Chapter 986: Can Yue Immortal City Big Mouth

Beneath the deep sea.

In the murky water sphere, a powerless, struggling figure floated, surrounded by many opened empty *dan* bottles.

"Another *Zhan Dao* corpse..."

After dealing with the *Tun Jin Long*, Xiao Kongdong followed his *Shui Gui* predecessor as they pressed on.

Along the way, he had lost count of how many corpses he had seen.

Most of them were trial officials at the *Wang Zuo* level, with some *Zhan Dao* among them.

It seemed that, aside from *Tai Xu*, no *Lian Ling Shi* could withstand the increasingly terrifying suction of *Ling Yuan* from the water sphere and hold on this long.

"Perhaps, this is the true face of *Sheng Nu*..." Xiao Kongdong sighed silently to himself.

He had killed before, but as the senior disciple of *Can Yue Xian Cheng*, he rarely struck down those weaker than himself.

First, it was beneath his dignity; second, *Lian Ling Shi* were not easy to cultivate—if someone wasn't actively courting death or defying his teacher's orders, Xiao Kongdong disdained to act and slaughter the innocent.

But now, following his *Shui Gui* predecessor, they had crossed paths with dozens of corpses in the deep sea—*Wang Zuo* and *Zhan Dao* alike—and he had truly witnessed the dark side of *Sheng Nu*.

"Teacher assigned me the task for *Can Yue Xian Cheng*, and during the process of establishing the city and realm, I killed quite a few to clear obstacles.

"But at least, every one who died by my sword was on the same level as me.

"I remember their names, and after their deaths, their companions remembered them too—their names and their past deeds.

"Yet these ones beneath the deep sea died in silence, vanished without a trace.

"In truth, they were nothing more than cannon fodder, sacrificed early in the struggle for the *Great Dao*."

Xiao Kongdong followed silently, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew his teacher had treated him well, hiding him in the tenth seat of *Sheng Nu*, which seemed nameless but preserved his ability to walk in the light.

As for predecessors like *Shui Gui*...

Xiao Kongdong gazed at the silent, composed back of his *Shui Gui* predecessor leading the way and sighed inwardly.

He thought of how the nine seats of *Sheng Nu* had fled under the pursuit of the *Sheng Shen Hall* over the years.

The storyteller's forces had been wiped out in the Central Domain, then fled all the way to the Eastern Domain, finally returning to his teacher's side.

He imagined that deaths like these insignificant figures were probably commonplace for the *Sheng Nu* predecessors.

Xiao Kongdong set aside his distractions and stepped forward to catch up with his *Shui Gui* predecessor, wanting to get closer and ask why so many nameless people had to die beneath the deep sea.

But as he drew near...

For some reason, Xiao Kongdong sensed an added layer of gloom on his *Shui Gui* predecessor.

Though it clearly couldn't be from the silent deaths of these insignificant people, Xiao Kongdong felt that his predecessor must be recalling some unpleasant events from the past amid all this death.

He kept his mouth shut and decided to remain an observer.

"Is this the dark side of *Sheng Nu*?"

After impersonating *Shui Gui*, Xu Xiaoshou encountered for the first time beneath the deep sea the heart-chilling methods of *Sheng Nu*.

Each water sphere they passed contained floating corpses, their deaths so gruesome they were beyond description.

This made him think of *Shou Ye*.

After all, *Shou Ye* had only recently become a *Zhan Dao*, and if the others had died so horribly, could *Shou Ye* have escaped?

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't unfamiliar with bloody slaughter.

Back in the Eight Palaces, when the Eight Venerables killed seven hundred white-robed figures to see off Sang Lao, he had witnessed it with his own eyes—the seven hundred white-robed ones had no chance to fight back and simply fell.

But that scene was completely different from what he saw now.

At that time, the seven hundred white-robed figures had died painlessly, struck down in one blow; even in death, those hundreds hadn't let out many extra cries of agony.

The water spheres beneath the deep sea were different—these *Lian Ling Shi* had been drained of their *Ling Yuan* alive, and their final experiences, the meaning of their deaths, their pasts, and why they had to die...

Xu Xiaoshou could imagine some of it, but not all.

Yet he knew this was all *Shui Gui*'s doing.

And since *Shui Gui* could use such terrifying methods so indifferently, it must be routine for him.

"So, in this world, there aren't that many 'whys.' Sometimes, disasters strike without warning and can take away everything you have.

"The only thing those affected can do is strive to become someone strong enough to withstand such calamities.

"Self-preservation is already difficult, let alone protecting others."

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt a surge of emotion.

He was no longer the young man from *Tian Sang Ling Palace*; he wouldn't lose himself in confusion just because of a killing or a corpse.

*Shui Gui*'s methods were indeed frightening, but the only thing Xu Xiaoshou could associate with now was his own friends and family.

Just as he had only wanted to protect the people of *Tian Shang First Tower* during the *Ling Que* Trade Fair, the further he walked this path, the more Xu Xiaoshou realized...

In this world, there are no saints!

"Xiao Kongdong, have you ever seen a true struggle for the *Great Dao*?" Xu Xiaoshou suddenly stopped, standing before a water sphere trapping a floating corpse, and asked thoughtfully.

A struggle for the *Great Dao*?

The senior disciple of *Can Yue Xian Cheng*, who had been following closely behind, was startled by the question. He subconsciously thought this wasn't his *Shui Gui* predecessor asking out of naivety, but rather that the other had noticed his discomfort with the darkness and wanted to offer some guidance.

Who would have thought *Shui Gui* predecessor was not only considerate and warm, but also perceptive... Xiao Kongdong sighed to himself, smiling slightly as he nodded and said:

"Predecessor, there's no need to guide me. Every action of *Sheng Nu* must have Teacher's approval, and as his student, I have no doubts.

"As for the struggle for the *Great Dao*..."

He paused, looking at another floating corpse in front of them, his expression growing more serious: "If we're talking about tragedy, who could be more tragic than the *Lei Shi* clan? That was true innocence!"

*Lei Shi*?

Xu Xiaoshou's mind instantly flashed to the silver-haired Lei Xi'er and her brother, *Lei Shuangxing*.

He turned back, his face shifting slightly, and said casually: "You're also paying attention to the *Lei Shi* matter? I imagine what *Can Yue Xian Cheng* knows and what I have in hand—one light, one dark—should be different. Go on, tell me."

Xiao Kongdong didn't suspect anything, clicking his tongue a few times as he lamented:

"*Lei Shuangxing*'s fate was tragic. I originally thought Teacher wanted to groom him as a successor, so I secretly investigated his background. Little did I know, the more I dug, the more shocking it became.

"The *Lei Shi* clan suffered terribly back then. After their *Ban Sheng* fell, they went too long without producing a new saint, so they were demoted to a *Tai Xu* family.

"Then, because they controlled the authority of the Heavenly Dao's punishment power and their clan techniques were incredibly powerful, they drew envy. If they tried to produce a saint, it would stir up trouble, so they hesitated and dared not advance.

"But for other families, lacking a saint meant vulnerability; for the *Lei Shi*, holding such valuable assets without the strength to protect them was an even greater crime.

"Sure enough, one of the five *Sheng Di* families, the Dao clan, suppressed the *Lei Shi* for years and then forcibly seized their authority.

"The Heavenly Dao's punishment power, the *Lei Shi* clan techniques... under the slightest pretext, the Dao clan swept in like a barbaric army, uprooting everything. In the end, the thousand-year *Lei Shi* clan was reduced to ashes.

"What a pity, what a shame!"

Xiao Kongdong looked full of regret, unconcerned about revealing such major secrets in front of his own people.

In his eyes, his *Shui Gui* predecessor probably knew even more, so he only mentioned the core details he had uncovered and skipped the specifics of the *Lei Shi* clan's destruction.

"Received a shock, Passive Points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou listened from the side, his eyelids twitching wildly.

Goodness, you know all that in such detail?

He had heard bits and pieces about the *Lei Shi* tragedy, piecing together a vague outline and knowing there was injustice involved.

But he never imagined it involved the *Sheng Di* and such bloody struggles for power!

"The Dao clan..."

Xu Xiaoshou pondered, thinking of Dao Qiong Cang.

He didn't ask directly about the five *Sheng Di* families, as that didn't fit *Shui Gui*'s identity. Since Xiao Kongdong was willing to talk, he didn't mind adding a little fuel to the fire.

Secrets like these—Xu Xiaoshou had asked Ba Zun An, asked Sang Lao, and hinted at it with so many others.

But no matter who he asked, the response was always that he was too young, his cultivation too low, and he shouldn't ask what he shouldn't.

Xu Xiaoshou was incredibly curious.

Now, he had finally found the real use of this *Can Yue Xian Cheng* bigmouth as a bodyguard, so he played along, saying:

"Indeed, the Dao clan, and the other clans..."

He couldn't continue.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know how to wrap up the sentence properly.

After all, he knew nothing about the five *Sheng Di* families, not even who they were.

In the end, he just "tsk-tsked" twice, ending with a meaningful smile while looking at Xiao Kongdong, his eyes signaling that he was patient and ready to listen as this *Shui Gui* predecessor of his poured out more.

Xiao Kongdong couldn't pull himself away from his *Shui Gui* predecessor's guiding smile.

He was like a treasure chest full of miscellaneous parts—once the lid was opened and someone rummaged through it, wanting to pour something out, it all came spilling uncontrollably...

"That they do!"

With a tone of complaint, the senior disciple of *Can Yue Xian Cheng* seemed to associate something with the "Dao clan," saying resentfully:

"The five *Sheng Di* families: Yue, Bei, Hua, Rao, Dao.

"If it weren't for this bunch sitting high above in the clouds, why would the *Tai Xu* be so afraid to break through, or the *Ban Sheng* confine themselves?

"I found this out over the years!

"In that battle outside *Fu Tu* City back then, if the *Sheng Di* hadn't intervened, how could Hua Jianxian have struck down the Eighth Jianxian with three swords? That doesn't make sense!"

There are different versions of the story?

Xu Xiaoshou's heart raced as he listened, nodding in agreement despite it not quite matching *Shui Gui*'s demeanor—he had to uphold Xiao Kongdong's freedom to speak:

"You're right..."

Xiao Kongdong grew more excited as he spoke, and with the agreement, he even gestured with his hands as he continued:

"At that time, Hua Chang... uh, Hua Jianxian hadn't yet become a saint, and Teacher was the top beneath *Ban Sheng*. At the very least, he wouldn't lose to that guy in swordsmanship.

"Teacher's talent is once-in-a-millennium!

"If it weren't for the *Sheng Di* suppressing from above, why would he waste decades establishing *Sheng Nu* and gathering Void Island's forces to fight against this unequal oppression of power?

"What a pity..."

His words suddenly halted, and Xiao Kongdong seemed to think of something, sinking into melancholy and unable to extricate himself.

Xu Xiaoshou was still reeling from the information spilling from this bigmouth's lips.

So, *Sheng Nu* was established precisely to counter the five *Sheng Di* families?

Based on what this *Can Yue Xian Cheng* bigmouth said, the five must be "Yue, Bei, Hua, Rao, Dao," right?

Dao is Dao Qiong Cang?

Rao is Rao Yao Yao?

Hua... well, the only one that fits is the Seven Jianxian, Hua Changdeng.

Did the *Sheng Di* help Hua Changdeng, so he won against Ba Zun An?

Despicable—this even makes me want to stand up for Ba Zun An...

But it does match Hua Changdeng's background; he must be from one of the five *Sheng Di* families.

So, the remaining "Yue" and "Bei"...

Who could they be?

Xu Xiaoshou had barely heard of these surnames.

He racked his brains and finally recalled that for "Bei," the only possible match was "Bei Huai Wu Lei Tian Yi Shang" from the Ten Venerables.

Bei Huai?

He hadn't heard much about him...

And "Yue"? That one baffled Xu Xiaoshou even more.

His "perception" gave him exceptional memory, but throughout his life, he didn't think he'd ever met anyone with the surname Yue.

"What a pity about what?"

Still not satisfied, Xu Xiaoshou picked up where Xiao Kongdong left off and asked. This *Can Yue Xian Cheng* bigmouth was too useful—he dared say anything and held nothing back!

Xiao Kongdong didn't notice anything amiss and shook his head, still lost in his melancholy:

"Predecessor, do you think in a person's life, the word 'emotion' can be that profound? Even someone as strong as Teacher couldn't get past it..."

Xu Xiaoshou's expression froze instantly.

You're asking the very question that's on my mind!

I've been reincarnated twice and haven't even had a proper romance!

"You too... cough, you haven't had a partner yet?" Xu Xiaoshou stumbled over his words three times, forcibly swallowing the "too" that almost slipped out.

Xiao Kongdong's face turned red, hitting the mark exactly. He didn't catch the detail and just averted his eyes: "I'm devoted to the sword path and don't care for worldly matters, so emotion-based sword techniques are my weakest point..."

He paused, perhaps too embarrassed to linger on the topic, and shifted gears.

"Teacher's emotion-based sword techniques are strong, but they were also his making and his undoing. He shouldn't have entered the mortal world back then—you'll see, he never got out of it!" He spread his hands.

Xu Xiaoshou's face took on a strange look.

Only now did his thoughts return to the main point.

It turns out Ba Zun An's troubles were related to a "woman"?

This is just... something else!

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know how to judge it.

He had never heard even a hint from outsiders that there was a woman's shadow in Ba Zun An's battle with Hua Changdeng back then.

This truly piqued his curiosity.