Chapter 666: Taixu Comes to Serve Tea?

Silence.

No one could have expected that during this standoff between the two sides, such a self-important old man would suddenly step forward and offer unsolicited advice.

But the silence lasted only a few moments before the crowd erupted into chaos.

"Who the hell are you, old man?"

"You're just butting in where you don't belong! Trying to be a peacemaker... you're just hoping for that easy job of serving tea, looking for a cut!"

"Damn it, I can be a peacemaker too! Get down here, you old faker, acting all calm and collected. We all know what you're up to!"

"Yeah, that's right! Weren't you just behind me? How did you squeeze in front? Get back!"

"Come back here!"

"Get over here!"

A wave of pushing and shoving swept through the crowd as the situation spiraled out of control.

Even with the city lord's guards watching from the side, everyone rushed forward under the principle that the law doesn't punish the masses.

They were afraid that if they hesitated, Xu Xiaoshou would be persuaded by this old man, and they would miss out on their desired position.

"Don't push... Ow, stop stepping on me! That's my hand! My hand... Ow!"

Xiao Wanfeng was nearly torn apart by the crowd and ended up sprawling on the ground.

Squeezing through the chaos to the side, he stared at the out-of-control scene with a panicked expression.

"This was mine..."

His face crumpled, and he slumped in defeat. "He was about to agree with me..."

"Step back!"

Fang Xiong roared in anger as he watched a flood of people instantly fall.

It was fortunate that most of the people lining up were Spirit Refiners.

Otherwise, this charge could have trampled countless innocent people to death.

As his Throne aura pressed down, the crowd finally calmed, although some still grumbled softly.

"Xu Xiaoshou, don't do it! I can be the peacemaker. I can serve tea, and I can even... Pfft, I can clean your restroom!"

"It's mine! Get lost, you shameless scoundrel! You think the restroom at Tian Shang First Floor is a place you can use?"

"Tian Shang First Floor – just the name says it all. Anyone who can get in there doesn't need to use the restroom!"

"Immortals! Understand? Immortals don't need... Damn it, who bumped me?"

"Move aside, don't step on my foot! Ow!"

"My crotch... Hell, stop crowding! Damn it!!"

"Pfft—"

The sound of someone spitting made Fang Xiong's heart skip a beat, thinking brains might have been splattered.

But when he looked closely, it was just someone spitting from being squeezed, so he relaxed.

For a moment, he was completely bewildered by the irrational behavior of this mob.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he never would have believed that a simple tea-serving job could drive so many people to such a frenzy.

"Silence!"

His eyes darkened as he unleashed his Throne domain, instantly lifting thousands into the air.

With a wave of spiritual energy, they all dropped back down.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Those who had just experienced the highs and lows of heaven and hell were drenched in cold sweat from the mysterious force, falling silent as mice.

"Receiving admiration, Passive Points: 6210."

"Receiving contention, Passive Points: 4559."

The info panel lit up with a surge.

Xu Xiaoshou was delighted instead of alarmed, wishing this bunch of harmless fools would lose control again.

But now that Fang Xiong had suppressed them, everyone behaved, cowering and not even daring to contribute more Passive Points.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed in regret and turned to look at the old man.

He was surprised.

He had seen it clearly just now.

In the entire crowd, only a few Thrones he had greeted earlier were unaffected by Fang Xiong's domain.

Yet this old man stood firm as a mountain.

"Who are you?" Xu Xiaoshou asked curiously, glancing sideways.

"The old one's surname is Mei."

Mei, the old man with the surname Mei, still held his folding fan, tapping it lightly against his palm.

He didn't even glance at Fang Xiong. Under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, he fixed his eyes on Xu Xiaoshou and repeated, "What do you think of this old one's suggestion, young friend?"

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself that hiring one person wouldn't solve the problem at all.

Today, his real interest wasn't in the people—it was in the Passive Points!

How could he wrap this up now?

But this old man showed no sign of spiritual energy fluctuation, yet he completely ignored Fang Xiong's domain. That was truly odd.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't dare refuse outright and just asked, "What do you have to offer... well, what capital could make you stand out among the thousands here and impress me?"

The crowd immediately buzzed at his words.

But after seeing the old man stand unfazed by the domain, few dared to speak up loudly.

Still, in a big group, a few couldn't help but pipe up.

"Yeah, right, you old coot... You're just trying to cut in line. We all know your dirty tricks!"

"That's right! Don't think Fang Xiong is going easy on you out of respect for the elderly... Hmm, why are you holding me back?"

"Shh, do you really think Fang Xiong is letting him off easy?"

"Then what?"

"Shut up, this old man doesn't seem simple..."

"Don't pull me... Let go! How is he not simple? He has no spiritual energy fluctuation, no Dao rhythm. In this case, could he be a Severing Dao?"

"You idiot, would a Severing Dao apply for a tea-serving job?"

"Hmm, that makes sense!"

To everyone's surprise, right after that impulsive remark, Mei turned to the speaker and nodded seriously.

"That's right, this old one is a Severing Dao."

The whole crowd froze like statues, speechless.

Fang Xiong raised an eyebrow.

Honestly, he hadn't held back—he meant to lift everyone except Xu Xiaoshou and his companion to cool them down.

This old man's ability to break free was strange.

But like that bystander said, Fang Xiong couldn't sense any Dao rhythm from him.

He seemed just like an ordinary person.

Yet how had an ordinary person escaped the control?

Xu Xiaoshou felt the same bewilderment.

From his journey through the White Cave, he was confident he had encountered plenty of Severing Dao experts.

At least, he knew their aura and feel through his "Perception."

But this Mei showed no trace of a Severing Dao's special nature.

One glance, and he seemed just like Xiao Wanfeng—empty sea of energy, no spiritual fluctuations or Dao rhythm at all.

"Old sir, you're joking, right?" Xu Xiaoshou mused, twitching his lips.

He didn't believe a Severing Dao would apply for a job at Tian Shang First Floor.

Maybe he saw through me, Xu Xiaoshou, as the Son of Fate?

"Ha."

In the face of everyone's doubts, Mei chuckled and shook his head.

The next second, he flicked his hand, opening the folding fan and waving it gently.

Everyone could see clearly: four big characters on the fan—"Truly a Severing Dao."

Then, with a twist of his fingers, he flipped the fan and waved it again, chin raised in an otherworldly manner.

The crowd was stunned.

Because now it showed four different characters: "No need to doubt."

"Pfft!"

The scene froze for less than half a second before someone burst out laughing.

Then, one by one, people joined in, laughing heartily.

"Damn, this old fool must be a fraud. Who writes stuff like that on their own fan?"

"Yeah, how many times has he been suspected, wasting so much breath 'explaining' it, to come up with something like this?"

"'Truly a Severing Dao,' 'No need to doubt'... Ha! Talk about protesting too much. First time I've seen such a dim-witted old man."

"Pfft, ha ha ha—"

The whole crowd was in stitches.

Even the guards in the back ranks in white couldn't hold back their smiles.

Only a few with serious expressions remained: Xu Xiaoshou and the scattered Thrones in the crowd.

Fang Xiong was shocked and uncertain.

Xin Gugu frowned intensely.

The undercover Thrones from other factions who had been rejected for the recruitment also sensed something off.

Xu Xiaoshou stared intently at the old man, waiting until the laughter died down before asking gravely, "Old sir, you're serious?"

"Yes."

Mei nodded calmly, then turned to the crowd. "This old one isn't boasting—whether they laughed or not, if I wanted, one swing of this fan, and all of you thousands here would be on your knees."

"Uh."

His casual words killed off any lingering laughter.

Everyone stared dumbly at this eccentric old man, at a loss for words.

Even laughing felt forced.

There were self-important people, and there were arrogant ones.

But someone so ordinary yet so confident... Where did he get the nerve to say something that left people speechless?

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at his info panel—no change.

He subconsciously looked at Xiao Wanfeng.

Is he just like this guy—an ordinary person?

Or is he really not lying?

A Severing Dao, applying for a tea-serving job?

"Hmm..."

Xu Xiaoshou rubbed his chin, silent for a long time.

Finally, he shifted his gaze to Fang Xiong and suddenly asked, "Old sir, if I take your suggestion and some annoying pests show up, could you help me kill them?"

Fang Xiong: ???

Mei's smile froze on the spot. "Xu Xiaoshou, that wouldn't be right. This old one is here to be a peacemaker..."

"You're really a Severing Dao?" Xu Xiaoshou suddenly prodded.

"Of course!" The old man looked completely matter-of-fact.

"Receiving deception, Passive Points: 1."

It moved!

The info panel suddenly jumped.

Xu Xiaoshou realized this person was definitely a Spirit Refiner whose strength he couldn't detect.

But... deception?

He was confused.

Why no reaction when he asked if he was serious earlier, but now there was?

"Wait!"

A thought struck him with his terrifying memory. The earlier question was too vague, like "You're serious?" which this old man might have taken as "Are you seriously joking?" Combined with his later claim of fanning everyone away...

Was this old man seriously "joking"?

And the system judged it as true?!

So, if he's not a Severing Dao but could really fan away nearly ten Thrones here...

"You're Tai Xu?" Xu Xiaoshou blurted out, his eyes bulging.

Mei: ???

He looked shocked, even reaching out to feel Xu Xiaoshou's forehead.

"No, this old one said it before—I'm a Severing Dao." He waved his fan for emphasis, holding it up high for the young man to see clearly.

Truly a Severing Dao...

No need to doubt...

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes darted back and forth on the flipping fan, but his mind was completely dazed.

"Receiving deception, Passive Points: 1."

Tai Xu!

This was really a Tai Xu!

Damn, so everyone's guesses... were true!

This old man was a fraud.

But the direction of his deception was the complete opposite of what anyone thought.

An old man pretending to be a Severing Dao... two ways to interpret it!

Xu Xiaoshou was at a loss, never expecting a tea-serving job to bring so much drama.

A Tai Xu, coming to Tian Shang First Floor to serve tea?

"Old sir, why... uh, why would you, with a Severing Dao identity, humble yourself for a tea-serving job at Tian Shang First Floor?"

Xu Xiaoshou almost said "why bother," but he didn't dare reveal that he'd seen through the old man's strength, so he phrased it carefully.

Mei glanced at him unexpectedly, as if both had glimpsed each other's thoughts and were surprised.

He fanned himself and replied, "In this world, things are about what you want or don't want. Where do all these 'whys' come from?"

"Yo, you old bastard..." Xin Gugu was amused and stepped forward, grabbing the old man's collar. "Our Xu Xiaoshou is asking you a question. What's with your attitude?"

"Ah?!"

The roar was so loud that even Fang Xiong nearby felt his eardrums might burst.

Xin Gugu knew Xu Xiaoshou was asking to check if anything shady was sneaking into Tian Shang First Floor.

But this move left Xu Xiaoshou stunned.

"Stop!"

Xu Xiaoshou rushed forward and, just before Xin Gugu could lift the old man like a chick, he struck down, nearly chopping off the reckless beast host's hand.

"Ow."

Xin Gugu winced and pulled back.

Xu Xiaoshou's chop was like a heavy hammer with a hidden blade—blunt pain and sharp sting hitting at once, pure agony.

He turned back, stunned, at this suddenly crazed Xu Xiaoshou, his face screaming, "What's going on? Wasn't this your idea?"

Xu Xiaoshou glared back fiercely, meaning, "I told you to be bold, not to get yourself killed!"

Sadly, Xin Gugu didn't get the eye language and even pointed rudely at the old man, sucking in air through his teeth. "You're lucky today, my young master is generous. Consider yourself let off—don't let me catch you again..."

"Shut up!"

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't stand the guy's death-wish talk and sent a telepathic message.

Xin Gugu's liver and gallbladder trembled.

He wasn't stupid.

For Xu Xiaoshou to go this far, it meant the old man was no simple foe.

So, what he said earlier... was true?

— A Severing Dao?

A chill ran through his soul, and the pain in his wrist intensified. Xin Gugu inhaled sharply, raised his left hand, and smacked his own pointing finger hard twice.

"Damn muscle spasm, relax already!"

Then he looked up at the old man with a forced grin. "Heh heh, just a cramp... a cramp..."