Chapter 733: Extreme Deception Pitting Both Sides

The ancestor of all ancestors... Jinzhao Laozu?

That wretched saint—is he one of the Bai Mai Three Ancestors?

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stunned, completely taken aback.

He had previously imagined that Jinzhao Laozu, who could cast a sword into Baiku and set up a grand scheme over centuries, would likely be a significant figure even on Xukong Island.

But he never expected this person's background to be so immense!

Based on Wuji Laozu's words...

The Bai Mai Three Ancestors must be the top three leaders among the two major factions on Xukong Island.

As for the Hei Mai side, Huiwu Ren aside, the rest remained unknown for now...

But that didn't matter!

Jinzhao Laozu, as one of the Three Ancestors, was a supreme being who could overshadow Huiwu Ren and even Wuji Laozu before him.

Xu Xiaoshou's mind raced with ideas.

At that moment, he glanced at the information panel, filled with pop-ups like "under suspicion" and "being speculated about"...

This situation felt all too familiar.

He knew it was because the Jinzhao White Flame had ignited in his eyes, sparking Wuji Laozu's frantic questions.

And the biggest question was undoubtedly—why did he possess Jinzhao White Flame?

"How do you have Jinzhao White Flame?"

Sure enough, Wuji Laozu couldn't hold back and asked, "This thing—humans can't possibly possess it. How could a human body withstand the damage from Jinzhao White Flame?"

Huiwu Ren turned away, sighing and saying no more.

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled lightly, neither confirming nor denying.

It was true that a human body struggled to endure Jinzhao White Flame.

But the Jinzhao White Flame that Wuji Laozu understood was probably vastly different in quality from what he knew.

At least, from what Xu Xiaoshou knew, an innate body could withstand the precursor to Jinzhao White Flame—the Jinzhao Heavenly Flame.

However, if he didn't explain now, it would only lead to more speculation from Wuji Laozu.

And as long as that speculation worked in his favor, why bother explaining?

Let the old man keep guessing—it was fine by him.

Seeing the young man in front of him remain silent, Wuji Laozu didn't dare press further.

After all, this involved Jinzhao Laozu's secrets...

At that point, Wuji Laozu had already formed a judgment about Xu Xiaoshou in his mind.

This was likely one of Jinzhao Laozu's contingency plans.

In other words... one of his own people!

Otherwise, how could Feng Yujin, the Hei Mai representative sent from Xukong Island to handle affairs on the mainland, willingly serve under this young man and follow his orders?

The Eight-Character Command, Jinzhao White Flame...

Wuji Laozu pondered silently and made his decision. He said, "Brat... er, Young Master Xu, you must have a way to make this old fool suppress his urge to self-destruct, right?"

He pointed at his own body, clearly worried about the huge risk Liu Changqing's actions posed for exposure.

As soon as Xu Xiaoshou heard the changed address, he felt reassured.

"Yes!"

He said confidently, "Not only that, in a way, I'm on your side. Perhaps your mission aligns with mine."

Wuji Laozu fell silent.

On their first meeting, he didn't know much about this young master's background.

Even with a ninety percent certainty in his deductions, he wouldn't easily reveal his mission to this young man.

However, Xu Xiaoshou had no intention of relying solely on his identity to gain the old fox's full trust.

After a moment of thought, he waved his hand and said, "Here's what we'll do—you go back for now and avoid confronting Liu Changqing. I'll handle it myself, stabilize him, and make sure you two can coexist peacefully."

Wuji Laozu said nothing again.

In the eyes of the world, ghost beasts were humanity's enemies.

Coexisting peacefully—how easy was that?

Seeing this, Xu Xiaoshou added, "Xiao Jiji, this is your first time possessing a body, and your strength is greatly diminished— I know that. Don't worry, since you're from Bai Mai and under Jinzhao Laozu, how could I not help you?"

As he spoke, he made the white flame in his eyes flare brightly for a moment before it faded away.

"We're... on the same side!"

Wuji Laozu struggled with his thoughts.

Liu Changqing's Dao-Cleaving strength was nothing in his prime.

But now, as soon as he retreated, for a long time afterward, the dominant will in this body would be Liu Changqing's.

It wasn't easy to come out once, and handing over control to another will under this young man's guidance...

"Don't you trust me?" Xu Xiaoshou knew what he was thinking and pressed on. "Look at them!"

He pointed to Xin Gugu and Mo Mo.

"I've already got two ghost beast possessions by my side. If that's not being on the same side, what is?"

"Besides, even if your will is dominant now, what can you do here at the trade fair?"

"Even if you hold out until we leave, a Dao-Cleaving will isn't that easy to suppress."

"If a conflict breaks out outside and you have to act, with Liu Changqing stirring things up inside you, you're doomed!"

Xu Xiaoshou's voice turned cold: "Jinzhao Laozu sent you out for a plan, not to die!"

Wuji Laozu was convinced.

Indeed, the two ghost beast possessions in front of Xu Xiaoshou were incredibly persuasive!

If the two wills in his body could coexist peacefully, he, Xuan Wuji, could unleash power even greater than Feng Yujin's.

But if they were at odds, the consequences would be terrifying.

Feng Yujin with Mo Mo, Xin Gugu with the ghost beast inside him...

This state of peaceful coexistence—how could Xuan Wuji not envy it?

"Alright!" He nodded. "I'll trust you this once!"

With that, he prepared to retreat and release Liu Changqing's will.

"Wait!" Xu Xiaoshou quickly stopped him.

"What?" Wuji Laozu was puzzled. After all that talk, wasn't this young man just trying to make him another ally?

Xuan Wuji wasn't foolish.

He could see through the little fox's intentions.

"It's like this..." Xu Xiaoshou rubbed his hands, choosing his words carefully before saying, "Xiao Jiji, you mentioned earlier that you're a Tianji sorcerer, which is why Jinzhao Laozu chose you as the only one who could slip past the 'Xukong Great Array' and be released?"

"Um!" Wuji Laozu nodded. "So?"

"Since you're a big shot on Xukong Island and can evade the 'Xukong Great Array', your Tianji Technique must be top-notch, right?" Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow.

"Naturally!" Wuji Laozu replied with pride.

"To what extent?"

"Hah!" Wuji Laozu smirked confidently. "In this world, aside from those leading figures in the Shengshen Hall's Dao Department, my Tianji Technique won't lose to anyone!"

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head. "I don't believe it."

"You little brat..." Wuji Laozu laughed in annoyance and turned to Feng Yujin. "Tell him!"

Huiwu Ren was silent for a moment but eventually met their expectant gazes and said, "It's true."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened in an instant.

"That's perfect!"

He clapped his hands and said to Wuji Laozu, "Xiao Jiji, go back now and teach Liu Changqing the Tianji Technique."

Wuji Laozu was stunned.

"Nonsense!"

He raged, "My Tianji Technique—how could it be taught to such an insignificant ant?"

Xu Xiaoshou immediately pointed at Huiwu Ren. "He taught his sealing technique to an innate-level junior, and she's a woman at that. Xiao Jiji, you've got a male body now, which is already a great deal—you should learn to compare!"

Huiwu Ren's face darkened at once. "What did you say?"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled slyly and gave Huiwu Ren a knowing wink, signaling him to play along.

Then he placed a hand on Wuji Laozu's shoulder, like an old friend, and whispered persuasively:

"It's a great setup!"

"Besides, I didn't say to teach the whole Tianji Technique."

"Since you two need to coexist peacefully, you have to show some sincerity, right?"

"In this world, no problem can't be solved with benefits. Dangle the supreme Tianji Technique in front of Liu Changqing, let him taste the sweetness, and he'll want more step by step."

"And the rest, I don't need to spell out, do I?"

It had to be said, this persuasion moved Wuji Laozu once again.

He wasn't stupid.

He understood exactly what Xu Xiaoshou meant.

Use the path of Tianji Technique advancement to control the body.

On the surface, Liu Changqing would be the dominant will.

But behind the scenes, the one truly controlling the body's will and direction would be him, Xuan Wuji!

"How about it?" Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow. "Time's running out—I don't have all day to chat with you here. There's still a lot of treasures at the trade fair for me to bid on!"

At this point, Wuji Laozu wasn't one to hesitate. He finally made up his mind.

"Fine!"

He nodded firmly, gave Feng Yujin a deep look, and then withdrew his will.

The power of Tianji Wuji receded, and the sealing aura lifted at the same time.

Liu Changqing's will was finally released from its imprisonment at the edge of the spiritual platform, breaking free from the cage.

"How dare you!"

As soon as he appeared, he lunged at Huiwu Ren, ready to strike.

"Hold on!"

Xu Xiaoshou quickly intervened, speaking rapidly: "Mr. Liu, don't you realize that if the ghost beast's will emerges, your soul will be obliterated, and you might never return?"

Liu Changqing's actions halted abruptly.

Even Huiwu Ren's counterattack stopped at Xu Xiaoshou's words.

"Soul obliteration?"

Almost simultaneously, Huiwu Ren, Xin Gugu, and Liu Changqing shared the same doubt:

What did the emergence of a ghost beast's will have to do with soul obliteration?

Xu Xiaoshou explained, "It's like this—if the ghost beast's will can't coexist peacefully, either your soul, Mr. Liu, will perish, or the ghost beast's will inside you will die. Do you understand?"

Liu Changqing didn't understand at all.

If he did, he wouldn't have come to Xu Xiaoshou seeking a way to free himself from the ghost beast.

Huiwu Ren and Xin Gugu, listening nearby and seeing Liu Changqing's confused expression, immediately realized:

Xu Xiaoshou was about to start bluffing!

Sure enough, seeing Liu Changqing's reaction and knowing he was clueless, Xu Xiaoshou dove right in:

"Mr. Liu, my friend just sealed your will to test the stance of the ghost beast inside you."

"Now that I've confirmed the stance and reached an agreement, the rest depends on your choice."

Liu Changqing was stunned. "What stance? What choice?"

"A stance of peaceful coexistence, and a choice of mutual benefit!" Xu Xiaoshou lowered his voice, his words laced with temptation.

Huiwu Ren facepalmed.

In this short time, he didn't know how many times he'd sighed.

Xu Xiaoshou...

This guy was unbelievable!

Was there anyone in the world he couldn't bluff?

By exploiting information gaps, he could talk a Dao-Cleaving expert and a Xukong Island ancestor to death!

"What do you mean?" Liu Changqing was intrigued.

A ghost beast was both a torment and a source of power.

Without a way to escape, mutual torment would only be the worst option.

If there was a way to suppress this ghost beast power or even harness it, what Liu Changqing could gain would far exceed simple escape.

"It's like this..." Xu Xiaoshou draped an arm over Liu Changqing's shoulder and whispered, "I've negotiated terms for you. 'It' agrees not to torment you anymore and can give you advanced powers."

"For example?"

"For example... Tianji Technique!" Xu Xiaoshou emphasized heavily.

Liu Changqing was shocked, his eyes glazing over.

Tianji Technique...

As a Dao-Cleaving expert, how could he not have heard of it?

With his long lifespan and no hope of transcending tribulations or breaking through to Taixu, Liu Changqing had studied various powers.

Pill refining, artifact forging, spirit arrays...

Just in spirit arrays, he was at the grandmaster level, so how could he not know about Tianji Technique?

But wasn't Tianji Technique something only the Shengshen Hall's Dao Department controlled, unattainable for outsiders?

"Is it real?" Liu Changqing could hardly believe it.

"Absolutely true." Xu Xiaoshou said seriously. "Don't believe me? Try communicating with the ghost beast's will inside you. I bet it's not fighting you anymore right now!"

Liu Changqing tried.

Sure enough, the will that usually required most of his heavenly power to suppress was now relaxed and not resisting.

"Huh."

Liu Changqing let out a long breath. He was starting to trust this Xu fellow's capabilities.

After all... the two living examples of ghost beast possessions were right there. Who wouldn't be cautious in the face of such control over ghost beasts?

Seeing Liu Changqing's interest, Xu Xiaoshou pressed his advantage: "Ghost beast power is something major forces are secretly researching because it's incredibly strong."

"Now that you're trapped, aside from death, which choice or path wouldn't give you more than just dying?"

"In this mix of opportunity and challenge, if you two can achieve the kind of harmony my friends here have..."

"Then you'd be ahead of the curve! You'd master ghost beast power!"

"As for Dao-Cleaving..."

Xu Xiaoshou scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm: "You should have glimpsed the full power of the ghost beast. Even weakened, 'it' can torment you like this. Once you truly master it..."

"Dao-Cleaving is nothing!"

"Nine-Death Thunder Tribulation won't be a dream!"

"Taixu will be just around the corner!"

"Even Sheng..."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, looking at Liu Changqing's eyes gleaming with excitement, and tempered his words: "But don't get too ahead of yourself—you're still in the adjustment phase. Heh, 'Sheng' is too far off."

"What do I need to do?" Liu Changqing lowered his voice.

At that moment, Xin Gugu and Huiwu Ren knew:

This old man was done for...

What Xu Xiaoshou said was both factual and backed by evidence.

It wasn't Liu Changqing's fault for falling for it—it was just that Xu Xiaoshou's methods were too otherworldly!

This "double trap" approach was so masterful that no one dared imagine it.

"Of course, you'll need to give something!" Xu Xiaoshou stepped back, his expression serious.

He knew this crafty old fox would bolt if he talked about freebies.

But if he made him pay while tricking him, the fox would think it was only fair.

After all, effort leads to reward!

So Xu Xiaoshou pointed at himself, his demeanor solemn.

"'It' doesn't trust you any more than you trust it, so it specified me as the intermediary—since I have successful examples."

Glancing at Huiwu Ren, Xu Xiaoshou continued:

"So, for now, stick with me!"

"Then, try communicating with 'it' now and see if you can get the Tianji Technique inheritance."

"If you can..."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, his expression grave as he pulled a scroll from his ring and slowly handed it over.

"This is a scroll for making a small spatial teleportation array disk."

"Don't underestimate it, but if you can create one..."

"This small step would be a giant leap for human-ghost beast peaceful coexistence!"