Chapter 664: Gathering and Queuing

"You're not suitable. Next!"

Repeating this phrase over and over, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized just how crucial the tea server's role was.

For example, he was working hard to earn money right now, while Xin Gugu was busy maintaining order.

But they were understaffed and completely overwhelmed.

The only two women at Tian Shang Di Yi Lou were nowhere to be seen, probably off enjoying themselves somewhere.

Shouting until his throat was dry, Xu Xiaoshou truly wished someone would hand him a cup of hot tea.

That must be the joy of the rich, right?

Unfortunately, no such luck...

Lost in random thoughts, a young man dressed in patched hemp clothes, holding a wooden sword upside down, took a seat.

At first glance, he was clearly down on his luck, with travel dust still on him – he hadn't even had time to clean up before rushing here, likely after hearing about Tian Shang Di Yi Lou's recruitment notice.

"What cultivation level?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't discriminate; anyone who could bring him passive value was like a "god-like" customer, so he just asked as usual.

"No cultivation level."

Xiao Wanfeng had finally reached this moment, and his response came with a hint of nervousness, making him shift uncomfortably in his seat.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but take a closer look at the young man.

No cultivation level?

He glanced at the information panel, and there was no reaction, which meant the boy wasn't lying.

"If you have no cultivation level, why are you here? Didn't you see our recruitment notice says Houtian level or above, but below Bansheng?"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned.

"But I can beat someone at Houtian level, so strictly speaking, I meet your recruitment standards," Xiao Wanfeng replied respectfully, quickly adding, "I'm a Gujianxiu."

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised.

A Gujianxiu?

Even without asking, he could tell this down-and-out young man probably didn't come from any major force.

It was like the Gu family trio from Zangjian Tomb...

Which Gujianxiu had he ever seen who didn't carry a famous sword when traveling?

This guy had a wooden sword?

Was this someone who, like himself, had stumbled through the path of Gujianxiu, relying solely on his own enlightenment?

He had "Sword Technique Mastery" to help him, but this young man in front was probably truly relying on his talent to study ancient sword arts.

"Gujianxiu..." Xu Xiaoshou became interested. "Are you lying about that?"

"No."

Xiao Wanfeng answered.

The information panel remained still, indicating no lie.

"The path of Gujianxiu is too difficult—you should know that. What sword techniques have you cultivated?"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the information panel and then refocused, asking.

"I've dabbled in all Nine Great Sword Techniques," Xiao Wanfeng said, his eyes filled with aspiration. "My goal is to become the Eighth Sword Immortal."

Well, I'll be!

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled inwardly.

I know the Eighth Sword Immortal. With your persistent and dedicated spirit, next time I can introduce you to him.

Hopefully, that would shift the Eighth Sword Immortal's attention away from me for good.

"For Gujianxiu, we don't consider spiritual energy; to prove your strength, it's all about Jianyi. What level is your Jianyi at—Zongshi or Wangzuo?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes held some expectation.

In the current world, anyone who could master the Gujianxiu path on their own must be a genius among geniuses.

This young man aimed for the Eighth Sword Immortal and had dabbled in all the major sword techniques—was he stumbling upon a rough gem?

If he grew, could he become another Bazun An?

But upon hearing this, Xiao Wanfeng's face stiffened, and he replied hesitantly, "As for Jianyi, I'm not sure exactly what level I can reach right now..."

"What do you mean?" Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled.

Xiao Wanfeng explained, "Among the Nine Sword Techniques, there's one called Zangjian Technique. I've studied the other sword techniques, and they're okay, but with Zangjian Technique, as soon as I practice it..."

He lowered his head, twirling the wooden sword and staring at it for a long time. "All the Jianyi just gets hidden away, so right now, I have no idea what's going on."

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

Looking at the young man's sincere expression, he felt it probably wasn't a lie.

But another way to interpret "once you practice Zangjian Technique, all Jianyi gets hidden" sounded a bit like... a scam?

I practiced Zangjian Technique, so I can't show anything?

Or, I can't show anything, so I say I practiced Zangjian Technique?

—A sophisticated excuse?

Xu Xiaoshou pondered, sensing there might be a trap.

"Are you lying?"

"No!"

Xiao Wanfeng responded firmly.

"You really have dabbled in all Nine Great Sword Techniques?"

"Yes."

Xiao Wanfeng remained respectful.

"You're really practicing Zangjian Technique right now?"

"Um... yes!" Xiao Wanfeng nodded vigorously.

Xu Xiaoshou was getting confused by all this.

After three straight questions, the information panel still showed no reaction.

That meant this guy really wasn't deceiving him.

"Hold on!"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly thought of something and asked, "You're really completely without spiritual energy, a pure Gujianxiu?"

"Um."

Xiao Wanfeng nodded, a touch of disappointment in his eyes. "If I could, I'd want to be a Lianling Shi, but unfortunately, my talent isn't enough."

Xu Xiaoshou instantly figured it out.

No spiritual energy!

That meant this guy was truly just an ordinary person aside from his Gujianxiu skills.

And the information panel doesn't react to non-Lianling Shi individuals.

In other words, he couldn't verify whether this guy was telling the truth or not!

"Damn..."

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked; he'd discovered a huge flaw!

In the past, every Gujianxiu he'd met, whether the Gu family trio, the scruffy uncle, or the Eighth Sword Immortal... at the very least, they all had some spiritual energy to support flight.

So the information panel worked on them.

But this one...

"I get it." Xu Xiaoshou sighed.

Though the other might be telling the truth, there was also a good chance he was a fraud.

After all, in this era, someone with no talent for Lianling who wanted to rely on their own comprehension to master the Nine Great Sword Techniques... Xu Xiaoshou knew how incredibly tough that process was.

Not every ancient sword master was called Bazun An!

"You're not suitable. Next." Xu Xiaoshou's face turned indifferent.

He couldn't afford to have someone around who was beyond the information panel's reach.

Such a person, if they had ulterior motives, would be harder to control than a Wangzuo.

Hearing this, Xiao Wanfeng's face fell; he knew he wouldn't be the lucky one, but before giving up, he still wanted to make one last effort.

"Hold on!"

Struggling against the strong pull from the burly uncle behind him, Xiao Wanfeng insisted, "Xu Shao, if you take me, I can bring you some intelligence that you're bound to find interesting."

"I'm not interested, thanks. Next," Xu Xiaoshou said without even turning his head.

Like a weak chick, Xiao Wanfeng was lifted up by the tiger-backed, bear-waisted uncle from behind, but he still struggled desperately and played his final card:

"Pixiu Mountain!"

He had looked into Tian Shang Di Yi Lou.

It was a major force that had just arrived in Dongtian Wangcheng, a Bansheng family!

And the heir of a Bansheng family, so young and coming all the way from the Northern Domain—was it really just for the Wangcheng trials?

No, it had to be related to Pixiu Mountain!

However, when Xu Xiaoshou heard those three words, he was completely baffled and had no idea what the guy meant.

He smiled kindly at the burly uncle and gestured for him to sit. "Go ahead."

"Ow!"

Xiao Wanfeng was tossed out with a thud, landing on the ground and rubbing his sore backside as he yelped.

Just as Xu Xiaoshou was about to ask the burly uncle the routine questions, the young man, still not giving up, saw that Xu Shao had no reaction to Pixiu Mountain and tried a different approach:

"The Sky City, Shengmi Land!"

His voice wasn't loud.

But it suddenly overshadowed the murmurs at the front of the long line.

The scene fell silent in an instant.

Everyone turned in unison to look at the young man who was getting up and dusting off his backside, including the burly uncle who had just sat down and now shot to his feet in surprise.

Xiao Wanfeng grimaced in pain.

Damn it...

If he could help it, he really didn't want to say those two sensitive terms in public.

But he wasn't a Lianling Shi and didn't know sound transmission techniques.

His only bet was that even if Xu Shao was new and didn't know about Pixiu Mountain, he must have heard the legends of Shengmi Land.

And sure enough, it worked.

Xu Xiaoshou signaled for the burly uncle to wait a moment and turned back to the young man: "What's your name?"

"Xiao Wanfeng!"

The young man was overjoyed.

This was it! According to the usual routine, Xu Shao basically never asked applicants for their names.

Now that he was asking, it meant he was interested.

Xiao Wanfeng... Xu Xiaoshou murmured inwardly, taking another look at the disheveled young man.

Covered in dust from travel!

This appearance was just like his own situation after snatching treasures in the White Cave and being chased by everyone.

Crucially, this guy had given him the exact information he wanted.

Shengmi Land, Sky City.

Or in other words, "Xukong Island," the very reason Bazun An had sent him to Dongtian Wangcheng to stir things up.

"Come here."

Xu Xiaoshou beckoned to the young man: "What kind of information can you bring me?"

The people at the front of the long line immediately grew anxious.

So, Xu Shao had been waiting all morning for that unrealistic legend about Sky City?

Who could've guessed?

Those who had been eliminated but still lingered outside, watching, racked their brains.

But no matter how they thought, the information about Sky City was just vague rumors—they couldn't come up with anything substantial. How could they possibly secure that well-paid tea server position?

Xiao Wanfeng hurried forward.

He didn't plan to share his firsthand information in front of everyone; he just leaned in and said honestly, "I need protection."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately judged that this young man's credibility was very high.

This guy probably really had ventured into some forbidden place with his ordinary abilities.

And, miraculously, as a mere mortal, he had slipped past all the big shots and obtained firsthand data on Xukong Island.

Just as he was about to speak...

A whoosh of wind, and Xin Gugu landed beside the table, looking at Xu Xiaoshou.

"What's going on?"

He had been drawn by the noise here.

Logically, the people at the front of the line should know the rules by now, so why the disruption?

But no matter what, if there was trouble, with Xu Xiaoshou's Houtian cultivation, he had to rush over first for protection.

Yet as soon as he landed, seeing where everyone was staring...

A plain young man?

Xin Gugu was puzzled and, without a word, grabbed the guy by the collar, lifting him into the air with a fierce growl: "You trying to cause trouble?!"

"Urk..."

Xiao Wanfeng was almost choked by the tight collar, his face turning red as he struggled to reply: "N-no..."

"Put him down." Xu Xiaoshou quickly intervened.

This was a real ordinary person!

You, a Wangzuo, need to watch your strength—if you accidentally kill him in front of everyone, that would be a mess.

"Oh."

Xin Gugu followed the order and set the guy down, though he was still baffled about how this weakling could stir up trouble.

"You..."

Xu Xiaoshou stood up from his chair for the first time, about to ask more questions.

But then, in the middle of the long line, a major disturbance erupted.

"Move aside!"

"Make way, make way!"

"Everyone step back, or I won't be responsible for injuries... Get out of the way!"

Shouts cleared the orderly crowd, as if a group was trying to cut in line and push forward.

Xin Gugu instantly flared up.

I spent all morning arranging this line, and now it's being ruined?

He shot up in anger.

But midway through the air, before he could dart to the middle to handle it, his body froze, and he zipped back to Xu Xiaoshou's side.

"Tough customer!" Xin Gugu whispered through sound transmission, his voice a bit weaker.

"What?"

Xu Xiaoshou was totally confused.

His "Perception" immediately focused on the chaotic area, where a group in white clothes was aggressively shoving through the crowd toward him.

"White clothes?" Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

No!

Soon, he saw clearly that although they wore white, the emblem on their chests wasn't the "white clothes" symbol he knew, but some unfamiliar pattern.

"Move, move..."

The voices grew louder and closer.

In no time, even the people at the front of the line were forced back by this white-clothed group's aggressive push.

Before long, the group reached Xu Xiaoshou.

"What's this about?" Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"From the Chengzhu Fu, Jinwei Jun!"

The leader, a towering, muscular man with broad shoulders and a solid build, said to Xu Xiaoshou, "I'm Fang Zun, the commander of the Chengzhu Fu Jinwei Jun. Are you Xu Shao from Tian Shang Di Yi Lou?"

He was fierce with others but polite to Xu Xiaoshou.

Clearly, he'd done his homework and knew the young man's background.

"Hmm?" Xu Xiaoshou was still perplexed but didn't lash out right away. Instead, he glanced at the disrupted line and said pointedly, "I spent all morning lining these people up..."

"Sorry!"

Fang Zun's voice was rough and commanding, his "sorry" carrying an air of inevitability that brooked no argument. He cupped his fists and added, "Xu Shao, I've heard of your great name."

After a polite remark, he got straight to the point.

"You may have spent the morning organizing this line, but now it's severely blocking traffic in Chaosheng Square."

"It's even causing crowds to form elsewhere... well, crowds lining up, which is clogging all the roads in every direction!"

Fang Zun paused.

Even he found the term "crowds lining up" a bit absurd.

Who could've imagined that Tian Shang Di Yi Lou's simple recruitment event would have such far-reaching effects, basically gridlocking the entire eastern district of the inner city?

If not for that, he wouldn't have had to lead his team here to deal with the trouble caused by this Bansheng family heir.

After a moment's thought, Fang Zun said bluntly, "Because the impact is really too... severe, I'll just say it straight, Xu Shao. You should wrap this up today and close shop as soon as possible. I hope you understand."