"So this was the kind of person Senior Brother Li Xiao was—selflessly devoted, worrying himself sick for our Jie Sect. He bore far too much. No, I had to help Fifth brother shoulder some of the burden..."
Yunxiao looked at Li Xiao and felt that his figure had suddenly become infinitely taller.
"Yes, Master. If there is nothing else, this disciple will take his leave first!"
Li Xiao cupped his hands slightly toward Tongtian Cult Master, then left Biyou Palace and rode a cloud back to Penglai Immortal Island.
After Li Xiao left, Tongtian Cult Master looked toward Yunxiao and asked, "Yunxiao, did you hear something again?"
"That is correct, Master. Senior Brother Li Xiao is truly too great. He has endured far, far too much for our Jie Sect!"
Yunxiao spoke earnestly as she cupped her hands toward Tongtian Cult Master.
Tongtian Cult Master raised his brows and looked at Yunxiao. "Oh? What exactly happened?"
Yunxiao looked at Tongtian Cult Master and said, "Master, this disciple heard that in the near future, you will be besieged by the Four Saints! This is also the fundamental reason for the destruction of our Jie Sect!"
"What? The Four Saints will besiege this humble Taoist?"
Tongtian Cult Master's expression changed drastically. He stared wide-eyed at Yunxiao, stormy waves surging within his heart.
His Immortal Slaying Sword Formation could not be broken without Four Saints, yet now Four Saints would besiege him. Clearly, someone was targeting him!
If four Saints truly besieged him, then the Jie Sect would indeed be in grave danger!
Yunxiao looked at Tongtian Cult Master and said with a bitter smile, "Master, I heard it clearly. That was exactly what Senior Brother Li Xiao's inner voice said!"
After repeatedly verifying things several times, the two of them had already developed complete trust in Li Xiao and knew that his inner voice was accurate.
Neither of them doubted that this would happen in the future!
Tongtian Cult Master looked at Yunxiao, light flickering uncertainly in his eyes. "Yunxiao, did you hear which Four Saints would besiege your master?"
Yunxiao shook her head slightly. "Senior Brother Li Xiao did not say."
Tongtian Cult Master took a deep breath, his gaze flickering as he continued asking, "Yunxiao, did you hear anything else?"
Yunxiao looked at Tongtian Cult Master. "Senior Brother Li Xiao said that before long, Ancestor Witch Houtu will transform into reincarnation and become a Saint. That is also why Senior Brother Li Xiao helped Ancestor Witch Houtu. Senior Brother Li Xiao is fighting for an ally for our Jie Sect!"
"What? Houtu will transform into reincarnation and become a Saint? This..."
Tongtian Cult Master was startled again and hurriedly began calculating.
With Li Xiao's inner voice as a clue, Tongtian Cult Master's calculations vaguely revealed something.
Yunxiao continued, "Master, this disciple also heard that Ancestor Witch Houtu will go to the Sea of Blood to attain the Dao. At that time, Ancestor Minghe will obstruct her. This is an opportunity—an opportunity for our Jie Sect to befriend Ancestor Witch Houtu!"
"Your master understands!"
Tongtian Cult Master nodded and replied blandly.
Yunxiao hesitated before continuing, "Senior Brother Li Xiao's inner voice also said that Master must stop Houtu from becoming a Saint then, because after Houtu becomes a Saint, the Heavenly Dao will seal her within the Underworld. She will be unable to leave it. If that happens, our Jie Sect will lose an ally. Master needs to... needs to..."
"Needs to do what?"
Tongtian Cult Master stared wide-eyed at Yunxiao and asked.
Yunxiao grinned awkwardly. "Master needs to... needs to deceive the Heavenly Dao!"
Pfft...
Upon hearing this, Tongtian Cult Master stumbled and nearly fell off his cloud bed. He looked at Yunxiao in disbelief and cried out, "What? Deceive what?"
"The Heavenly Dao!"
Yunxiao answered with an awkward smile.
Tongtian Cult Master rolled his eyes and curled his lips. "That brat really knows how to give this humble Taoist difficult problems. The Heavenly Dao... How is one supposed to deceive the Heavenly Dao? This..."
"Senior Brother Li Xiao's inner voice did not say!"
Yunxiao replied awkwardly.
Tongtian Cult Master took a deep breath, his eyes flickering. "That brat definitely has a way. Yunxiao, visit Penglai Immortal Island more often these next few days. You must find out the method of deceiving Heaven and crossing the sea!"
"Yes, Master, but..."
Yunxiao hurriedly cupped her hands toward Tongtian Cult Master, but for some reason, her pretty face reddened slightly.
Tongtian Cult Master looked at Yunxiao suspiciously. "Yunxiao, what else is there? You..."
Yunxiao looked at Tongtian Cult Master awkwardly and said, "Nothing else, Master. It is just that I have been going to Penglai Immortal Island so often lately that others have misunderstood. They think I am interested in Fifth brother, um..."
"Eh?"
Tongtian Cult Master froze, then his old face beamed as he burst into laughter. "That is a good thing, a good thing! Yunxiao, what do you think? In this humble Taoist's view, that brat Li Xiao is quite good. He will surely achieve great things in the future. It would not be bad if you became Dao companions with him. What do you say? Shall your master bring the two of you together?"
"Master, I'm ignoring you..."
Yunxiao's pretty face instantly flushed crimson from embarrassment. She turned and ran out of Biyou Palace.
"Hahaha..."
Tongtian Cult Master's hearty laughter faintly echoed through Biyou Palace.
After Yunxiao left, Tongtian Cult Master's gaze darkened, divine light surging restlessly in his eyes. He muttered, "Four Saints besieging this humble Taoist... Which Four Saints could they be? This humble Taoist has never gotten along with that scoundrel Yuanshi. Yuanshi must be among the Four Saints..."
"That scoundrel Yuanshi loves stirring up trouble. First Senior Brother is easily swayed and a scheming old fox as well. This time, I fear... I fear First Senior Brother also participated in besieging this humble Taoist!"
Tongtian Cult Master continued his analysis.
"There are still two Saints left. Nuwa has always ignored worldly affairs, and if Nuwa joined in besieging this humble Taoist, she would only make one. It seems the other two must be the Two Sages of the West..."
Tongtian Cult Master's old face gradually darkened to the extreme.
The Human Book Recognizes Its Master, Minghe Blocks the Way
Ever since Tongtian Cult Master learned of Li Xiao's inner voice from Yunxiao, he had quietly kept watch over Ancestor Witch Houtu's movements.
On this day, Houtu followed her heart and arrived at the Sea of Blood.
"Empress Houtu, wait, wait for me..."
At that moment, a voice rang out.
Houtu turned around and saw Li Xiao racing over atop a cloud. She could not help freezing slightly. "Eh? Fellow Daoist Li Xiao, how did you come here?"
"Um... Empress Houtu, this humble Taoist had nothing to do and was traveling through the primordial world. I suddenly saw Empress Houtu and boldly came forward to greet you!"
Li Xiao said with a smile.
"Oh!"
Houtu replied flatly. After speaking, she turned and prepared to head into the Sea of Blood.
Although Li Xiao had saved Houtu before, they had only met once. Moreover, Li Xiao carried Nuwa's Imperial Token, so Houtu naturally did not wish to have too much contact with him!
Inside Biyou Palace, Tongtian Cult Master was stunned by what he saw and grinned. "Why did that rebellious disciple go to the Sea of Blood? Sigh, it has been hard on that rebellious disciple. Though his abilities are lacking, he has truly labored greatly for our Jie Sect..."
On the other side, Li Xiao watched Houtu leave.
Li Xiao frowned slightly and hurriedly flashed in front of Houtu to block her path. "Empress, you cannot enter this Sea of Blood!"
Houtu's lovely brows furrowed as she looked at Li Xiao. "Cannot enter? Why can I not enter? Under all Heaven and across all Earth, there is no place our Witch Clan cannot enter. Fellow Daoist Li Xiao, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Li Xiao gave an awkward smile and looked at Houtu. "Empress Houtu, um... actually, Master sent this humble Taoist here!"
Inside Biyou Palace, Tongtian Cult Master's old face darkened as he snapped, "That rebellious disciple is using this humble Taoist's name as a scapegoat again! Still, this time he is doing it for our Jie Sect, so this humble Taoist will not hold it against him!"
If it were only Li Xiao himself, Houtu would not care in the slightest!
But upon hearing that Sage Tongtian had sent him, Houtu immediately raised her brows and looked at Li Xiao. "May I ask what Sage Tongtian sent you here for, Fellow Daoist?"
Heh! Master's name is really useful... Li Xiao looked at Houtu, leaned closer mysteriously, lowered his voice, and said, "Empress Houtu, Master said you cannot enter this Sea of Blood, or you will regret it for the rest of your life..."
Houtu's brows knitted tightly as she looked suspiciously at Li Xiao. "Did Sage Tongtian really say that?"
Li Xiao nodded and patted his chest. "Naturally, Master said it. Even if this humble Taoist were given tremendous courage, I would not dare falsely relay Master's decree!"
No, you would... Inside Biyou Palace, Tongtian Cult Master rolled his eyes.
Houtu nodded. She did not believe Li Xiao would dare falsely relay Sage Tongtian's decree, so she believed his words.
Yet in the depths of the unseen, it was as though something at the end of the Sea of Blood were calling out to Houtu, leaving her conflicted.
After hesitating for a long time, Houtu still decided to go in and take a look. She cupped her hands toward Li Xiao and said, "Thank Sage Tongtian for his good intentions on my behalf. But this matter concerns my Dao, as well as the fate of my Witch Clan. I must go and see for myself!"
With that, Houtu ignored Li Xiao, turned around, and walked toward the Sea of Blood.
"Empress..."
Li Xiao panicked and hurriedly chased after Houtu.
Leaving aside everything else, if Houtu found the Underworld this time and transformed into reincarnation, all his plans would be for nothing!
But Houtu had set her mind on it. How could she possibly listen to Li Xiao?
The Witch Clan really is stubborn to the bone... Li Xiao panicked and hurriedly followed behind Houtu.
The moment the two stepped into the territory of the Sea of Blood, Ancestor Minghe noticed them.
However, one was a Saint's disciple while the other was a dignified Ancestor Witch. Even Ancestor Minghe did not dare act rashly.
"Eh? How strange. What are these two doing in my Sea of Blood?"
Ancestor Minghe secretly observed the two, suspicion filling his heart.
The Sea of Blood was a place of extreme yin. At this time, reincarnation had not yet formed and the Underworld had not yet opened, so all those wandering souls and ghosts were drawn to the Sea of Blood.
Thus, countless ghosts had gathered above the Sea of Blood.
But Li Xiao and Houtu were respectively a Grand Unity Golden Immortal and an Ancestor Witch. Naturally, those ghosts did not dare approach them.
Houtu was also slightly displeased that Li Xiao kept following her.
Before long, a streak of light suddenly shot toward Houtu. As the light faded, it revealed a simple, dark green ancient book.
The words "Human Book" rippled across the book's cover, radiating azure light.
Houtu felt some sort of connection between herself and the Human Book. She reached out and caught it, and that feeling became increasingly wondrous.
"The Human Book will eventually become the Book of Life and Death and the Reincarnation Brush. It is destined to belong to Houtu..."
Li Xiao was not envious at all. He understood this as clearly as a mirror.
But while he was not envious, it made someone else jealous!
Before you continue