Chapter 884: Kneel Down

Provoking me?

Xu Xiaoshou shouldn't have been provoked by such a crude taunt, but under the onslaught of the Shenmo Tong's demonic energy and the You Si Jian's murderous aura, his anger was instantly ignited.

Gripping the You Si Jian, he unleashed a frenzy of wild slashes at the figure before him.

Yet, no matter how the sword energy flew in all directions, he couldn't land a hit on Yi's soul form.

“Calm down…”

“Calm!”

After venting his rage, the berserk giant that Xu Xiaoshou had transformed into began to calm slightly.

He kept reminding himself that he needed to stay clear-headed at this moment.

Taixu weren't so easily killed.

If a Taixu could be slain that simply, he wouldn't hold such a revered status on the Shengshen Continent.

“I don't have a soul artifact, and even my only technique that can attack souls, Huan Mie Yi Zhi, has used up all its energy reserves…”

Xu Xiaoshou racked his brain for any means he still had to strike Yi's soul form.

But after thinking it through, it seemed he would have to watch helplessly as Yi repaired his soul form and then restored his physical body.

“No!”

A flash of insight struck his mind, and Xu Xiaoshou thought of “Linghun Duqu.”

This awakening skill could inflict immense pain on the physical body during its casting.

From the way Yi had reacted earlier, even Taixu's cultivation couldn't suppress the trembling of his body once affected.

If he used “Linghun Duqu” directly on Yi's soul form and kept it going nonstop, could he read Yi's soul form to death?

“Maybe… it's possible!”

Xu Xiaoshou immediately felt this approach had a seventy to eighty percent chance of success.

The violent killing intent urged him to release “Linghun Duqu” right away, but Xu Xiaoshou forcibly held back the impulse.

Even reading the soul memories of someone like Duo Er had once pushed Xu Xiaoshou to the brink of becoming a Bansheng Zangren.

He didn't believe that Yi, in his lifetime, had never laid eyes on a Bansheng.

If this awakening skill read something like the true form of Shengshen Hall's current hall master, Dao Qiong Cang…

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts sharpened, and the wild beast-like frenzy in him subsided a bit, realizing how unwise that would be.

“Xuan Wuji!”

He turned his head and called out sharply.

Xuan Wuji looked over, puzzled.

Xu Xiaoshou dispelled his berserk giant form, returning to his normal size, and immediately felt the demonic energy's influence on him weaken considerably.

Gripping the You Si Jian, he asked gravely, “Yi's physical body is destroyed, so why can't I see his space ring?”

Xuan Wuji was taken aback. While channeling Tianji power to vie for control of the Yunjing World, he freed one hand to form a seal.

In an instant, Tianji Dao patterns surged in his eyes as he gazed at Yi's soul form.

Yi still held the “Fu Shen Ling Hua,” his soul form standing in mid-air. At that moment, he seemed to realize something and froze completely.

Xuan Wuji glanced once and his eyes lit up. He replied, “Xu Xiaoshou, Yi's space ring and other treasures are all stored in his soul space!”

Soul space… Xu Xiaoshou instantly recalled the sacred blood in his own mind.

It seemed that Sang Lao had used some method in the Taixu World to erase the physical properties of those treasures and place them in soul space.

With a thought, he could access them.

It was incredibly convenient.

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaoshou frowned and asked, “Is there a way to get them out?”

Xuan Wuji chuckled slyly: “For an ordinary person, or even a Taixu himself, it's impossible to directly take treasures from another Taixu's soul space, but for me…”

“Get to the point!” Xu Xiaoshou's brows furrowed sharply.

He had no patience for Xuan Wuji's rambling.

If not for Xuan Wuji's usefulness, Xu Xiaoshou would have already plunged the You Si Jian into his forehead over the Mu Zixi matter.

Xuan Wuji shivered and quickly transmitted his thoughts: “Yi's abilities are greatly reduced now that he's just a soul form.”

“I can set up a Tianji array to forcibly seize the treasures from his soul space, but someone is currently countering me in the Yunjing World, so I can't spare the hands.”

“Besides, during the process, Yi will definitely unleash Taixu power and deploy the Taixu World to protect himself.”

“To get his space ring, the steps are too complicated, and it's both time-consuming and draining…”

Xu Xiaoshou cut him off coldly via transmission: “Didn't you say you could take down Yi single-handedly?”

Xuan Wuji was at a loss for words, his face flushing red.

He was confident in killing Yi, even with the Bi Hun Zhong for protection—Yi couldn't escape his grasp.

But killing someone took time!

Tianji techniques were about strategy, like how Dao Qiong Cang controlled the world.

Engaging directly to kill one person wasn't as straightforward as a brute's approach.

“Fine!”

He gritted his teeth and stopped his movements, deciding: “I'll temporarily drop the Tianji confrontation for the Yunjing World and go straight for Yi's soul form. Now, it's all or nothing!”

“But that leaves us with little time.”

“Once Hongyi regains control of the Yunjing World quickly, we won't have more time to set up contingencies…”

Xu Xiaoshou snorted coldly in response: “You still think about contingencies?”

Xuan Wuji had initially planned to abandon Mu Zixi completely and focus solely on eliminating Yi for his personal vendetta.

Now that Xu Xiaoshou had calmed down from his berserk state, he naturally wouldn't follow that plan.

Remember, Yi had come for Mu Xiaogong.

If something happened to Yi, even Yao Yao, for all her denseness, would suspect Mu Xiaogong.

In the end, it would all circle back to Tian Shang Di Yi Lou.

The situation looked dire, but at most, it would only expose “Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou” without linking to Tian Shang Di Yi Lou.

Xu Xiaoshou was here to assist as “Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou.”

What did the actions of Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou have to do with Xu Deshi of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou?

As long as the “Mu Zixi” and “Mu Xiaogong” lines were handled well, even if Yi died, it would only reveal the irrelevant information that “Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou was lurking in the Yunlun Mountains and led a group of high-level Shengnu in a successful revenge.”

This was just an initial idea, with key details still to be worked out.

Xu Xiaoshou had no intention of letting Yi go—after all, Yi had pushed things to this extreme.

On the contrary.

Because of Yi's special abilities, because of Xuan Wuji's mention of “imitator,” and combined with his own various powers…

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou harbored an extraordinarily bold idea in his heart!

Others might not even dare to think of it.

But Xu Xiaoshou had already pulled off creating a Bansheng force out of thin air.

Was there anything under the heavens he wouldn't dare imagine?

“What are you planning?”

Xuan Wuji watched Xu Xiaoshou deep in thought and knew that, though young, this man had a sharp mind.

“You said the Tianji array—is it difficult?” Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Yi, who was accelerating his injury recovery in the distance, and transmitted.

“Difficult!” Xuan Wuji nodded seriously. “Nothing in Tianji techniques is easy. Its entry threshold blocks so many people…”

“Why are you so chatty?” Xu Xiaoshou's eyes narrowed, his tone turning icy. “I asked if it's difficult—just say how difficult. Did I ask for your extra commentary?”

Xuan Wuji was at a complete loss, his face turning purple with suppressed frustration.

He had never been questioned like this by a junior before.

But thinking of how he had let down Xu Xiaoshou and Mu Zixi earlier…

He let it go.

“Even if I can restrain Yi, at minimum, a Wangzuo-level Tianji master would need time to learn this array, and that's assuming extensive study.”

Xuan Wuji sighed and shook his head at Xu Xiaoshou: “I know you've picked up some superficial Tianji techniques somewhere, but that stuff that impressed Liu Changqing means nothing to me…”

“Are you being chatty again?” Xu Xiaoshou grew impatient and raised the You Si Jian.

Xuan Wuji immediately fell silent.

“Received slander, passive value +1.”

“Received curse, passive value +1.”

Xu Xiaoshou turned back to watch Yi's soul form.

He had been monitoring its state all along.

With a swing of the You Si Jian, a black murderous sword energy shot out, halting Yi's attempt to forcibly condense his physical body before his soul injuries were fully healed.

“If you dare to form your physical body, I'll dare to cut you down!” Xu Xiaoshou sneered at the distant figure.

Yi was furious.

Without a physical body, he was restricted in movement but unafraid of the You Si Jian.

Yet, once he formed one, he could move freely, only to risk his will being invaded by the You Si Jian's murderous sword energy.

It seemed like a vicious cycle.

The result was that, under Xu Xiaoshou's pressure, Yi appeared to be stuck in his soul form…

Waiting to die?

Yi was clever.

He didn't try again futilely but didn't resign himself to death either.

Instead, he subtly glanced at Lei Xier, who was still meditating on the other side, seemingly uninterested in the ongoing battle.

Anyone could be expendable.

But this woman couldn't survive tonight!

If she lived, the five domains of the continent would descend into chaos!

“Teach me the Tianji array.”

On the other side, Xu Xiaoshou transmitted to Xuan Wuji.

Xuan Wuji was speechless.

He had explained it thoroughly, yet Xu Xiaoshou was still so overconfident, trying to master the essence of Tianji techniques passed down through countless generations in such a short time.

What could he do?

Xuan Wuji had no choice but to comply.

“I'll use mind infusion to help you ‘learn’ Tianji techniques as quickly as possible.” Xuan Wuji shook his head and extended his hand to Xu Xiaoshou's head.

Xu Xiaoshou narrowed his eyes, a chill in his gaze: “Can you talk less?”

Xuan Wuji was furious but suppressed the urge to strike the young man dead. He simply transmitted the incantations, hand seals, and true intent of the “Ban Ling Liu Xuan Zhen.”

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt his mind flooded with a massive amount of information.

It was the full explanation of the “Ban Ling Liu Xuan Zhen,” including Xuan Wuji's complete insights into the array.

The information on Tianji arrays was obscure and baffling, like reading from the heavens.

As Xuan Wuji had said, for most people, even a Wangzuo-level Tianji master would need months to grasp the basics.

But Xu Xiaoshou was different.

His “Textile Mastery” couldn't provide creativity for Tianji techniques, but it excelled at “understanding” and “mastering” obscure information like the “Gou Lei of Tianji Dao patterns,” almost like instant comprehension.

In the Tian Sang City city lord's mansion, even a sub-array of the “San Shi Liu Tian Feng Wu Zhen” had been deciphered in seconds by Xu Xiaoshou with master-level “Textile Mastery.”

At Wangzuo level, it encompassed nearly everything related to “Tianji techniques.”

In just a breath, Xu Xiaoshou fully comprehended the intricacies of the “Ban Ling Liu Xuan Zhen.”

He even spotted twelve flaws in it.

However, at this juncture, he had no desire or means to elaborate or perfect it.

Though it was a flawed array, it would suffice.

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's eyes shift from confusion to clear insight in an instant, Xuan Wuji assumed he had given up.

But he didn't dare say anything, fearing it would bruise the young man's ego. Instead, he said, “I can help restrain Yi's soul form. As for you… well, no matter the outcome, let's give it a try first!”

Even knowing it was a waste of time, Xuan Wuji decided to let Xu Xiaoshou waste it, hoping it would make him forget his earlier grievances.

But the more he feared something, the more it happened.

Xu Xiaoshou's gaze remained icy as he turned sharply and said sternly, “I said, when not to talk, don't talk. And when not to act on your own, never overstep!”

Xuan Wuji finally couldn't hold back.

How could he not hear the subtle jabs in Xu Xiaoshou's words?

Why was this young man so fixated on that minor issue, even now?

“Xu Xiaoshou!”

“I know I wronged you and your junior sister earlier, and I want to make amends, but you don't have to go this far, do you?”

“After all, I'm your senior. How can you speak to me in this tone?!”

Xuan Wuji's face turned red with anger, veins bulging on his neck.

“Shut up.”

Xu Xiaoshou coldly turned away, stepping forward and forming hand seals to cast the Tianji array.

Hearing that intolerable remark and seeing the scene before him, Xuan Wuji nearly laughed in frustration: “I'm only being this polite to you out of respect for Ba Zun An. Do you really think that in just this short time, you could master…”

“I told you to shut up!” Xu Xiaoshou couldn't tolerate it any longer. He turned back, roaring in anger.

Xuan Wuji's fury erupted: “What if I don't?”

“Don't?”

Demonic energy surged in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes, and his killing intent exploded uncontrollably.

He pulled out the Ba Zi Ling from Ba Zun An and slammed it into the ground between them, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“I said…”

He originally meant to say “shut up.”

But at that moment, the long-dormant “Guan Jian Dian” in his mind suddenly resurfaced, its pages flipping open. The demonic energy, the You Si Jian, the Ba Zi Ling, and various other forces influenced him, changing his words entirely.

“Kneel!!!”

With bloodshot eyes and the aura of “Qi Tun Shan He,” he threw the order and shouted. The sky shattered, and the earth collapsed.

Xuan Wuji's soul trembled, his face turning pale.

He looked up abruptly.

In that instant, Xu Xiaoshou no longer appeared as a mere youth in his eyes…

Behind Xu Xiaoshou, illusions of the Bai Mai San Zu emerged, with Jin Zhao Lao Zu's form the clearest.

Beyond them loomed the one-chi-tall figure of Ba Zun An!

Xuan Wuji seemed to see the scene in the inner island of Xukong Island, where the young Ba Zun An conquered all, standing on the Demon Emperor Black Dragon, sword pointed at the Bai Mai San Zu, arrogantly declaring to the world:

“The black and white pulses shall all bow to me! Who dares defy?”

With a thunderous boom.

At that, Xuan Wuji could no longer control his trembling knees, mirroring the actions in his mind's scene with the Bai Mai San Zu.

His knees slammed down, and he knelt heavily.