Chapter 696: I Have Many Roles

A tea table was set, with two great ghost beast hosts, two great Jian Zong, and an additional little junior sister.

Xiao Wanfeng alone felt his status was lowly and nervously served tea to everyone.

Xu Xiaoshou pulled out a chair, signaling for Xiao Wanfeng to sit and not tire himself out.

After seeing that this fellow absolutely refused to sit, Xu Xiaoshou finally turned to everyone and stated his plan.

“This time, all of you can stay put for now. I have people to send first to scout the situation. Once things are clear, we’ll proceed further.”

Mu Zixi wrinkled her delicate nose.“You still have people?”

The “people” that her senior brother had were probably just these few around the tea table.

Besides them, there was only the ghostly “San A” lineup, neither human nor ghost.

Could it be…

“You’re going to use him?”

Mu Zixi turned her head toward the upstairs.

But as she turned, she happened to see Mei Si Ren coming down the stairs.

Xiao Wanfeng quickly pulled out a chair, thinking that the real big shot had arrived, and immediately poured tea and served water.

“Been bullied?”

Mei Si Ren walked over with a smile, his tone very kind.“Need this old one’s help?”

He had a good impression of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou and quite favored the juniors Xu Xiaoshou and Xiao Wanfeng.

If it was some trivial matter, he wouldn’t mind lending a hand.

Xu Xiaoshou quickly stood up and said,“No need to trouble Mr. Mei Si Ren. It’s just some squabbles among juniors.”

Xiao Wanfeng thought to himself, You’re really bold to say that—this so-called “squabble” involves heirs of two half-saint families, and it might shake the world after today!

Mei Si Ren sat down noncommittally and casually pulled out a plate of osmanthus cakes.

“Come, try this old one’s craftsmanship.”

“This osmanthus cake is made from the most noble variety of osmanthus flowers under the heavens. Last time I visited an old friend, I personally picked them fresh from the osmanthus tree.”

He pointed to the osmanthus cake, leaving even Xu Xiaoshou stunned.

People who live long enough start to dabble in all sorts of things!

Under normal circumstances, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn’t even dare dream of eating osmanthus cakes made by the Seven Jian Xian.

“In that case, this kid won’t hold back.”

Xu Xiaoshou was the first to pick up a piece and take a bite.

The osmanthus cake was fragrant in the mouth, melting instantly and turning into a surge of spiritual energy rushing toward his qi sea.

For a moment, his qi sea surged like a tide, making Xu Xiaoshou’s body tremble violently. His legs clenched, and his face suddenly flushed red.

“What’s wrong?”

Mei Si Ren’s smile froze, and he began to doubt himself.“This old one’s osmanthus cake should… be non-toxic, right?”

“Ahem.”

Xu Xiaoshou coughed lightly a few times. That single bite had his Dao rhythm circulating through his body, nearly breaking through directly to the Zongshi Tianxiang realm.

It startled him so much that he didn’t dare take another bite for a while.

“Old sir, you’re joking. This osmanthus cake is top-notch, it’s just that this junior has trouble suppressing my realm. One bite almost cost me my eligibility for the Wang Cheng trial.” Xu Xiaoshou felt a bit apprehensive.

Mei Si Ren realized and laughed heartily.“Then you don’t have to suppress your realm at all. If the Sheng Gong doesn’t want you, come follow this old one. I guarantee you’ll have more prospects than entering the Sheng Gong.”

Mo Mo, standing nearby, couldn’t help but turn her gaze, somewhat moved.

Xu Xiaoshou, observant of everything around him, quickly realized that Mo Mo was the only one who didn’t know Mei Si Ren’s identity as one of the Seven Jian Xian. He immediately introduced,“This is Mr. Mei Si Ren, who moved into our Tian Shang Di Yi Lou yesterday. With him here, no one in the world would dare to storm the building.”

Mo Mo was surprised.

From Xu Xiaoshou’s tone, it didn’t sound like an exaggeration.

Crucially, as he said this, the others nearby, including Xiao Wanfeng, all nodded in agreement.

Xu Xiaoshou then pointed to Mo Mo and said,“This is Mo Mo, also one of my friends. Mr. Mei Si Ren, what you see now is everyone in Tian Shang Di Yi Lou.”

Mo Mo hurriedly stood up and bowed.“I’ve seen Mr. Mei Si Ren.”

Mei Si Ren nodded lightly but didn’t respond. Instead, he looked at Xu Xiaoshou and said,“What this old one sees now isn’t all of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou…”

He pointed toward the ceiling.“What about those three little brothers up there? Won’t you introduce them?”

Xu Xiaoshou followed his finger and immediately understood he meant the “San A” lineup.

He chuckled and said,“Those three aren’t people, so Mr. Mei Si Ren doesn’t need to worry about them.”

Mei Si Ren raised an eyebrow and shook his head with a smile.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced around and saw that no one dared to touch the osmanthus cakes. He said,“Go on, eat up. It’s Mr. Mei Si Ren’s kind gesture—why are you all just standing there? Dig in!”

At that, Mu Zixi couldn’t resist and reached out with her little tongue, and Xin Gugu quickly followed suit.

Once everyone started, only Xiao Wanfeng was still hesitating. Xu Xiaoshou shoved the piece in his hand to Xiao Wanfeng and then looked at Mei Si Ren.

“Mr. Mei Si Ren, can you tell what changes this kid has undergone?” He gestured toward Xiao Wanfeng.

Seeing everyone nodding and lost in the delight of the cakes, Mei Si Ren was in high spirits. He turned to Xiao Wanfeng and asked,“Broken through?”

Xiao Wanfeng, eating the osmanthus cake, felt all his fatigue washed away. He nodded and said,“Yesterday, following Young Master Xu to Tian Luo Zhan, it seems I really did make a breakthrough.”

“It’s not just a bit,” Xu Xiaoshou laughed.“Not only did he win the championship, but he also seemingly broke through to Jian Zong right on the spot. And crucially, he released a sword qi!”

Xiao Wanfeng was greatly shocked.“I broke through to Jian Zong?”

Mei Si Ren was equally surprised.“Released sword qi?”

Xu Xiaoshou ignored the stunned Xiao Wanfeng—he knew this guy had hidden his sword so well that he’d forgotten his own realm. He explained to Mei Si Ren,“Yes, sword qi, and it immobilized a strong contender for the championship from a distance.”

Mu Zixi immediately showed a satisfied expression, as if being praised.

Xu Xiaoshou continued,“So, after the hidden sword technique, it’s understandable that this guy doesn’t know his own realm—he’s a bit dim. But as you said, Mr. Mei Si Ren, the hidden sword technique shouldn’t allow drawing a sword. Yet, besides Ba Zun… uh, the Eighth Jian Xian who can break the rules, Xiao Wanfeng seems able to do it too?”

Mei Si Ren immediately became serious and scrutinized Xiao Wanfeng up and down.

In his view, this fellow didn’t seem much changed from yesterday—perhaps a bit more drained in energy and with heavier dark circles, but nothing major.

If what Xu Xiaoshou said was true, then there was only one explanation.

Xiao Wanfeng had perfectly hidden his sword, even deceiving the Seven Jian Xian.

And while hidden, he could still draw his sword…

“A brand-new path of the sword!” Thinking of this, Mei Si Ren couldn’t stay calm.

He had always thought Xu Xiaoshou was the one he’d set his sights on, and Xiao Wanfeng’s refusal was just following suit.

But unexpectedly, Xiao Wanfeng gave him the first real surprise.

“You, follow this old one.”

Without thinking, Mei Si Ren set down the cakes and headed toward the backyard outside the building.

Xiao Wanfeng froze, holding the last bite of osmanthus cake he was reluctant to finish, unsure whether to keep serving tea or follow Mei Si Ren.

“Go on!”

Xu Xiaoshou grinned and casually picked up another piece of osmanthus cake to hand to him.“Seize the opportunity. Ask any questions you have, and squeeze… uh, ask Mr. Mei Si Ren dry. Come back and teach me everything.”

Mo Mo lightly bit into her cake, her movements stiffening for a moment, her serene face showing rare shock.

She had only been out for a morning yesterday.

Had Xu Xiaoshou really recruited one of the Seven Jian Xian?

Xiao Wanfeng was deeply moved and clutched the osmanthus cake, vowing,“I’ll definitely squeeze… uh, ask him thoroughly! Young Master Xu, do you have any questions you want to ask? I can ask on your behalf.”

“Yes.”

Xu Xiaoshou did have one.“How long does it generally take from sealing the sword to old self achieving sainthood?”

Xiao Wanfeng was stunned.

Sealing the sword to old self achieving sainthood… That was his own judgment, his assessment of the Eighth Jian Xian!

That meant Young Master Xu agreed with his judgment.

And he, too, had the same intuition—that once Ba Zun fully sealed and achieved sainthood, a great upheaval was imminent!

Young Master Xu was also anticipating the day the Eighth Jian Xian returned.

That day, the entire continent would surely be shaken!

Xiao Wanfeng suppressed the surging blood in his heart and nodded firmly.“I’ll ask!”

“I definitely will!”

This interlude with Mei Si Ren’s arrival took Xiao Wanfeng away.

But Mo Mo was left in shock. She turned to Xu Xiaoshou, who had sat back down, and confirmed,“The Seven Jian Xian?”

Mu Zixi also turned back, recalling her own reaction when she got the news last night.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded.

“I’m still a bit disbelief, but that’s just how it is.”

“Mr. Mei Si Ren is on the level of the Seven Jian Xian, Gou Wuyue and the like—no doubt about it!”

Indeed, no doubt.

All of this wasn’t some illusion Xu Xiaoshou had conjured; it was verified fact from the information panel and Jian Lao.

Everyone sighed again.

But Xu Xiaoshou didn’t dwell on it and waved it off, returning to the topic.“So, for the first step against Jiang Xian, I don’t plan to bring you all along—just A Jie.”

“Not taking me again…” Mu Zixi pouted immediately.

Xu Xiaoshou patted her head.“I plan to go scout the situation myself first.”

“You?” Mu Zixi looked up.“Didn’t you say you have people to send?”

“Yeah!”

Xu Xiaoshou nodded mysteriously.“Behind me, there are plenty of people.”

With that, he directly pulled Xu Xiaojiji out from his Yuan Fu space and instructed,“Transform and take my appearance.”

Xu Xiaojiji, newly arrived, was still a bit confused.

Just moments ago, Xu the Great Demon King had told him that after completing the cat-watching task, he could come out for some air. He thought the chances of that promise being kept were slim.

But now, he was out of the Yuan Fu?

This speed…

Incredible!

Shapeshifting was something Xu Xiaojiji was already an expert at. After a brief moment of excitement, he quickly transformed to look like Xu the Great Demon King and asked eagerly,“What do I need to do?”

Xu Xiaoshou smirked.“Today, you’re in for some fun.”

Then he turned to the others and said,“You all have no tasks today. Just accompany this new ‘Xu Desai’ on a stroll through the streets. Go where the crowds are, but remember not to cause too much trouble.”

“With him?” Mu Zixi raised an eyebrow.

Looking at that fake face, she couldn’t help but want to kick it.

How dare he impersonate her senior brother? This was asking for it!

“With him.”

Xu Xiaoshou patted Xu Xiaojiji’s shoulder and said to everyone,“Young Master Xu is out for a day of fun. Give him some pointers on how to act. Xu Xiaojiji’s acting is pretty good—he’s afraid of death, so his on-the-spot improvisations are quite impressive.”

Xu Xiaojiji: …

“And what about you?” Mu Zixi suddenly thought of how Xu Xiaoshou had transformed into Sang Lao in Bai Ku.

She realized that sending out Xu Xiaojiji might be to create an alibi, so no one could trace him.

“Me?”

In the northern district, on Tian Yang Street, at Tian Yang Zhuang.

Within the extremely luxurious estate, servants and maids hurried about.

The true master of the estate, however, generally stayed only in the main courtyard’s room, which was like a forbidden area, with his every need handled by his personal Wang Zuo bodyguards.

“Jiang Tai, Jiang Yu—still no response?”

In the room, Jiang Xian said with a stern face to the two in front of him.

Standing before him were two Wang Zuo with embarrassed expressions—one man and one woman.

The man was called Jiang Si, and the woman was Jiang Qi.

They were both dressed in black.

Though they stood in the room, they seemed as if their bodies were merging into the shadows.

If an outsider came in, they might stare for a while and still not notice these two, who stood so openly yet appeared as elusive as shadows.

“No response.”

Jiang Si lowered his head and said,“Last night, Jiang Qi and I went to secretly scout Tian Shang Di Yi Lou, but this time we didn’t dare go in. Even from outside, we felt an inexplicable pressure.”

“Zhan Dao?” Jiang Xian asked.

“Not sure…” Jiang Si replied.

He knew such an ambiguous answer wasn’t what Young Master Jiang wanted, so he added,“But if Jiang Tai and Jiang Yu had such a foreboding feeling the night before, they definitely wouldn’t have entered Tian Shang Di Yi Lou.”

“The pressure of Zhan Dao couldn’t be that terrifying—we’ve faced it before.”

“So, Jiang Qi and I speculate…”

Jiang Si glanced at the woman and said gravely,“It might be Tai Xu!”

“Nonsense!”

Jiang Xian scolded,“Even if the Xu clan is a hidden great family, stronger than our Jiang clan, it’s impossible for a mere junior’s outing to have a Tai Xu following!”

“We naturally know that.” Jiang Si hesitated as he spoke.

How could he have imagined something so terrifying?

If a junior’s outing warranted a Tai Xu escort, and considering how Young Master Xu completely disregarded the half-saint Jiang clan that day…

“There’s a conclusion I’m not sure if I should say.” Jiang Si thought of his and Jiang Qi’s guess, and at that moment, his scalp tingled.

Jiang Xian sneered,“Are you going to tell me that this Xu is a descendant of the Sheng Di?”

Jiang Si fell silent.

That was exactly his deduction.

Jiang Xian sighed,“Don’t blame you—it’s just ignorance!”

The subordinates made such speculations because they were intimidated by the power behind that Xu.

But as a half-saint heir, privy to some of the continent’s true secrets, Jiang Xian knew better.

“Some things are beyond your clearance, so you don’t understand and end up with such absurd conclusions. But I know the truth.”

Jiang Xian raised his pale fingers, his eyes flickering.

“The continent’s five great Sheng Di families uphold the heavens’ will and maintain order. Besides the exiles and the enforcers, everyone else lives within the Sheng Di secret realms.”

“That is the second world beyond the heavenly ladder.”

“As far as I know, none of the five great Sheng Di families have the surname Xu, and the Sheng Di don’t change or alter their surnames. So, a mere Xu clan…”

Jiang Xian looked at the report on the table and sneered.

“The continent’s half-saints have no such surname, and in the northern domain over the past century, there’s been no missed half-saint ceremony from our Jiang clan.”

“So, something fabricated out of thin air can only be fabrication. I can only say, the whole world has been bluffed by that kid!”