Chapter 1660: Two Sleeves Empty, Great Intent Fulfilled The Period for Understanding the Damage Hex Completed

The entire hall was silent.

Suddenly, Yue Gongli reacted, his face turning crimson.

“Dao Niantian, who exactly are you hinting at? Let’s be direct. If you have a knife, just stab me; why beat around the bush?”

“Brother-in-law, I…” Yue Gongli quickly turned, anxiously looking at Xu Xiaoshou’s stomach.

That remark was too powerful. Anyone from a Saint Emperor family would understand what it means to pass the “Heart Inquiry” trial.

It signifies absolute loyalty! It means sacrificing everything for the family’s legacy, regardless of familial bonds, friendships, or love!

What does this represent? Yue Gongli was all too aware of what it signified in the eyes of outsiders—a stark contradiction to the ideology of this generation’s Ten Venerables!

In that instant, Yue Gongli could almost see the Grim Reaper extending a hand towards him, while the God of Life simultaneously struggled to sow seeds of wisdom into his mind…

But his quick wit was truly inferior to Dao Qiongcang’s.

Amidst a flurry of thoughts and anxieties, he finally decided to start explaining while simultaneously trying to figure out what to explain.

However, Xu Xiaoshou waved a hand and said lightly:

“Your brother-in-law is gone.”

Yue Gongli felt like he was punching cotton; the words made him stagger, leaving him dumbfounded.

The explanation, whose content he himself didn't even know before it left his lips, caught in his throat and was swallowed back down.

He lowered his head, shook it a few times, and tried to speak, but no sound came out.

After a moment, he let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Heh…” What was I thinking?

He is Ba Zun’an! Not everyone is a scoundrel like Dao Qiongcang. Since Ba Zun’an had decided from the start not to act against him, how could he be swayed by a few words from Dao Qiongcang? There is still nothing in this world that can shake his true resolve, only one person, and that was just once in all these years. What am I to him? In his eyes, why would I be worth going back on his word for?

“It’s been over thirty years, and he still hasn’t learned to look people in the eye…” Yue Gongli clenched his fists tightly, then quickly loosened them.

The relief of surviving a calamity, along with the resentment of being ignored and overlooked, surged within him simultaneously. He was clearly in a precarious position, but compared to them…

In an instant, Yue Gongli was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, unsure how to react.

However, this descendant of a Saint Emperor was exceptionally composed; he quickly managed his complex emotions and bowed towards Xu Xiaoshou’s stomach:

“Thank you, brother-in-law, for sparing my life.”

Then he looked up to meet Xu Xiaoshou’s icy gaze:

“Thank you, Master Shou, for your leniency.”

Turning, he glanced back at Dao Niantian, whom he wished to tear into a thousand pieces, opened his mouth, and tears welled up in his eyes:

“Thank you, Brother Dao, for letting me off the hook!”

Dao Qiongcang was expressionless.

At this moment, he had completely detached from Cao Erzhu’s body. With a flick of a card, he summoned his own physical body. Once he re-entered it, the puppet became lifelike, brimming with vitality.

Yet, even with such a lifelike body, indistinguishable from a real person, his facial expression was now harder than stone.

He lowered his eyelids, seemingly deep in thought.

Yue Gongli bowed to him, showing utmost respect.

His gaze followed Yue Gongli’s form, scanning from his left chest to his neck, then to his back ribs, and finally tracing back from his back to his head and chest again.

Yue Gongli’s soul felt chilled to the bone, as if treading on thin ice.

After standing up, their eyes met again; tears streamed from Yue Gongli like hail, while Dao Qiongcang remained in deep thought.

They stared at each other for an unknown duration…

Finally, Dao Qiongcang’s lips curved into a smile. He reached out, pinched the soul body’s cheek, then patted his face, and laughed heartily:

“Just a joke, Brother Yue, why are you taking it so seriously?”

“You and I are like brothers, soulmates. Do you really think I’d actually want to kill you?”

Yue Gongli’s face twitched as he recoiled half a step, vigorously wiping his face, forcing out a not-so-stiff smile: “Haha, Brother Dao…”

“Did my touch make you dirty?”

His laughter abruptly ceased.

Yue Gongli reacted at light speed, quickly lowered his hand from his face, and let out two forced, almost tearful laughs: “Ahaha, that’s not what I meant…”

“If it’s dirty, wipe it with a handkerchief.”

Dao Qiongcang shook his head with a light chuckle, elegantly pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket and offering it. Then he suddenly slapped his forehead:

“Look at me, my mind! I almost forgot to help you re-form your physical body.”

Yue Gongli’s pupils dilated in shock, and he repeatedly waved his hands to decline, his entire soul body radiating intense refusal.

Without a word, Dao Qiongcang cast a Great Blessing Art. Yue Gongli shrieked repeatedly, and before long, the simplest physical body was re-formed for him.

“Th-thank you, Brother Dao…”

“The handkerchief.”

“No need…”

“It’s dirty.”

“It’s not dirty! Really not dirty!”

“Take it.”

“No, really no need…”

Dao Qiongcang’s smile faded.

Yue Gongli flinched in fear, snatched the handkerchief with a snap, carefully folded it, not daring to use it, and clenched it in his hand behind his back.

“Thank you, Brother Dao.”

Cao Erzhu felt as if he had been electrocuted, and he suddenly shivered.

He looked at Dao Qiongcang, who was smiling but remained silent.

Then he looked back at his own physical body, which still held a subtle smile on its face, having just declared a piece of advice for Ba Zun’an before freezing in place.

For the first time, Cao Erzhu felt his own face was so repulsive, even more terrifying than his father’s!

“Everything this ‘Dao’ fellow said and did seemed normal, yet why did it feel so unsettling?”

Cao Erzhu felt that Uncle Yi’s approach was correct; he shouldn’t have shown himself just because of Sister Bayue.

No one targeted by this “Uncle Dao” ever came to a good end!

“Erzhu, come here.”

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Cao Erzhu shivered, for Dao Qiongcang was beckoning to him.

“What for?” He looked wary.

Xu Xiaoshou even shifted his stance, subtly stepping in front of Erzhu.

Although Cao Erzhu, from inside to out, from soul to body, had already been thoroughly ‘trespassed’ by Dao Qiongcang.

But one less touch was still one less touch.

After all, even he felt a shiver of dread watching Dao Qiongcang enthusiastically re-form Yue Gongli’s body.

Could that body really still be used? Wouldn’t he wake up screaming or choking himself in his sleep?

“You’re even guarding against me?” Dao Qiongcang found the sight amusing.

Xu Xiaoshou: “A gentleman does not guard.”

Cao Erzhu’s expression froze. He looked at the slender back of Brother Xiaoshou shielding him and felt how profound it was.

“‘A gentleman does not guard,’ what does that mean? A gentleman wouldn’t guard against you, but I am guarding against you, so I’m a petty person… Is Brother Xiaoshou scolding himself? Or does it mean, I wouldn’t guard against a gentleman, but I am guarding against you, which means you’re a petty person… Is Brother Xiaoshou scolding Dao Qiongcang?”

Cao Erzhu scratched his head, thought and thought, and finally let out a ‘wow’.

Dao Qiongcang laughed at the silly, naive Erzhu’s ‘wow’.

Xu Xiaoshou enjoyed playing these enigmatic games, and the best way was to ignore him:

“I need to help my nephew’s soul re-connect with his physical body.”

“If I’m not inside him, and no one helps, the longer the soul and body are separated, the more damage will be incurred. This isn’t just about memory; it also includes his Dao foundation and other various aspects, do you understand?”

“I don’t understand…” Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, indicating that Dao Qiongcang should move aside. “I can’t do it that way, but I can try my way.”

Dao Qiongcang, who showed little respect for Yue Gongli’s lingering soul, was quite respectful of Master Shou, with whom he had fought alongside. He merely chuckled and stepped aside.

“Erzhu, it might hurt a bit later. Just follow my lead.”

“Mhm.” Erzhu trusted Brother Xiaoshou deeply, nodding repeatedly.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately activated his Life Dao Plate, manipulating Erzhu’s non-resistant soul body using the Soul Control Ghost Sword Art, to reconnect it with his physical body.

He had never done this before. He had helped people separate their souls and bodies, but combining them was a first.

But there’s always a first time for everything. Xu Xiaoshou observed Cao Erzhu’s life patterns, carefully attempting to reintegrate them by tracking changes in the Dao patterns.

It went smoothly.

The Life Dao’s profoundness was indeed formidable. Though it was his first time reuniting a soul and body, it was a bit painful. Erzhu bit his teeth and didn’t cry out, clearly demonstrating excellent endurance.

Just as he was about to succeed…

“Buzz!”

Cao Erzhu’s life patterns suddenly changed, rapidly dimming, as if he were on the verge of death.

What’s going on? Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered that there were actually two souls clinging to Erzhu’s body, almost fusing into one under the catalysis of his life force.

And until this moment, the second soul had remained silent.

“Who are you, on my Pillar Baby’s body… Wait!”

Xu Xiaoshou’s pupils trembled. He remembered something and was greatly alarmed.

Holy cow, Shen Yi is still here! Did he cultivate ‘Solitary Detachment’ or something? How is his presence so faint?

No, this guy didn’t say a single word from beginning to end…

Even when Ba Zun’an arrived, he didn’t even greet him.

So sparing with words, is he practicing some kind of silent meditation?

“Shen Yi!”

“I’m here.”

“Come out! Why are you playing mute? Erzhu will be tormented to death by you soon.”

“I can’t come out.”

Shen Yi naturally wasn’t joking. As soon as he spoke, Xu Xiaoshou recalled the scene he’d witnessed in the second world of Illusory Sword Art: Shen Yi using ‘Four Sacrifices’ to destroy Sui Yin’s physical body.

He had learned ‘Four Sacrifices,’ but he truly didn’t dare to use it unless it was a desperate last resort.

‘Sacrifice Body’ is not like an ordinary person losing their physical body and being able to recover with rare treasures. It exchanges abandonment for power, as if born without a body.

While this ‘one-for-one’ burst was extreme, its consequences were also severe. At the very least, it wasn’t something Shen Yi could quickly recover from to re-form his physical body.

Ancient martial arts were precisely this simple and brutal. Just as with ‘Sacrifice Body,’ so it was with ‘Sacrifice Soul,’ ‘Sacrifice Intent,’ and ‘Sacrifice Self.’

If ‘Four Sacrifices’ meant sacrificing everything, Xu Xiaoshou dared not imagine the temporary power it could unleash.

But he could foresee the outcome: The person would cease to exist, and their very being would be erased from the memories of the world. Even if the Medicine Ancestor were resurrected, he would likely be powerless to reverse it.

It could only be said that at that time, Shen Yi was truly ruthless! And decisive enough to nip many troubles in the bud!

“I can help.” Dao Qiongcang offered, as if he had anticipated the current development:

“I can provide a Heavenly Mystery puppet. Shen Yi can temporarily reside in it. Although he still won’t be able to control a physical body, it can act as a ‘buffer.’ Let’s revive one first. Nephew Erzhu is more important… Hmm, women and children are important, but the elderly are not. My Xu, wouldn’t you agree?”

Why does that sound familiar? Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes widened in surprise, and he looked back. “No, you flashy old Daoist, are you really that vengeful? I just said that casually at the time…”

“I refuse.”

Before Xu Xiaoshou could refuse, Shen Yi had already transmitted a silent soul message:

“Xu Xiaoshou, I don’t want to speak with Dao Qiongcang. Please help me refuse all his intentions, good or ill. If possible, please help me revive my physical body. If not, please allow me to continue residing in Erzhu’s soul. I can protect him, and Erzhu can protect me. No Heavenly Mystery puppet, no Great Blessing Art.”

These words were blunt, so blunt they deserved contemplation.

Shen Yi was actually so wary of Dao Qiongcang that he wouldn’t even utter an extra word… Yes, he was right. Speaking too much, like Yue Gongli, almost got him toyed to death just now. More words, more mistakes. Fewer words, fewer mistakes. No words, no mistakes.

And even now, Shen Yi was still wary of Dao Qiongcang acting against Cao Erzhu… Yes, he should be wary; Shen Yi is right. A puppet controls Shen Yi, Erzhu controls Kulei. Dao Qiongcang’s calculations were clearly ringing so loudly, how could he have let his guard down against him?

Xu Xiaoshou felt a sudden jolt of awareness, secretly muttered a few complaints about the flashy old Daoist, and was about to force a smile and refuse his offer.

“Boring.” Dao Qiongcang’s eyelids drooped. With a flick of his wrist, he put the Heavenly Mystery puppet back, muttering softly, audible only to a few people nearby:

“Talking behind someone’s back is truly boring…”

Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t embarrassed at all; in fact, he was pleased, avoiding a verbal sparring match with this fellow.

The Life Dao Plate shifted, and he immediately prepared to change his approach for Cao Erzhu’s soul-body reunification.

Without turning his head, Dao Qiongcang threw words back:

“One primary, one secondary, root and stem mutually sustaining. Although a sacrificed soul body is in a difficult position, he is Shen Yi, very powerful, and can act as a supplementary stem. Erzhu’s main soul acts as the root, drawing energy from Shen Yi’s soul body to grow downwards, allowing him to quickly reconnect with his physical body—this body just endured ‘our’ exceptionally overwhelming power, its ‘roots’ are damaged, unable to recognize its owner, perhaps even the ‘recognition’ mechanism is destroyed. Remember to be careful. During daily activities, Erzhu also needs to remember to periodically return soul energy, otherwise, constantly absorbing it, even your Uncle Yi won’t be able to bear it. This symbiotic state can last for a maximum of three months. Beyond that, both will be at risk. I won’t say more; you can consider it yourselves.”

He stopped speaking.

Xu Xiaoshou, who originally knew what to do, was forcibly frozen in place for three breaths.

He was going to do exactly that! But Dao Qiongcang had stated it, so did that mean there was… a trap?

He turned his gaze and saw the flashy old Daoist roll his eyes, spreading his hands as he spoke:

“Not really! Master Shou!”

Xu Xiaoshou grunted twice; he couldn’t figure out how the flashy old Daoist could remotely tamper with a soul-body surgery he was performing, apart from the Great God Descension Art’s imprint.

But that imprint, if it was to be placed, was probably placed long ago; one more now wouldn’t make a difference.

In a flash, he returned Cao Erzhu’s soul to his body.

“Does it feel like something is still missing?”

After restoring Cao Erzhu’s damaged body and receiving his thanks.

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Yue Gongli’s soul body recovering its physical form, and Cao Erzhu’s soul body recovering its physical form, and felt that he had forgotten something.

When he tried to think about it, even the thought of ‘recalling’ itself became very vague, as if it had been blurred from his mind.

“We can prepare to leave now.”

Dao Qiongcang, twirling the array disc in his hand, pointed to the sky, signaling Xu Xiaoshou to open the tree door.

Though he came empty-handed, he left with a full harvest, and Dao Qiongcang felt quite satisfied.

For him, life’s material desires were largely satiated during the thirty years he served as Palace Master.

He alone knew how much he had embezzled.

At this point, even treasures like those in the Ruin of the Ancestor of Arts, the Broken Jun Shield, and the Dragon-Painting Halberd—it would be a lie to say he didn’t covet them, but if he couldn’t obtain them, Dao Qiongcang genuinely didn’t dwell on it.

These things were merely icing on the cake, not necessities.

Dao Qiongcang had never forgotten the main purpose of his trip.

In the Four Symbols Secret Realm, he had used the Great Heavenly Divination Art to cast a hexagram, which read ‘Loss’.

It wasn’t a major auspicious sign, not even a minor one; it should be considered quite an unfavorable hexagram.

However, no hexagram is absolute. Dao Qiongcang interpreted it this way:

“Beneath the mountain is a marsh, the marsh nourishes the tall mountain; sacrificing the lower benefits the higher. Sacrifice myself to benefit others!”

Dao Qiongcang never forced anything; he let things arise and cease as fate dictated. Thus, he went with the flow and entered this perilous divine relic.

As expected, there were profound karmic connections within, one layer after another. If handled poorly, he could easily get himself killed.

But the final outcome proved that his choice from the very beginning was correct.

Willingly playing a supporting role, damaging himself to benefit Xu, bestowing fortune upon him, which then rebounded to me.

Xu Xiaoshou was supported, and he himself obtained what he most desired and was most satisfied with:

“Having control over Cao Erzhu’s body means the Great God Descension Art can be cast at any time, which is equivalent to holding Kulei Han’s lifeline. As long as things don’t go out of control afterward, anything is possible… I wouldn’t dare descend upon you, but I wouldn’t dare descend upon your son? Ah, humans truly are constrained by the continuation of their bloodline; I must be vigilant about this… Right, there’s also Bayue…”

“Cao Erzhu is usable. Controlling him also came with a slightly bothersome bonus: Shen Yi’s soul, which is holed up in the City of the Dead Pagoda. Unless something unexpected happens when leaving the ruins and returning to its original place, Shen Yi’s soul should return to the crossroads… Xu Xiaoshou doesn’t remember this detail, and even if he did, he’d be powerless… So my next stop should be reclaiming the City of the Dead Pagoda, the master of Northern Night Owl Street. I hope her traces haven’t been completely erased. Damn the Five Declines of Heaven and Man, self-destruction was truly decisive. Am I really that frightening?”

“Yue Gongli’s body has been re-formed. Although I can’t cast the Great God Descension Art on him due to too much risk, at least one-third of him is now mine, and he can create variables at critical moments… Hmm, if little A’Li can, he shouldn’t want to harbor hatred towards me. As long as I don’t give him the chance, we’ll still be friends after we leave…”

“The seeds of suspicion sown between Yue and Ba mean that they can no longer be of one heart and mind. This is a subtle, unconscious change… The moment Yue Gongli accepts the Saint Emperor’s title and becomes family head will also be the time he completely parts ways with Ba Zun’an and Yue Gongnu… The siblings’ relationship is good, what a pity. With me in the middle, you two are destined not to get along peacefully…”

“My Dao of Memory has progressed, which was unexpected. I never thought defeating Sui Yin would help my Dao Heart so much. Indeed, ancient sword arts aren’t suitable for me; I seem to have some talent in other Daos… The souls of people like Wuxiu and other Holy Slaves can be returned to Xu Xiaoshou, but of course, only if he remembers and actively asks for them. If he waits until we’re outside to exchange them, I can pull many strings… Fenqin… Heh, foolish Gou Wuyue, you don’t even know how to cultivate ‘bandits for self-preservation’; no wonder you only have one arm left…”

“Bai Zhou, Xuyue Grey Palace… My apologies, the net cast thirty years ago, it’s time to reel in these big fish… Sister, the Southern Region wasn’t a congratulatory gift I left for you to become Palace Master; it was my brother’s escape route… Calculating the time, Gou Wuyue’s side should be ending soon. I hope that losing contact with me halfway won’t turn them into headless flies and that they can still proceed according to the original plan… Hmm, with Gou Wuyue present, it’s easy to say, but if Wenfeng is alone, it’s uncertain…”

“Xu Xiaoshou, tsk, still too young. Grow up quickly, we don’t have much time… Surpassing the Ten Venerables isn’t hard, but the era won’t wait for you; what you need to surpass is the era itself… Should I remind him? From various temporal nodes, it seems Sui Yin had already revived during the God-Love War… I don’t get it, I’m starting to not understand this guy. Is he really hiding something, or is he genuinely unaware of this crucial point…”

“And also…”

“The Ten Ancestors’ Secret…”

How to interpret the ‘Loss’ hexagram?

Sacrifice myself to benefit others.

The ‘Loss’ hexagram inverted.

Sacrifice others to benefit myself!

“Suspected, Passive Value, +1.”

The information panel popped up again. Xu Xiaoshou glanced suspiciously at Dao Qiongcang, who was staring blankly at the sky.

Judging by the boiling intensity of that guy’s soul, he was undoubtedly cooking up some bad idea in his mind again.

He conjured the Heavenly Realm Core, scratched his head, truly feeling he had forgotten a lot. Just as he was about to summon the tree door, he suddenly paused, then slapped his forehead:

“Flashy old Daoist, I remember now!”