Chapter 98: Don't Panic, No Big Problem

In a narrow and cramped room, a round wooden table stood with four men seated around it.

Xiao Qixiu stroked the long sword on the ground and frowned at Sang Lao, saying, "You really took Xu Xiaoshou as your disciple?"

"Indeed." Sang Lao took a sip of wine and replied, "From the moment he swallowed the first Jin Zhao Huo Zhong without dying, it was destined that he was the person I was looking for. You knew that back then, didn't you?"

He was referring to the time during the Jinji Sai when Xu Xiaoshou boldly rushed onto the stage to seek help from Xiao Qixiu.

Xiao Qixiu fell silent.

Truth be told, when Xu Xiaoshou revealed his Xian Tian Jian Yi, Xiao Qixiu had also been tempted to take him as a disciple.

But thinking about that guy's utterly nonsensical behavior and his way of speaking that could choke someone to death...

He felt that this could potentially be a troublemaker in the future, so he couldn't act impulsively.

He never expected Sang Lao to go ahead and take him!

"Xu Xiaoshou..." Xiao Qixiu pondered for a while before squeezing out a word, "is a bit eccentric..."

"What's there to fear?" Sang Lao casually rubbed his head, then suddenly thought of the "big bathtub," and his mouth twitched.

"Eccentric he may be, but with him in my hands, he's not going to cause any real waves."

"Mm, no big problem."

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Qiao Qianzhi laughed heartily and patted Xiao Qixiu on the shoulder. "I told you to act sooner! Now he's been snatched away!"

Xiao Qixiu snorted with a smile, "I don't want to take him as a disciple. Having Su Qianqian is enough trouble as it is."

"Ah, actually Xu Xiaoshou is quite good. Why do you have such a big prejudice against him!"

Qiao Qianzhi recalled a bit. In his memory, Xu Xiaoshou was still the image of that young man who often went alone to E Hu to practice swordplay.

He remembered that three or two years ago, every time he went to E Hu to collect his fattened geese for cooking, he would always see that diligent boy.

That was how the two of them became acquainted, and later, he even invited the boy to eat goose meat!

Qiao Qianzhi's sharp tongue could criticize everyone in the Ling Shi Ge, but he never said a word against this young man because he knew how hard-working he was.

Finally, his efforts paid off.

After three years of relentless sword practice, Xu Xiaoshou had now comprehended Xian Tian Jian Yi, won the Feng Yun Zheng Ba championship, and his hard work was undoubtedly a key factor!

Although...

Qiao Qianzhi had watched a couple of his matches, and his style had indeed become quite "distinctive."

But a young man being lively and full of spirit—wasn't that just a sign of being vibrant and adorable?

Thinking of this, he burst into laughter again. Youth was truly wonderful!

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

"Come, drink!" Qiao Qianzhi raised his wine cup, but only Sang Lao clinked glasses with him. He looked at Ye Xiaotian, who seemed deeply worried. "Why aren't you drinking?"

Xiao Qixiu, who focused on sword cultivation, not drinking made sense, but what was this guy pretending for?

Ye Xiaotian glared at him irritably. He was a man of few words and didn't speak, just patted his own arm.

Sang Lao laughed, "I just reattached it, so I can't drink."

"Ha ha ha..." Qiao Qianzhi squeezed his arm hard. "Look at you now!"

Ye Xiaotian winced in pain and pulled his hand back, watching the two drink while echoes of the earlier explosions rang in his mind. "Is it really not a problem?"

Sang Lao picked up a piece of roasted goose meat, swallowed it, and smacked his lips, "No harm done. It's Xu Xiaoshou refining pills over there, probably in the stage of compressing the fire seed."

"Don't worry, I'm an old hand at this, familiar with it all!"

"Come, cheers!"

Only Qiao Qianzhi raised his wine cup...

Ye Xiaotian stared at the drink on the table, swallowed hard, but held back.

Xiao Qixiu remained unmoved, watching them drink as if it were training for his own resolve.

As the glasses clinked...

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion echoed from the sky. Even in this small room where sound transmissions couldn't enter, the roar was deafening. One could only imagine how massive the explosion outside must have been!

Ye Xiaotian turned his head in a daze, "That's also from refining pills?"

Sang Lao's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising, but thinking of the array protections in the Ling Zang Ge, he gritted his teeth and said, "Don't panic, it should be fine... probably."

Xiao Qixiu couldn't sit still anymore. As the great elder of the Ling Fa Ge, such a huge blast meant people below were likely looking for him.

"I'll go check!"

Knock knock knock!

A series of urgent knocks came.

The four exchanged glances, all seeing the shock in each other's eyes. This room wouldn't be disturbed unless something major happened.

Xiao Qixiu hurried to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Zhao Xidong poked his head in, panting heavily. Seeing the four inside, he said, "Thank goodness, you're all here!"

"Impudent!" Xiao Qixiu frowned. "What's going on?"

"How can I not be impudent..." Zhao Xidong said in a panic, "Enemy attack!"

In an instant, the other three inside shot to their feet. In broad daylight, an enemy attack?

Ye Xiaotian and Qiao Qianzhi suddenly pulled out their tokens, which were vibrating intensely, clearly transmitting multiple messages.

The two scanned them with their spiritual senses and instantly understood the cause and effect.

Just then, Zhao Xidong also took out his token. After the three glanced at theirs, they exclaimed in unison, "The Ling Zang Ge is on fire?"

Everyone turned to look at Sang Lao, whose face had turned green. Just a second ago, he had said, "Don't panic, no big problem," and now...

Could it really be that Xu Xiaoshou had caused this mess?

Sang Lao's heart sank, realizing this wasn't impossible.

Ye Xiaotian's face darkened, "What about your two tokens? No reaction to something this big?"

Sang Lao was stunned, "I always leave mine in the Ling Zang Ge..."

Xiao Qixiu was dumbfounded, "Mine was borrowed..."

Qiao Qianzhi stomped his foot in frustration, "Stop talking nonsense! Let's hurry to the Ling Zang Ge!"

Whoosh!

The four vanished in unison.

Elder Qiao squatted down, grabbed a piece of goose meat, took a bite, and found it tasteless. He quickly ran out.

Smack!

He ran back to close the door.

...

"Hiss ha!"

"Hiss ha!"

On the first floor of the Ling Zang Ge, Xu Xiaoshou was using his "breathing method" at full force, sucking back the Jin Zhao Tian Yan within several zhang around him with every breath.

He had already finished the second floor, but the amount on the first floor was truly headache-inducing.

He couldn't worry about the pain anymore. If he could just keep it from burning, that would be a blessing. How could he bother with anything else?

As he sucked, he sincerely prayed for forgiveness for his sins.

It really wasn't intentional!

Who knew that acting in the illusion would also blow up reality? This didn't make sense—shouldn't everything in an illusion be illusory?

Fortunately, each technique in the Ling Zang Ge was protected by barriers, and his minor abilities clearly couldn't break them.

But those bookshelves...

Well, they were a sorry sight!

"Surrounded, passive value +1."

Damn, they've gathered so quickly?

Xu Xiaoshou panicked. He had only completed less than half of the first floor's work...

Whoosh!

He grimaced and took another breath. Suddenly, several sounds came from behind him.

Turning around, he saw four pairs of eyes staring intently at him.

Sang Lao, Ye Xiaotian, Xiao Qixiu, and the referee from the preliminary rounds...

Xu Xiaoshou's legs went weak.

Whoosh!

Another figure descended, Qiao Qianzhi landing in front of him, silent.

Gulp. Xu Xiaoshou swallowed hard.

Say something!

Why aren't you saying anything? Your silence is making me panic...

"Heh heh." He forced a smile and said sincerely, "Things aren't what you think. Don't worry, no big problem..."