Chapter 843: The Person Who Died and Came Back to Life, The Strongest of the Younger Generation

Within the inner perimeter of the Yunlun Mountain Range.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

Three streaks of light flashed through the void, vanishing into the mist in an instant.

"Another group has passed by."

The trial participants below looked up with a mixture of awe and envy. "That fire elemental Yuan Shi must have attracted a lot of peak Master stage cultivators. They were probably itching for a fight, and now that the Yuan Shi has appeared, they're not even suppressing their realms anymore."

"That's right. In just half a day, we've seen over two hundred peak Master stage cultivators around here. Who knows how many more have broken through elsewhere?"

"Let's just focus on finding the Yunzhu. Treasures like that are beyond our reach. Even if we got one, would any of us be able to keep it?"

"You're right…"

The lower-level trial participants felt envious, but they understood deep down that a Yuan Shi was not something just anyone could handle.

On the contrary, with the high-level cultivators being drawn away by the Yuan Shi, they now had more time and space to accumulate points.

In the void.

Xu Xiaoshou and his two companions were sprinting at their full peak Master stage speed, and in just half a day, they had pushed deep into the inner perimeter.

Indeed, if you set aside the goal of gathering points and focused solely on traveling, the vast Yunlun Mountain Range, spanning tens of thousands of li, could probably be traversed in just over a day.

"We're almost there, Xu Shao."

Liu Changqing checked the trial map as they raced onward.

Their speed was already incredibly fast, but since they had started far away, the coordinates of the fire elemental Yuan Shi had begun to shift.

"It's moving again."

Xin Gugu stared at the trial map and chuckled. "You can only see the coordinates shifting if you zoom in. It looks like someone's already fighting over it, but the fight is staying localized – the Yuan Shi keeps changing hands."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately understood what was happening.

At the Yuan Shi's location, no truly supreme powerhouse had arrived yet.

Otherwise, the coordinates would be moving at high speed.

"Let's hurry. As long as we get there first, no one can take the Yuan Shi from me!"

Xu Xiaoshou declared firmly.

He was worried that if they arrived too late, the Yuan Shi might fall into the hands of someone he couldn't easily confront.

Like members of the Shengnu, stowaways, other Bansheng successors, and so on.

Then, whether a fight would break out was uncertain.

What he feared most was that acquiring the Yuan Shi wouldn't be straightforward; the process could turn messy.

But if they seized the initiative, with his status and strength, he wouldn't fear even stowaways.

Tap.

The three were speeding ahead when suddenly, a faint sound of something landing echoed from a distance.

An overwhelming sense of threat washed over them, and they halted in unison, hovering in the air as they turned to look.

"Who is it?"

Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

In the Yunlun Mountain Range, who could make him feel this uneasy? A stowaway?

Upon closer inspection, the newcomer was not a stowaway but a black-clad trial official he had glimpsed from afar just a day earlier.

The black clothing was the standard uniform.

But the person was not the same one from before.

However, that face, which might seem unfamiliar to others, sent a chill down Xu Xiaoshou's spine.

"Yu Lingdi?"

Xu Xiaoshou was terrified.

That young face—it was precisely the head of the Lingbu of the Eight Palaces, the one who had tormented him to the brink of death, only to be slain by Sang Lao. How could it be Yu Lingdi?

"How is he here?"

"Isn't he dead?"

"No, he's alive!"

Lightning flashed through Xu Xiaoshou's mind, piecing together countless memory fragments and linking recent events.

The rainy night in Wangcheng, the hidden spy…

The lurking mastermind, the final pursuers from various forces…

And Zhandao!

Yes.

With one glance, Xu Xiaoshou could tell.

If Yu Lingdi had truly survived, the only possibility was that he had broken through in the midst of battle.

"Break and rebuild, rebirth through blood?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a wave of scalp-tingling fear.

How terrifying! Even with all of Sang Lao's methods to cut off any chance of revival through heavenly dao or elements, Yu Lingdi had still come back to life?

Was the Daojing complete really this dreadful?

But the key point was, back in the Eight Palaces, Yu Lingdi had been utterly destroyed, body and soul—even Gou Wuyue had been furious. How had he revived?

What had brought him back?

Did he have some backup plan from thousands of li away?

Xu Xiaoshou was horrified.

The vast world was full of wonders. Even after being shattered to pieces, this Lingbu head could find another way to live and start over?

"You three."

Yu Lingdi stepped forward, his body emanating Dao Yun.

This time, he lacked the arrogance from their first encounter in the Eight Palaces. He was much calmer now, simply smiling as he said, "I have been waiting here for quite some time."

"Who are you?" Although Xu Xiaoshou knew exactly who it was, in that moment, he perfectly feigned shock, surprise, and unfamiliarity.

"You may call me a trial official." Yu Lingdi nodded slightly toward Xu Xiaoshou. "But this time, it's not about you two. I'm here solely for him."

He pointed directly at Liu Changqing.

Liu Changqing's heart skipped a beat, his eyelids drooping to hide the tremor in his pupils.

As a ghost beast host, he already knew that the essence of trial officials was red-clad or white-clad, and why this person was here was crystal clear.

But since the other hadn't stated it outright, he wouldn't admit anything prematurely.

Just as he was about to speak, Xu Xiaoshou stepped forward, blocking him.

"A trial official?"

"I've encountered trial officials before, but if you're after stowaways, what does that have to do with my companion?" Xu Xiaoshou remained composed and unflustered.

Seeing that Xu Xiaoshou was the leader among the three, Yu Lingdi knew he had to get past him to proceed. So he said, "Xu Shao has already touched on why I'm here. Do I need to say more?"

"Hah!" Xu Xiaoshou snorted. "I've seen your trial officials grab people and kill indiscriminately, but as long as it doesn't involve me, I don't care! But if you want to make baseless accusations and take someone from right beside me…"

He drew his Cang Ku sword with a sharp ring, pointing it forward as he sneered, "Then, from the perspective of Bansheng Xu clan rules, I simply cannot comply!"

His aura surged, pushing back the trial official's oppressive presence.

Xu Xiaoshou not only invoked his identity as a Bansheng successor but also highlighted the Xu clan's protective nature. He didn't believe Yu Lingdi would dare offend a Bansheng force without cause.

Yu Lingdi didn't care about such things, but he was surprised by the strength of Xu Xiaoshou's aura, which allowed him to stand on equal footing.

"You want evidence?" He tilted his head.

"If I didn't demand evidence, would the Yunlun Mountain Range become a place where you decide who gets arrested and who dies with just a word?" Xu Xiaoshou's face was frosty.

Yu Lingdi smiled. He didn't look down on the Bansheng successor's status, but he had a genuine appreciation for Xu Xiaoshou, so he patiently explained, "You're mistaken. Every person a trial official arrests comes with evidence if you ask for it…"

Snap.

Xu Xiaoshou slapped his hand down, interrupting. "Then show it!"

Yu Lingdi's brows furrowed slightly at the interruption, but he quickly nodded and pointed at Liu Changqing, getting straight to the point. "He possesses Tianji Shu, and at a high level. Coincidentally, a ghost beast escaped from Tiankong Zhi Cheng a few months ago, and it also uses Tianji Shu with strong abilities. The techniques are very similar. Does that count as evidence?"

Facing a Bansheng successor, Yu Lingdi held nothing back.

Ghost beasts were a secret to the world, but those from Bansheng families were generally well-informed about them. After all, family members feared their younger generation might unwittingly get entangled with one if they were unaware.

Liu Changqing listened from the side, his heart sinking into despair.

He never imagined the red-clad's instincts could be so sharp—so sharp as to zero in on him based on mere suspicion.

In that moment, his hands and feet turned ice-cold, and desperation took root deep inside.

Xin Gugu felt the same.

As another ghost beast host, his only relief was that he had hidden himself well enough to avoid being the target.

Both turned their gazes to Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Just that?" he mocked.

"Isn't that enough?" Yu Lingdi frowned.

"Mere suspicion? Enough for you red-clad to step in and try to take someone from my Bansheng forces?" Xu Xiaoshou was utterly speechless.

He paused, widening his eyes with a mocking smile. "Do your trial officials think my Bansheng Xu clan has to act like ordinary people—letting you grab anyone on suspicion, haul them off for interrogation, and if there's no suspicion, toss them back like toys? Huh?!"

He practically roared the last word.

Even Xin Gugu and Liu Changqing were startled.

They hadn't expected Xu Xiaoshou to be so bold.

So bold that even Xin Gugu started to believe Xu Xiaoshou was truly a Bansheng successor, backed by a colossal force that could rival Shengshen Hall, allowing him to speak so defiantly to the red-clad.

It was too convincing!

Yu Lingdi was taken aback as well.

He hadn't anticipated Xu Xiaoshou handling the pressure so well.

The aura of Zhandao could suppress even a Wangzuo on an innate level, yet against Xu Xiaoshou, it seemed utterly ineffective.

The other side not only showed no fear but also faced the trial official with composure, matching him word for word and action for action.

Appreciation flickered in Yu Lingdi's eyes.

Such young talents were rare. No wonder even Rao Jianxian had taken an interest, drawing him into Shengshen Hall.

He believed few other Bansheng successors could handle this as well as the one before him.

And truthfully, Xu Xiaoshou was right!

The red-clad and white-clad could take people on suspicion, but this unspoken rule didn't apply to Bansheng forces—or even major Taixu families. Higher-ups wouldn't allow it.

Because if they grabbed the wrong person, the fallout could be massive.

After all, entering a red-clad prison meant coming out scarred, if at all.

"You're quite interesting." Yu Lingdi laughed.

He had confidently assured Rao Jianxian that this was an easy task, having observed Xu Xiaoshou before.

But he never expected that the Xu Xiaoshou he'd seen was all a facade.

This guy was actually incredibly sharp and calm.

He possessed all the qualities of a Bansheng heir and was likely one of the top talents in his clan!

However…

Another trial official might have been deterred.

Like Shouye, who could be cowed by the "Xu Shao" identity.

But not Yu Lingdi!

Who was he?

He wasn't just red-clad or white-clad.

He belonged to the Shengshen Hall-affiliated organization "Liubu," equal in status to them, and he was the head of the Lingbu—not some ordinary figure.

In a way, aside from the red-clad's highest leader, who was one of the "two great Dao overlords," Yu Lingdi could stand on par with Rao Yao Yao!

For this mission from Dongtian Wangcheng, he wasn't summoned as a subordinate—he was here to assist and help.

He wasn't Shouye.

Though young, he was Yu Lingdi.

In Dongtian Wangcheng, he was second to one and above all others.

With that status, what did he have to fear?

"So, what if I insist on taking your guardian, regardless?" Yu Lingdi's expression turned serious, reverting to the arrogance and self-assurance befitting his high position in Shengshen Hall.

Xin Gugu and Liu Changqing's hearts trembled in unison.

They both felt the shift in Yu Lingdi's gaze—in that instant, all elements in the heaven and earth vanished, replaced entirely by water elements.

Though there was no boundary domain here, under that oppressive aura, it was as if the entire Yunlun Mountain Range had become his domain.

In this space, his word was law.

If he wanted someone dead, they died.

Whether it was Wangzuo-level Xin Gugu or Zhandao-level Liu Changqing!

"So strong…"

Xin Gugu and Liu Changqing exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

In their lives, the strongest among the younger generation they had seen was probably just Xu Xiaoshou.

But this newcomer, so young yet wielding Zhandao power—and not just any Zhandao, but the peak kind that could overwhelm Liu Changqing in a single move—was terrifying.

The crushing pressure descended.

Yet Xu Xiaoshou didn't even flinch. He calmly replied, "You can try."

"Oh?" Yu Lingdi chuckled and took a step forward.

The ground within ten li cracked open with a boom.

Void ripples spread, as if the space couldn't bear the devastating aura and was on the verge of collapsing.

"Pfft…"

Xin Gugu spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back.

He was currently posing as a newly advanced Zongshi, and in the face of life and death, his act was flawless.

"Urgh!"

Liu Changqing's face flushed red, his cheeks bulging as he stubbornly swallowed the blood rising in his throat.

They were all smart, and none forgot that a Zongshi facing peak Zhandao couldn't even withstand the aura.

Their reactions were spot-on.

However, Xu Xiaoshou, right in the line of that fierce Zhandao pressure, didn't budge an inch!

He even raised his Cang Ku sword, gripping it tightly, and forced a light smile. "Among my peers, I never fear anyone and never retreat, even if you're Zhandao!"

"Even if I'm the Lingbu head, even if I'm Yu Lingdi?" Yu Lingdi's eyes twinkled with amusement as he stepped forward again.

Space shattered completely.

Xu Xiaoshou's body wavered slightly, but he still held firm.

While marveling at how a young person could cultivate to such a level, Yu Lingdi knew the gap between them was merely time.

And he wouldn't be suppressed by aura alone…

What was "Qi Tun Shanhe"?

Facing this pressure, Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he were back in the illusion confronting that colossal giant.

One had once burdened him with death, and now another could crush him with aura—but neither had made him kneel. Instead, it ignited a raging battle fire in his eyes.

With Cang Ku in hand, the sword knew no fear, buzzing and trembling as its intent soared, clashing against the overwhelming pressure.

Thus, heroic spirit rose in Xu Xiaoshou's chest, knowing Yu Lingdi couldn't overpower him with aura alone.

He lifted his chin, his gaze domineering, his arrogance sky-high, and declared firmly:

"Don't care who you are, Yu Lingdi. Today, even if time and space twisted and the young versions of the Eight Zun arrived, they couldn't make me retreat a step!"

"You want to take someone? Fine."

Xu Xiaoshou sneered, his tone shifting sharply as he drew his sword. "If you've got the guts, come through my blade!"