Under the steady flow of the waterfall, far below Qingyuan Mountain, Yu Zhiwen's gaze shot upwards. The night sky flickered with remnants of purple lightning, and her heart pounded in shock.
What had she just witnessed?
Cao Erzhu—the burly, simple-minded man she had met only once before—had smashed Hallmaster Dao's head with a single punch!
"Is this a dream...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her mind raced to make sense of what she'd just seen. After being cast into isolation under the waterfall to reflect on her earlier mistakes, she no longer had a direct hand in the ongoing battle, but she could still see everything. The white-clad soldiers, the spectral figures, the curses, and the arrival of the legendary Mei Siren—Yu Zhiwen had witnessed it all.
She had prepared herself to break out and aid in the battle if necessary, but the events unfolding tonight went beyond anything she could have imagined. The person who had tipped the scales was not someone powerful from the beginning, nor was it her elaborate plan coming to fruition.
It was Cao Erzhu, the same man who had once stumbled over his words in awkward conversation.
"Was that really Cao Erzhu?" Yu Zhiwen muttered in disbelief. The mighty figure stepping across the sea of purple lightning was unmistakably the same man, but his presence, his actions, everything seemed out of character.
"Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers born better than others?"
She repeated the phrase, her heart throbbing with the weight of it. Could it truly have been him who shouted those words with such passion? The more she thought about it, the more bewildered she became. She had known Cao Erzhu as a simple man, careful and almost timid in his mannerisms. How could someone like him harbor such lofty, rebellious aspirations?
Her mind began to play tricks on her. Perhaps... this wasn't the real Cao Erzhu at all? Could it be Xu Xiaoshou, using his Imitator ability to disguise himself? Yu Zhiwen's Star Gem Pupils had witnessed many extraordinary things, but this moment—this transformation—was pushing her perception to the limit.
Was it possible that she had misunderstood him from the very beginning? Perhaps it was simply too difficult to know what truly lay in someone's heart.
They had only met briefly, and in that moment, no one could have foreseen this outcome. Cao Erzhu—barely in his twenties—had just killed Hallmaster Dao Qiongcang with a single blow. His previous cowardice now seemed like a carefully constructed mask, hiding the ambition that had been brewing for over two decades.
But... if he had been pretending all along, why had he remained hidden in a backwater place like Qingyuan Mountain?
"Alright!" Yu Zhiwen exclaimed, cheering under her breath. But then, realizing her inappropriate joy at the death of the Hallmaster, she quickly covered her mouth and whispered, "I've sinned, I've sinned..."
In the night sky, Mei Siren, carrying the image of the sword on his back, was equally astonished. The legendary swordsman had fought fiercely, unable to break through the defense of Qingyuan Mountain's great array, and yet Cao Erzhu, with one swift strike, had decapitated Dao Qiongcang.
"Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers born better than others?"
Mei Siren glanced at the headless body of Dao Qiongcang, then at the array that had failed to defend its master. His gaze turned back to the radiant purple lightning and the young man standing at its center. The disparity was jarring.
Sure, there were elements of surprise and carelessness in the encounter. But the result remained—Cao Erzhu had blown Dao Qiongcang's head off with one punch. Mei Siren couldn't help but wonder: could anyone else have accomplished such a feat under the same circumstances?
No. Most wouldn't even have made it near Dao Qiongcang.
Mei Siren sighed deeply. "It's the era of the youth," he murmured, his tone a mix of pride and resignation. Despite his own status as a saint, he now realized that the young were surpassing him.
The sword cries of the Holy Emperor echoed in his mind, a painful reminder that one of his former students had ascended beyond his reach. Mei Siren felt both proud and uncertain about his own future. Where did his path lie now that his students had all surpassed him?
And yet, Cao Erzhu—this seemingly ordinary man—had opened his eyes tonight.
Mei Siren had intended to take revenge for the death of Cao Erzhu's father, believing the young man incapable of handling the situation. But now, seeing Cao Erzhu's extraordinary display of power, Mei Siren realized how wrong he had been.
Still, something didn't add up.
"Erzhu... who taught you these words?" Mei Siren asked, his voice carrying the weight of years of wisdom and concern. He knew the Cao Erzhu he had spoken to earlier could not have uttered such rebellious phrases on his own. The young man, while strong, lacked the intellectual depth to fully grasp the meaning behind the words he had just shouted.
Mei Siren feared that someone else—someone with a dangerous agenda—had influenced Cao Erzhu. Perhaps someone had planted those ideas in his head, using his pure heart and innate strength for their own gain.
Cao Erzhu, standing amidst the crackling purple lightning, looked around. His fierce expression softened when his gaze fell on Mei Siren, and his usual foolish grin returned.
"He taught me," Cao Erzhu replied with a sheepish grin, scratching his head as he pointed down at a pile of shattered remains.
Mei Siren followed his gesture and locked his gaze on the scattered remains of what used to be the Divine Puppet. A faint trace of spiritual senses still lingered, and they were unmistakably familiar—Xu Xiaoshou's. But doubt flickered in his mind. Could this be a trick, part of some grander scheme devised by Dao Qiongcang?
"Which demon dares to poison someone's heart?" Mei Siren's voice boomed as he unsheathed his Taicheng Sword, his aura radiating deadly intent.
"Teacher, don't you recognize me?" came a trembling voice from the remains. It was Jin Ren, the Divine Puppet imbued with a fragment of Xu Xiaoshou's consciousness.
At that moment, Mei Siren hesitated, his sword arm trembling. A part of him refused to accept that this pile of scrap could still be Xu Xiaoshou. "How can you prove that you're really Xu Xiaoshou?" Mei Siren asked cautiously, his face twisted in disbelief.
"You Tu took a hit from my sword," Jin Ren replied, referring to the battle that had once rocked the spiritual world.
Mei Siren's face paled. His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, and his gaze darted nervously toward Cao Erzhu, then quickly away. "That's ridiculous! Nonsense!" he barked, flustered, but his mind churned. He knew Xu Xiaoshou wasn't one to lie frivolously.
In an attempt to change the subject, Mei Siren softened his tone. "How did you end up like this?"
At that, Jin Ren broke into sobs. "Teacher, Elder Dao... he bullied me!" His voice cracked as he lamented his plight.
Mei Siren's expression shifted from disbelief to sympathy. "Don't cry, don't cry. Master is here." His heart ached as he knelt beside the broken pieces, gently gathering them up. But despite his care, some metal fragments clattered noisily to the ground, causing Mei Siren to freeze in a panic.
He wasn't a Divine Sorcerer. He didn't know what part of the Divine Puppet was vital. He didn't even recognize the small, copper-like piece that had fallen out. "You... you... what should I do?"
"It's fine, Teacher. Just take the head of the array wheel and keep it safe," Jin Ren said, his voice still trembling, but calmer now.
Mei Siren acted swiftly, slicing through the wreckage with his sword, carefully removing the head of the array wheel. Jin Ren immediately felt reassured—his core was now in safe hands, away from harm.
At that moment, Cao Erzhu, fresh from his victory, landed beside them, the remnants of God Punishment Tribulation still crackling around his body. His gaze lingered on the head of the array wheel, and after a moment, he asked in a familiar tone, "You... are you Xu Xiaoshou?"
Jin Ren, surprised by the recognition, narrowed his eyes. Was his name already known even in remote places like Qingyuan Mountain? "Yes, that's me, Xu Xiaoshou," he affirmed proudly, especially with Master Siren beside him for protection.
Cao Erzhu shifted awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "Thank you… you helped me vent my anger earlier."
Jin Ren blinked, sensing the odd phrasing. "Oh, it's nothing," he replied casually. "No need to mention it. But… how do you know me?"
Cao Erzhu reached into his ring and produced a piece of paper, unfolding it with great care. "Sister August left a note for me… you should know her."
Jin Ren's brow furrowed in confusion. "August?" He racked his brain, but the name rang no bells. Still, his name—Xu Xiaoshou—was elegantly inscribed on the paper, in a hand he didn't recognize.
"I'm sorry, I don't know anyone by that name," he admitted, perplexed. "If she left you any other information, like why she gave you this note or a message for me…"
Cao Erzhu shook his head, his expression turning a bit sheepish. "She just left your name. I thought she wanted me to wait for you, but now… I'm not so sure."
Jin Ren considered this for a moment. "Maybe there's more to this," he said, trying to be helpful. But Cao Erzhu appeared lost, unsure how to explain further.
Just then, Mei Siren, who had been observing silently, spoke up. "August… was she a student who followed that ill-tempered old man you mentioned?"
Cao Erzhu, momentarily stunned, turned to Mei Siren and quickly nodded. "Yes."
He shook his head again. "She didn't seem like a student. More like a granddaughter. But then again, she addressed him as Old Master… Yet, she didn't seem to be his granddaughter either…"
'I don't know,' Cao Erzhu scratched his head. "I'm just her friend.''
Old Master and Old Immortal… What kind of riddles are you guys talking about? "Master Siren, what are you guys talking about?" Jin Ren asked, perplexed.
Mei Siren lowered his head. "You Tu."
Weng!
The Taicheng Sword hummed, its purplish-red blade glowing faintly, the glow only making it more striking.
Jin Ren's spiritual senses recoiled from the sword, shocked by the revelation.
You Tu? Elder You Tu?
Wasn't You Tu the Seven Sword Deity that Cao Erzhu followed? The one said to be either dead or living in seclusion—shrouded in mystery?
And August was You Tu's student?
Sister August... and she was younger than Cao Erzhu?
Those two simple words triggered an uproar in Jin Ren's mind.
Suddenly, memories flooded back—snippets of his 'frivolous' conversations with Dao Qiongcang.
"Bazhun'an and Yue Gongnu had a child…"
"Why would Elder Dao the Flamboyant mention that out of nowhere?"
"Did he notice something and wanted to probe me for more information?"
Bazhun'an... Yue Gongnu…
Ba... Yue...
August…?
In the ruins of Ran Ming, Jin Ren felt like his head was about to explode. He was overwhelmed with excitement, his eyes burning with the spark of a realization.
"Master Siren?" he asked, uncertainty in his voice.
"I don't know,"Mei Siren replied calmly. He knew Xu Xiaoshou was sharp. The boy had grasped it all at once, which was why Mei Siren merely uttered the name 'You Tu.'
But, in truth, Mei Siren didn't fully know what was running through Xu Xiaoshou's mind. He was curious himself about what thoughts were racing through Jin Ren's head at that moment.
"This August you mentioned… what does she look like?" Jin Ren asked, but then quickly laughed it off. "Pah, it doesn't matter. Erzhu, do you know Bazhun'an?"
Cao Erzhu's lips twitched as his eyes misted over. 'Eighth Uncle... I know him. My father said he even held me when I was little…'
What?
Why is he crying?
Just hearing Bazhun'an's name is enough to reduce this big guy to tears?
Are you really Kui Leihan's child? Why are you such a crybaby?
"So what if he hugged you? A real man doesn't shed tears so easily. Why are you crying?" Jin Ren couldn't stomach the sight of the burly man breaking down and felt a wave of disgust wash over him.
Cao Erzhu wiped his eyes, trying to stop the tears, but they kept flowing uncontrollably. "Father, he... he…"
Cao Erzhu couldn't finish the sentence after the word 'he,' choking on his own emotions.
"Kui Leihan was killed," Mei Siren said quietly, hissing toward the array wheel head. "When Erzhu found him... his father's head had been cut off and placed in a wine barrel."
"That's impossible!" Jin Ren shouted, his shock palpable.
Kui Leihan... dead?
Even if the sky collapsed, it wouldn't feel as absurd as this!
He had just seen him, experienced how terrifyingly powerful that man was firsthand!
Who in the world could cut off Kui Leihan's head and soak it in wine?
Not Elder Dao the Flamboyant, Bazhun'an, or even The Divine—those three at their peak couldn't accomplish such a thing unnoticed.
Kui Leihan's death should've been an earth-shattering event! How could he die in silence?
An assassination?
That's even more absurd!
There wasn't even a trace of a killer among the Ten High Nobles who could possibly carry out such a feat. Only the Ninth High Noble could fight at that level!
As unbelievable as it was, seeing Cao Erzhu's grief-stricken face left Jin Ren no choice but to offer some comfort.
"I wronged you. A man doesn't cry easily unless he's deeply hurt. Life and death… it's a serious matter. I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Cao Erzhu replied with surprising politeness, his mood shifting swiftly. "You speak so well, so kindly. Now I understand—I cried because I was sad. What you said makes sense."
Hiss! This guy…
Jin Ren scanned Cao Erzhu from head to toe with his spiritual senses.
It was hard to reconcile this seemingly dim-witted person with the man who had just blown Dao Qiongcang's head off.
That awe-inspiring God Punishment Tribulation…
Only the heavens knew Jin Ren's original plan was to test Cao Erzhu's abilities. His goal had been to divert Dao Qiongcang's attention so that Master Siren would have more room to attack.
They had hoped to secretly gauge the strength of Kui Leihan's son in battle.
But who could've predicted that Cao Erzhu's outburst would not only draw Dao Qiongcang's attention but also lead to his explosive defeat?
It was far beyond what anyone had expected!
While Jin Ren was still processing the shock of it all, what stood out more was Cao Erzhu's raw talent.
His God Punishment Tribulation had transformed into a sea of lightning, filling the sky, echoing traces of Wei Feng's God of Killing Domain.
His Hand of God bore a striking resemblance to the thunder-imbued version of Elder Sang's Sleeveless Red Scorched Hand.
The purple lightning lines that pierced through Dao Qiongcang were comparable to sword cognition!
Or perhaps, it should be said that the God Punishment Tribulation wasn't similar to the Penetrating Divine Senses 2.0, but that all these second-generation abilities stemmed from the originals.
The most astonishing part was Cao Erzhu's control over the God Punishment Tribulation. After paralyzing Dao Qiongcang with the lightning lines, he managed to recall it back into his body and land the final strike.
This might have looked simple, but it was harder than ascending to the heavens!
After all, that was Dao Qiongcang, not some weakling!
Dao Qiongcang's physical body was the incarnation of a demi-saint, his sacred physique anything but fragile.
He still had a whole set of protective tools, all of them expensive and powerful. Yet, under the onslaught of the God Punishment Tribulation, each one shattered, offering no protection at all.
Additionally, Dao Qiongcang had mastered the Divine Thirty-Six Form, a technique nearly impossible to defend against, notorious for its bizarre and unpredictable nature. It had obliterated the Five Decays of Heaven and Man in their very first encounter.
Yet, when it came to Cao Erzhu's attack, Dao Qiongcang's battle instincts seemed to falter. He stood there like a human pillar, helpless against the slaughter that followed.
Could it be that Dao Qiongcang lacked skill?
Absolutely not!
There was something profoundly unusual about Cao Erzhu's God Punishment Tribulation—something even Jin Ren couldn't discern. There had to be a hidden reason that prevented Dao Qiongcang from reacting to Cao Erzhu's sneak attack, leaving him vulnerable and ultimately decapitated.
"Also, that last move… when he reeled in the body at the end. There was a trace of the Puppet Manipulation Thread Weaving Technique in it," Jin Ren muttered, his mind racing. "He must have an in-depth understanding of acupuncture points, the body's structure, and possibly even the human body diagrams."
The Thirty-Three Heavens Star Weaving Array failed to protect Elder Dao the Flamboyant in time. Could it be that Little Yu didn't set up the passive counterattack function?
That can't be it, Jin Ren thought, his doubt increasing. Even if Little Yu hadn't set it up, someone as cautious as Elder Dao would certainly have been on high alert after taking over the array.
Jin Ren's skepticism deepened.
He could see far more details than Yu Zhiwen, Mei Siren, or anyone else. As an all-rounder himself, Jin Ren understood that the few moves Cao Erzhu displayed in battle were the result of relentless effort and meticulous refinement.
In short, it was making light of a heavy task!
All of it wasn't just an expression of Spiritual Cultivation—it was the Penetrating Divine Senses, an even more complex and challenging art to both cultivate and control.
For anyone who managed to cultivate the Penetrating Divine Senses, it marked a qualitative transformation.
Cao Erzhu wielded the God Punishment Tribulation as if it were an ordinary attack and incorporated transformations into it. His method might have also involved ancient martial arts, the Divine Secret, and the Way of the Spirit Array...
Jin Ren's consciousness jolted as he recalled what Bazhun'an had said after awakening and receiving the Heavenly Ancestor Legacy on Abyss Island.
"A peerless genius!"
The words spoken then overlapped with the image before him now.
The connection between his self-illusion and reality...
When he used his spiritual senses to observe Cao Erzhu—who was now blankly staring at the head of the array wheel, waiting for Jin Ren to speak—something clicked in Jin Ren's mind.
Perhaps the image of a graceful, dignified genius riding the lightning and wind that existed in his imagination never truly existed.
The peerless genius Bazhun'an had spoken of, the one who had to be invited out of seclusion, was none other than the blockheaded Cao Erzhu standing before him!
Jin Ren's thoughts quickened.
He was among the few who refused to believe that Kui Leihan had actually been killed.
Even if Kui Leihan's severed head were placed in front of him, Jin Ren would still suspect it was a ruse—a cunning ploy devised by Elder Dao the Flamboyant.
But now, as he gazed upon the innocent, almost adorable Erzhu—who scratched his head in confusion—Jin Ren's thoughts darkened.
Kui Leihan deserved to die. He really deserved it! Whether he was alive or dead, at this moment, Kui Leihan had to die!
'Master Siren, hand me over to Zhu Bao... uh, Cao Erzhu,' Jin Ren's voice, low and magnetic, carried an eerie calm.
Mei Siren frowned, sensing something was wrong, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
Still, he complied.
Cao Erzhu, holding the head of the array wheel, felt a deep unease. It reminded him all too vividly of his father's severed head in the wine barrel.
Then, Jin Ren spoke.
His voice was heavy with sorrow, filled with an unsettling mixture of seriousness and resolve.
"Erzhu, do you know…?"
"Some people are alive, but they are already dead. Some people are dead, but they are still alive…"