Chapter 2026: Stay

“Body Path Plate (99).”

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but grin as he stared at the words.

This was good. After all his major passive skills—such as foundational strength, eyesight, condition, and mastery—had been perfected, and with the enlightenment of the Dao brought by the baptism after the Ancestral Source Emperor Tribulation, he managed to balance the three paths of Body, Spirit, and Intent. Subsequently, the external circulation system was also established. From then on, both internal and external perfect circulation systems simultaneously empowered him, further balanced by the Yin-Yang principles of the War Ancestor's Dualities Path.

Amidst numerous errors, this insight into the Body Path Plate unexpectedly revealed the fastest path to the extreme realm for Xu Xiaoshou.

“Ninety-nine percent is enough.”“After all, the Body Path is different from the Intent Path. It didn't come from my own arduous comprehension and accumulation, but mostly from the War Ancestor and the elevation of passive values. This is quite good.”“The remaining one percent is likely something I, at the Ten-Realm Saint Emperor level, simply cannot achieve through sheer force. After all, the Body Path also involves practical application, pertaining to the enhancement of the physical body, combat skills, and combat awareness.”“Knowledge gained solely from books is shallow. Reaching a level of 99 is already excellent. If I wish to progress further, it seems I'll have to engage in a life-or-death battle to fully put this comprehension into practice.”

Even so, possessing three Great Dao Rivers, one of which can split into a Great Dao Ocean, Xu Xiaoshou at least gained the confidence to converse with ancestors like Demon Medicine and Malice Dao simultaneously.

Yes, it was about fighting multiple opponents at once, not a series of one-on-one duels.

On the path of pushing himself to the limits, Xu Xiaoshou dared not harbor any fluke mentality or show the slightest relaxation.

All preparations would be meaningless if they weren't for the purpose of bearing the entire burden on one's own shoulders.

“It's a pity that Ba Zun'an left so early; otherwise, I wouldn't have to struggle so much, facing all this alone.”“He certainly knew how to choose—he picked the weakest Hua Changdeng, fought him, and then ran off, tsk!”

But then again,Was Hua Changdeng truly weak?

From his current perspective, and considering combat strength alone, Xu Xiaoshou was confident he could defeat even Ancestor Hua at his peak, who fought Ba Zun'an in their final decisive battle. After all, he had even secretly learned the Sword Ghost's Three Swords.

However, true strength and weakness cannot be judged solely by combat power. One must also consider who the opponent is, environmental factors, and even how many shackles bind the individual.

Or to put it another way, although Hua Changdeng was ultimately defeated, were his talent and potential truly weak?

“Absolutely not!”Xu Xiaoshou always held a scale in his heart.And after evaluating the combat strengths of the Ten Honored Ones, the Ten Ancestors, and others, the standards and precision of this scale were continuously refined.

To view it without any emotional bias:Hua Changdeng, as the first Ancestral God to be titled in the Spirit Refining Era, his talent needs no further mention. As the chief of the Seven Sword Immortals and worthy of being one of the Ten Honored Ones—a status outsiders would struggle to achieve even a tiny fraction of—Hua Changdeng was long deserving of this.

After becoming an Ancestor, he could powerfully suppress the interference of ancestors like Demon Medicine and Malice. Enduring the Medicine Ancestor's schemes, he forcibly cleared a battlefield for a brief period, daring to engage Ba Zun'an in a fair one-on-one battle. This was the epitome of strategic execution and an absolute testament to his capabilities.

And as someone who, in that era, twice engaged Ba Zun'an in life-or-death battles, achieving a record of one win and one loss—who could look at this resume and claim it wasn't glorious?

Although his first battle was influenced by Dao Xuanji, leading to a narrow victory by catching Ba Zun'an off guard, who else could have seized that opportunity? Who would dare to claim before Ba Zun'an, "Just give me a chance, and I can win"? Likely, even with three or ten chances, those destined to lose would still lose, and those destined to die would still die.

In that era, when people considered it an honor to die by the Eighth Sword Immortal's blade, for the few who won even once, regardless of the process, a win was a win. At least Hua Changdeng had unlocked this achievement.

“Kui Leihan, Shen Yi, Dao Qiongcang, Ai Cangsheng, Bei Huai, Gou Wuyue...”How many prodigies were there in the Five Regions? Some claimed that enlightenment talent could win, some said that preemptive strikes could win, some asserted that strategy could win, and some felt that with enough opportunities, they might also win...However, who among them, in a direct confrontation, truly defeated Ba Zun'an even once, considering all factors like timing, terrain, and human relations?None.Only Hua Changdeng.

Even if you include the Demon Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, Malice Ancestor, and others. Did you not see that after Ba Zun'an achieved the Dao, the three ancestors dared not even utter a peep, transforming directly into the Benevolent Ancestor, the Capable Ancestor, and the Active Ancestor? If they didn't even dare to fight, what kind of ancestors or gods were they calling themselves? Measuring strength and weakness doesn't always require a direct confrontation or a decisive outcome to be judged. If the opponent is Ba Zun'an, the very act of daring to fight is an extreme form of courage and absolute self-confidence.

“He was a true talent.”“Also, a great talent whose full potential and abilities were never realized, having met an untimely end under the Green Dwelling Sword.”“If he had been given just one more year... no, perhaps just a month, half a month, or even a few days after witnessing Ba Zun'an's Dao completion, Hua Changdeng could absolutely have undergone another transformation.”“If Demon Medicine, Malice, and Dao Cao Shen could all achieve enlightenment, and I also gained considerable insights, why couldn't Hua Changdeng?”“It's a pity, he ran out of time...”

The Grand Stage of Saints and Gods—if you're bold enough, come.People fight on the front lines, while dogs plot from behind.Not everyone is Ba Zun'an, who can reset everything in one step. With the Medicine Ancestor riding on his shoulder, and having been slowly poisoned from an early age, Hua Changdeng fought to his death but could never transcend. Was he not diligent enough? Perhaps he just had some bad luck, and destiny wasn't on his side!

As for enlightenment, it wasn't exclusively Kui Leihan's privilege to achieve it simply by sitting down and closing his eyes. At least ninety percent of the Ten Honored Ones possessed such a trait; it's just that the Intent Path comprehended by Kui Leihan was more representative and recognizable, making it more memorable.

“And now, if there were a chance to 'revive' him, he could at least regain ninety percent of his peak combat power and enlightenment.”“Would Hua Changdeng, after fighting Ba Zun'an, gain enlightenment, completely transcend the shackles of the Path of Reincarnation and the Path of the Sword, and push the Path of the Soul to its ultimate extreme?”

This question was not truly a question; Xu Xiaoshou had the answer long ago. When he devised Method Two and intended to execute it, the Origin Truth Stele: Hua (華) was his first choice after the 'War' (戰) character. Even if Hua Changdeng's Path of the Soul didn't seem to have reached its peak at that time and couldn't help him achieve ultimate enlightenment, it was still his primary choice.

Now, with the Dao-Snatching Tentacles, Hua Changdeng could fully manifest a Venerable Extreme Dharma Idol. Given his strength, persistence, and determination, he wouldn't simply become a stagnant pool of 'Hua' comprehension for rapid absorption. More likely, he would, like the War Ancestor, possess independent consciousness and pursue enlightenment and cultivation on his own.

“So, is it faster for me to comprehend the Path of the Soul myself, or for Hua Changdeng to comprehend it and for me to snatch it?”The answer was undoubtedly the latter.

Therefore, his thoughts naturally shifted to:“How can I make Hua Changdeng let go of his obsessions with the Path of the Sword and the Path of Reincarnation, actively focus on comprehending the Path of the Soul, and manifest the Long River of Spiritual Paths as quickly as possible?”

Amidst the ripples of his thoughts, Xu Xiaoshou unconsciously grasped the Origin Truth Stele: Hua. The Dao-Snatching Tentacle connected to the War Ancestor's Dharma Idol had already begun to subtly twist.

“Is this how I was born?” War Ancestor asked thoughtfully within the Venerable Extreme Slash space.

“Yes.”Xu Xiaoshou did not deny his impending actions.

The War Ancestor's gaze was piercing as he stared at the Origin Truth Stele: Hua. He seemed to want to speak but hesitated, finally asking with uncertainty:“The next one, will you also call him 'Master'?”

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts immediately broke off. He looked up in astonishment, seeing Wu Bao's serious expression, as if this matter was very important.

“Of course...”The War Ancestor's eyes dimmed.“Impossible!”Xu Xiaoshou almost couldn't hold back a laugh: “I recognized Wu Bao as my master because I respected him. This next one was once my enemy, and frankly, we still have a feud. What I'm hesitating about is whether I'll suffer a backlash...”

Flames seemed to ignite in the War Ancestor's eyes. His spirit, energy, and vitality suddenly surged to their peak. His voice, like thunder, boomed:“The Martial Path moves ever forward!”“Don't forget, I'm still here!”

Only then did Xu Xiaoshou awaken as if from a dream. His eyes filled with emotion, he gave a firm nod to Wu Bao, completely casting aside his hesitation.“Then let's do it, Wu Bao!”“I was waiting for those very words from you, Baby!”

Without hesitation, he exchanged another unit of Tentacle Condensate, worth one hundred million, sending his inventory to a new low.“Passive Value: 313,000,000.”

In his hand, there was now another portion of colorless, viscous, transparent liquid, mixed with some milky-white coagulants, subtly wriggling with a life-like quality.Looking at it again, it still felt a bit nauseating.But this time, he knew beforehand that it tasted good.Xu Xiaoshou gritted his teeth, and after preparing himself mentally, he swallowed it all in one gulp.

“Gulp!”The War Ancestor watched the entire process with a frown.Then, as Xu Xiaoshou's Adam's apple bobbed, a surge of power erupted from his body.This power quickly moved towards his posterior, and before long, a second silvery-white, translucent, slippery large tentacle condensed. It was different from the one connected to him.The new tentacle, being newly formed and unbound, was very curious about everything unfamiliar, subtly twisting and exploring, as if searching and touching.

“Disgusting.”The War Ancestor was always blunt.Xu Xiaoshou nodded seriously: “I think so too.”After saying that, without another word, he threw the 'Hua' character into the second Venerable Extreme Slash hexagram position, watching its power rapidly parse as the entire stone carving pattern shone brightly.

“Buzz!”Sword intent rippled, and the Venerable Extreme Slash space vibrated.A chill that pierced the soul surged forth, like a cold blade against the throat. Even the War Ancestor's expression changed slightly, and his gaze became extremely vigilant.A very strong killing intent!The newcomer was hostile!Xu Xiaoshou was even more on guard, to the extreme. Hua Changdeng was certainly not an easy person to deal with, nor as easily fooled as the War Ancestor. He dared not let Hua Changdeng's Dharma Idol fully condense. Instead, he already grasped the second Dao-Snatching Tentacle, leaned forward, and thrust it towards the new Dharma Idol.

“Squelch.”A slimy, soft sound echoed.The War Ancestor frowned again, feeling nauseous for the second time.Soon after, the scene within the Venerable Extreme Slash hexagram position beside them shifted, rapidly condensing and taking form.

The War Ancestor Dharma Idol's home background was a primordial training ground resembling an ancient battle platform, perfectly matching the domineering aura of the War and Martial Paths.However, when Hua Changdeng's Venerable Extreme Slash hexagram environment condensed, it gave off a sense of deepening autumn, desolation, and starkness.

“A screen with candlelight...”Xu Xiaoshou looked up, finding the sight somewhat familiar.He saw, under the dim candlelight, the figure of a desolate swordsman still leaning against a broken willow stump, one hand resting on a slightly bent knee, head bowed in silence, pitying his own reflection. Not far in front of him was an old small square table, on which lay a Ghost Slayer sword and a bronze lamp. Besides these, there was nothing else.The candlelight flickered like a bean, extinguishing and rekindling in the autumn wind. It picked itself up from the smoke again, refusing to die out, showing a fragile resilience, or perhaps a faint sense of death.

“No consciousness?”Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but frown.Too weak. How could Hua Changdeng be so weak?Could it be that his expectations for him were too high, and in reality, Hua Changdeng's cultivation wasn't self-taught, but rather like Yue Gonghan's, a result of forced growth?No...

With a change of thought, Xu Xiaoshou immediately switched perspectives. He no longer viewed Hua Changdeng from the perspective of the real physical world but activated his Ghost Sword Art, switching to a soul perspective, observing the world through his soul.

“Boom!”With this glance, the strange phenomenon he had previously witnessed when the War Ancestor's Dharma Idol condensed now exploded into his mind.It was in the lightless realm of Fengdu, where resentful souls wailed, and countless ghouls shuffled, floating amidst the bizarre spectacle of the eighteen layers of purgatory. Above them, a black-robed grim reaper statue, obscuring half the sky, hung perpetually. His sleeves hung low; the myriad denizens of Fengdu were like marionettes, their ghostly faces formless, but in place of their eyes were two wheels of ghostly fire—one spectral white, one gloomy gray—shaped like cold moons, revealing an air of aloof arrogance.As he watched, the black-robed grim reaper statue suddenly raised its head, and the bizarre landscape of Fengdu cracked. From the eighteen layers of purgatory, the heaven-reaching Three Swords of the Sword Ghost surged forth, striking directly at him.

“Hmph!!!”Xu Xiaoshou's hairs stood on end, yet he made no move. A prolonged thunderous roar exploded in his ears, startling him awake.Upon awakening, the nightmare vanished instantly. The ghostly scene of Fengdu was originally an illusion. Hua Changdeng remained the desolate swordsman by the screen and candlelight, having not moved at all from beginning to end.Meanwhile, the War Ancestor's Dharma Idol had already leaped out of the Venerable Extreme Slash space and stood before Xu Xiaoshou, like a large hen guarding its chicks from an eagle, arms wide open, protecting the little chick behind his rear.

“It's nothing.”With his Intent Path perfected, how could Xu Xiaoshou fail to discern such an illusion and take Hua Changdeng's three swords head-on? He was just a little startled. He just hadn't expected this fellow, upon their first encounter, to forcibly resist the master-servant contract of the Dao-Snatching Tentacle and, when the mental illusion was triggered, still manage to strike him with three sword attacks.“This... this is Hua Changdeng!”“Your only chance to harm me, and you failed.”“In fact, this is the Venerable Extreme Slash space; you can't kill me, your master, and everything you do is utterly futile.”“But the stronger you are, the more excited I get...” Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, signaling Wu Bao not to worry and to step aside, indicating that he was fully capable of handling Hua Changdeng.

“Huh...”The desolate swordsman in the screen and candlelight finally stirred.He slowly raised his head, looking at the old small table not far away. He reached out to touch the Ghost Slayer, but the images of the sword, lamp, and table slightly distorted, imbued with a strong sense of unreality.Fake...Of course, it was fake!The environment of the Venerable Extreme Slash space, which served as its 'home,' was merely condensed from the most deeply memorable objects from the Dharma Idol's life. How could a famous sword like Ghost Slayer manifest out of thin air?

Hua Changdeng sighed silently, then turned his head to look, not at Xu Xiaoshou, but at the majestic War Ancestor Dharma Idol.After a brief thought, he spoke in a hoarse voice:“War Ancestor?”The War Ancestor, Wu, nodded gently.Hua Changdeng was observing him, and Wu had also discerned the path this fellow cultivated; though extraordinary, it bore some resemblance to the one in his memories. Clearly, this was no coincidence.The War Ancestor chuckled softly: “If this ancestor's guess isn't wrong, you fell due to Shennong Baicao's machinations?”“Something like that...”The desolate swordsman beneath the broken willow offered no further explanation. “Hua Changdeng.”After introducing himself, he ignored the legendary Ten Ancestor, not even bothering to glance at him again, finally turning his gaze to Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou puffed out his chest, jutted out his chin, and clasped his hands behind his back.“Hah, finally deigned to look at me, SSR.”“I was the one who summoned you!”Hua Changdeng certainly saw Xu Xiaoshou, still with that arrogant, punchable demeanor. His lips parted...Xu Xiaoshou waited quietly.True masters never speak first.Just like Hua Changdeng, who, after appearing, was sparing with his words, uttering no more than ten words in total, acting like some peerless grandmaster. If even Old Lamp was like that, how could I, Lord Shou, speak first?However, Hua Changdeng merely glanced at Xu Xiaoshou twice, showing no intention of speaking. Finally, with a dismissive shake of his head and a scoff, he lowered his head again, as if returning to his nap.

Xu Xiaoshou was enraged. How dare he ignore him?He immediately turned to the War Ancestor, pointed at the impolite, trashy swordsman, and loudly declared:“This fellow wasn't killed by Shennong Baicao. He was titled a god and an ancestor at the time, resisting the interference of the Demon Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, Malice Ancestor, and others. His combat power was nearly zero, almost blowing up the War God Continent—he was the first ancestor of the Spirit Refining Era...”Hearing this, flames immediately ignited in the War Ancestor's eyes.Indeed, he was as strong as he now appeared!But Xu Xiaoshou abruptly changed his tone, taking a sharp downward turn:“After Ba Zun'an entered the scene, he reset everything in one step, casually picked up a broken sword, and merely exchanged a few blows. Hua Changdeng died on the spot, his Origin Truth Stele immediately separated. His death... tsk, I can only say it was too gruesome to behold.”

Wu Bao stood frozen.So that's how it was?Beneath the broken willow, Hua Changdeng's breathing, which should have been quietly resting, audibly intensified, gradually becoming heavy.One breath...Two breaths...Three breaths...He finally couldn't hold back. He raised his head, glaring angrily at that despicable little wretch who deserved a thousand cuts:“Unlike some thief who even stole my Cloud Mountain Ancestor's stele, stopping at nothing!”

After a moment of surprise, Xu Xiaoshou put his hands on his hips and burst into laughter, tears almost spurting out.“Hua Changdeng, is this your attack power?”“Then my evaluation is, you're too elegant!”

“What's wrong?”“Is that all the self-restraint a dignified Ancestor Hua has, to squabble with a junior like me? I only did that because you forced me!”“Ba Zun'an isn't like that. Ba Zun'an has very high cultivation; he embraces everything, showing great tolerance, and he even calls me 'Lord Shou' when we meet!”As Xu Xiaoshou spoke, he turned his head aside, pursed his lips, and mumbled softly, “Maybe that's why he could win, huh?”Hua Changdeng's face turned ashen, and he almost stood up.Finally, after a deep breath, he sighed, shook his head, and closed his eyes, preferring to be clean by not seeing or hearing.

“Alright, he's useless.”“Wasting one of my Venerable Extreme hexagram positions for nothing. I'll just treat it as resurrecting a dog and slowly raising it.”Xu Xiaoshou turned, took Wu Bao's hand, and walked away, with no intention of lingering.But he wasn't appeased. As he walked, he patted Wu Bao's hand back, murmuring bitterly:

“It's laughable. Before Ba Zun'an entered the time realm, he told me that Demon Medicine and Malice had cunning but no courage, were as timid as mice, and that Hua Changdeng was his most respected opponent throughout his life, bar none.”“He said that if they could start over, casting aside all concerns and shackles, and fight with all their might, his own chances wouldn't even be fifty percent.”“Now, it seems I've managed the hardest thing—resurrection. But sending someone whose spirit is dead to fight Ba Zun'an three times again would be like a child wielding a sword—unable to kill anyone, but perhaps able to make someone die laughing.”“But then again, Ba Zun'an is so powerful, even I wouldn't dare claim to challenge him three times. Hua Changdeng's record, at best, is one draw and one loss, and he was even personally killed by him. He fears him like a tiger, so how could he possibly dare to fight him a third time?”

While patting Wu Bao's hand, Xu Xiaoshou also controlled Wu Bao's mouth, making it so Wu Bao had many things he wanted to say but couldn't utter a single word, only able to listen to Xu Xiaoshou's incessant grumbling.

One step...Two steps...Three steps...Xu Xiaoshou didn't slow his pace, mumbling as he walked. His voice wasn't loud, but if Hua Changdeng wasn't deaf, he should have been able to hear some of it.After seven or eight steps, he and the War Ancestor's Dharma Idol were about to exit the Venerable Extreme Slash space.

Just then, from behind the screen and candlelight, a "calm" voice, suppressing a tremor, faintly drifted over—it had a magnanimous air, clearly belonging to someone cultivated.“Lord Shou, wait.”