Chapter 948: Summoning a Semi-Sage, Kill Xiao Shou?

Yunlun Shanmai, the first dragon vein.

Unlike the many trial participants who were drawn by the flood of treasures and descended the mountain to search for them in exchange for points, Jiang Xian remained steadfastly guarding the first dragon vein. Even when those below urged him strongly, he never went down.

No one knew why Jiang Xian did this, and among the guards on the mountain, there were many rumors. Some said that Young Master Jiang had been frightened in the previous battle by Xu Shao, who had choked him, and now he had become more cautious.

But these rumors had barely started when they were forcefully suppressed. This, of course, was Jiang Xian's doing.

At the peak of the mountain range, having dismissed his attendants, Jiang Xian stood alone on the massive boulder, gazing into the vast distance, with a slight hint of anxiety in his eyes.

“More than ten days...” he murmured to himself, lost in thought about something.

For others, the Wangcheng Trial might be an opportunity, but in Jiang Xian's view, it was optional. Even if he fought to the end, secured a spot in the top thirty-six on the points leaderboard, and smoothly entered the Shenggong Trial, none of it mattered. The Bansheng Jiang Clan, with its unique heritage, was in no way inferior to any branch of the Shenggong. In fact, compared to the Jiang Clan members, their own heritage was even more suited to themselves, so Jiang Xian could say he had no real need to participate in this Wangcheng Trial.

But ever since that time in Dongtian Wangcheng's Tianqi Forest, when he, Jiang Xian, encountered Yan Wang, and had a pair of “San Yan Tong Mu” dug out, the tasks assigned by his clan afterward had changed.

Before losing the “San Yan Tong Mu,” his task was to cooperate with the “Tian Zhi Zhu” to search for more traces of the Lei Family children. After losing the “San Yan Tong Mu,” his task was to enter the Wangcheng Trial, follow the trial's rules in all actions, prioritize self-protection, and wait for the right moment.

“The right moment...” Jiang Xian didn't even know how long he had to wait.

Before the second round of the Wangcheng Trial, after witnessing the “special constitution” of Xu Shao and the girl beside him, Mu Xiao Gong, Jiang Xian realized that the waters of Yunlun Shanmai were too deep! Here, the more one tried to stir up trouble, the more miserable the outcome might be. So, as soon as the Nine Dragon Veins contest began, he fortified the mountain, turning his subordinates into spies, sending them out one by one, with the main goal of gathering intelligence, and set aside any thoughts of fighting.

“Young Master Jiang.”

While he was deep in worry, a subordinate approached from the mountain and spoke respectfully.

“Speak.” Jiang Xian pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing that new intelligence had arrived.

Not long ago, he had learned through his spies that a high-ranking member of the Shengshen Hall had been killed in Yunlun Shanmai. After verifying through special channels with his clan, it was confirmed that it was Yibu Shouzuo Yi who had died here. This filled Jiang Xian with great alarm! The mighty Yibu Shouzuo had died in Yunlun Shanmai; he didn't know how to react.

Earlier, there had been a battle among saints high in the skies of Yunlun Shanmai, and after gathering intelligence and verifying with his clan, he learned that Shengnu Shouzuo Ba Zun An was secretly manipulating the situation. This made Jiang Xian extremely anxious! With even saint-level battles emerging, and the clan's mentioned “right moment” still not arriving, if they waited any longer, he, Jiang Xian, might not make it out of Yunlun Shanmai alive!

The subordinate stood respectfully to one side, waiting until Young Master Jiang turned his gaze before reporting solemnly: “Reporting to Young Master Jiang, our spies have discovered that near the ninth dragon vein, many law enforcers have gathered, and even Rao Jianxian has left the Xukong Dao rift unguarded, instead leading the team there himself. Among those accompanying him are Tibu Shouzuo Wang Dachu and other Dao Slayers and Wangzuo experts. Additionally, Zhanbu Shouzuo Teng Shanhai is still at the Xukong Dao rift, but he has assembled thirteen Taixu experts under him who want to earn merits and seize opportunities.”

Jiang Xian's mouth twitched at the news. Rao Yao Yao plus Wang Dachu—this combination was going after whom? And with Teng Shanhai adding thirteen Taixu experts to his forces, if they all joined the fray, then in Yunlun Shanmai, whoever they targeted would be doomed.

“What about the others?” Jiang Xian calmed himself and asked.

The subordinate responded respectfully: “According to the clan's reply, Lingbu Shouzuo Yu Lingdi is suspected to be trapped on Xukong Dao, Anbu Shouzuo Ye Xiao is still out of contact, but ‘San Zhuxiang’ has placed a black gold bounty, which likely means Ye Xiao has started making moves. Currently, across the five domains of the continent, just the gold-tier Hunter Order assassins heading toward the Dongtian Realm number no fewer than ten.”

“Ten?” Jiang Xian's eyebrows jumped.

“This is only the ones on the surface and those who have already set out; more assassins should follow afterward,” the subordinate said.

“They... plan to kill whom?”

“Shengnu, Xu Xiaoshou!”

Jiang Xian heard this and closed his eyes heavily.

What the hell is going on? Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou, a master-level cultivator, and the Anbu had mobilized over ten gold-tier Hunter Order assassins to kill him? From this, it seemed Yi had died at Xu Xiaoshou's hands?

“Have you investigated the circumstances of Yi's death?” Jiang Xian followed the train of thought and asked.

“No,” the subordinate shook his head firmly. “Even Shengshen Hall hasn't figured it out yet, so even with insiders, we can't get the information.”

Jiang Xian fell silent. Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou was too bold, daring to kill anyone... Even if Yibu Shouzuo's head was right in front of Jiang Xian for him to chop, he wouldn't dare do it! Because Jiang Xian knew how much trouble it would bring.

“Any other messages?”

“Yes.” The subordinate nodded, took an envelope from his pocket, and presented it. “Senior Jiang Chaotian has sent a letter for Young Master Jiang.”

A letter... Jiang Xian took the letter, and for no reason, a sense of unease rose in his heart. At this time, receiving such a mysterious letter gave him a bad premonition.

“If there's nothing else, you may withdraw.”

After dismissing the subordinate, Jiang Xian broke the seal, took out the letter paper, and spread it open. There was no text on the letter, only a very complex array pattern that made one dizzy just looking at it.

“An array?” Jiang Xian searched up and down but found no other text explanation.

At that moment, the array on the letter faintly emitted a summoning sensation. Jiang Xian had a sudden realization, cut his fingertip, and dripped a drop of blood onto it. The array glowed brightly, then transformed into a spatial passage, and the familiar face of Jiang Chaotian emerged from it.

“This?” Jiang Xian was greatly shocked and looked Jiang Chaotian up and down, realizing that this Dao Slayer guard's aura was completely unobscured. In disbelief, he said, “How dare you openly enter Yunlun Shanmai?”

Jiang Chaotian was in a hurry, his face pale and greenish, as if he hadn't rested well or had been deeply shocked by some important news, unable to calm his emotions. He explained briefly: “There's no time left... Young Master Jiang, the opportunity has come. Rao Yao Yao is now leading a large force toward Ginyin Cliff, and Yunlun Shanmai's defenses are relaxed. With our clan's Bansheng interfering in the Yunjing World, they won't detect me.”

Jiang Xian was silent. Our clan's Bansheng personally interfering to help you evade the Yunjing World's perception—Jiang Chaotian, are you dreaming? He didn't voice his inner doubts but calmly asked: “So, what brings you here?”

Jiang Chaotian took a deep breath: “To summon a Bansheng!”

What? Jiang Xian staggered back a step, almost thinking he had misheard, and asked fearfully: “Summon a Bansheng? Which one?”

“From our clan!” Jiang Chaotian added.

“Is it the Bansheng in person, or... a Bansheng incarnation, Bansheng will, or sacred image?” Jiang Xian tilted his head, asking one by one, trying to align himself with Jiang Chaotian's wavelength and downplay the danger of this conversation.

“The Bansheng in person!” Jiang Chaotian gave the most terrifying answer without hesitation.

Why... Jiang Xian widened his eyes, his mind filled with a hundred thousand whys, unable to figure out why they would suddenly summon a Bansheng like this. Was something major about to happen in Yunlun Shanmai? Had our clan's Bansheng missed the last saint battle and now planned to come for a fight to show off? This was too reckless; our clan's Bansheng wouldn't act so childishly! There must be more pitfalls in Yunlun Shanmai that I haven't uncovered...

“What's the goal?” Jiang Xian lowered his voice, asking—surely not just to kill Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou?

Jiang Chaotian didn't answer this time. Instead, with a mix of confusion and speculation, he raised his eyes and stared at the ordinary eyes embedded in Jiang Xian's sacred body opposite him.

Back in Tianqi Forest, Young Master Jiang had lost his “San Yan Tong Mu” and, even on the brink of death, hadn't received rescue from anyone besides himself. At that time, Jiang Qi had made a very bold guess. But back then, Jiang Chaotian had thought Jiang Qi's idea was too dangerous and impractical.

Now, it seemed... If not to cast bait, why would Young Master Jiang have left the Northern Domain and rushed to Dongtian Wangcheng? If not to close the net, why would Young Master Jiang participate in the Wangcheng Trial and wait here for the right moment?

After a long silence, Jiang Xian looked into Jiang Chaotian's eyes and seemed to understand something. He closed his eyes heavily. So, I was just a pawn... He didn't ask more, because matters involving a Bansheng were beyond his involvement now.

“Prepare the ceremony!”

At the edge of Yunlun Shanmai, in an area not part of the Wangcheng Trial, amid the clanging sounds of metal colliding, a bearded, eight-fingered uncle hoisted a large sack and gently touched the void in front of him.

“Buzz!” A mysterious fluctuation spread, and a semi-transparent barrier materialized in the void before him, vaguely outlining the unexpected visitor ahead.

“So this is the ‘Yunjing World’...” The scruffy uncle pondered, glancing back as if waiting for someone. But after waiting a long time, the expected figure didn't appear, so he shook his head slightly, chuckled, and muttered: “As unreliable as ever...”

Without further delay, he pressed his two fingers together and sliced through the space in front of him, opening a spatial rift. He stepped inside.

The next second, a crack opened in the barrier's space, and his figure passed through the Tianji World, entering the Wangcheng Trial area.

Pulling out a map, the scruffy uncle located his position and gazed toward the ninth dragon vein. From a distance, he could already see many familiar auras.

“Quite lively...” Muttering to himself, the uncle didn't linger. He hoisted the sack over his shoulder and dashed across the mountainous terrain without any grace, the clanging of metal echoing all around. Soon, his figure vanished into the wilderness.

Not long after, “Caw—” A crow's call echoed through the desolate forest. At the spot where the scruffy uncle had entered the mountains, a dark shadow descended. Even under the full sun, this shadow remained dim and lifeless, devoid of any sign of life, like a corpse.

The black figure wore a black feather robe, with a broad skeletal frame and a massive build. On its shoulder perched a three-legged black owl, its eyes like ink, as if the god of death had arrived, coldly observing the world.

“Ba Zun An?” Ye Xiao, who had been out of contact, made her first official appearance in Yunlun Shanmai, murmuring emotionlessly. Her face was shrouded in darkness, revealing no emotion.

“Very well, let them all come—the more, the better!”

After a pause, this massive black figure moved forward, solitary in the vast wilderness, pursuing the trail of the person who had gone ahead.

At the peak of Yunlun Shanmai, in the main position of Yunjing, before Yu Zhiwen, there was only a massive spiritual mirror, reflecting the standoff at Ginyin Cliff. There, many key figures were gathered, on the verge of unleashing a terrifying storm. Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou, Shenggong Ye Xiaotian, Hongyi Zhidao Main Ruler Rao Yao Yao, Tibu Shouzuo Wang Dachu...

Yu Zhiwen leaned forward, her Star Pupils fixed intently on the spiritual mirror, staring at that familiar yet somewhat strange face she hadn't seen in so long.

“How could you appear here...” Yu Zhiwen could hardly believe it. Xu Xiaoshou, who had been in hiding for so long, had unexpectedly exposed himself and been cornered by Rao Jianxian with a large force. This left almost no chance of escape! One of the Seven Sword Immortals, plus Tibu Shouzuo Wang Dachu—if not anticipated, how could a mere master-level junior escape to... heavens? This wasn't like the Yi death trap; there was no prior ambush or preparation...

Wait! My stance is with Shengshen Hall... Yu Zhiwen suddenly came to her senses, pulling back her body and slapping her forehead in annoyance, not understanding why she was worrying about that vicious Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou. This was the guy who had killed Yibu Shouzuo! Though, to be honest, she had never liked Yi's behavior, always dressing as a little loli in disguise. Hmm, but if they became enemies like this, there would be no way to pull Xu Xiaoshou back to Shengshen Hall's side...

Xu Xiaoshou was truly a genius... What a pity... Yu Zhiwen felt regretful.

She realized she was still clinging to her naive thoughts from before. She kept telling herself that Xu Xiaoshou was now on a different path, and she shouldn't have any improper... well, delusions.

But watching the tense situation in the spiritual mirror, Yu Zhiwen couldn't help but clench her fists, her heart tightening.

“It's fine if they capture him alive...” she murmured nervously.

Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind: “Why not just kill him directly?”

“It's not ideal...” Yu Zhiwen responded absentmindedly.

In this main position of the spiritual mirror, protected by the strongest Tianji Array, outsiders couldn't enter—only Rao Yao Yao and herself could pass freely—so Yu Zhiwen had no guard up.

But midway through her sentence, Yu Zhiwen suddenly realized something was wrong. The voice from behind was clearly male! How could a man get in here? The only male who might crack the Tianji Array was Situ Yongren, but his voice wasn't like that!

Yu Zhiwen turned back in terror.