Chapter 612: Are You Sealing the Sword?

“Oh, so you can stand up after all?”

“Then why not get up earlier and talk? I thought your injuries hadn’t healed yet!”

Dao Qiong Cang smiled.

After a long while, seeing the person before him remain silent, he finally dropped his smile and addressed the matter seriously.

“I dare not even think about death.”

“But the one who should have died has come back to life.”

He spoke, his eyes shifting downward to glance at the famous sword Lie Gui around his neck without so much as a blink. “Move it away.”

“You, what are you really trying to say?”

Hua Chang Deng narrowed his eyes sharply, his gaze brimming with murderous intent as if it might spill over.

Dao Qiong Cang sighed helplessly.

“Ba Zun An has revived.”

The faint sound echoed through the screen and candle-lit space; in this place where not even a breath of wind could be heard, the atmosphere turned deathly silent and terrifying.

Hua Chang Deng said nothing.

He sheathed Lie Gui, and with a whoosh, it vanished, returning to rest beneath the broken willow tree.

“If you’re bored and plan to amuse me with such jokes...”

“It’s not a joke.”

Dao Qiong Cang cut him off, waving his hand to summon a light screen.

The screen displayed the confrontation in Ba Gong between the masked man and Gou Wu Yue.

Below the main image were four smaller feeds from crystal balls in the Dong Yu Ba Gong battles, showing four anxious figures.

They appeared to be waiting for headquarters’ response.

Though silent, it was clear each of them had a mind full of questions.

“Anyway, I can’t figure it out. You’ve fought him—do you know who this person is?”

Dao Qiong Cang pointed at the masked man and asked.

“You haven’t fought him?”

Hua Chang Deng shot back.

“I have, but the heavenly mechanisms can no longer detect his existence. The Sheng Di’s power has shielded his aura—him and his allies!”

“Hmph.”

Hua Chang Deng snorted. “Is this your so-called supreme great dao? Can’t even tell if a person is real or fake, and you claim to control the dao?”

Dao Qiong Cang was speechless.

He didn’t argue, but pressed on: “So, is it him? Ba Zun An?”

Thud thud thud.

Hua Chang Deng’s snoring began.

Dao Qiong Cang: “......”

He was furious.

“Hua Lao Gui! Are you going to say something?”

“Is this the time for games?”

“If not, then behind the Sheng Nu, there’s the Sheng Di supporting him.”

“And if it is, then behind the Sheng Nu, not only is there the Sheng Di, but the apparent leader is also the former eighth Jian Xian!”

“Can you imagine the consequences?”

“If he raises his arm and calls out...”

“You’re so noisy!”

Hua Chang Deng turned over irritably, sniffed, and said lazily: “Isn’t Gou Wu Yue there?”

“Yes! So what?”

“So, do you think a guy who can’t even break through to Jian Xian realm could escape alive from the hands of the former seven Jian Xian?”

Dao Qiong Cang was furious again, snapping:

“Have you locked yourself away for decades and gone stupid?”

“If he is Ba Zun An, how could Gou Wu Yue possibly move against him?”

“The voice of Nu Lan is in his hands, and Gou Wu Yue still owes Ba Zun An a favor. How could he act?”

Hua Chang Deng was thoroughly annoyed.

“Ignoramus!”

He sat up abruptly, scolding: “Is the authority of Sheng Shen Dian Tang more important, or Ba Zun An’s favor? Even you can’t tell the difference?”

“Since those two have met, that’s perfect...”

“Didn’t you say Gou Wu Yue doesn’t like Sheng Shen Dian Tang?”

“Now isn’t that an opportunity?”

“Let him handle it!”

“If he dares to release the person, he must be prepared to pay the price; and if he doesn’t dare, as long as he kills Ba Zun An, in this world, do you think there’s anything that would make him turn his back and leave?”

Dao Qiong Cang was stunned by the rebuke, and after a long pause, he sighed: “So, it really is Ba Zun An...”

“He never died!”

Hua Chang Deng lay back down with his eyes closed: “That day, I only broke two of his fingers and severed his head. Without entering Sheng, how could I kill him?”

As he spoke, his voice softened, and his gaze drifted toward the other side of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan.

Even so, such actions had brought disaster.

On Luo Shen Feng, an additional unnamed grave now stood.

“But wasn’t Ba Zun An crippled by you?”

Dao Qiong Cang pressed: “And the ban on martial arts—didn’t you issue it?”

Hua Chang Deng sighed.

“I did issue it...”

“Haven’t you seen he’s only at Houtian level now?”

“But the world is vast, and a ban isn’t something that can restrict everyone.”

“At least, for some, it can only strip their swords, seal their killing intent, and suppress their desires for slaughter... but once those are broken free, there will be a rebound.”

The scene fell silent again.

Dao Qiong Cang’s eyes wandered, uncertain.

After a long pause, he said: “You’re really not afraid Gou Wu Yue will release him?”

“Anyway, I can’t get out right now.”

Hua Chang Deng lay on the ground.

“I can help you.”

“How?”

Hua Chang Deng snorted: “Are you going to find You Tu, or kill him?”

“No.”

A mysterious smile crossed Dao Qiong Cang’s face. “I can help you shield the heavenly mechanisms, temporarily lift this restriction, and teleport you there. You’ll have a quarter of an hour of freedom.”

“That would still only add up to a quarter of an hour...”

Hua Chang Deng knew his situation: “My mission isn’t to wander the continents anymore.”

“Gui Zhe Sheng Shan is fine—as a natural prison, I can be locked here by that old guy You Tu.”

“And Dong Yu has Gou Wu Yue; you don’t need to worry. He knows what’s at stake.”

“And besides...”

Pausing, Hua Chang Deng added: “The power of Ban Sheng is deeply intertwined. Do you really think if I move, Wen Ting will stand by?”

Dao Qiong Cang was taken aback.

He turned toward the distant east, his gaze as if piercing through time and space, seeing the decaying Jian Yi on Dong Shan.

“Yes...”

He murmured.

In Zang Jian Zong, is there still someone who can draw the sword from Dong Shan?

Though the heavenly mechanisms haven’t fluctuated much, that one is likely just a step away from Ban Sheng.

A single stimulus might propel him into that realm.

Given Wen Ting and Ba Zun An’s friendship, would he watch Hua Chang Deng harm his old friend again?

“What a pity.”

Dao Qiong Cang showed a disappointed expression. “No good show to watch.”

He turned his head and gave Hua Chang Deng one last glance.

“Really don’t want to go out for a walk?”

Buzz—

Before Hua Chang Deng could speak, the famous sword Lie Gui trembled with spirit, as if answering.

“Quiet.”

Hua Chang Deng shot it a cold look, and Lie Gui fell silent at once.

“I do.”

Hua Chang Deng said heavily, then hummed, his voice softening: “But not now.”

“Oh.”

Dao Qiong Cang waved his sleeve, preparing to dismiss the light screen and leave.

“Wait.”

Hua Chang Deng suddenly stopped him.

“What?”

Dao Qiong Cang looked over and saw the man lying on the ground, who had widened his eyes at some point, staring at an insignificant figure on the light screen.

“Who is he?”

Hua Chang Deng asked.

Dao Qiong Cang focused and realized why Hua Chang Deng was so interested in this young man with a square face and bushy beard.

“With four swords?”

“Who is he?”

Hua Chang Deng asked again.

“Uh...”

Dao Qiong Cang hesitated, pondering before replying: “Wen Ming? Xu Xiao Shou? Xiao Shi Tan Ji?”

“I don’t know—he has many names, but...”

“The successor of the eighth Jian Xian?”

Gou Wu Yue, looking at the one with four swords, trailed off.

“Xiao Shi Tan Ji... eh?”

Hua Chang Deng took a deep look, as if etching that figure into his memory, then withdrew his gaze.

Long hair, beard, square face...

Good.

I, Hua Chang Deng, remember you!

In Ba Gong.

Drip drip drip!

The rain here seemed even heavier.

This “heavier” was literal, not comparative.

From the moment the masked man dispersed the clouds to when they regathered.

It was just a short half incense stick’s time.

And when the rain resumed, the drops that should have been pulverized in Chang Yi’s “Light Rhythm” domain fell without fear of the light.

These rains seemed to have lost their surface tension.

Even if sliced by a light ray mid-descent, they merged back in the next instant after leaving the light.

From sky to ground.

The rain’s life ended.

Yet upon landing, it smashed deep pits.

Thud thud thud...

The rain inexplicably intensified.

It had become like muffled drumbeats, and the ground turned pitted.

Each drop’s impact seemed to drive the heartbeats of dozens in this silent scene.

Ah-choo!

Xu Xiao Shou couldn’t hold back a sneeze, instantly turning invisible to deal with it, then adjusting to a comfortable position before reappearing behind the masked man.

That was close...

In this utterly tense atmosphere, he felt as if he’d caught a chill, even unable to control the urge.

But in normal times, such a sudden sound would yield hundreds or thousands of passive points.

Here, the information bar only showed:

“Received attention, passive value, 2.”

“Only two people noticed me...”

Xu Xiao Shou thought himself lucky—these white-clothed, red-clothed, gray-clothed figures were truly stunned by that earlier line.

“I am Ba Zun An!”

Even with prior guesses, hearing it aloud made Xu Xiao Shou’s blood boil.

Only then did he fully understand why masters like Cen Qiao Fu, the storyteller, and even Sang Lao willingly followed this man.

Only now did he truly grasp what the masked man meant that day by Ge Lake in Tian Sang Ling Gong: “Your path has already been walked to ruin.”

“Ba Zun An...”

Xu Xiao Shou murmured.

He never imagined a name could be so commanding.

He sneaked a glance at the others beside him.

The storyteller’s eyes were full of stars, and even Cen Qiao Fu looked excited, completely losing his composure.

“You guys, didn’t you know he was Ba Zun An?”

Xu Xiao Shou asked via voice transmission.

Cen Qiao Fu replied unusually quickly.

“Guessed, but not confirmed.”

Pausing, he added: “Personally confirmed!”

“Oh.”

Xu Xiao Shou nodded: “So he says he’s Ba Zun An, and you believe him?”

The stars in the storyteller’s eyes vanished, replaced by sharp swords glaring at Xu Xiao Shou.

Xu Xiao Shou shuddered.

“Of course I believe, I absolutely believe, completely believe!”

The stars returned.

Xu Xiao Shou finally relaxed.

Damn, that’s the power of fan intimidation?

Truly terrifying!

“Stand down!”

The long-silent Gou Wu Yue spoke again.

This first line wasn’t aimed at the so-called “Ba Zun An,” but at his subordinates.

Everyone in the room, like coiled springs, scattered in an instant, vanishing without a trace.

“Cen Qiao Fu.”

The masked man called out again.

The old woodcutter’s motionless form finally unleashed its momentum; with no visible movement, the small axe in his hand suddenly flew up, unfazed by the cutting light domain.

Bang!

It expanded in mid-air, bursting with shockwaves, transforming into a mottled giant axe over a yard long.

“Pan Xian Axe, Heaven and Earth Return to Origin!”

One axe cleaved down from the sky.

Space and earth showed no sign of disturbance.

But the “Light Rhythm” domain suddenly morphed into primordial purple intent, absorbed into the Pan Xian Axe.

“Shattered?”

Xu Xiao Shou watched this bizarre scene, not daring to test it.

It seemed Chang Yi’s domain was gone.

But to say the light of heaven and earth had vanished, it wasn’t entirely so—just dimmer.

Unable to resist, he twitched a finger to probe.

Yet his moving finger didn’t dissolve into blood mist as before; Xu Xiao Shou sighed in relief.

“It’s really shattered.”

With the domain lifted, Xu Xiao Shou felt a twinge of regret.

“What a pity—moving once gives 9999 passive points; I should have tried more earlier...”

The freedom to sneeze without invisibility was quite nice.

But even so, Xu Xiao Shou didn’t dare make bold moves now.

He shifted position, quietly stepping in front of Cen Qiao Fu and the storyteller, gazing at this legendary Ba Zun An, feeling a bit safer.

A triangle is stable.

Now, if anyone wants to kill me, they’d have to break through these three Sheng Nu giants.

So in this wave, I, Xu Xiao Shou, should make it out alive...

No one noticed Xu Xiao Shou’s little actions; at this moment, he wasn’t the focus.

Gou Wu Yue had cleared the white-clothed figures, his gaze returning to the masked man.

“Ba Zun An?”

He sheathed his famous sword Nu Lan Zhi Sheng, not even lifting his eyes, shaking his head: “I don’t believe you.”

The masked man smirked: “Dare not believe, or don’t want to?”

“Don’t believe!”

“Don’t believe? Then why sheathe your sword and clear the crowd?”

“Because...”

Gou Wu Yue lifted his eyes, full of fervor: “I want to fight you one-on-one!”

“Heh.”

“One-on-one?”

The masked man laughed: “Afraid I’ll casually kill those people? Don’t worry, I don’t enjoy killing anymore.”

“And...”

The masked man sized up Gou Wu Yue, his turbid eyes gaining a hint of mockery: “You’re nearly at Ban Sheng, and you still want to bully me, a mere Houtian?”

“Houtian?”

Gou Wu Yue laughed heartily: “A Houtian who can casually crush Zhan Dao? Chang Yi was my disciple; I know his strength, so...”

He shifted gears: “You’re sealing your sword?!”