Chapter 619: The Dark Eight Venerables of the Beast King, The Top Quality Begonia

The forest was deathly quiet, with a figure in white robes walking slowly.

"Be careful."

Lin Ruohan transmitted his voice cautiously, beads of sweat forming slightly on his forehead.

Tong Feng was even more tentative, each step infused with gentle spiritual energy to soften his force, not daring to crush even a dry twig or fallen leaf.

In the serene forest, the two in white robes groped forward step by step, their palms growing damp without them even realizing it.

Suddenly,

A soft "pop" sound shattered the silence.

Lin and Tong turned sharply in unison.

"Who's there!"

Tong Feng's shout exploded like thunder, as if only that could suppress the fear in his heart.

The two peered in the direction of the noise.

There, not far away, a small yellow flower, mostly withered, trembled slightly, as if nourished by the essence of heaven and earth, its bud regaining vitality and blooming once more.

"Pop"

"Pop"

Similar faint sounds echoed sporadically from all sides.

Lin Ruohan released his spiritual sense and saw the surrounding withered flowers and grasses reviving one by one, bursting into fresh vibrancy.

"This is…"

He was startled, but before he could explain, Tong Feng cried out in alarm:

"Hua Xiang Gu Li?!"

Indeed, in this quiet forest, the only one capable of such poetic means of attack, aside from those in white robes, was the Sheng Nu Haitang Er they had seen in the earlier scenes.

"Haitang Er, Ba Zun An?"

Both felt a chill run through them.

The last scene they had witnessed on Dongjiao Wuming Mountain in the Eight Palaces showed the Eighth Jian Xian about to act, only to be caught off guard and knocked out by Haitang Er, who then abducted him.

Now, with this floral wonderland appearing, could the Eighth Jian Xian be far behind?

"I'll call for help!"

Tong Feng's hand trembled as he pulled out the alarm bead, ready to crush it.

"Don't bother with that futility."

A calm voice drifted from the depths of the forest: "You know this is Hua Xiang Gu Li, so do you really think that alarm bead will work?"

Tong Feng's fingers froze mid-air, his body rigid, unable to take another step.

Of course!

Hua Xiang Gu Li… it was a replicated domain of the Seven Severed Bans.

In that past battle, all the white robes on the field had been trapped, with only Wu Yue Qianbei managing to break free—as that scene replayed in Tong Feng's mind, he felt his fingers go weak.

If the alarm bead was useless when crushed,

Then didn't that mean the two of them were cut off from the main white robe forces?

Lin Ruohan lowered his gaze, his heart sinking to the bottom.

They had only one alarm bead per two-person team.

From this perspective, breaking Hua Xiang Gu Li first was essential—otherwise, using it would be as good as courting death!

The two exchanged glances, seeing sheer despair in each other's eyes.

"Put it away."

Lin Ruohan said quietly.

The fact that their opponents had only trapped them without attacking meant there might still be a sliver of hope.

After all, this was someone who had dominated an era!

He had no reason to bother with juniors like them.

But…

"Why would the Eighth Jian Xian and Haitang Er appear here?"

"And where has Wu Yue Qianbei gone?"

Lin Ruohan didn't dare dwell on it.

In this situation, he couldn't afford to be distracted. Shoving those thoughts aside, he gazed into the distance and called out softly:

"Eighth Jian Xian?"

Tong Feng glanced at him in surprise.

Even in this nerve-wracking moment, Lin Ruohan's voice carried three parts shock and seven parts genuine excitement.

"This is what a fanatic of the Eighth Jian Xian is like…"

Tong Feng despaired.

"Come over here."

The ethereal voice now came from a specific direction, no longer echoing everywhere.

The two in white robes looked over and saw, in the forest not far away, two figures had appeared out of nowhere.

One wore an otherworldly white shirt, stained with blood, yet exuded an immortal-like aura, serene as a lotus in a hidden valley amid the woods.

Haitang Er!

Lin Ruohan had seen that face in the central scene on Wuming Mountain.

He never imagined life's encounters could be so miraculous.

Having just separated from the main group, they had stumbled upon the real person!

Lowering his gaze,

Beneath Haitang Er, who leaned against an ancient tree, sat a disheveled man.

His hair was greasy, his beard unkempt.

No need to look further—just the striking scar on his neck and the eight fingers lightly pinching a dry leaf…

"Eighth Jian Xian!"

Lin Ruohan struggled to describe his emotions.

It should have been utter despair, but instead, an inexplicable surge of excitement welled up.

The living Eighth Jian Xian, the living legend, the living…

Faith!

"Come over here."

Ba Zun An didn't even lift his head, his elbow resting on his knee.

With his remaining eight fingers, he tore at the leaf slowly, methodically.

It seemed he had been waiting for them for a very, very long time.

"Go on!"

Lin Ruohan gripped his spiritual sword tightly, bumping Tong Feng with his shoulder, chest puffed out. "Even in death, we die with dignity!"

"I…"

Tong Feng glanced at the alarm bead in his hand, then weakly put it away, closing his eyes in agony.

Dammit, Jiang Bian Yan, I told you this alarm bead was useless.

Look at this!

They didn't even need to make a move to kill us—they've trapped us outright!

What good is this worthless bead!

Thump-thump!

Thump-thump!

Xu Xiaoji was panicking, his heart pounding wildly.

Watching the two white robes approach quickly, crunching over dry branches, his legs began to tremble.

Transformed into Haitang Er and leaning against the ancient tree, it wasn't for show.

He really needed the support, or he might collapse right there!

"Zhan Dao…"

"Wang Zuo…"

"And they're all in white robes!"

Xu Xiaoji wanted to cry.

This damned Xu Da Mo Wang!

I knew it—nothing good comes from him calling me out!

Earlier, turning into a straw hat or those four swords was fine.

Those were just inanimate objects, no acting required.

But now, he wanted me to turn into a full living person, to play along and deceive two white robes, a Wang Zuo and a Zhan Dao?

Even though Xu Da Mo Wang had assured him it was just one move, and he wouldn't need to say another word after,

It was still terrifying!

Utterly nerve-wracking!

Xu Xiaoji couldn't believe how these two fools had bought into the idea that these minor changes around them were the legendary "Hua Xiang Gu Li."

It was just him using a bit of Wang Zuo power, plus Xu Xiao Shou sprinkling the Life Spring from the Yuan Fu everywhere, making the random flowers and grasses revive!

There wasn't even a single haitang flower here…

How had they fallen for it?

"I don't even have a domain—I just watered a few plants. Can't they see there's no domain here at all?"

"Are they idiots, or is Xu Da Mo Wang casting some spell?"

Xu Xiaoji shifted his gaze downward to Xu Xiao Shou, but the latter's glance back startled him, so he quickly masked his flickering eyes and stared into the void.

No focus.

I see nothing.

Watermelons.

It's all watermelons.

White robes? Ha, they don't exist!

Xu Xiao Shou calmly watched the two white robes approach, biting his tongue tip again to stop his feet from shaking.

"Success."

"The first step of the bluff worked."

The Life Spring in the Yuan Fu was incredibly potent.

By just using Disappearing Technique to flit around and sprinkle it randomly, he'd created an effect similar to Hua Xiang Gu Li.

Though some flowers didn't get enough and still looked wilted,

And the unevenly watered grasses trembled briefly then stopped,

It didn't matter!

Not at all!

The white robes should be focusing on him, and they must have glimpsed the earlier battle—they knew Haitang Er was injured.

"A weakened Hua Xiang Gu Li also proves Haitang Er is still wounded."

"And no domain appearing…"

Are you kidding?

A domain like Haitang Er's wouldn't be one people could detect the boundaries of.

If it could be noticed, it wouldn't be called the "Seven Severed Bans replicated domain, Hua Xiang Gu Li"—it'd just be "Flowers and Grasses."

"They're here?"

Only when the two white robes were face-to-face did Xu Xiao Shou settle into a monk-like composure, slowly lifting his gaze and sweeping it over them indifferently.

If it were anyone else, he wouldn't dare pull off such a big act.

But right now,

His greatest confidence was that this white robe named Lin Ruohan was a sword cultivator.

And he was a die-hard fan of Ba Zun An!

In a two-person team like this, there was always a leader.

Clearly, the Wang Zuo level Tong Feng would have to follow the Zhan Dao level Lin Ruohan's orders.

Lin Ruohan might usually have a calm demeanor like an ancient well.

But people like him, once they met their idol, would be overwhelmed with emotion.

That small fluctuation in his state of mind would make him overlook many details.

With preconceived notions, and Ba Zun An and Haitang Er already on the scene…

A minor floral anomaly, and they'd directly assume it was a weakened version of Hua Xiang Gu Li.

Even if he had doubts in his heart…

He must have doubts!

But Xu Xiao Shou wasn't afraid.

He'd come this far by constantly gauging people's hearts through the information panel and systematically dismantling their suspicions.

"Eighth… Ba Zun An?"

Lin Ruohan's expression was agitated, though he was trying his best to suppress it. Even without the information panel, Xu Xiao Shou could see it clearly.

The subconscious term of respect, followed by the direct address after realizing the adversarial situation…

"Conclusion: He's thrown off balance!"

Glancing at the information panel:

"Gained respect, passive value +1."

"Gained awe, passive value +1."

"Gained speculation, passive value +2."

Speculation…

Xu Xiao Shou figured these two probably weren't bold enough to speculate about his identity so quickly. They were likely wondering why he was waiting for them here.

"Sit."

Xu Xiao Shou gestured kindly, seeing their uneasy stance, and spoke slowly and calmly: "I gave you a hint earlier, but since you didn't choose to call for help then, how about sitting down to talk now?"

Tong Feng glanced at Lin Ruohan.

Lin Ruohan didn't respond.

In other circumstances, he might have sat down to seize this rare chance to discuss the Dao with the legendary Eighth Jian Xian.

But now, even in his excitement, he could distinguish right from wrong.

They were currently enemies!

"Don't be so formal."

Xu Xiao Shou's gaze passed over the two white robes and landed on Haitang Er, as if casually: "I came here specifically to wait for someone. It might not be you, but any white robe will do."

Xu Xiaoji's eyes flickered, still staring into the distance.

Don't be so formal…

What the hell is your heart made of, Xu Da Mo Wang?

In a situation like this, telling me "don't be so formal"?

You, a half-baked Wang Zuo plus me, a mere Xiantian, daring to boldly deceive people like this?

This only works because others wouldn't think of it!

If anyone started probing…

The outside world is unpredictable—we'd both be done for!

"Eighth…"

"Ba…"

Lin Ruohan opened his mouth twice, each time feeling his address didn't quite fit.

Eighth Jian Xian sounded too deferential.

Ba Zun An—he couldn't bring himself to say it directly. As an Eastern Domain sword cultivator, who would dare stand before Ba Zun An and call him by name?

"Qianbei!"

Finally, he used the most straightforward term in the Refining Spirit Realm and asked: "Qianbei, why did you call us over?"

Tong Feng tensed up instantly, like a prey about to counterattack.

Xu Xiao Shou chuckled lightly.

"No need to be tense. As I said, I don't enjoy killing anymore."

Those words made three people tense up.

Xu Xiaoji nearly buckled and collapsed.

Damn, you actually said that!

Could you even kill them?

In this world, I, Xu Xiaoji, bow to no one except your iron nerves, Xu Da Mo Wang!

"Lin Xiong…"

Tong Feng's eyes darted around, hesitating before whispering through a voice transmission: "Something doesn't feel right."

His attention wasn't entirely on the Eighth Jian Xian in front of him.

Unlike Lin Ruohan, he didn't want to die for some sword cultivator's so-called "honor," so his spiritual sense focused more on the surroundings, desperately searching for flaws in Hua Xiang Gu Li.

But this domain…

It was too seamlessly integrated!

Not a single flaw to find!

Look at the flowers, the grasses…

They seemed naturally part of this place, as if no one had transplanted them.

Even in bloom, they followed their previous withered patterns, though not as dazzling or abundant as in the Wuming Mountain scene.

But…

The control of power here was just too perfect!

"What doesn't feel right?"

Lin Ruohan asked quietly through transmission.

Tong Feng secretly glanced at Haitang Er leaning against the ancient tree.

Her gaze was so firm, so profound.

From the moment they arrived, she hadn't even blinked.

It was as if she hadn't been injured at all.

But looking down at the blood-soaked clothes, it all confirmed that she had used Hua Xiang Gu Li to trap all the white robes in the Eight Palaces, only for Wu Yue Qianbei to break it.

"Haitang Er's power is too perfect—perfect to the point of being suspicious…"

Tong Feng hesitated before adding: "You know better than I do how strong Wu Yue Qianbei is."

"Haitang Er had his domain broken by Wu Yue Qianbei, so at this point, he'd be lucky to recover at all. How could he still form such a flawless domain?"

"I can't even detect a trace of heavenly Dao fluctuations in it."

"This domain feels like… it's as if he didn't even activate one, and we're still just in the forest… like the tracks of a wild goat, leaving no trace!"

Tong Feng's voice was filled with reverence.