Chapter 957: This Damned Situ Yongren

Captured? Shou Ye?

In that fleeting moment of darkness, just a few breaths long, he had been severely injured by Huang Quan and then apprehended?

Rao Yao Yao was somewhat stunned, but reflecting on Huang Quan's bizarre time-space attributes, a sense of understanding washed over her.

For everyone else, Shou Ye's attack had only lasted a few breaths, but in Huang Quan's eyes, it could have been an entire, endless century.

With time flowing unevenly, Shou Ye might have only struck once, while Huang Quan could have countered thousands of times. Shou Ye's severe injury made perfect sense.

What shocked Rao Yao Yao the most was why Huang Quan was now presenting Shou Ye. What did that signify?

A sense of foreboding settled in Rao Yao Yao's heart.

While the enforcers, like Rao Jian Xian, hesitated and were utterly shocked, Ye Xiao Tian and Lei Xi Er, from their own side, were equally astonished.

The former was amazed, as based on his speculation, Shou Ye should have fallen to the bottom of Gu Yin Cliff, so how could another Shou Ye appear?

Ye Xiao Tian was completely baffled.

Lei Xi Er felt it even more acutely; she had personally witnessed Shou Ye being kicked off the cliff by Xu Xiao Shou, but now, there was another Shou Ye...

"Is that a clone?"

Lei Xi Er had a sudden realization, yet couldn't fully accept it.

This newly appeared Shou Ye, along with the two Huang Quan members who had the Lei family pupils embedded, seemed far too realistic!

"What are your intentions?"

Rao Yao Yao could no longer remain calm, speaking with a grave expression.

She realized that from the moment Huang Quan transformed into Xu Xiao Shou, then into Yi, and finally revealed his true form, the entire situation had been under the opponent's control.

Even if she wanted to force her way in now, considering the opponent's time attributes, it seemed utterly unrealistic.

She had to wait!

Wait for that young man to complete his setup!

"As I said,"

"Let's make a deal."

Xu Xiao Shou, still seated in the space above, maintained his carefree demeanor, as if capturing Shou Ye was trivial and nothing to boast about.

"What kind of deal?" Rao Yao Yao asked, deliberately stalling for time.

Seeing the other side stepping into his trap, Xu Xiao Shou smiled faintly: "One person for one sword."

At these words, everyone present was shocked and suspicious.

What sword could possibly be worth Shou Ye's value?

It couldn't be...

All the enforcers suddenly turned their heads, staring at the Xuan Cang Shen Jian in Rao Yao Yao's hand.

No way, right? Absolutely no way!

"Which sword?"

Rao Yao Yao noticed the look in Huang Quan's eyes behind the mask and suddenly found it amusing. What kind of thinking was this? Did he really believe that capturing Shou Ye meant he could control everything?

"The Xuan Cang Shen Jian."

Xu Xiao Shou stated flatly, voicing what everyone was thinking.

As soon as he said this, the entire scene erupted in an uproar.

"The Xuan Cang Shen Jian? Has Huang Quan gone mad? Even if Senior Shou Ye is powerful, how could one person match the value of the Xuan Cang Shen Jian?"

"Yeah,

This is the headquarters' treasure that protects their destiny. Is he joking?"

The commotion had just begun to rise when Wang Da Chui snorted coldly, and the entire place fell silent once more.

Rao Yao Yao shook her head slightly; she never expected Huang Quan to make such an outrageous demand.

How could Shou Ye and the Xuan Cang Shen Jian be equivalent?

If it were something else, Rao Yao Yao might have accepted her bad luck, trading an item for a person to get Shou Ye back first and deal with the rest later.

But the Xuan Cang Shen Jian...

That was impossible to use in a trade!

"Are you joking?" Rao Yao Yao snorted coldly, gripping the Xuan Cang Shen Jian as she slowly floated up, facing Huang Quan, who was seated in the space above, in direct opposition.

Of course, it's a joke... Xu Xiao Shou thought to himself, how could I propose a fair trade that you'd agree to right away? If this painted clone of Shou Ye gets exchanged, won't I be exposed on the spot?

But by bringing out Shou Ye and proposing this completely unequal deal, it would make the "Huang Quan" identity seem rather foolish.

Xu Xiao Shou was confident about that.

"This one isn't just trading a person with you, but also many secrets on him..."

Xu Xiao Shou pointed toward Shou Ye's direction, using his spiritual sense to make Shou Ye struggle and writhe, only to end in failure, his face full of despair.

He said no more.

Xu Xiao Shou knew Rao Yao Yao could infer the rest.

Shou Ye had big secrets!

From the Tai Xu Zhi Li that Shou Ye had displayed earlier, Xu Xiao Shou could already tell.

How could a Dao Cutter possess Tai Xu Zhi Li without some special reason?

That was completely unrealistic!

Xu Xiao Shou didn't know how Shou Ye had obtained the Tai Xu Zhi Li, but it immediately reminded him of a red-clothed youth—Lu Ke!

That was a young red-clothed person he had encountered in the Bai Ku, who had once lost control and revealed ghost energy, a power unique to ghost beasts!

Xu Xiao Shou didn't know if Shou Ye's Tai Xu Zhi Li was connected to Lu Ke's ghost energy, but he knew Shou Ye wasn't an ordinary red-clothed.

He also believed that things he didn't know didn't need to be said aloud, because Rao Yao Yao, as an internal member of the Sheng Shen Hall, must know everything!

Just hint at it, and that would do.

Sure enough, after he mentioned "secrets," Rao Yao Yao fell silent.

Amid the surprised looks of all the enforcers, she seemed to genuinely start weighing whether the Xuan Cang Shen Jian or Shou Ye's secrets were more important.

"Is this secret that significant?"

Even though Rao Yao Yao quickly returned to her normal expression, that brief moment of deliberation still gave Xu Xiao Shou hope.

This painted clone of Shou Ye in his hands was extremely valuable!

At that moment, Rao Yao Yao's ear twitched slightly, as if she had received a transmission. Her demeanor suddenly became much more relaxed.

"Huang Quan, do you really think capturing Shou Ye lets you control my decisions?"

Rao Yao Yao held the Xuan Cang Shen Jian in a reverse grip, gradually unleashing the sharp aura of a Jian Xian, her momentum surging as she broke free from Xu Xiao Shou's influence, reclaiming control of the scene.

What happened?

Xu Xiao Shou was clueless, but a sense of unease suddenly welled up in him.

He knew Rao Yao Yao was waiting, just like him, delaying for a chance to take everyone down.

But after all this time, with the targets changing from Xu Xiao Shou to Yi, and then to Huang Quan, theoretically, without prior preparation, the opportunity Rao Yao Yao was waiting for shouldn't hold up against Huang Quan's power.

Yet, in that instant, Xu Xiao Shou could sense that Rao Yao Yao's mindset had shifted.

She had returned to her role as the red-clothed enforcer in control, as if she had gained a force to counter "Huang Quan's" time power.

Xu Xiao Shou didn't know what arrangements the enforcers had made; he could only stay adaptable. For now, he smiled casually and said:

"Not trading, huh?

"This one's interest in your subordinate isn't much less than in the Xuan Cang Shen Jian in your hand. Since you're not trading..."

He spread his hands.

"The deal is off."

Thump thump!

Thump thump!

His heartbeat accelerated.

This was a premonition from his blood essence, a spiritual forewarning.

Next, Rao Yao Yao was definitely about to act, and her sudden decision to pull away from the "Huang Quan" topic meant she had grasped a terrifying power.

After calmly finishing his last line and perfecting the Huang Quan image, Xu Xiao Shou's mind was fixed on only one thought: escape.

From start to finish, "Huang Quan's" purpose was clear.

He had come for the Shen Mo Tong, and after being caught by the enforcers, he seized the red-clothed Shou Ye, expressed interest in the Xuan Cang Shen Jian, and curiosity about Shou Ye's secrets.

That was enough!

It fully justified Huang Quan's actions of killing Yi, mimicking him, shifting all blame to the Yan Wang, and trying to grab more if possible, or just leaving.

Xu Xiao Shou felt that up to this point, "Huang Quan's" performance had no major flaws.

He had successfully redirected the killer of Yi to the Yan Wang, removing the enforcers' hatred toward the "Sheng Nu Xu Xiao Shou" identity, so...

If not now, when?

"Farewell, everyone."

Without giving Rao Yao Yao more time to react, Xu Xiao Shou pointed at the void, activating "time slowdown."

As everyone's movements suddenly stiffened, he didn't hesitate, immediately turning toward Lei Xi Er and opening a spatial passage to the Yuan Fu World above her head.

Even in this critical moment, Xu Xiao Shou didn't forget to disguise the Yuan Fu World's spatial passage.

He used "painting mastery" to draw on it the "time-space vortex" that the real Huang Quan would use when leaving.

"Go in!"

He didn't send a spiritual message, fearing it might be intercepted and reveal his identity.

But with one look, Lei Xi Er understood his intent and moved to leap into the spatial passage without hesitation...

Right then, a sudden change occurred!

Above the cliff's edge in the sky, clouds gathered abruptly, forming dozens of massive cloud beasts.

These giants blocked out the sun, each with a ten-zhang horn on their heads, feet treading on seven-colored auspicious clouds, bodies like enormous fish covered in cloud scales, and double wings on their backs that could shade half the sky, resembling ancient Kun Peng.

— Yun Shou!

A full thirty-six Yun Shou appeared, nearly filling the entire sky.

Worse still, these normally gentle Yun Shou seemed stimulated upon appearing, going berserk and howling one after another.

"Woo!"

"Woo woo woo!"

"Woo woo woo woo woo..."

A terrifying mental shockwave instantly dazed Xu Xiao Shou's head.

As he faltered, the "time slowdown" force was forcibly interrupted, and the Yuan Fu spatial passage above Lei Xi Er's head shattered.

Lei Xi Er, protected by the Shen Mo Tong's self-mechanism, was completely unaffected by the Yun Shou's mental impact.

But as she leaped forward, the Yuan Fu World's spatial passage was gone!

This unexpected turn left Lei Xi Er slightly stunned, but she quickly composed herself.

Xu Xiao Shou wasn't the real Huang Quan; facing Rao Yao Yao's countermeasures alone, he couldn't hold out. Especially with these strange Yun Shou possessing mental attack powers—dozens of them!

Compared to entering the Yuan Fu World herself, staying behind might help Xu Xiao Shou more.

Without any hesitation, Lei Xi Er turned her head toward Xu Xiao Shou, and the Shen Mo Tong in her eyes spun violently.

"Release!"

White mist billowed from her left eye.

As the divine power burst forth, Xu Xiao Shou felt his dazed mental state ease instantly, and he snapped back to his senses.

No time for thanks; sensing something, Xu Xiao Shou looked to the other side.

At the same time, Ye Xiao Tian's dazed state was also lifted by Lei Xi Er's Shen Mo Tong.

The three of them, still shaken, turned together toward the source of this upheaval...

A person!

A rather handsome and dashing young man.

Around him floated exactly 365 golden array tokens. His luxurious attire was adorned with gold and jade, his belt hung with miniaturized spirit tools like small towers, bells, tripods, and shields, all in abundance and dazzling.

His neck bore over a dozen layers of necklaces, his wrists had seven or eight bracelets, and his fingers were covered with more than ten rings, making one wonder if such weight affected his agility.

Moreover, in his left palm hovered a drop of golden holy blood, as if ready to swallow it at any sign of danger.

In his right hand, he held a small bronze mirror entwined with clouds; anyone could see that the sudden appearance of the dozens of Yun Shou was due to this mirror's power.

"This damn... that's way too extravagant! How afraid of death are you?"

Xu Xiao Shou was completely stunned.

After a half-breath pause, he tore his eyes away from the young man's opulent appearance and looked at his face.

A very familiar face!

Si Tu Yong Ren!

Xu Xiao Shou's heart sank.

Back at Tian Shang First Tower, Si Tu Yong Ren had visited at night but was driven away with a few words.

Yet, he had then boasted of a rematch in the Yun Lun Mountains.

At the time, Xu Xiao Shou had seemed uninterested but kept a close eye due to Si Tu Yong Ren's identity.

However, after entering the Yun Lun Mountains for so long, he had never seen Si Tu Yong Ren, even amid the enforcers' major changes; the guy had seemed to vanish.

Now...

Daring to enter amid the standoff between Rao Yao Yao and "Huang Quan," Xu Xiao Shou didn't believe Si Tu Yong Ren lacked full preparation!

"Sorry, Rao Jian Xian..."

Si Tu Yong Ren, upon entering, first looked at Rao Yao Yao and explained: "Too many intruders came outside Gu Yin Cliff; I had to divert their attention first, which wasted a lot of time."

Rao Yao Yao was also taken aback by Si Tu Yong Ren's "equipment."

But thinking about how this young man had shouldered immense pressure to enter, it was no small feat.

Under Huang Quan's pressure, taking extra precautions for survival could only be seen as... appropriate.

"Save Shou Ye first!" Without further ado, as she charged at Huang Quan with her sword, Rao Yao Yao ordered Si Tu Yong Ren.

"Understood." Si Tu Yong Ren felt relieved; he wanted to avoid facing the Yan Wang who controlled time as much as possible.

On the other side,

I don't want to fight, damn it... Seeing Rao Yao Yao charge seriously, clearly going all out, Xu Xiao Shou's heart panicked!

He could vaguely "sense" that as soon as Si Tu Yong Ren appeared, the surrounding spatial environment and Dao principles had changed.

It was as if everyone at Gu Yin Cliff had entered a world similar to the Storyteller's "Gu Ji Space."

This was probably why Rao Yao Yao suddenly dared to act—because she no longer worried about the "time power" escaping.

Xu Xiao Shou understood all this but felt somewhat powerless.

He wasn't the real Huang Quan and couldn't comprehend the true essence of time and space to escape with Lei Xi Er and Ye Xiao Tian by bypassing heavenly mechanisms.

Now, with Si Tu Yong Ren and Rao Yao Yao splitting up, if the former reached Shou Ye, all his efforts would be in vain.

If his identity was exposed, Rao Yao Yao in her rage might strike without holding back and cut him down!

As for the latter...

Rao Yao Yao was already rushing at him with her sword; he couldn't ignore that!

If he couldn't withstand this strike, his fake Huang Quan identity would still be revealed.

Then, they'd face the frenzied revenge of all the enforcers who had been toyed with!

"This damned Si Tu Yong Ren!"