Chapter 878: Shut Up

Yu Zhiwen was stunned for three full breaths before she felt a profound sense of relief.

So, it was just a coincidence...

"Yes," she nodded emphatically.

"What abnormalities?" Rao Yaoyao asked.

In Yu Zhiwen's mind, a scene flashed: two strangers entering the Xu Bang camp tent.

This was the last scene she had witnessed, and she nearly blurted it out subconsciously.

But as the words reached her lips, Yu Zhiwen hesitated, her thoughts racing.

"Isn't that inappropriate?"

"It's just two strangers visiting Xu Shao..."

"From what they said in the tent, before I arrived, Rao Jianxian must have seen many such scenes, right?"

"If I mention this, will it make me seem too concerned about Xu... Shao?"

Yu Zhiwen's expression grew conflicted.

She tried to think of something else to say, but she realized that in her mind, everyone else was like a blank slate, with no trace of any abnormalities.

"What abnormalities!" Rao Yaoyao urged from the other side.

In the face of major principles, Yu Zhiwen knew how to prioritize.

She understood that the war situation couldn't be hidden, so she spoke selectively:

"No major abnormalities have occurred, no battles have erupted anywhere, and I haven't found any traces related to Tianji Shushi."

"The only slightly odd place..."

Yu Zhiwen paused, then said solemnly: "Outside the Xu Bang camp tent, there are signs of a domain being opened, but Senior Rao, you already told me about it..."

"That's Yi on a mission—don't worry about it!" Rao Yaoyao interrupted.

"Then there are no abnormalities." Yu Zhiwen, for some reason, let out a sigh of relief.

Rao Yaoyao's voice came through, sounding urgent: "Mainly about the Tianji Shushi..."

"I haven't detected any Tianji Shushi!"

Yu Zhiwen stated firmly: "If there were one, he could act in secret without being noticed, and his skill level would have to surpass mine and my senior brother's."

"But!"

A surge of strong confidence flashed in Yu Zhiwen's eyes. "He doesn't understand the structure of Yunjing Shijie. No matter how skilled he is, he can only use 'brute force' to block the Tianji temporarily. Give me time, and I can definitely help my senior brother regain control of Yunjing Shijie."

"How much time do you need?"

"One hour!"

Yu Zhiwen replied.

At the edge of the Xukong Dao rift.

Rao Yaoyao stood with one foot on the spatial fragments and the other in the void.

She was also on a mission, surveying the Xukong Dao rift.

This task, in all of Shengshen Diantang, could only be carried out by her, the bearer of Xuan Cang Shenjian.

Even Teng Shanhai couldn't do it.

Teng Shanhai's role was to block anyone or anything emerging from the Xukong Dao rift—he was the guardian.

Rao Yaoyao's job was to pioneer!

But during the pioneering, Si Tu Yongren sent a Tianji message saying that Yunjing Shijie had fallen.

Who could handle that?

Their home had been stolen?

So, halfway through, Rao Yaoyao had to emerge from the spatial fragments and contact Yu Zhiwen's communication bead.

Now, after the conversation, she learned it would take a full hour to resolve.

Rao Yaoyao tightened her grip on the communication bead, a chill creeping into her heart.

Though she knew that even if she were at the main control position of Yunjing Shijie right now, she'd only be able to fret helplessly and accomplish nothing in this situation.

After all...

Issues with Tianji still had to be handled by the senior and junior from Dao Bu.

But even so, Rao Yaoyao was deeply anxious.

"One hour, and the dish would be stone cold!" she yelled into the communication bead.

Yu Zhiwen was clearly taken aback, her tone turning sharp as she responded:

"A world-type Tianji array, in completely unfamiliar conditions, isn't easy to seize control of."

"If it weren't for Yunjing Shijie having its own issues, but some wild Tianji Shushi emerging from Yunlun Mountain Range, that person's Tianji mastery would likely rival that of the Dao Hall Master!"

Yu Zhiwen explained, then paused before adding:

"Tianji damages lifespan; under normal circumstances, breaking the situation in one hour is my limit."

"Even if you call Si Tu back, he couldn't manage it in less than half an hour!"

Rao Yaoyao's heart sank.

Was the situation already this dire?

But...

"In half an hour, the one who took control of Yunjing Shijie could have already done whatever they pleased!" Rao Yaoyao knew her tone was harsh, but she had to apply pressure.

There was silence on the other end for a moment, then the voice came: "Is the situation really that critical?"

"What do you think?"

Before the dark spirit mirror, at the main control position of Yunjing Shijie, Yu Zhiwen took a long, deep breath and slowly exhaled.

She was only here to monitor the spirit mirror.

The task of directing the war and controlling the battlefield was still in Rao Jianxian's hands, so she hadn't been too concerned.

But if things were truly that critical...

Yu Zhiwen closed her eyes, then opened them, her gaze filled with the brilliance of vast stars.

The intricate rules of the great dao in the world, and the mysterious Tianji patterns of Yunjing Shijie, instantly became orderly and clear.

Her star pupils simplified the complexity.

Yu Zhiwen pulled out a medicine bottle, shook out a golden pill, lifted her veil, and placed it in her mouth, her expression resolute.

She held the communication bead, uttered her final words, and cut off the connection.

"Give me a quarter of an hour."

At Yunlun Mountain Range.

On the mountain peak far from the Xu Bang camp, hidden within the domain inside the Dao principles.

Xu Xiaoshou held You Si Jian in one hand and the spatial source stone in the other.

As he drew nearer to the domain, his sense of impending trouble grew heavier, his right eyelid twitching uncontrollably.

Crisis was imminent!

Xu Xiaoshou knew something major might be wrong.

He wasted no time, sensing the spatial nodes of the domain while trying to use his own spatial perception to shift the nodes and carve out a passage large enough for himself.

This was the safest method.

It was also the most effective way Xu Xiaoshou had devised, after gaining some spatial abilities, to counter such domain-type skills.

But since he had never dealt with spatial attributes before, he wasn't sure if it would work.

If it succeeded, his entry wouldn't alert the domain master, and once inside, he could stay hidden and observe.

If it failed, with You Si Jian, he would force his way in, even at the risk of exposure.

Fortunately, the attempt succeeded.

The spatial nodes shifted successfully, creating a tiny, imperceptible crack—just wide enough for a hair to pass through.

And there was no sign of disturbance from within.

Such a narrow gap was impossible for a normal body to enter.

But Xu Xiaoshou was different; he had just reached the Wangzuo level with “Bianhua” and hadn't tested it yet.

At the Zongshi level, “Bianhua” had size limitations when changing form.

But at Wangzuo level, it should be a qualitative leap.

Xu Xiaoshou tried it—with a thought, he imagined himself as a thin, elongated hair.

Fortunately, it worked again.

He truly overcame the body size limit and slipped through the gap.

However...

It seemed his luck was exhausted on these two minor details.

When Xu Xiaoshou returned to his normal form and turned to see the situation inside the domain, he froze in mid-air.

Below, three figures.

"Sang Lao" was drenched in blood, standing closest to him.

In front of "Sang Lao," Liu Changqing was immaculate, acting as a barrier between the two.

At the back, Mu Zixi was covered in blood, slumped weakly in a massive pit, her consciousness on the verge of fading.

Yet, to the very end, she stared intently at the void—where Xu Xiaoshou was.

Then, with a smile...

Xu Xiaoshou, sword in hand, stood stunned.

His lips began to tremble, and his entire body shook uncontrollably.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

In the deep pit, Mu Zixi's silent lip movements spelled out his name, which he read clearly.

He could even see the unspoken words in her final smile before losing consciousness: "You came..."

But!

Why?

Why had it come to this?

How could his junior sister be so gravely injured?

He had set up the ultimate safeguard, calling Liu Changqing and specifically instructing that no matter what happened, Mu Zixi must not be harmed in the slightest...

Not in the slightest!

Xu Xiaoshou panted heavily, his grip on You Si Jian so tight that the fierce sword hummed faintly.

Liu Changqing wasn't foolish.

He should have grasped the intent behind those words: even if your ghost beast identity was exposed, someone would cover for you.

But Mu Zixi absolutely could not be hurt!

Absolutely!

But now?

Wasn't Liu Changqing still there?

This guy was at Zhandao level, wasn't he?

Even if Zhandao couldn't win, what about Wuji Laozu inside him?

Hadn't those words been meant for both Liu Changqing and Wuji Laozu?

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts were in turmoil, his eyes bloodshot, completely oblivious to the fierce demonic energy of You Si Jian seeping into his body in response to his emotions.

The primal bestial urges in his mind erupted like a flood bursting through a dam, threatening to overwhelm all reason.

It could have all been contained.

Until, from the corner of Xu Xiaoshou's eye, he noticed that Liu Changqing, standing before the blood-soaked Mu Zixi, was utterly spotless and pristine...

Why could you remain so clean?

Why was Mu Zixi left in that bloodied state?

Didn't you realize that because I sent you to protect her, I could finally pause and arrange the aftermath of Tian Shang First Tower?

But...

But!

Xu Xiaoshou stared at the scene below, his eyes filled with accusation and self-reproach.

When his emotions reached their breaking point, he finally roared hysterically into the void:

"Liu, Chang, Qing!"

"What the hell have you done?!"

Within the domain.

In response, an overwhelming and terrifying pressure, laced with killing intent, descended abruptly.

This force solidified instantly, slamming the ground down several feet.

Wuji Laozu and Yi both reacted with shock, looking upward.

Yet, they saw no one.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't care; he stepped forward and appeared at Mu Zixi's side.

He extended his trembling hand and gently tried to pull his completely unconscious junior sister into his arms.

But.

Just as his frenzied state made him forget that his roar in the vanished form couldn't be heard.

This embrace...

Though his junior sister was right in front of him, it felt like an eternal separation.

His hand passed straight through Mu Zixi's body.

"No!!"

Xu Xiaoshou cried out in anguish, tears streaming down unaware.

Until he realized it was all an illusion, amplified by the vanishing technique.

He immediately dispelled the vanished state and reached out again...

He stopped.

He enveloped it with spiritual energy.

Then, carefully, he hugged...

The touch was there!

But it was sticky, not skin.

That warmth was from blood!

"It's not possible, it's not possible..."

Xu Xiaoshou murmured, desperate to hold his junior sister's body tight, afraid she would vanish.

But he knew she couldn't withstand his rage-fueled strength right now.

He slowed every movement.

Like cradling a baby, Xu Xiaoshou enveloped her with spiritual energy and gently lifted her upper body with his arm.

"Mu Zixi..." Xu Xiaoshou smiled through his tears, calling her name softly and tenderly.

Behind him.

Yi and Wuji Laozu were both stunned.

They stared at this suddenly appeared figure and realized he was the source of that eerie pressure earlier.

And when they recognized the unmasked face of this intruder, Yi's pupils shrank.

"Xu Xiaoshou?!" he exclaimed.

Xu Xiaoshou whipped around, his face twisted in fury, and roared:

"Shut up!!!"

The terrifying sound waves, mingled with pressure, surged forward in a fan-shaped blast, shattering the ground and sending debris flying.

Yi's hair stood on end, his scalp tingling in an instant.

"Shua."

With Xu Xiaoshou's utterance, a faint sound emerged, blending into the roaring explosion, slashing directly toward Yi.

In that glance.

Xu Xiaoshou unleashed the sword intent from the scruffy uncle.

"Damn, isn't this guy a Zongshi? Where did he get... and so many powerful trump cards?" Yi was deeply alarmed.

The threat of that sword intent, to him, was no less than a peer's attack.

Relying on instinct, in a flash, his body instinctively shifted sideways to dodge the swift sword intent.

But it was too late.

With a "chi," the ice-blue chill followed Xu Xiaoshou's roar, sweeping the entire field and filling the world.

"Ka!"

In an instant, everything in the domain turned to ice crystal colors.

The cracked ground, the stones in the air, the flying dust...

Including Yi and Wuji Laozu.

At that moment, all things were stripped of time.

Everything froze.

Three Days Frozen Calamity, Ice-Sealed World!

Freezing three feet requires no more than an instant!

"Chi"

The sword intent sliced through Yi's frozen form like paper, easily cutting him into two diagonal halves, and in this static ice world, it ripped open the only streak of dynamic crimson.

The color of blood.

Whoosh—the sword intent returned to Xu Xiaoshou's body.

With the "toughness" of Wangzuo level, Xu Xiaoshou didn't budge, enduring the damage from the sword intent's recoil that shook his organs, yet he didn't let his hold on the person before him waver in the slightest.

"Junior sister..." Xu Xiaoshou turned back, his face softening again, and called out gently once more.

He waited a while, still no response.

He had called twice!

He had called her twice already!

The person in his arms showed no sign of waking...

"I'm Xu Xiaoshou, I'm your senior brother—why won't you answer me?"

In Xu Xiaoshou's tearful, red-rimmed eyes, threads of pathological black had emerged—that was the fierce demonic energy influencing his emotions.

He fed Mu Zixi a drop of holy blood, suddenly grinning as he leaned in to whisper, his voice carrying a sob:

"Don't joke around—open your eyes. You're fooling me, right? Like this, I'll give you the Xu Bang leader position; I'll be your assistant... Or, you say you're fooling me, you're pretending to sleep, then just answer me—yes or no... Okay?"