Chapter 1679: Sword Immortal Battle New Chapter, Dog Palace Establishes a New Beginning

*Who's messing with me?*

*This seems to be my Great God Incarnation Art?*

*Impossible! Besides me, who else would master this art... Wait, Xu Xiao...*

*Solitude!*

*Xu Xiaoshou?*

*Xu Xiaoshou, who is that?*

"Why do the Great Memory Art and Great Anomaly Art show this name as the result?"

*Solitude, lifted!*

*It really is Xu Xiaoshou!*

*Damn it! I was too arrogant! I shouldn't have explained the principle of the imprint to him back then; he actually learned it?*

*But how does he have the Way of Memory... No! It's the Grand Way of Intent, is it an imprint left on me through this method?*

*Solitude!*

*Xu Xiaoshou, who?*

*Not good, I'm caught in the guidance. This thought just appeared...*

*Yes, what I should be considering is how to resolve the anomaly currently happening to me. I need to counterattack, Great Stripping...*

*Solitude, lifted!*

*Xu! Xiao! Shou!*

*Wait, why does it feel like I'm being spied on...*

*Can't bother with this now, can't bother with this. I must first cast Great Stripping...*

*Solitude!*

*Hmm?*

*Xu Xiaoshou, who?*

Returning from the Divine Ruins to the Holy Divine Continent, Xu Xiaoshou located Dao Qiongcang via the imprint of the Intent Dao Disk. Using the imprint as a foundation, spatial transfer and consciousness intrusion simultaneously moved his physical body and spiritual essence from another location. Starting with the "Received God Incarnation Art," he emerged from the flesh and blood on Dao Qiongcang's chest, withdrawing his gaze from the scene of beast horns restraining the moon and a dragon's mouth holding a palace.

Xu Xiaoshou, covered in blood, was for the first time so certain that he had mastered the ability to threaten the Ten Saint Seats. With the rapid activation and deactivation of Solitude, and its perfect coordination with Mind Stripping, Xu Xiaoshou finally understood. Dao Qiongcang didn't truly understand his Solitude; his cleverness lay in "circuitous guidance." Whenever he encountered the Solitude-level forgetting guidance, like a robot, he would only retrieve one result: Xu Xiaoshou!

This was how he could cope. After coping, he'd present a confident demeanor, giving the impression that he saw through everything. In reality, Dao Qiongcang only knew a vague outline. But if the enemy became a startled bird because of this, reducing their use of techniques, then in a sense, Dao Qiongcang had indeed countered the art.

"Clever!" He had to admit, there are only wrong names, never wrong nicknames. "Unpredictable Ghost," truly unpredictable! Yet, these thoughts that even Dao Qiongcang dared not reveal in the past were now exposed under "Mind Stripping."

"So, ninety percent of your strength was just a disguise..."

His Spirit Sea's spiritual energy was almost depleted, and he had begun to consume Ancestral Heavenly Power. Xu Xiaoshou casually deactivated Mind Stripping. Confidence brings changes. On the edge of the tall Huatian Peak cliff, Xu Xiaoshou's body shimmered with golden light, and the clinging flesh fell away, revealing his fiercely fluttering black robes. He coldly raised his head, gazing into the distance. High in the distant sky stood the one-armed Gou Wuyue and the blade-wielding Wei Feng, both highly vigilant. When the young man opposite looked up and revealed his true appearance, both their faces showed expressions of disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Lord Shou?"

Behind Xu Xiaoshou, Dao Qiongcang, his body completely twisted into a strange posture, still raised his hands high, kneeling devoutly. Once "Received God Incarnation Art" was uttered, Dao Qiongcang completely gave up struggling. Since he couldn't resist, he might as well enjoy the pain of suffering this first humiliation. But when he truly assumed the role of the divinely possessed in reality, rather than in fantasy, Dao Qiongcang looked at the inverted Xuyue Ash Palace, tears welling up in his eyes.

"So, it's this humiliating..."

Whoosh—

Shriek—

The wind at the cliff's edge, shrill as a wolf's howl and a ghost's cry, shattered his murmurs and also scattered the former Dao Palace Master's dignity to pieces. As the wind swept and howled towards the sky, it also intensified the imagery of a dragon's head holding a palace and beast horns restraining the moon. Against this desolate and magnificent backdrop, the black-robed youth, all alone and not even holding a sword, walked through the void with such ease. He gazed into the distance and spoke softly:

"Long time no see, seniors."

*Is this really Xu Xiaoshou?* Gou Wuyue was so shocked his mouth hung open, for a moment thinking his old eyes were playing tricks on him. This was the second time he had seen Xu Xiaoshou in person. But compared to the naive youth he was in the Eight Palaces back then, it was like seeing two completely different people. His composure, his demeanor, his confidence... He was like Rao Yaoyao, who had been thrown into the Holy Emperor's Secret Realm Cleansing Pool and undergone cultivation for several lifetimes in the mortal world; he was no different from a changed person. But there was a fundamental difference! Gou Wuyue understood that unlike Rao Yaoyao, Xu Xiaoshou's growth and transformation were not illusory, but stemmed from reality!

"Truly, an eye-opener..."

Wei Feng likewise seemed not to recognize the terrifying lunatic who had emerged from Dao Qiongcang's body. Although only a little over a month had passed, this fellow seemed to have truly transformed from "Xu Xiaoshou" into "Lord Shou." If he hadn't seen this face at the entrance to the passageway of the Yanming Ruins, Wei Feng would have believed it if someone said he was a young Ba Zun'an!

"What do you say?" The two elders, one with a blade and one with a sword, exchanged glances, both hesitating. On one hand, they clearly read the furious killing intent hidden beneath Xu Xiaoshou's calm exterior; on the other hand, Dao Qiongcang had said he was "one of us."

Just as the two were hesitating, Dao Qiongcang, kneeling behind Xu Xiaoshou with his head pressed into his back, moved his lips and spoke with difficulty:

"Kill... him..."

"Eek!" Feng Tiantian shivered, hunched her shoulders, and scanned her surroundings cautiously. *A killing intent, perhaps? But there's no one...* She felt a bit disappointed, tightened her grip on the Transmission Sub-Mirror in her arms, and belted out a couple of old mountain songs to embolden herself. *The Xuyue Ash Palace is really hard to find!*

Earlier, there were rumors that Gou Wuyue had entered the Southern Region, charged into the Xuyue Ash Palace, and slain Feng Xiaose with his sword. The Feng family then drafted a mission: someone needed to be stationed in the Xuyue Ash Palace and plant a Transmission Mirror in that remote location.

*It truly is remote...* The Xuyue Ash Palace was filled with ferocious ghost beasts. No one with a sound mind would accept a transmission mission that could endanger their life. But the reward was just too enticing! A full day of guidance from the old family patriarch, a full day of enlightenment in the Sword Pagoda, a full day of appreciation from Crane Sword Listener of Dust... As long as something could be broadcast, even just finding the sword intent left by Sword Immortal Wuyue, they could claim the reward! *Who wouldn't be tempted?* Indeed, no one was tempted! After all, the Way of the Sword is precious, but life is more valuable. Even among ancient sword cultivator families, few could truly sacrifice their lives for the Way of the Sword to seek out ghost beasts.

Feng Tiantian was born out of wedlock in the Feng family, a very distant branch of the bloodline. She was of the same generation as Feng Zhongzui, but unlike Feng Zhongzui and Feng Zhongzhi, because her parents didn't strive, she couldn't even get the character "Zhong" in her generation name. She possessed decent sword cultivation talent, but it was useless. This was her only chance to defy fate and change her destiny. If she didn't take this mission, she might have to wait another three to five decades for a good opportunity. But by then, where would her "sweetness" be? She'd be old and withered!

*This ghostly place is really eerie!* A vast expanse of gray mist, even the forest was enveloped in a suppressive atmosphere. Closing her eyes made her feel like a ghost was behind her, making her afraid to even blink. Feng Tiantian had been searching for almost ten days; this was her tenth time regretting taking the mission. *Looking at the sky... I can't even tell if it's noon or dusk!* Feng Tiantian clenched her small fists, gave herself another pep talk, and then secretly resolved: *If I search for another half-day and still find no traces, it means Sword Immortal Wuyue, you and I are fated not to meet in this lifetime, and I will really go home!*

Rustle. In the eerie forest, a cool breeze suddenly swept through, rustling the leaves. Feng Tiantian couldn't help but shiver again. *This chill... Why do I have this illusion that my end is near and I'm going to die here...?*

*Hmm?* Feng Tiantian suddenly froze. The surrounding trees were clearly still swaying. *But why couldn't she hear the rustling of the leaves anymore? Hmm?* Feng Tiantian looked down. She found that the clothes on her chest were ripped open, and the skin on her exposed hands was cracking little by little. It was as if her body had been lightly cut by a sword, and blood rose, turning into a misty vapor, dispersing in all directions. *Hmm?* The misty vapor surged rapidly, and the world spun violently. Intersecting forest shadows were coated with a bloody hue in her vision, rushing forward rapidly from both sides... *No, it wasn't the environment moving forward, it was I myself moving backward! I'm flying?*

"Ah—" The piercing pain finally struck. Feng Tiantian belatedly realized what had sent her flying backward. She saw the gray mist in the distance, which had been obscuring the sky, burst upward, creating a huge hole and forming a rising mushroom cloud. A giant made of white bones slowly rose from the high-altitude gray mist, while flesh rapidly condensed within it.

"No!!!" Feng Tiantian finally heard her own voice. At the same time, deafening explosions erupted in her ears and mind, shaking her until blood burst from her seven orifices, and she fainted.

Feng Tiantian fainted. Feng Tiantian was woken by pain. Feng Tiantian broke trees by crashing into them and fainted from the pain. Feng Tiantian was once again woken by the pain from her cracking body. This cycle repeated an unknown number of times. In a blood-red haze, Feng Tiantian saw the scene far in the distance after the gray mist formation had broken.

"What... is this..." She was stunned. What did she see? It was as if this was a brand new world! Four massive beast horns emerged from the ground, restraining a gray moon in the eastern sky. And on the highest peak among them, a dragon's head was faintly discernible, its mouth clutching a magnificent golden palace. That ultimate giant rose from the cliff! With one punch, it sent two figures flying so fast she couldn't even discern who they were! Feng Tiantian wanted to run, but her legs felt like lead, utterly unable to move. All that remained was her inner voice screaming frantically: *Help me—*

Two streaks of bloody light. One flew towards the distant sky. The other crashed straight towards her. *Closer! Isn't this a little too close? It's going to hit me!* Feng Tiantian didn't know how she had survived in this terrifying shockwave, but just as she was about to be crushed to death by one of the combatants... The blood-stained white-robed figure suddenly halted its momentum, stopping a palm's distance in front of her. The one-armed man gently raised his hand backward. The storm ceased, and Feng Tiantian's nearly collapsing emotions were soothed by a gentle voice:

"Careful."

Thump-thump! Thump-thump! Her heart either sped up or stopped beating. Feng Tiantian heard nothing else, only feeling as though she had arrived in heaven, having the most beautiful dream before death. What did she see? When the one-armed middle-aged man turned his head and revealed a handsome face, chiseled and full of mature charm, Feng Tiantian almost fainted from happiness. *Gou Wuyue! Feng Liangliang, did you see that? Gou Wuyue, he's Gou Wuyue! Sword Immortal Wuyue is right before me! He shielded me from the wind and rain, he saved my dog's life! Ahhhh—*

Feng Tiantian frantically tried to tidy her appearance, but as soon as she touched her face, she gasped in pain. Just then, the gentle middle-aged man opposite took out a gleaming golden pill, pinched it between two fingers, and put it into her mouth.

"Oh." Feng Tiantian subconsciously swallowed it. She didn't notice any changes in her body; at that moment, only those two fingers were swirling in her mind. Calluses, very thick calluses. Very rough, extremely rough. But! *So warm...*

*Feng Tiantian wouldn't even dare to dream so boldly; Sword Immortal Wuyue feeding me a pill?* Until the man opposite frowned and whispered:

"Leave this place quickly."

He beckoned with his fingers, and a clear, melodious sword hum arose. Feng Tiantian's eyes were wide open, utterly captivated by this mature, handsome face. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a golden sword light streaking from the horizon, and her delicate body trembled violently.

"Ahhhhh—" Her inner voice immediately went crazy, screaming madly. *What? What is this? A foot above the heavens, Ba Zun'an; who dares wield half of Qingju? Wind-storm demon shadows are nowhere to be found, midnight singing souls chillingly echo... Demonic Sword! Voice of Nulan! It must be, right? Ahhhhh, Mother, I've made it!*

That sword was indeed the Voice of Nulan, coming from beyond the heavens, landing in Gou Wuyue's hand. The white-robed, blood-stained man was about to leave with the sword, and Feng Tiantian finally regained her senses:

"Sword Immortal Wuyue!"

*Ah, damn it, it's Sword Saint Wuyue. He must be a Sword Saint now, Feng Tiantian, what are you doing, you called him wrong! Hmm, he doesn't seem to be a Sword Saint yet...*

"Hmm?" Gou Wuyue couldn't hear her noisy inner thoughts; hearing her voice, he merely paused without turning back. *Speak! Feng Tiantian, speak, are you mute...* Feng Tiantian racked her brain and squeezed out a sentence:

"Feng Liangliang, ah no, it's my treasured sword..."

Gou Wuyue's sword intent rose, and he beckoned with his fingers. The sword fragments flew from beyond the heavens. The best preserved part was a sword hilt... *Feng Liangliang, you died miserably!*

"Apologies." Gou Wuyue deeply understood the significance of a treasured sword to ancient sword cultivators, and apologized for not being able to protect this innocent ancient sword cultivator's sword.

"Don't apologize!" Feng Tiantian rushed: "It's fine, it doesn't matter if Feng Liangliang is shattered... uh, I mean, there's also a mirror..."

*A Feng family member?* Gou Wuyue beckoned again, helping her retrieve the Transmission Mirror. This treasure was well preserved, without the slightest damage under the furious waves of aura.

"Quickly retreat from this place. I no longer have the energy to protect you."

When Feng Tiantian retrieved the Transmission Mirror, she felt that dying was worth it. Seeing Sword Immortal Wuyue about to leave again, she hurriedly said:

"Is that a ghost beast?" She pointed at the distant ultimate giant, taller than the sky, her body trembling uncontrollably. *Too terrifying. Ghost beasts were indeed terrifying. Just one roar shattered the grand formation of Xuyue Ash Palace, directly shaking Sword Immortal Wuyue and that other person until they were covered in blood. How do they fight? You ghost beast, how dare you injure our Sword Immortal Wuyue!*

Gou Wuyue looked up, his expression quite solemn, but he shook his head slightly and said:

"No, that's Xu Xiaoshou."

Feng Tiantian froze, unable to react. By the time her pupils dilated in shock, Gou Wuyue, standing before her, had already drawn his sword and charged towards the giant on the horizon. Feng Tiantian instantly panicked, grabbed the mirror, and tried to follow, but couldn't keep up. She could only stomp her foot on the spot and shout:

"Gou Wuyue, don't hurt him! My Xu Xiaoshou probably didn't do it on purpose!"

The figure charging towards the horizon with his sword seemed to stumble slightly in mid-air. A violent blast of air exploded next to Feng Tiantian's ears, leaving her stunned. *The protective layer, gone? Run!* Her rationality told her there was no other way but to run. But boiling hot blood forcibly destroyed Feng Tiantian's rationality. She held her forehead, clutching the mirror, frantically retreating backward while unable to resist looking back.

*Xu Xiaoshou? Isn't my Xu Xiaoshou fighting Lord Cangsheng in the Central Region? How did he end up in the Xuyue Ash Palace in the Southern Region? Gou Wuyue is here too, and he's fighting my Xu Xiaoshou? Something's wrong, very wrong! What is Feng Zhongzui doing? Wasn't he supposed to broadcast the Sword Immortal battle? Is he broadcasting air? This new generation of Seven Sword Immortals is fighting the old generation of Seven Sword Immortals. What's he doing in the Central Region? He should be here!*

She couldn't run out of the forest. She couldn't escape the scope of the Sword Immortal battle. Feng Tiantian stopped, suddenly turning around. Covered in blood, her eyes gradually showed madness. She opened the Transmission Mirror towards the giant on the horizon, while grabbing her communication bead.

"Beep..." Of course, cross-domain communication beads could contact Feng Zhongzui; whether the other party answered was another matter. Feng Tiantian could only pray now that this young master of the Feng family understood the gravity of the situation and knew she wouldn't bother him without a major emergency. She wouldn't dare disturb him while he was transmitting with the main Transmission Mirror unless it was a matter of utmost importance. Feng Zhongzui was clearly not an arrogant fop. Before long, the communication bead vibrated, and a puzzled voice came through.

"Feng Tiantian?"

"Feng Zhongzui? Where are you? What are you doing?"

"Lower your voice, I'm at Guizhe Holy Mountain... Lord Shou is currently with me, fighting Emperor Cangsheng!"

"Xu Xiaoshou is fighting Emperor Cangsheng?"

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"Yes! A huge problem! My Xu Xiaoshou is currently right in front of me, fighting Sword Immortal Wuyue!"

"Uh..." There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communication bead, then his tone rose, "Huh?"

"I said! Xu Xiaoshou! Gou Wuyue! Are having a world-shattering battle in Xuyue Ash Palace!"

"No, Feng Tiantian, are you crazy? Lord Shou is right in front of me... Boom!!! Did you hear that?! The firepower here is crazy, I could die any moment, I'll hang up now."

"Sword Immortal battle! Feng Zhongzui, do you understand what I mean?" Feng Tiantian panicked.

"...One person, myriad manifestations?"

"Exactly! Has the Xu Xiaoshou on your side grown bigger?" Feng Tiantian was glad Feng Zhongzui was smart.

"No, Lord Shou on my side is just..."

"The one on my side has grown huge! Fierce fighting! A bloody battle! The kind where he tears a Qilin apart with his bare hands, do you understand what I mean?"

"...Feng Tiantian! Immediately open the Transmission Mirror! I'll connect its feed to the main mirror for you and transmit it to the Five Regions! Even if you die, make sure the mirror is aimed correctly!"

"Okay!!!"