Chapter 952: With the Fake Confusing the Real, Xu Xiaoshou Strongly Takes Action, Night Watchman

"Received approval, passive value, 62."

The information bar suddenly popped up with this message, giving Xu Xiaoshou quite a start.

Transforming into Yi was just a spur-of-the-moment idea for him, purely out of habit—a subconscious way to draw aggro.

But Xu Xiaoshou never imagined that after venting his emotions at Rao Yaoyao, he would gain the trust of over sixty fools.

Were these people brainless?

Yi was already dead!

The Sheng Shen Hall must have other ways to verify his death, so how could so many people believe his words just like that?

Xu Xiaoshou thought back to the little details he had deliberately dropped in his speech.

Like Yi's bingtang hulu, Xiao Xiaoxiao's nickname, and the quick identity switch he pulled off, along with the successful explanation of his covert mission...

All these things were pulled from Yi's soul memories.

The key highlight in his "covert mission" excuse came from Xu Xiaoshou quickly summarizing based on Yi's intelligence work habits, in the nick of time.

This excuse completely flipped Rao Yaoyao and the others' judgment.

Xu Xiaoshou was so confident because even he had almost believed his own performance.

But the fact was...

No matter how successful the performance seemed, it had to rely on the audience playing along.

The situation was that both sides were in a tense standoff, and as soon as his identity changed, Rao Yaoyao started to somewhat believe his story...

Why?

Had his mouth escape technique improved?

The absurd idea flashed through Xu Xiaoshou's mind for a brief moment before he dismissed it, settling on a more accurate answer—Qi Tun Shan He!

"Qi Tun Shan He, passive state skill, stacks momentum when emotions shift, no upper limit."

As he transformed into Yi, starting from a calm state,

to facing questions from all sides,

to methodically defending and clarifying,

to leaving everyone speechless,

and finally to getting cocky and yelling at Rao Yaoyao...

These unconscious emotional shifts built up layer upon layer of momentum that made others unable to resist.

This invisible momentum had an invisible effect.

It not only shocked the mind on a tangible level but also made his aggressive arguments more convincing, making it hard for people to refute them from the bottom of their hearts!

"Has Qi Tun Shan He at Wang Zuo level 1 already developed these functions?"

Xu Xiaoshou recalled using Qi Tun Shan He to mimic the aura of great figures like the Eighth Sword Immortal or Sang Lao.

He never expected that this passive state skill, once reaching the Wang Zuo level, had begun to gain the ability to "alter wills."

Or rather, it wasn't exactly "altering wills"—calling it "making people convinced" was more fitting.

Xu Xiaoshou had experienced such terrifying effects before:

In the Bai Ku, due to cultivation suppression, he had been forcibly convinced by Yu Ling Di, nearly missing key info bar details and almost causing a disaster.

More recently, he and even Ye Xiaotian had been "guided" to Gu Yin Cliff to face so many Sheng Shen Hall powerhouses,

and that probably involved a similar "convincing" force...

Likely from the Ba Zun An!

Or perhaps,

Ba Zun An had borrowed the guidance of the Sheng Di's will!

And now,

Qi Tun Shan He at Wang Zuo level

had started to show early signs of this, influencing a Taixu powerhouse like Rao Yaoyao, who was at the same Wang Zuo level but two minor realms higher.

"Perhaps, if my Qi Tun Shan He levels up further, it could really reach the point of 'whatever I say becomes true'... like Yan Chu Fa Sui.

"And essentially, it's 'emotional assimilation,' making people unable to refute from the heart, or perhaps... never even think to doubt or argue.

"Similar to... 'as long as I believe it, it truly exists'—that kind of exaggerated abstract power?"

These realizations flashed through Xu Xiaoshou's mind in an instant, but he remained outwardly calm and unmoved.

Ever since entering Dongtian Wangcheng, he had rarely shown his true face or full abilities.

It was only now that he realized, without noticing, he had grown to the point where his words could influence a Jianxian-level expert.

"Received suspicion, passive value, 1."

"Received speculation, passive value, 1."

The information bar kept popping up.

Rao Yaoyao was still deep in thought.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't even need to check the information bar; he could easily read her thoughts from the rapid changes in her expression.

It was all because of those deliberate details he dropped—Xiao Xiaoxiao's nickname, the explanation of the covert work, Yi being on the same level as her and not wanting to be bossed around.

What was originally an absurd ploy just to buy time and wait for an opportunity had unexpectedly achieved far beyond what he imagined, leaving Xu Xiaoshou pleasantly surprised.

His perception extended past Rao Yaoyao, landing on the enforcers behind her, and even on his own people like Lei Xier and Ye Xiaotian.

What he saw were faces full of shock and doubt!

Even Lei Xier was no exception!

"Good..."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled to himself.

He suddenly felt that success was possible—he could resolve this crisis without any bloodshed!

But right then, he sharply noticed the only variable in the field...

Shou Ye!

Xu Xiaoshou's heart sank suddenly.

Among the enforcers,

Shou Ye wasn't the highest in cultivation, but he was the first to regain his senses.

The reason was simple.

He had fallen for similar tricks too many times...

As the saying goes, "learn from mistakes," so from the moment Xu Xiaoshou transformed into Yi, Shou Ye felt it was unrealistic.

After all, this was Xu Xiaoshou's signature move!

But as "Yi" started his smooth-talking rebuttals, leaving everyone speechless and even yelling at Rao Yaoyao, it seemed... everyone started to believe it!

"Yi's" image, standing on the moral high ground and accusing everyone of wrongdoing, was almost like the embodiment of truth, making it hard to resist.

What's more, "Yi's" essence was ninety-nine percent Xu Xiaoshou!

Shou Ye knew that Xu Xiaoshou possessed a special power, similar to the "aura of a high-level being."

He had only seen a few people with it, like the Dao Hall Master or Cangsheng Daren...

And those figures were all Bansheng!

Shou Ye didn't know why Xu Xiaoshou, at such a young age and with such weak cultivation, had mastered this special aura.

But he had been influenced by it before and knew that anyone transformed by Xu Xiaoshou made it hard to raise doubts.

On top of that, Xu Xiaoshou was too clever!

Every time he transformed into someone, he captured the tiniest details of their habits and behaviors.

"Xiao Xiaoxiao, covert mission..."

All of it was too perfect, too seamless, making it impossible to argue against.

But to Shou Ye...

This was just too much like Xu Xiaoshou!

"Xu Xiaoshou, stop your tricks. Others might not know you, but do you really think you can hide everything from my eyes?"

Shou Ye stepped forward and shouted sternly, breaking Xu Xiaoshou's influence over everyone and making them slightly snap out of it, realizing their emotional shifts had been unusually abrupt.

From "total disbelief" to "complete conviction"...

The change was too fast!

Once the aura's influence was slightly broken, Shou Ye turned to Rao Yaoyao and said gravely,

"Rao Jianxian, whether Yi is dead or not, I think you have more reliable ways to confirm it... like the soul lamp, spirit paper, and the 'Jing Shen Yu Jian' stored in Sheng Shan headquarters, rather than listening to an enemy's one-sided story!"

Shou Ye wasn't sure if the higher-ups had issued a death notice.

But he believed that with Rao Yaoyao's position in Sheng Shen Hall headquarters, she had access to more information.

What he mentioned were the standard ways to verify someone's life or death.

The soul lamp could indicate if a soul had completely dissipated.

The spirit paper could confirm if a Lianling Master's refining aura still lingered on the continent.

The Jing Shen Yu Jian, bound to Tianji techniques, directly checked if a person's spiritual will had utterly vanished from the heavenly dao, leaving no chance of revival.

All three were kept on Gui Zhe Sheng Shan.

In Shou Ye's view, these methods from Sheng Shen Hall headquarters for verifying the status of core members were far superior to an enemy's words.

Rao Yaoyao seemed to snap back a bit at the reminder, her attention refocusing.

But actually, Shou Ye's thoughts were something she had already considered.

However, at that moment, Wang Dahui, standing nearby, couldn't hold back and blurted out in anger,

"You bastard Xu Xiaoshou, daring to toy with me again—unbearable!"

Wang Dahui realized that among everyone present, only he and Rao Yaoyao had received news that Yi's soul lamp had gone out.

This undeniable fact pointed to the person before them being Xu Xiaoshou in disguise.

"Good one, Xu Xiaoshou, you've tricked me time and again—enough is enough!"

Though still puzzled about how Xu Xiaoshou knew secrets like "Qing Qiang Suo Yuan Dan," Wang Dahui now trusted the Sheng Shan message more, so he charged forward with his hammer.

The little girl Yi easily dodged the strike and appeared next to Rao Yaoyao.

His expression was utterly calm, as if unaffected by Shou Ye's words, and he scoffed,

"Wang Dahui is an idiot—do you think the same, unable to figure this out?"

Had Rao Yaoyao not thought about the soul lamp?

According to "Yi's" earlier words, if he was truly here on a mission to assist while secretly investigating dark forces like the Sheng Nu,

Then Sheng Shan would surely cooperate with his actions.

In a way, this aligned even more with why Yi had been sent to help her on this task.

So, Rao Yaoyao wasn't ignoring the "soul lamp normally indicates life or death" key point.

She knew that for someone like Yi, an expert in spirits and souls, it didn't apply!

Even for the most critical "Ye Xiao lost contact" response, the "Yi" before her had given a direct answer—part of the mission cooperation.

If the soul lamp was out, she could quickly think of what "Yi" might say.

For a moment, Rao Yaoyao fell into self-doubt.

I can't even tell if the person in front of me is the real Yi or the fake Xu Xiaoshou!

"Xu thief, stop deceiving everyone!"

Wang Dahui glanced at the still hesitant Rao Yaoyao, determined to act as her sword and test "Yi's" identity.

This time, he held nothing back, stomping his foot and shattering space as he swung his hammer down on the little girl Yi's head.

"Received ambush, passive value, 1."

Damn it... Xu Xiaoshou cursed inwardly.

He hated these brainless brutes the most!

He could confuse smart people like Rao Yaoyao with his wits, but when a scholar met a soldier, it was impossible to reason.

Good thing I prepared... Xu Xiaoshou's figure blurred, mimicking the responder's reflexes as he sidestepped the violent hammer.

Then, as if reliving the moment Yi and he had brushed past each other, their eyes met.

He darted past Wang Dahui, turning to lock eyes with the latter's furious, bloodshot ones.

"Boom!"

In an instant, Wang Dahui was struck like lightning, his mind briefly dazed by the spiritual pierce.

It's really Yi's ability... Feeling the direct impact, Wang Dahui reined in his aura.

He couldn't deny whether it was the mimicking responder at work or if he had truly acted impulsively, amounting to fighting Yi.

"Do you have any brains at all? Huh!"

The little girl Yi passed Wang Dahui and immediately shouted, nearly kicking him away.

Then, her expression turned furious: "If I hadn't extinguished my soul lamp at headquarters, if I didn't have a mission from the Dao Hall Master, how could I have lurked here and put up with an old fool like you for so long? Are you really blind to my identity, or are you trying to use this chance to get rid of me?"

She laid into Wang Dahui head-on.

That righteous and forceful momentum made it hard for anyone not to back down.

Shou Ye heard this and felt a chill in his heart.

It's over...

Xu Xiaoshou is brilliantly clever, knowing exactly how to manipulate people...

As expected, Wang Dahui froze, embarrassment crossing his face.

He suddenly realized that for the soul lamp to go out could mean he, Wang Dahui, was dead, since he couldn't affect it.

But Yi was different.

As a top expert in souls on the continent, extinguishing his own soul lamp to make Sheng Shan declare him dead and rile up the enforcers for more dedicated work was just one of Yi's quirky operations—and a common tactic from the higher-ups to squeeze out potential.

I... I can't tell who this is anymore... Wang Dahui turned to Rao Yaoyao, hoping for an answer.

Rao Yaoyao remained silently conflicted, her face full of turmoil.

She had thought along similar lines before.

If the "Yi" in front of her couldn't explain this, he might be fake.

But now, with a perfect answer, what reason did she have to attack her own people?

Maybe Xu Xiaoshou killed Yi...

Maybe he really got the mimic responder and successfully mimicked him...

But as the ultimate expert in spirits and minds, how could Xu Xiaoshou obtain Yi's thoughts, the absolute secrets of Sheng Shen Hall, and even fully grasp everything down to the "secret deals" between Wang Dahui and Yi?

Even soul possession couldn't yield such "memories"!

So, in Rao Yaoyao's view, if all counterarguments fell flat, the person before her had to be Yi on a covert mission.

And her impulsive actions had truly disrupted Yi's intelligence gathering on the Sheng Nu, which was why he was so angrily accusing her.

Rao Yaoyao couldn't get past this mental block.

The scene fell silent once more.

At this point, even Lei Xier and Ye Xiaotian showed varying degrees of "vigilance," real or feigned.

How could Xu Xiaoshou know so much about Yi? Could he really be Yi in disguise? To fake it this well, it had to be the "ever-changing Yi" at work!

"Received speculation, passive value, 10."

"Received approval, passive value, 93."

Even "received suspicion" was gone—they were all pondering his identity... Faced with the sudden shift in the information bar, Xu Xiaoshou could only sigh:

"Soul reading, truly a divine skill!"

Just as he thought the situation had entered a familiar phase and the rest was in the bag,

Shou Ye suddenly moved from the back!

His expression showed a mix of admiration, despair, and madness.

Without waiting for Rao Yaoyao's orders, as the enforcer team leader, Shou Ye overstepped and attacked with full force.

"Ye Mu · Jianglin!"

On Gu Yin Cliff, all light vanished suddenly, plunging everyone into absolute darkness.

Then, in the darkness, a point of light appeared in the sky, quickly expanding into a massive, searing white hand descending from above, filling everyone's spiritual world like a god or buddha's palm.

"Zhu Tian Zhi Shou!"