Chapter 1675: Burning the Zither to Weave a Cocoon Is Not Self-Restraint, Butterfly Flapping Wings Moves Rivers and Mountains

"So, this is your plan?"

"He advances, you retreat; he retreats, you advance. Is it simply to toy with Ai Cangsheng?"

In the God-Devil Remains, Elder Sang stretched his limbs, turning his head to look at his beloved disciple, a hint of hesitation on his face.

"Thanks to my beloved disciple, Xu Xiaoshou, I've been reborn."

"Reborn as a semi-saint of Fire Elemental profound meaning, I began by comprehending the Dao in the God-Devil Remains and even mastered the Sleeveless Scarlet Flame Hand, a variant of the 'Thorough Divine Thought, Dragon Melt & Burn' technique."

Elder Sang was very satisfied with this new life.

He caressed his new body, feeling the smooth texture he hadn't experienced in a long time. This new physique had fair, delicate skin, so perfect it seemed to have only one flaw. He touched his head; the small bald spot still hadn't healed. The excessive work he did previously at Burning Qin seemed to have caused not temporary physical damage, but permanent spiritual harm.

"What a pity..."

Elder Sang merely sighed. Soon, he collected his thoughts, no longer indulging in his beautiful body. It was merely a 'pink skeleton.' No matter how beautiful the flesh, once he activated the Sleeveless Scarlet Flame Hand or Sleeveless Scarlet Flame Body, he would quickly revert to his previous withered state.

Sometimes, Elder Sang envied the second-generation Thorough Divine Thoughts like Bazun An's Sword Mind, Mei Siren's Sword Manifestation, or Wei Feng's God-Slaying Domain, which only harmed the interior and barely affected the skin. But then he reconsidered: at least he had mastered a Thorough Divine Thought, and he held a trump card comparable to the Ancestral Source power, ready to be unleashed when the time was right.

And some people…

Glancing at Water Ghost, who had awakened but was still barely alive on the side, Elder Sang felt quite content. Some people couldn't even learn Thorough Divine Thought, and their bodies were terribly fragile. What if the Sleeveless Scarlet Flame Hand he comprehended had some side effects? It was still fantastic!

"From my perspective, it's not just about toying with him, is it?"

To one side, Water Ghost slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a murky breath. His trembling hand grasped a sacred herb, slowly absorbing its spiritual energy. He dared not consume it directly; his body, newly healed from severe injuries, had only just been restored. Devouring a powerful herb rashly would likely be unbearable and could lead to death from over-nourishment.

Gazing at Xu Xiaoshou standing atop the Saint Mountain in the spatial mirror before him, then looking back at the second, tangible Xu Xiaoshou in front of him, Water Ghost couldn't help but ask: "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Xu Xiaoshou smiled, remaining silent. His main body was currently revered by thousands on the Saint Mountain, so the one who entered the God-Devil Remains was naturally the one who was originally in the Southern Domain. But in a little while, he could switch his main body in, and then he would go out to meet Ai Cangsheng.

Noticing Xu Xiaoshou's overly confident expression, Water Ghost hesitated before deciding to offer some unwelcome advice: "Even if it's just to toy with him, you need to be careful. Ai Cangsheng is still one of the Ten Great Cardinals, after all. If he can't hold it in and explodes..."

Before he could finish, Elder Sang shook his head and interrupted, "Ai Cangsheng won't explode."

"So, whatever you want to do, as long as Saint Mountain hasn't welcomed back Elder Yu, step on him mercilessly, show no quarter!"

Water Ghost was shocked, wondering if this was truly objective advice, or if it was mixed with a desire for petty revenge.

Elder Sang looked earnestly at his beloved disciple: "I'm not being emotional; I just know that if Ai Cangsheng isn't foolish, he'll have no choice but to swallow his pride and endure. Even if he is foolish and wants to explode..."

"Xu Xiaoshou, pay attention to the 'small fries' coming and going on Saint Mountain. Dao Qiongcang won't want to see you achieve a complete victory; he only wants to see both sides suffer mutual destruction."

"So he, or perhaps Yue Gongli, and certain individuals on Saint Mountain who suddenly see the light, will all remind Ai Cangsheng that he must endure!"

"As for you..." Elder Sang paused, a ruthless expression on his face: "Xu Xiaoshou, you don't need to have any qualms. Hit him as hard as you can. This is a golden opportunity, show no mercy!"

Water Ghost remained silent, having not considered this point. Xu Xiaoshou clicked his tongue, thinking, "Oh, Elder Sang, when my main body came up with that strategy, I already felt contaminated by that flashy old Daoist. You really don't want to show any leniency, do you?"

"I will." Xu Xiaoshou nodded, indicating that he would convey his master's advice to his main body.

Water Ghost quickly dismissed the matter. With Xu Xiaoshou on his own, supplemented by Elder Burning Qin, the two of them could perfectly refine the overall situation and any potentially overlooked details. His own role as a "strategist" was minimal, so Water Ghost simply turned to another angle and asked: "Have you mastered a way to leave the God-Devil Remains from elsewhere?"

Xu Xiaoshou saw the gleam in their eyes and understood the true meaning of the question, but he could only shake his head and say regretfully: "There is another way. But this method is currently only usable by me. If you want to leave, you'll likely still need to rely on the Path of Guidance to return from your original location." He glanced at Cao ErZhu, who was still cultivating: "He too."

Water Ghost opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to get to the bottom of it, but 'Lord Xu' was not what he used to be, and he was wary of prying into any secrets. Xu Xiaoshou, however, was less reserved and voluntarily explained: "Unless you all cultivate the profound meanings of the three paths: origin, spirit, and will."

Water Ghost's head buzzed upon hearing this, and he immediately abandoned his unrealistic ideas. So, the "feigned death" method Xu Xiaoshou mentioned for escaping the God-Devil Remains was so difficult?

"Dao Qiongcang seemed to have other plans..." Before he could finish, Xu Xiaoshou smiled and replied: "What Dao Qiongcang probably had in mind at the time was to completely refine your souls into the kind of artifact spirits I described and take them out. I can do that now too. Do you want me to?"

Water Ghost was speechless. To leave as a weakened artifact spirit, then break free from the "artifact's" restrictions outside, reshape one's body, and slowly cultivate one's realm back. They would be out. They would have survived. But their Dao foundation would be half-crippled. Perhaps they could regain semi-saint combat power within a century, but in this lifetime, further progress would likely be impossible, and a century... Compared to the grand scheme of things, it would be too late! Rather than that, it would be better to obediently remain in the God-Devil Remains. Once Xu Xiaoshou finished his shenanigans outside, distracting Ai Cangsheng elsewhere, the few of them could safely return via the original path.

"Don't even think about it," Elder Sang waved his hand, casting a disdainful glance at Water Ghost. "Would he overlook something you could consider? Look whose disciple he is!"

Water Ghost: "..."

"Alright, alright," he thought, "you two, master and disciple, are truly formidable." For no particular reason, he found himself muttering about his own good-for-nothing son in his heart, truly incomparable!

"If the time is ripe, I want to go out."

After a moment of silence filled with unspoken thoughts, Elder Sang suddenly looked at his disciple and spoke gravely. Water Ghost shifted his gaze from the still unconscious Cen Qiaofu, a shadow on his face, remaining silent, unsure if it was due to Cen Qiaofu or Elder Sang's words.

"To go in and attract attention, huh?" Xu Xiaoshou probably understood what trick Elder Burning Qin had been contemplating and helplessly asked, "Where would you exit from?"

"The Dead Sea!"

"Let's discuss that later." Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, not wanting to talk about future plans too much, as he felt he could handle everything on his own and there was no need. He decided to go and switch with his main body; the passive points for "blooming" and "reckless" passive skills had accumulated significantly.

"Come back!"

Elder Sang's decision was resolute. He sternly called his rebellious disciple back, then looked at both him and Water Ghost, calmly stating: "If I am slow to return to the Dead Sea, it means the 'distraction' doesn't exist. In that case, Ai Cangsheng might choose to go all out, suddenly pulling you into the Divine Court to quickly end the battle."

"Divine Court?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyelids twitched. He thought of the Dark Divine Court, the Ranming Divine Court, and the Ancestor of Techniques' Ruins. But these were either embryonic forms of Divine Courts or only barely activated, borrowing only a fraction of their power.

"A Divine Court!"

"And a complete one!"

Elder Sang was concise, knowing Xu Xiaoshou understood what he meant, but still felt uneasy and added a few serious explanations:

"I'm not clear on the specifics. But the Sacred God Continent is the territory of the Five Great Sacred Emperor Families. Their five Sacred Emperor Secret Realms can evolve into five Divine Courts when necessary, and Ai Cangsheng might be able to borrow them. If it truly comes to a desperate situation, you must also guard against the 'Resurrection of the Ten Ancestors.' This is precisely why Tsui Yin only dared to devour semi-saint positions to accumulate strength in the God-Devil Remains, not daring to recklessly enter the Sacred God Continent. In short, don't let your guard down. Just know that they have many, many, very powerful trump cards."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded. He knew all this. If their trump cards weren't numerous or powerful, wild figures like Bazun An or dominant forces like the Saint Servant wouldn't have been suppressed for so long. The unpredictable Dao Qiongcang wouldn't have had to lie dormant on Saint Mountain for over thirty years, only now daring to head south amidst the chaos to establish a Heavenly Secret Divine Cult. Even if only half of the Ten Great Cardinals united, they could have overthrown the rule of the Five Great Sacred Emperor Families long ago—but none of this has happened, which clearly indicates something.

This time, when his main body returned to the Sacred God Continent, having learned about Tsui Yin, he had been secretly guarding against precisely these things. Moreover, he didn't believe that the Sacred Emperors of the Five Great Sacred Emperor Families on the Sacred God Continent, even if some were lower-ranked Sacred Emperors, would be weaker than Tsui Yin in the God-Devil Remains. On the contrary, they might even be stronger! This was evident early on in the Heavenly Xuan Gate, from the cowardly demeanor of the rogue Sacred Emperor Feng Yujin.

"Resurrection of the Ten Ancestors..." Xu Xiaoshou murmured, looking at Elder Sang with uncertainty, wanting to ask about the extent of the resurrection. Like Tsui Yin? Or a complete resurrection? It was simply unimaginable!

Elder Sang shrugged: "The cost would definitely be huge."

So, a complete resurrection truly couldn't be ruled out... Hearing such a veiled answer, Xu Xiaoshou secretly clicked his tongue in amazement but indicated he understood. Could the five Sacred Emperors alone truly suppress the talent of someone who could write the "Sword Contemplation Canon" thirty years ago? Like a lone lion or tiger. It must have been an immense "great terror" that forced an inevitable loner like Bazun An to establish the Saint Servant, leveraging forces like Burning Qin and the Flower and Grass Pavilion, and secretly uniting with other Ten Great Cardinals, spending over thirty years—even shamelessly snatching the famous sword from young Su Qianqian—all to defy fate, right?

"For now, it won't reach that level." Elder Sang smiled, feeling Xu Xiaoshou was being overly worried. After all, that was the most extreme and worst-case scenario, one that Bazun An hadn't even encountered back then.

"If you want to return to the Dead Sea, you'll only have one chance." Xu Xiaoshou returned to the main topic.

"Understood," Elder Sang replied, fully comprehending. Once he returned, Ai Cangsheng would be thoroughly prepared and would certainly not allow him to return to the God-Devil Remains via the Path of Guidance. At that point, if Xu Xiaoshou couldn't provide timely assistance, he would essentially be crippled.

"But I still must return!"

Elder Sang naturally knew the easiest course of action, but clearly, his ambition wasn't so small: "The Saint Servant will eventually have a decisive battle with the Saint Mountain of Guizhe. The old me would never have dreamed that Dao Qiongcang would one day break away from Saint Mountain. So, this opportunity now... is once in a lifetime!"

Elder Sang paused, stood up, and with his hands clasped behind his back, paced back and forth across the desolate battlefield of the God-Devil Remains, as if he had rehearsed this plan countless times in his mind over the past thirty years. He recited it casually: "If I return to the Dead Sea, then the Heavenly Ladder will break, Sacred Emperors will emerge, the order of the five domains will collapse, and everyone will be in peril. If I return to the Dead Sea, then ghost beasts will appear, an age of chaos will descend, all four seas will undergo shocking changes, and various factions will offer support. If I return to the Dead Sea, then Bazun An must arrive, Void Island will descend, and both the Black and White Factions will pour out. If I return to the Dead Sea, then the Sacred Palace will rise, the Sacred Xuan Gate will roar, and the saints of all races will spare no effort. If I return to the Dead Sea..." Elder Sang stopped, laughing softly: "Actually, it means I enter the Dead Sea."

"That was the point of my rupture with Bazun An back then. He thought it wasn't necessary to go to such extremes, believing we could gradually break through from the outside and simply force our way into the Five Great Sacred Emperor Secret Realms."

"I, however, believed that nothing less would suffice to defy the heavens. We needed to establish roots internally, connecting the inside and outside, using the turmoil of the Dead Sea as a catalyst to influence the situation of all races, both above and below the Heavenly Ladder."

So... Was Ba Gongli entering the Dead Sea after being shot with an arrow also part of the plan? Even without Ba Gongli, were there methods for Jiu Gongli, or Shi Gongli, to enter the Dead Sea? So... After returning from the God-Devil Remains to the Dead Sea, Elder Sang would still cause trouble in the Dead Sea. How would he do that? Had he thought he'd escaped the Saint Servant's machinations, only to realize he was still within Bazun An and Elder Sang's grand scheme?

"Hiss!" Xu Xiaoshou's pupils constricted in shock. He had never expected Elder Sang to suddenly reveal all this. From his current perspective, how weak was Elder Sang? A semi-saint of profound meaning, easily extinguished, as insignificant as an insect compared to the Five Great Sacred Emperor Families. Yet this weak insect would spin a cocoon, binding himself within the Dead Sea. What he was thinking now, however, was to naturally transform into a butterfly in the God-Devil Remains, flapping his wings to stir up a storm on the Sacred God Continent?

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly looked at Water Ghost. He found that while Water Ghost's expression showed surprise, it clearly wasn't one of great shock, as if he had anticipated it. "Wait, you two are making me, the new second-in-command of the Saint Servant, feel like an outsider!" Xu Xiaoshou quickly asked, "What do you two plan to do?"

Elder Sang smiled and turned back: "We're on the same page."

"...Bullshit! For something this big, you should at least tell me what I need to do so I can cooperate, right?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened, flustered, he hurriedly switched his main body's consciousness to deal with the matter.

Elder Sang smiled without speaking, sitting on a large rock. He propped up one leg, rested an elbow on it, clasped his hands across his chest, and a faint smile played on his lips: "No need. Amidst all changes, the fundamental principle remains constant."

From Tian Sang Spiritual Palace to the God-Devil Remains... From Saint Servant Wuxiu to Burning Qin Boiling Crane... Xu Xiaoshou had heard too many stories about Elder Sang from various people: storytellers, Bazun An, Aunt Xiang... Only now, at this very moment, did he truly glimpse the determination and madness of the former ruler of the dark intelligence world within this slightly bald old man.

Elder Sang pointed to the gray sky of the God-Devil Remains: "Tsui Yin was a variable, and you ended that variable." He pointed to the spatial mirror Xu Xiaoshou had conjured, indicating the disturbed people on Saint Mountain of Guizhe: "Dao Qiongcang was a variable, and you changed that variable too." He pointed across, at his beloved disciple, at Xu Xiaoshou: "You are even more of a variable, a completely unpredictable and uncontrollable one."

Elder Sang paused, lowering his head and chuckling, his bald pate gleaming: "But without the will to engage with variables, the Ember Incineration's embers wouldn't have randomly chosen within the five domains for decades, nor would you have been chosen by chance when I returned to the Spiritual Palace once. Without the will to master variables, Ember Incineration of the Heavens would be your final answer, and I wouldn't have met Bazun An again because of you to acquire the other half of the Ten-Stage Sword Finger."

Elder Sang looked up at the gray sky. Having reshaped his body and lost his dark circles, his eyes didn't appear as profound as before. But the depth of those dark circles was superficial; the profoundness in his gaze at this moment seemed capable of holding a vast galaxy: "Void Island's century-long plan, the general trend is already set... If not for you in the White Cave, I would have gone myself... Water Ghost is plotting at Solitary Sound Cliff, and the Four Divine Pillars won't wait for you... There are other candidates for the Four Symbols Secret Realm, and you are stronger than Lei Shuangxing..."

Elder Sang spoke of many variables, but all of them, even if unexpected events occurred, remained under control. —Indeed, if a variable didn't present unexpected developments, it wouldn't be called a variable! And reaching this point, with the situation still under control, it was clear, as Elder Sang's gaze fell upon him, that Xu Xiaoshou realized... He was going to hand things over to him.

"That night you became my disciple at Tian Sang Spiritual Palace, I spoke to you about Goose Lake and the cage," Elder Sang recalled with a nostalgic gaze. "Layer upon layer of cages, nested together, that's what I wanted to tell you about the Five Domains of the Continent, the Heavenly Ladder, and the Sacred Emperors. At that time, you threw a stone into the lake, creating a great stir. I treated it as a joke but harbored a beautiful vision, hoping it could truly be so."

Elder Sang chuckled, stroking his still non-existent beard, and said self-deprecatingly: "Did this old man actually have a day when a beautiful dream came true?" He was clearly very satisfied with this disciple. Even before, during, and after his discipleship, there had been many dissatisfactions. But life was never absolutely perfect, and with developments reaching this point, Elder Sang was quite content.

"Now, everything is ready. Even Dao Qiongcang can't scheme against you, so what more could I be worried about?" Elder Sang looked back at the spatial mirror, towards Saint Mountain of Guizhe: "Do whatever you want to do. If I weren't confident, I wouldn't be telling you all this today. When the time is ripe..."

Elder Sang stood up from the large rock and clenched his fist, but he didn't activate the Sleeveless Scarlet Flame Hand to display his power. He still wanted to enjoy this beautiful body his beloved disciple had created for a little longer.

"When the time is ripe, my return to the Dead Sea will be my entry into the game. All changes will flow like water eastward, let them take their natural course. And the matters thereafter, I leave to you all."

After listening, Xu Xiaoshou opened his mouth, his heart a mix of emotions, with many words he wanted to say. He had originally thought that by not fighting and merely toying with Ai Cangsheng, he would be invincible. He could also furiously accumulate passive points, slowly practice passive skills, and gradually strengthen himself. He hadn't expected that the general trend was unstoppable! The direction he was heading was still towards the Saint Servant's objective—the stone had shattered the sky in the lake, but it was still in the lake! And Elder Sang wanted to pull off even more audacious moves in between...

"Can you even pull it off? You're just a mere semi-saint of profound meaning! Do you really think you're that flamboyant old Daoist?"

But without uttering a word of dissuasion, Xu Xiaoshou thought of the phrase "once in a lifetime opportunity"—indeed, if they didn't act audaciously now, what if that flamboyant old Daoist truly intervened and sided with Saint Mountain...

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's ashen and uncertain face, Elder Sang smiled and waved his hand: "No need to be anxious, and it's not that urgent. I'm still here; the initiative is ours." He pointed back to Saint Mountain in the spatial mirror, raising an eyebrow as he said: "You still have time, but not much."