Chapter 858: See Xu the Gang Leader

“Ha ha ha, that guy is finished. He’s really stirred up a hornet’s nest!”

Tang Zheng raised his great saber, pointing at the dozen or so black-clothed figures in the sky, and burst into laughter.

Nobody had expected that from Gu Qing San’s appearance to his interception, it would all happen in the blink of an eye, just the time it takes for a single, impetuous thrust.

That thrust truly exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Because after nine days, everyone had grown accustomed to the existence of the Shi Lian Guan and understood the reason for the appearance of these figures.

But Gu Qing San…

Bravery wasn't meant to be used like that.

At best, this could only be seen as reckless folly without wisdom!

“He won’t cause any more trouble now. Once the Shi Lian Guan takes him away, we can proceed directly to the next phase.” Among the trial participants, someone was laughing so hard they were practically beaming.

“Mhm.” People nearby responded.

“The space source stone—this time, no one can protect it!”

“Mhm.” It was still a perfunctory reply.

“That little girl from Jian Zong… Hmm? What’s wrong with you?” A trial participant was speaking when they noticed something odd about the person next to them.

Unbeknownst to them, some new faces had appeared in the surroundings.

These new faces didn't seem to be from the same group, but they were quietly and coordinatedly scattering something on the ground.

“What are you doing?” The original trial participants asked.

“Sowing seeds. Don’t you think the vegetation here is a bit sparse? With so many people around, a bit more greenery would make it less stuffy.” The new face replied as if it were the most natural thing.

“Who needs greenery on this mountainous terrain!” The trial participant was baffled. “Besides, even if you sow seeds now, when will they grow into trees?”

“It depends on fate. But this is what Jiang Shao ordered us to do—who knows what he’s thinking? Perhaps as a Ban Sheng successor, he just can’t stand places without greenery.” The new face shrugged indifferently.

The mention of Jiang Shao made the original trial participants fall silent.

An order from a Ban Sheng successor?

Though it was harmless.

In the midst of this intense battle, having people come out to sow seeds seemed rather… unwise.

But he was a Ban Sheng successor, after all. Ordinary Ling Shi masters wouldn’t dare to criticize.

The original group of participants looked around and noticed that interspersed in the crowd were many other “seed sowers.”

But the act of sowing seeds was so subtle.

With everyone focused on Gu Qing San and the Shi Lian Guan, hardly anyone noticed that others were taking advantage of the moment for this unwise little activity.

“You, come with us!”

In the sky above, the newly appeared Shi Lian Guan were already preparing to detain Gu Qing San.

Under normal circumstances, they might feel it beneath them to act forcefully, even with the new rules of the trial jade pendants.

But now, with Gu Qing San having injured someone first, taking him away was completely justified.

Gu Qing San had originally planned to resist.

Even with four Zhan Dao experts in front of him, he believed that if he really fought, releasing his sword intent would quickly alert his senior brothers.

At that point, not just the four Zhan Dao here, but even if more came, his eldest senior brother wouldn't fear them.

Of course, his eldest senior brother might not fear them, but that didn't mean Gu Qing San himself wasn’t afraid.

“I can go with you, but my junior sister…”

“She’s part of the normal trial; you can’t take her.” The Shi Lian Guan interrupted.

Gu Qing San immediately refused, saying, “Then let’s fight. Today, it’s either you die or I… Uh?”

His words stopped abruptly as his ears twitched, picking up a somewhat familiar voice: “Lure these Shi Lian Guan away; leave Su Qian Qian to me.”

Gu Qing San instinctively wanted to turn his head.

But the voice came again: “Don’t move. Trust me. From Bei Yu Tai Xiang Xu family, Tai Xiang Sword, Wen Ting Zeng. Strictly speaking, you should call me senior brother.”

Tai Xiang Sword, Wen Ting Zeng?

What was Tai Xiang Sword?

Wen Ting… Wait, Wen Ting—I know that; it’s Master!

Gu Qing San was stunned.

Who was this?

How did it connect to his master, with all these baffling reasons, and even calling himself senior brother…

Did I have some unknown extra senior brother?

Gu Qing San felt the other person spoke with such conviction, like undeniable proof of their connection, leaving no room for doubt.

Crucially, he didn’t even think to question it; he just went along with the other’s tone and demeanor.

“You…” Gu Qing San wanted to speak but didn’t know who to send the message to.

Yet, it seemed the other side fully understood his thoughts, as the voice returned: “Relax. To be your senior brother, I must have a seat on the Jian Dao Wang Zuo, but I’m not as foolish as you. Rescuing someone and getting yourself caught in the process is sheer stupidity!”

Gu Qing San felt ashamed.

It was like being scolded by his eldest senior brother; he didn't dare retort at all.

Lowering his head in thought, he quickly realized.

Bei Yu Tai Xiang.

And referring to himself as “ben shao.”

Recently in Dong Tian Wang City, there was that Tian Shang Di Yi Lou run by the Bei Yu Tai Xiang Xu Shao.

When they first entered the city, he and his senior brothers had planned to visit Si Ren mister at Tian Shang Di Yi Lou.

But soon after, Si Ren mister’s aura disappeared.

Their plans naturally fell through.

And anyone connected to the Seven Sword Immortals’ Si Ren mister likely knew his master well.

But wasn’t he from Jian Zong?

How did he end up on the Jian Dao Wang Zuo?

Gu Qing San was confused.

Glancing toward Su Qian Qian’s side, he saw the “famous” Xiao Wan Feng nearby, whom he knew was Xu Shao’s person.

So, even if this Xu senior brother didn’t know Su Qian Qian, he should still save Xiao Wan Feng.

And with his junior sister with Xiao Wan Feng, she should be safe.

In that case, he really just needed to lure the Shi Lian Guan away, leaving space for Xu senior brother to act, and everything could be resolved perfectly…

“Hurry up! What are you spacing out for? Aren’t you going to scram? Waiting for an invitation?” Xu senior brother’s voice came again.

Gu Qing San shrank his neck, feeling that this unseen Xu senior brother was already as formidable as his eldest senior brother.

He stopped overthinking. After all, he was one of their own; he’d trust him this once!

“Want to catch me?” Gu Qing San looked at the Shi Lian Guan and laughed, then turned and bolted. “If you’ve got the guts, try it!”

Whoosh.

He vanished in a flash.

But soon, a “bang” echoed from the distance, as Gu Qing San seemed to crash into an invisible barrier, clutching his forehead and hissing in pain.

“Sorry, try again; I’ll let you leave this time.” The voice appeared.

Gu Qing San rolled his eyes, realizing the area was sealed by a great array. He was amazed.

When did that happen…

What exactly was this elusive Xu senior brother planning?

The thought flashed by.

Then, he turned back and shouted toward the rear, “What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to catch me?”

He vanished again in a flash.

The dozen or so Shi Lian Guan were all puzzled.

Is this guy an idiot?

He was just acting like he’d fight to the death, and now he’s trying to flee?

But regardless, their task as Shi Lian Guan was to chase away anyone who might disrupt the situation.

So, with a wave, they said,

“Pursue!”

The Shi Lian Guan disappeared.

The trial participants below were left dumbfounded.

That Jian Dao Wang Zuo’s Gu Qing San, from his furious appearance to his comical escape, had taken no more than a moment.

All bark and no bite, as they say.

But!

“He’s gone.”

“That guy actually left?”

“The Shi Lian Guan are gone too—this means…”

Everyone’s gazes snapped back to Su Qian Qian and Xiao Wan Feng, their eyes flashing with greed.

“Charge!”

This time, Jiang Xian didn’t wait any longer; any delay could bring changes.

He raised his hand directly, commanding all his people to launch the final assault.

“Space source stone!”

“Kill!”

The shouts shook the heavens.

But now, the trial participants didn’t dare to bombard recklessly.

Because they all knew that the little girl from Jian Zong had a big background.

This time, they’d just seize the source stone; they couldn’t touch her.

However, halfway through their rush, they saw a small girl suddenly burst from the ground in front of Su Qian Qian and Xiao Wan Feng.

“Again?”

“Who is it this time?”

Everyone was stunned, but they didn’t stop, continuing forward.

This little girl in a floral green dress, with twin ponytails, about the same height as Su Qian Qian, looked… utterly unthreatening!

But to their surprise, as they kept advancing, the twin-ponytail girl seemed provoked. She put her hands on her hips and shouted,

“Stop!”

“You all stop right now!”

No one paid her any mind.

The girl’s nose wrinkled in anger, wondering why her words never carried the same authority as someone else’s.

She pointed ahead and yelled,

“Stop right now! You’re all surrounded!”

The trial participants: …

Surrounded?

You, alone, surrounding hundreds of us?

Some troublemaker laughed while charging and shouted,

“Ha ha ha, little girl, get out of the way if you know what’s good for you, or we’ll trample you when we rush through!”

“Scram!”

“You’re hilarious, surrounded… With what?”

Everyone ignored her and kept going, reaching the three in no time.

Mu Zi Xi felt she’d finally waited for this moment.

This was exactly what she wanted—one of them to ask, “With what?”

“Wood grandma…” Xiao Wan Feng looked on worriedly from behind.

Earlier, when he saw the small flowers swaying from the ground, he knew help had arrived.

But he never imagined it would be Wood grandma coming personally.

Xu Shao wasn’t with her!

“Can she handle it?”

Watching Wood grandma with her hands on her hips, laughing in front of the crowd, Xiao Wan Feng’s eyes were full of doubt.

Then, he saw Mu Zi Xi suddenly wave her hand, like some bandit leader, and in a raspy voice, she shouted frantically, her voice even cracking,

“Brothers, no need to hide anymore… Come out!!!”

A rumble echoed.

The ground shook violently.

Then, bangs erupted nonstop, as if thousands of troops were charging from all sides.

The trial participants jumped in fright, their advance disrupted as they looked around warily.

Real people?

This girl wasn’t bluffing; she really had people?

The thought barely settled before everyone was shocked to see figures bursting from the mountains, rocks, gullies, and soil—over a thousand of them.

Over a thousand?!

That sea of heads, that mass of shadows…

Just in numbers, these newcomers completely overwhelmed the trial participants here!

Jiang Xian, Duo Er, Tang Zheng, and the others were completely baffled.

Where did these things come from?

When had they sneaked in?

Why hadn’t anyone noticed?

To achieve this, they must have been lying in wait…

But when the space source stone appeared, Jiang Xian and his group had already arrived. It was impossible for over a thousand people to have been hiding here the whole time, right?

So, the only other possibility was…

These people had started digging from several li away and tunneled underground to get here?

Impossible!

Trial participants had their pride!

How could they dig through the earth to advance?

And for what? Just to dig here and scare everyone?

“Surprised?”

Mu Zi Xi blinked her sparkling eyes, face full of excitement, her tiger teeth gleaming: “I told you, you’re surrounded, and you didn’t believe me!”

She said this to the trial participants in front.

Then, the little girl flew into the air, closed her eyes, looking thoroughly enjoying herself.

Next, she gently raised her hands upward…

The over a thousand people who had burst from the ground flew into the sky, all at the same height, as if they’d undergone rigorous training.

Then, they all took a deep breath and roared in unison:

“We greet Xu Bang bangzhu!”

“Bangzhu for ten thousand years, unite the jianghu!”

The thunderous waves of sound even kicked up rolling dust on the ground, covering Xiao Wan Feng and Su Qian Qian in a daze.

Su Qian Qian: ???

She stared at the scene, her mouth twitching, unable to say a word.

The young Xiao Wan Feng was completely stunned, murmuring in shock as he gazed at Wood grandma basking in the cheers above: “So… so cool…”

On the other side.

Jiang Xian: ???

Duo Er: ???

Tang Zheng: ???

Everyone was equally dumbfounded.

Over a thousand people dug from several li away just for this?

Are they insane!!!

Jiang Xian was on the verge of cursing, but…

Wait!

Among these so-called “Xu Bang members,” one looked a bit familiar.

Jiang Xian scrutinized him and vaguely recognized the chubby white-robed man shouting the loudest at the front…

“Rong Da Hao?” He asked uncertainly.

The white-robed fatty’s body jerked, and he turned in disbelief, then as if seeing something terrifying, his face’s flesh trembled violently.

“Damn!”

He cursed, quickly smearing more dirt on his face.

Not satisfied, he pulled a mask from his ring and put it on tightly.

Jiang Xian was stupefied.

It’s you, Rong Da Hao!

Why hide? You dared to shout, so why fear running into acquaintances?

This doesn’t make sense… You weren’t like this when you were with me. What happened? Were you coerced?

Jiang Xian even wanted to drag the white-robed fatty over for a thorough questioning.

But in the field, “Xu Bang bangzhu” Mu Zi Xi had already raised a finger in the air.

The Xu Bang members’ aura surged as they roared again: “Is there anyone from Tian Shang Di Yi Lou?”

No response…

Xiao Wan Feng weakly considered responding from below.

Mu Zi Xi ignored him and raised another finger.

The Xu Bang members: “Is there any Xu Bang external member?”

Silence…

Xiao Wan Feng thought about raising his hand again.

Mu Zi Xi had already raised a third finger.

The Xu Bang members: “Is there anyone who knows Xu Shao?”

Dead silence…

Xiao Wan Feng didn’t move.

He got it; his presence didn’t matter.

The atmosphere in the field had been driven to a freezing point by these three roars.

Seeing no responses, Mu Zi Xi’s little face curled into a satisfied smile, then she curled her three fingers into her palm and swung her small fist down hard.

The Xu Bang members: “Kill!!!”