Chapter 747: All Impostors?

The scene before him shifted.

The dark night in Tian Qi Lin faded away, replaced by a sea of flowers in the daylight, alive with birdsong and fragrant blooms.

"Who's there?"

Jiang Xian remained unfazed, his voice firm as he demanded an answer.

He feared the rumored Ba Zun An, who flouted all rules, standing even above the saints themselves.

But he had no fear of these scheming pests!

Whoever had lured him out with such underhanded tactics would think twice before daring to lay a finger on Jiang Xian—it was anyone's guess.

"Truly worthy of being a Ban Sheng's disciple, such composure is utterly impressive," came a coquettish laugh.

From the far end of the flower sea, two figures in long robes and masks emerged.

One wore deep red, the other light blue.

The one in the deep red robe—or rather, long skirt—had a curvaceous figure, clearly a woman.

And it was undoubtedly her who possessed the "Hua Xian Mou" that could stir the "San Yan Tong Mu."

The other in light blue kept his head low, hooded and unassuming, leaning on a decayed wooden staff, appearing blind.

This pair instantly sparked suspicion in Jiang Xian's mind.

But he quickly dismissed his doubts.

After all, the red-robed figure he remembered from before was a man!

"Who are you?"

"Are you here for my 'San Yan Tong Mu'? Or do you plan to return the 'Hua Xian Mou' to me and forge an alliance with my clan's Ban Sheng?"

Jiang Xian kept his composure.

Though Jiang Qi and Jiang Si were not by his side, he felt even more steady.

In situations like this, panic would only make things worse.

"Giggle, giggle."

The red-skirted woman covered her mouth and laughed lightly, as if amused by the jest.

She didn't bother hiding anything.

Once her laughter faded, she reached up and removed her mask, revealing a stunning face.

The features were sharply defined, with subtle makeup, blending masculine and feminine traits in a naturally seductive way, exuding an otherworldly allure.

And in her eyes, a dizzying array of petals seemed to bloom endlessly in layers, like a cycle of cherry-pink blossoms...

"'Hua Xian Mou!'" Jiang Xian confirmed.

In the next instant, his gaze locked onto the slender woman's throat, fixating on the prominent Adam's apple, leaving him stunned.

At the same time, the light-blue masked figure with the staff also removed his mask.

Lifting his head, he revealed a face blurred and decayed, with eyes tightly shut, all captured by Jiang Xian's "San Yan Tong Mu."

"Sheng Nu, Lei Shuang Xing."

"Sheng Nu, Shuo Shu Ren."

They introduced themselves simultaneously.

The red-skirted man—Shuo Shu Ren—gestured with a limp wrist, smiling as he continued, "Young Master Jiang, why not consider a third option: giving your 'San Yan Tong Mu' to us?"

Tap, tap, tap.

Rain pattered on a straw hat.

Xu Xiao Shou, disguised as Sang Lao, walked steadily along the long street.

The aura of Dao rhythm around him churned restlessly, on the verge of breaking free.

"It's about to breakthrough..."

Xu Xiao Shou felt helpless.

It had only been a brief encounter with Shou Ye.

Yet, that distant, illusory separation on the street had strengthened his Dao heart even more.

Strengthening his Dao heart was a good thing, of course.

But his was already solid, and this added resolve made it hard to hold back.

Xu Xiao Shou's cultivation had long reached the peak of Shang Ling, and his swordsmanship had achieved the realm of Zong Shi.

The bottleneck to Lian Ling Tian Xiang realm was tough for others, but for him, it was as fragile as paper.

But becoming a Zong Shi...

What about the Wang Cheng trial?

What about the Sheng Gong trial?

For now, Xu Xiao Shou had no choice but to suppress it desperately.

After distancing himself from Shou Ye, with the mindset that Ba Zun An handled one part and he another,

Xu Xiao Shou considered launching a surprise attack on a branch of Sheng Shen Dian Tang to keep the white- and red-robed figures at the trade meeting occupied.

But midway, he changed his mind.

He thought of Yan Wang's schemes.

And Liu Lu's earlier words: the golden-masked leader of Yan Wang, Huang Quan, was at the trade meeting.

Since that person was there,

Then those trying to target Jiang Xian might just be minor players, like Jiu You Gui Ying.

At that moment, Xu Xiao Shou's thoughts raced.

Instead of hitting Sheng Shen Dian Tang—which might only trigger their main array's backlash or draw a few scattered white-robes—

It would be better to go straight to Jiang Xian!

Even if he was wrong and Yan Wang's target wasn't Jiang Xian,

He, Xu Xiao Shou, could pose as one of them on the spot and pin the blame on this organization daring to covet his junior sister's Shen Mo Tong tonight.

"Let's do it!"

Thinking it through, he acted immediately.

Xu Xiao Shou returned to his Yuan Fu, invoking the power of Tian Zhi Zhi Yan to connect with the outside world.

He expected them to make a move first before Tian Zhi Zhi Yan would react.

To his surprise,

The Tian Zhi Zhi Yan floating in the void responded right away.

Its gaze pointed directly north of Dong Tian Wang Cheng.

And the reaction was intense.

Amid swirling white mist, Tian Zhi Zhi Yan showed a strong yearning, as if seeking a force of the same origin.

"North!"

Xu Xiao Shou instantly thought of Jiang Xian's Tian Yang Zhuang in the northern district.

Now certain, he hurried north.

From Nan Cheng Qu to Bei Cheng Qu, the distance was considerable.

Fortunately, with "Yi Bu Deng Tian," and the effects of "Yuan Qi Man Man" plus Tan Shen's pills restoring his Ling Yuan nonstop,

Traveling felt effortless.

Reaching Zhong Cheng Qu, Xu Xiao Shou suddenly had a premonition and glanced west.

To the west,

A resounding sword cry pierced the night sky, astonishing all.

"Sword intent..."

Xu Xiao Shou was entranced.

In that sharp sword intent, he sensed many familiar forces.

For example, sword thoughts!

"Did Ba Zun An make a move?"

"Who did he target?"

"Wasn't he supposed to go straight to Yun Lun Mountains?"

Xu Xiao Shou was full of doubts.

He was tempted to head west and investigate.

But time was pressing—if he got distracted now, everything might fall apart.

The trade meeting still needed support!

And Ba Zun An's plans weren't something Xu Xiao Shou could fathom right now.

It was already good that the man was helping; how could he expect him to stick to someone else's plan?

So, Xu Xiao Shou refocused on Tian Zhi Zhi Yan's guidance and rushed to Bei Cheng Qu, arriving at the outskirts of Tian Qi Lin.

"Mama..."

As soon as he approached, A Jie in his chest suddenly warned, sensing great danger.

"Disappear technique!"

Xu Xiao Shou activated it without hesitation, vanishing on the spot.

"What did you sense?" he whispered, pulling out the A Jie stone.

"Mama..."

Xu Xiao Shou fell silent, then chuckled: "Sorry, Mama shouldn't ask you such complicated questions."

He tucked A Jie away again.

Realizing he'd been too tense, Xu Xiao Shou relaxed his mind, expanded his "perception," and stepped into Tian Qi Lin.

"Buzz!"

The moment he entered, the surroundings shifted chaotically.

One instant, it was the visible night in Tian Qi Lin; the next, his mind filled with daylight scenes of birds and flowers.

This disorienting display made Xu Xiao Shou realize:

"A trapping array, an illusion technique?"

He was surprised: "What kind of illusion can affect me even in a disappeared state?"

Disappear was an instant erasure, removing all traces from the heavens' path.

This awakened skill's strength lay in making even Zhan Dao unable to detect him.

Yet now,

Tian Qi Lin's illusion was still affecting him.

That meant this illusion wasn't targeted; it was a fixed existence that impacted anyone who actively probed it.

"This is something..."

Xu Xiao Shou didn't think it was an ordinary array.

Under "perception," no illusion should affect him—this passive skill went straight to the essence.

But this non-targeted illusion was still causing chaos in his disappeared state...

"A illusion that influences the mental or even soul power of the one probing!" Xu Xiao Shou guessed.

After disappearing, his only link to the world was mental perception.

If this illusion could still affect him, that left only this explanation.

"Let's check it out!"

In his Yuan Fu space, Tian Zhi Zhi Yan grew even more agitated. Xu Xiao Shou probed carefully toward the source of the disturbance, inching closer.

Soon, in Tian Qi Lin, he spotted a figure.

"The Jiang clan's Wang Zuo?"

The motionless figure in the distance, with vacant eyes, was clearly Jiang Si, whom Xu Xiao Shou had met as Ba Zun An at Tian Yang Zhuang that day.

"A Wang Zuo, completely trapped?"

Xu Xiao Shou was shocked at the sight of the powerless Jiang Si.

If he hadn't used the disappear technique and stepped in, would he have ended up the same way?

"Yan Wang's people!"

Shaken but more convinced of his earlier guess, Xu Xiao Shou thought.

This illusion was likely from a supreme pupil technique.

Only that could affect him in a non-targeted way, even after disappearing.

While monitoring his Ling Yuan consumption, Xu Xiao Shou pressed on.

He ignored Jiang Si; that wasn't the main target, and acknowledging him would reveal his presence.

As he advanced, he saw Jiang Qi.

Now he grew even more cautious.

Jiang Qi was a sly old fox!

But currently, the man looked possessed, his face twisted in conflict as he argued with thin air under an ancient tree...

A Wang Zuo!

Two Wang Zuo!

Both utterly helpless against this illusion!

"Damn it, another weird power like this..."

Xu Xiao Shou felt more uneasy.

He'd experienced Jiu You Gui Ying's "Ding Hun Jing" and knew such control could decide life and death in a battle of experts.

But that was traceable.

Like when A Jie struck that day, Ding Hun Jing had no effect.

This "illusion trap," however, was unpredictable—the kind Xu Xiao Shou hated most.

Because his passive skills lacked defenses against mental attacks.

"Be careful..."

Warning himself, Xu Xiao Shou pushed forward.

Quickly, in the dense forest ahead, he saw two familiar figures.

A red-masked person and a blue-masked person...

Under "perception," even from behind, he got a clear view of their faces.

No masks!

Xu Xiao Shou was stunned first.

These faces were all too familiar.

Shuo Shu Ren, Lei Shuang Xing...

"Fakes?"

Xu Xiao Shou realized instantly.

He'd just spoken with Shuo Shu Ren, who was with Ba Zun An—how could he be here targeting the Jiang clan?

Glancing at his own Sang Lao disguise, Xu Xiao Shou couldn't help but smile wryly.

Tonight, everyone was full of imposters?

He stayed put and extended his perception outward.

The figures of Jiang Xian facing the two Yan Wang masks soon came into range.

Clearly, they'd already clashed.

The Yan Wang masks showed no injuries.

But Jiang Xian was covered in blood.

Still, they stood off against each other.

Jiang Xian relied on his "San Yan Tong Mu" to resist most of the illusion's effects.

In fact, he turned it to his advantage, his eyes raised high as the gray triple petals spun rapidly, tears of blood streaming down.

Neither Yan Wang mask dared meet his gaze.

"Who are you really?"

Jiang Xian seemed exhausted but still roared:

"'Hua Xian Mou' couldn't be in Sheng Nu's hands. And you, Shuo Shu Ren, have already passed through Jiu Si Lei Jie as a Zhan Dao, yet you carry no trace of tribulation—it's as if you've never faced one."

Shifting his gaze from Shuo Shu Ren, Jiang Xian turned to the blue-masked figure and shouted: "Lei Shuang Xing couldn't possibly be at Zhan Dao level either!"

Two Zhan Dao...

Xu Xiao Shou was baffled.

The illusion messed with his mental judgment, so he hadn't immediately sensed the Yan Wang duo's Dao rhythm.

But now, the fake Shuo Shu Ren just covered his mouth and laughed: "Oh, I am Shuo Shu Ren. What are you doubting? Why not reveal your last card? Where's your Sheng Xiang? I've been waiting so long."

"Ha, ha, ha!"

Jiang Xian suddenly threw his head back in laughter, then stopped abruptly, his voice fierce: "You dare attack me but not kill me—because you're afraid of Sheng force tracking, right? But if you don't kill me tonight, you won't get the 'San Yan Tong Mu'. Ha, ha, ha..."

He laughed wildly.

The two Yan Wang masks remained unmoved, unaffected by the laughter.

Xu Xiao Shou stayed alert, watching as Jiang Xian, still laughing, summoned a drop of golden blood from his ring and moved to swallow it.

The drop appeared for just a moment, shaking the heavens, cracking void Dao patterns, and summoning thunder from the nine skies.

"Sheng blood!"

Xu Xiao Shou's pupils shrank, his nerves taut—it was Ban Sheng essence blood, brimming with grand Dao power.

But the Yan Wang masks seemed prepared.

As soon as the Sheng blood emerged,

The silent fake Lei Shuang Xing suddenly opened his eyes.

In "perception," his pupils were eerily strange: one green, one orange, overlapping elliptical pupils forming a "ten" cross.

"Ji Mie!"

Fake Lei Shuang Xing uttered two words, his eyes bursting with blood, his body convulsing like a lightning strike, vomiting blood.

In that instant, the heavenly phenomena halted.

The thunder vanished, and the void Dao patterns subsided.

The drop of Sheng blood, mid-flight to Jiang Xian's mouth, was obliterated by the strange pupil force, turning to nothingness.

"Disappear..." Xu Xiao Shou was horrified.

This power mirrored his disappear technique in effect.

Fake Lei Shuang Xing had been waiting with Zhan Dao's swift reactions for Jiang Xian's Sheng blood.

The pupil force on the blood did nothing else—it just prevented Jiang Xian from swallowing it.

By directly annihilating it at a distance, at a cost.

"So that's how they're playing this?"