with me now.”

He paused, his gaze intense, and added: “Just nod, and you can go.”

As these words settled, everyone’s eyes fixed on the youth.

“Received invitation, passive value, 1.”

“Received worry, passive value, 4.”

“Received gaze, passive value, 782.”

Dean…

Xu Xiaoshou felt a warmth in his heart.

With just that one sentence, he was sure the dean hadn’t been swayed by the white-robed figures or was testing his identity.

Xu Xiaoshou never imagined that after the thrilling battles in Bai Ku, someone would still be waiting for him outside.

“So, I’m not fighting alone…”

But it’s too late!

Xu Xiaoshou smiled wryly.

He realized that his path had been set since the midpoint of the “Fengyun Zhengba” in the outer court, starting when he met Sang Lao.

The dean was the classic type—tough on the outside, soft on the inside.

But your arrival is more than a step too late!

If Sang Lao hadn’t been from Shengnu, if he hadn’t planted the seed so early, if…

“Ahem.”

Xu Xiaoshou coughed lightly, cutting off his wandering thoughts.

He composed his expression into one of calm indifference and said, “Thank you, senior, but I, Tan Ji, am not a disciple of Tian Sang Ling Gong’s inner court. Maybe you’ve got the wrong person.”

Tan Ji?

Ye Xiaotian’s heart skipped a beat at the familiar tone…

He was certain—this was definitely Xu Xiaoshou!

He was about to speak again when he suddenly remembered something.

“Inner court disciple?”

Of course!

Subconsciously, he had assumed all those training in Bai Ku were inner court disciples.

But Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t become one yet.

Officially, he was just the outer court’s senior brother.

Though he was the vice dean’s personal disciple in secret, he hadn’t received any inner court privileges.

He had even earned his spot in Bai Ku through his own efforts.

“Is he holding a grudge?”

Ye Xiaotian’s mind flashed with the idea, but he quickly dismissed it.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t that petty!

He spoke firmly again: “Inner and outer courts are all part of the same family. As long as you’re from Tian Sang Ling Gong, you just need to nod…”

Glancing back at the onlookers—the storyteller and Cen Qiaofu—Ye Xiaotian declared resolutely: “No matter who’s here, as the dean of Tian Sang Ling Gong’s inner court, I will take you away!”

The outer court counts too… Xu Xiaoshou found it a bit amusing.

He was still nursing that grudge from not entering the inner court after winning “Fengyun Zhengba.”

But now wasn’t the time for that.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go—it was that he couldn’t!

Shaking his head slightly, Xu Xiaoshou remained silent.

He wouldn’t follow the dean back.

Because if he did, the white-robed figures’ target might shift entirely to Tian Sang Ling Gong.

Sang Lao had been so secretive precisely to avoid bringing disaster to the Ling Gong.

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t think of himself as that noble.

But he wasn’t like Sang someone either.

He wouldn’t pass on the seed his master had forced on him to his own disciples.

Putting himself in their shoes, he didn’t want to impose the same inexplicable fear and chaos on everyone at Tian Sang Ling Gong.

After all, that place held his first memories in this world.

Besides that despicable, now-dead Wen Ming and Zhang Xin Xiong, it had Elder Qiao waiting anxiously, Judge Xiao, Judge Zhao…

Zhou Tian Can, Su Qianqian, Mu Zi Xi…

The Ling Zang Ge that almost burned down, and the Tian Xuan Gate that nearly collapsed…

So much more!

Recalling this, Xu Xiaoshou wished he could return to his spiritual site to study alchemy, maybe take off that alchemy master badge that didn’t match his skills, and go earn a spiritual array master badge to satisfy his collecting habit.

But…

“Goodbye.”

Whispering in his heart, Xu Xiaoshou shook his head lightly and took a small step back.

That step sealed his decision.

Crack.

Ye Xiaotian clenched his fist tightly.

Cracks seemed to appear in the void.

In that instant, the rain stopped, and the figures vanished, leaving only the white-haired Daoist child and the square-faced youth.

“Xu Xiaoshou!” Ye Xiaotian shouted angrily.

“Received call, passive value, 1.”

Xu Xiaoshou jumped, realizing this was the dean’s Wang Zuo domain.

But…

Wouldn’t they notice?

Glancing around, everyone else seemed truly gone.

Was the dean this powerful?

“I have some things I want to say to you.”

Ye Xiaotian paused, then added gravely, “Privately.”

Xu Xiaoshou felt an inexplicable sting in his nose.

In this isolated space, facing this elder from his past, memories of the dangers in Bai Ku flooded back, and he almost blurted out, “Me too.”

But he pressed his lips together and stayed silent.

“I…”

Ye Xiaotian had a thousand words on his mind, but as he opened his mouth, he stopped short.

Then he tried again:

“Sang Lao…”

He hesitated, furrowed his brow, and changed it to:

“A Jie…”

He stopped.

The two stared at each other in silence.

The void was windless, time frozen.

It felt like every big or small matter could be discussed right then.

Xu Xiaoshou felt that way, and so did Ye Xiaotian.

He wanted desperately to voice all his concerns in that brief moment, let them reach the young man’s ears, and put him at ease.

But every sentence, every subject, felt so out of place now.

Ye Xiaotian struggled like he’d lost his ability to speak, unable to form a complete thought.

He could see the unchanged look in Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes beneath his disguise.

Those eyes didn’t lie.

With his limited experience, the young man couldn’t fool this white-haired Daoist child who’d roamed the world for years.

Anyone could see that, like Sang Lao, he planned to shoulder everything alone to spare Tian Sang Ling Gong from disaster.

Who would be that foolish?!

Ye Xiaotian sighed heavily, forcing his eyes open despite the dryness, refusing to blink.

He floated up slightly, reaching out toward Xu Xiaoshou’s shoulder.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Just three words.

Ye Xiaotian reined in all his emotions and added, “And… stay alive!”

He brought his palm down.

The scene blurred, and the drizzle returned, along with the upright white-robed figures.

When Xu Xiaoshou came to, Ye Xiaotian was gone.

He quickly looked toward Qiao Qianzhi and saw the elder wiping away tears and snot, while the four from Ling Gong had vanished with a flick of the dean’s sleeve.

“Go!”

A roar, half reluctant, half resigned.

Leaving only wilted flowers and grass swaying in the wind and rain.

“With so many people here…”

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt the rain’s chill—the cold of solitude.

“You’re called Tan Ji?”

Gou Wuyue seemed uninterested in the others from Shengnu and spoke directly to Xu Xiaoshou.

“Received inquiry, passive value, 1.”

“Received gaze, passive value, 782.”

Xu Xiaoshou shook off the rain from his clothes and snapped back to attention, steadying his emotions.

This wasn’t the time for sentimentality.

A major battle was looming!

One misstep, and he’d be collateral damage…

He refocused and countered, “Does a name matter that much?”

“It does.” Gou Wuyue smiled.

“Fine, I can tell you straight—I’m not Tan Ji!”

“Oh?”

“Tan Ji is just a name I use…”

Xu Xiaoshou nodded seriously. “My surname is Xiao Shi.”

“Xiao Shi Tan Ji?”

Gou Wuyue was stunned.

“Received suspicion, passive value, 1.”

“Received doubt, passive value, 782.”

“Received mockery, passive value, 345.”

“Received liking, passive value, 1.”

“Hee-hee-hee…”

The storyteller covered her mouth and laughed. After a while, she said, “Xiao Shi Tan Ji, there’s no point explaining. No matter what you say, will they let us go?”

“Received question, passive value, 1.”

“They will.” Xu Xiaoshou nodded earnestly.

This surprised not just the storyteller, but everyone.

He looked so ordinary…

How could he be so confident?

Was he an idiot?

“Received suspicion, passive value, 780.”

“Received muttering, passive value, 663.”

Xu Xiaoshou ignored the storyteller and looked straight at the sword-wielding, distinguished middle-aged man before him.

After a moment, he bowed deeply.

After pondering for three full breaths, he straightened up, took a deep breath, and said seriously:

“I just want to express my immense admiration for you, Senior Gou Wuyue—the legendary figure who drove Shengnu’s second-in-command to flee in panic, chased Shengnu’s seventh across two realms, mentored disciples with exceptional talent and poise, led the white-robed forces to dismantle countless evil organizations, rose to the rank of Hall Master in the Sheng Shen Hall, claimed one of the Ten Venerable Seats, and stands among the Seven Sword Immortals, Gou… uh, Wuyue, Senior Wuyue?”

Gou Wuyue: “…”

White-robed figures: “…”

Storyteller and Cen Qiaofu: ???

“Received suspicion, passive value, 780.”

“Received mockery, passive value, 423.”

“Received speculation, passive value, 644.”

What was he up to?

In that moment, everyone’s lips twitched, sharing the same question.

Even the usually composed Wuyue Sword Immortal felt a bit unsettled.

He hesitated to fully acknowledge it.

The title was too weighty—he hadn’t caught it all and had no idea what the young man was scheming.

But with such respect on the other’s face, not responding would be rude.

“What are you trying to say?”

Gou Wuyue steadied the eager famous sword.

“The junior only wants to express his profound respect for Senior Wuyue…”

Seeing the slight tremble in the other’s hand, Xu Xiaoshou sped up: “And that, due to my lowly status, I dare not interfere in your affairs.”

“What do you mean?”

“Interfere in your affairs?”

Everyone was baffled, and Gou Wuyue frowned, utterly confused.

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled awkwardly, rubbed his hands, scanned the crowd, and said:

“In short, for a war among you Wang Zuo-level heavyweights, could I just watch from the sidelines?”

He shrank his neck timidly: “Whoever wins, I’ll follow them without any resistance…”