Chapter 832: Wherever Xu's Gang Passes, Not a Blade of Grass Grows

“Is this the Yunzhu?”

A large group of over seventy people waited in the rear for judgment, while Xu Xiaoshou stood alone at the front, taking the lead.

He examined the crystal bead in his hand, about the size of a human head, with great curiosity. The Yunzhu was milky white, with swirling mist-like patterns inside, each one containing profound insights into the most primal Dao principles. Just a glance could bring enlightenment.

The crystal itself was composed of extremely pure energy, and absorbing it would surely greatly enhance one’s cultivation.

“Insights into the Dao, amplification of spiritual energy… It’s no wonder this is everyone’s dream treasure.”

Xu Xiaoshou sighed, no longer hesitating. He focused his spiritual sense on it and took a deep breath, drawing in the Yunzhu, which transformed into pure spiritual and Dao energy, flowing into his mouth and nose.

The people behind him watched with envious eyes.

After absorbing the Yunzhu, Xu Xiaoshou sat cross-legged on the ground, his spiritual energy surging around him, faintly exuding the aura of a Zongshi. The surrounding Dao insights were far stronger than those of an ordinary Zongshi—many times over.

Some even speculated that even a weaker Wangzuo might not match Xu Xiaoshou’s grasp of the Dao.

“As expected of the Sword Dao Wangzuo!”

Zhu Dong, Zhao Xiu, and the others felt a surge of jealousy. Such a genius truly lived up to his reputation as a successor to a Bansheng.

In no time, Xu Xiaoshou finished absorbing the Yunzhu’s energy. He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.

“What a treasure!”

“This single Yunzhu has given such a huge boost to my Tianxiang Realm. I underestimated the Yunjing World before. It seems Cheng Ji really wanted to provide plenty of benefits for those taking part in the Wangcheng Trial.”

“Not only that, my Qi Sea cultivation has increased, and my understanding of the Zongshi Tianxiang Realm has deepened too.”

Xu Xiaoshou’s expression grew subtle.

He had broken through to Zongshi by forcing his way with Sword Dao, so there were no bottlenecks.

But this was an ancient sword cultivation method, and in a world where spirit refiners were the orthodoxy, Xu Xiaoshou didn’t want to lose sight of the bigger picture…

Or perhaps “losing sight of the bigger picture” wasn’t quite accurate.

Still, he didn’t want to give up the path of spirit refining. He wanted both the fish and the bear paw.

“The Zongshi Tianxiang Realm touches on the fundamental rules of this world. Even if it’s just a partial understanding, it’s still more comprehensive than Sword Dao…”

“The world’s rules encompass Sword Dao, and Sword Dao can evolve into a world of its own.”

“But a world of swords has its limitations—it’s confined by the ‘sword.’ Spirit refiners sense the world’s origin, which includes the basic forces of all myriad Daos.”

“These rule-based powers might not be as potent as the specialized benefits of Sword Dao at the Zongshi or Wangzuo levels, but with long-term comprehension, future achievements might not be any weaker than those of ancient sword cultivators focused on a single path!”

Xu Xiaoshou began to understand why ancient sword cultivators, despite their dominance, had declined in this era.

The entry threshold for sword cultivation was too high. Even after entering, their strength in the mid-stages—like Zongshi or Wangzuo—was overwhelmingly superior, unbeatable among peers.

But spirit refining was the orthodox path. By the later mid-stages, like Zhandao, most could match sword cultivators.

And in the advanced stages, such as Zhandao Nine Deaths Thunder Realm or Taixu, if a spirit refiner deeply understood the world’s fundamental rules, even typical ancient sword cultivators in the same realm couldn’t overcome them!

“No wonder the Bansheng in this world are mostly spirit refiners, while sword cultivators are rare.”

Xu Xiaoshou was amazed.

The power derived from sensing the world’s fundamental rules was too strong to abandon.

He wanted Sword Dao.

And he wanted the path of spirit refining too!

He opened the points leaderboard.

After some battles, the leaderboard had updated again.

“First, Chong Yuan, points: 25,300.”

“Second, Duo Er, points: 13,200.”

“Third, Jiang Xian, points: 10,250.”

“Fourth, Luo Yin, points: 2,425.”

“Fifth, Rong Da Hao, points: 1,950.”

Wow!

Xu Xiaoshou was startled by the top five.

In just a short time, Su Qianqian had been pushed out.

And the top three had all surpassed 10,000 points. Had they all hunted Yunshou?

“Everyone’s been busy…”

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized that this trial environment truly highlighted the ultimate foundations of major family successors.

He was familiar with several in the top five.

The third-place Jiang Xian was the previous owner of the “San Yan Tong Mu,” but he had later been targeted by the “Yan Wang” people and lost his eyes.

One of those eyes was still in Xu Xiaoshou’s possession.

“But wasn’t he not at the Xiantian level?”

Xu Xiaoshou remembered that when he saw Jiang Xian in Tianqi Forest, his displayed power was already beyond Xiantian.

“Could it be that losing the San Yan Tong Mu caused his cultivation to regress, and now he’s coming to Yunlun Mountains for opportunities?”

“Or maybe he’s a stowaway?”

“But why would a stowaway use his real name? Isn’t he afraid of dying? Oh, wait, he’s also a Bansheng successor, so he might not fear death at all.”

Xu Xiaoshou felt a headache coming on.

What kind of backgrounds did the participants in this Wangcheng Trial have?

He also recognized the fourth-place Luo Yin from the Dayuan Fuchao’s Luotian Palace. Xu Xiaoshou had encountered that sacred body in the Tianluo War before.

He had thought it was weak, but it was shining brightly in Yunlun Mountains now.

As for the others…

Staring at first and second place, Xu Xiaoshou furrowed his brow involuntarily.

He turned and waved to the over seventy people waiting for judgment behind him. “A few of you, come over.”

The seventy-plus people exchanged glances, hesitant to step forward.

Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes sharpened, and the ones at the front couldn’t help but move forward.

“State your names.”

Five people came up.

Xu Xiaoshou could tell these were the strongest five in the group, each with power rivaling a Zongshi, clearly having suppressed their realms for a long time.

Zhao Xiu was among them.

Besides her, there was one woman and three young men.

“Xuantian Futai Xing, Sansheng Jiaopai Mo Beibei, Diliang Gong Xi Guanghan, Chaodong Ge Zhu Dong, and a wanderer, uh, Zhao Xiu… We’ve met you, Xu Shaoyou!”

The five spoke in unison.

“All from the Zhongyu?” Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow. He had overheard discussions about them earlier, and the first four clearly had significant backgrounds.

“Yes.” The five nodded.

Xu Xiaoshou marveled at how the Dongtian Wangcheng Trial had been dominated by Zhongyu participants.

Among the five, only Mo Beibei was a woman, with a striking appearance.

The other four were all strikingly handsome, except for Zhao Xiu.

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t bother asking more about their backgrounds—he wasn’t interested in Zhongyu politics, and asking would be pointless.

Pointing to the leaderboard, he asked, “Do you recognize first and second place?”

“Of course.”

Zhu Dong from Chaodong Ge had been keeping an eye on the leaderboard and stepped forward. “First place, Chong Yuan, is a rising star in Zhongyu’s younger generation. The Chong family isn’t that big—not even a Taixu family—but he has incredible talent and immense luck, so it makes sense he’s taken the top spot temporarily.”

“Second place is a big deal.” Zhu Dong continued smoothly, “She’s a Bansheng successor from the Nanyu, a walker from the Black Heart Fruit Clan, Miss Duo Er. She made a huge name for herself in Zhongyu before.”

A Bansheng successor?

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised.

This Void Island had really brought out the heavy hitters—another Bansheng successor?

“As for the other top five…”

Zhu Dong’s expression turned mocking and helpless. “They’re all from major families! Jiang Xian is a Bansheng successor; you’ve probably heard about him in Dongtian Wangcheng lately. Luo Yin and Rong Da Hao are from Taixu families—the former from Dayuan Fuchao’s Luotian Palace, and the latter is said to be the current walker from the Taixu Fumeng Clan.”

They all had backgrounds… Xu Xiaoshou sighed and asked, “Compared to them, how do your factions stack up?”

The four exchanged looks, feeling a bit bitter. “We can’t compare at all. Forget Taixu families—our factions are at best on par with the Chong family.”

Zhao Xiu covered her mouth and laughed. “The Chong family has Chong Yuan; you all shouldn’t overestimate yourselves!”

“Shut up!” Xi Guanghan glared at her. He was tall and burly, with a fierce aura not much weaker than Zhao Xiu’s.

“Hey.” Zhao Xiu shrugged, saying nothing. As a wanderer, he usually avoided provoking these sect people—he couldn’t afford to.

After the conversation, Xu Xiaoshou had a better understanding of the group.

The forces of these four were roughly a step above Dongtian Wangcheng’s Guiyin Ge or Daxian Tianzong, with perhaps a Taixu in their ranks, but nothing like the depth of true Taixu families.

No matter.

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t care about that.

The Yunlun Mountains trial wasn’t about backgrounds.

These people were already strong enough to sweep through many in the outside world.

“So, let me think…”

He lowered his head in thought.

The over seventy people behind him felt anxious, knowing Xu Xiaoshou was about to decide their fate.

A few moments later,

Xu Xiaoshou looked up at everyone.

“I’m sure you’ve all noticed the leaderboard. Too many new names have shot up, some gaining thousands or even tens of thousands of points in a short time. You’re not fools—you know this isn’t the work of one person.”

“Everyone on the leaderboard has a group of followers behind them. Soon, solo acts in Yunlun Mountains will melt away like snow.”

“If you don’t form alliances, you’re doomed!”

That was true.

Everyone nodded slightly, deep in thought.

Now, those on the leaderboard were nearing a thousand, and the leaders were gaining hundreds or thousands of points with each update.

If someone gained ten thousand at once, it could be from hunting a Yunshou.

But hundreds or thousands…

That pointed to only one thing: killing others, or groups finding Yunzhu and pooling points to their leader.

Other regions were already banding together.

This eastern area was so barren.

If things continued as before, fighting over a single Yunzhu with over seventy people, even if they reached the core Nine Dragon Veins, the eastern participants would be nearly wiped out.

By then, as individuals, there were only two outcomes:

Either get farmed for points by the major alliances from other regions,

Or be forced to join them.

In a word, everyone realized what was coming.

The current situation meant Xu Xiaoshou probably wanted to build his own team and compete with the leaderboard leaders.

“Xu Shaoyou wants to climb the ranks?” No one was stupid; someone in the crowd quickly asked.

“Not exactly.” Xu Xiaoshou smiled and waved his hand. “I want to gather everyone to tap into the most treasures in Yunlun Mountains and distribute them fairly.”

This made everyone frown.

Too idealistic!

They were all geniuses, proud and unwilling to be controlled or have resources handed out like servants.

“Hear me out…”

Xu Xiaoshou smiled, then drew his Cang Ku sword, his voice turning cold:

“What I mean is, with so many treasures in Yunlun Mountains waiting to be developed, we don’t have to limit ourselves to mere Yunzhu.”

“As long as everyone follows my orders, it won’t be long—definitely less than half a day—before we’re not splitting a single Yunzhu among seventy people.”

“We can use our full sensing range to sweep the mountains clean, leaving nothing behind.”

“Then, forget spirit grass, spirit medicine, spirit weapons, spirit beasts, or spirit treasures—we won’t miss Yunzhu or Yunshou either.”

“If we run into other alliances, I’ll handle it. They can either hand over their points for us to divide, or we send them packing.”

“What do you all think?”

Xu Xiaoshou raised his Cang Ku sword, and sword intent raged through the air, making everyone tremble.

What do we think?

What else can we think?

Besides saying “yes,” do we have the right to say “no”?

Many felt resistant inside and didn’t want to be dominated, but they had no choice.

With Xu Xiaoshou’s single sword, he could cut down ten times this number. As long as they wanted to continue the Wangcheng Trial to the end, they had to agree.

After chorusing “yes,” everyone’s mindset began to shift.

If other forces are forming alliances, we have to as well, so in the end, it’s about the leaders of each alliance.

And Xu Xiaoshou’s sword prowess was terrifying.

Even if they made it to the final stages, they might still have a fighting chance against the others.

By then, as early members of Xu Xiaoshou’s group, would they lack for points?

“Gained resistance, passive value: 26.”

“Gained expectation, passive value: 13.”

“Gained obedience, passive value: 54.”

After commanding the group with his sword, Xu Xiaoshou smiled contentedly.

For these newcomers, he had no interest in using any “soft” approach. The Wangcheng Trial was short on time, and with his ability to dominate with a single sword, why bother with diplomacy?

“Next, divide into five teams.”

Xu Xiaoshou used his sword energy to split the seventy people into five groups, then pointed with his sword tip: “Each team will be led by Tai Xing, Mo Beibei, Xi Guanghan, Zhu Dong, and Zhao Xiu.”

“As for you five…”

Xu Xiaoshou thought for a moment and decided not to bother. “For now, I’ll call you the Five Tiger Generals. Each of you lead your team, spread out like a net to search for treasures as far as possible. If you encounter anyone, call me, and we’ll try to recruit more members.”

“Well, with more members, we’ll be a proper organization… So, let’s name it ‘Xu Gang’!”

“What I want is for Xu Gang to leave nothing in its wake!”