Chapter 2

The grass and trees were still wet with dew, and a green mist obscured the morning.

When the sun rose in the east, the spirit cultivators of the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace had already awakened. They practiced their spirit cultivation in various places—among the trees, in the pavilions, or in someone else's small courtyard...

The branches rustled, and the spirit magpies chirped, creating a serene and beautiful scene.

However, on a secluded path, two furtive figures were sneaking over, one tall and one short.

The tall figure was a burly man, his hands bound with sandbags, who was now crouching and looking around nervously, his face showing the guilt of a thief.

Beside him was a slightly shorter young man, who only reached the burly man's neck, with a long sword at his waist, his expression excited.

"Senior Liu, how did we end up with the task of collecting a corpse? Isn't this usually handled by the elders of the outer court?" the shorter young man, Zhou Zuo, asked.

"Of course, it was arranged. Otherwise, do you think this opportunity would fall into your lap for free?" the burly man, Liu Zhen, looked around and, seeing no one paying attention to them, heaved a sigh of relief. "I heard that Leader Wen sent a lot of spirit crystals."

"Is that so..." Zhou Zuo squinted his eyes, rubbed his hands, and lowered his voice. "Then whose corpse are we collecting?"

"Xu Xiaoshou!" Liu Zhen said as he walked. "I heard he locked himself away to break through to the third realm for this 'Struggle of the Storms.' Calculating the time, today is the day. If he hasn't come out by now, it means he's dead and his cultivation has dissipated."

"Third realm?" Zhou Zuo was surprised, looking at him. "Isn't that about the same level as me? What's the point of a third realm? It would be better to let him be!"

"You know nothing!" Liu Zhen gave him a knock on the head. "Xu Xiaoshou has been in the Spirit Palace for almost three years. He may not have much else, but just this courtyard alone is worth over a thousand spirit crystals."

"Wow, so rich?"

"Exactly! I also heard he has a ninth-grade spirit sword!"

Zhou Zuo's eyes bulged at this. "A ninth-grade spirit sword?"

This exclamation was probably heard by most of the people around them.

"Lower your voice!" Liu Zhen saw people casting disapproving glances and gave Zhou Zuo another knock on the head. "You, shouting so loudly, are you afraid others won't hear?"

The two chatted idly as they wound their way through, finally arriving at a secluded courtyard, enveloped in a large array.

Liu Zhen, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped.

"Still quite far... Ouch!"

Zhou Zuo, walking behind, collided with Liu Zhen's back, rubbing his forehead in pain. "Senior Liu, why did you suddenly stop..."

Because of his short stature, his view was blocked. When he stepped to the side, he immediately understood why Liu Zhen had stopped.

In front of the courtyard, there were over ten people sitting cross-legged.

These people were silent, each meditating, and at first glance, it seemed harmonious.

"Why are there so many people?" Zhou Zuo was confused, looking up at Liu Zhen. "Didn't you say Leader Wen spent a lot of spirit crystals to secure this opportunity?"

Liu Zhen was so angry he couldn't speak, and he slapped Zhou Zuo on the head.

"Can't you see, these guys are all experts!"

"Damn, they don't practice elsewhere but specifically come here. The news must have leaked!"

Zhou Zuo rubbed his head, feeling bitter. "Why take it out on me?"

The dozen or so people sitting in front of the courtyard, noticing the newcomers, smiled and teased them.

"Hey, more people, you're a bit late. The sun is already up."

"Is that Liu Zhen? Who's the young guy beside him, a new one? Here to see the world?"

"I say, Liu Zhen, you're not very dedicated. I came here before dawn, and there were already people here..."

"Tsk, I came last night."

"Two days ago!"

"Three days ago!"

The courtyard front suddenly buzzed with chatter, and one person even claimed to have been there for a month, earning everyone's admiration.

Liu Zhen felt dizzy with anger and shouted, "What are you all doing here!"

"Ah, Liu Zhen, we all know what's going on!"

"Don't ask, it's about the ninth-grade spirit sword."

Zhou Zuo almost laughed out loud. So this information is common knowledge? Ha, who was stopping me from talking just now?

He glanced at Liu Zhen, but held back his words. This guy's face was as black as if he had eaten fireworks, ready to explode at any moment.

Liu Zhen felt his lungs about to burst. This information was bought with a lot of spirit crystals from Leader Wen, how could it be so cheap?

His people couldn't have leaked the information, so these guys must have bribed the elders?

As the other person said, it's all tacitly understood...

Damn, which elder is so unscrupulous, selling the same information to so many people!

The words stuck in his throat, making him feel like he was constipated. The two stood at the crossroads, the air filled with awkward silence.

The people in front of the courtyard, however, seemed experienced and patted the ground.

"Liu Zhen, come over, sit here."

"Don't be shy, treat it like your own courtyard."

"Ha!" Zhou Zuo couldn't hold back his laughter.

Liu Zhen slapped him to the ground, walked over with a grim face, but stopped halfway, stunned by what he saw.

The invisible barrier surrounding the courtyard began to ripple and then split open, revealing the courtyard gate.

The people sitting in front of the courtyard also noticed this change, and some looked at the sky, realizing something was wrong.

"It's only the fourth hour, the array isn't supposed to be lifted until noon."

"Who lifted the array? No one here knows about arrays, Liu Zhen, was it you?"

Liu Zhen almost lunged at this person, wanting to knock him into the ground. How could he lift the array from so far away?

And who are you, do we know each other?

Can you stop calling my name so enthusiastically!

Liu Zhen was speechless at this group of familiar strangers but focused on the courtyard gate.

Creak!

The door opened, and a tall, thin figure appeared, holding a black sword, with sleepy eyes leaning against the door.

"Making so much noise in the early morning, can't you let people sleep?"

Xu Xiaoshou was exasperated. Last night, he was originally going to practice, but then he thought, sleeping also involves breathing, and breathing is cultivation...

So he lay down!

But one mosquito after another kept him awake, and he finally fell asleep after a long night. Now he was woken up again in the early morning!

Although the courtyard had a soundproofing array, it wasn't very advanced.

The voices of these people grew louder, sounding like a buzzing in his ears, just like mosquitoes, which he couldn't tolerate.

He stepped out with his sword!

Xu Xiaoshou had been in the outer court for three years, and he knew what these people were thinking. They were waiting for him to die in his closed cultivation and then collect his corpse to get some benefits!

Sorry, one me falls, and another me rises.

He leaned against the door, looking around, and said mockingly, "Everyone, what are you doing at my door so early? I don't sell breakfast!"

Everyone looked at the man with the sword, stunned.

Xu Xiaoshou?

He broke through his closed cultivation?

To break through to the third realm is a significant hurdle, and Xu Xiaoshou had spent three years showing everyone that he was destined for the third realm. How could he break through with just a closed cultivation?

What kind of luck is this!

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"You didn't die?"

"What's going on, did you... break through to the fourth realm?"

Xu Xiaoshou was about to speak when he saw the information bar in his mind update:

"Suspected, passive value, +12."

Xu Xiaoshou was delighted. He had been worrying that to increase his passive value, he would have to actively release his scent to attract mosquitoes. Now it seemed...

Not just attacks, but suspicion can also increase it?

Could it be that any passive words or actions would increase his passive value?

Including the six mosquito bites last night, he now had 18 passive values.

But why did he get a "+12" this time when each bite last night only gave him a "+1"?

Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled and counted the people present, 17 in total.

Could it be that 12 of them doubted his breakthrough to the fourth realm?

"Is he Xu Xiaoshou?" Zhou Zuo finally reached Liu Zhen's side and asked quietly.

"Suspected, passive value, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. His ears were sharp, and among these corpse collectors, there was actually someone who didn't recognize the corpse?

He stepped out of the courtyard with his black sword, and the others immediately backed away.

To show his determination in closed cultivation, Xu Xiaoshou had spent all his spirit crystals to buy this ninth-grade spirit sword.

The sword was named "Hidden Suffering," symbolizing deep pain. If he couldn't break through, he would die with the sword.

Now that he had successfully broken through to the fourth realm, with this ninth-grade spirit sword and the White Cloud Sword Technique he had practiced for three years (though he had only mastered one move), he had the strength to fight these people.

The highest cultivator here was Liu Zhen, at the fifth realm. The higher-level elders wouldn't deign to collect a corpse themselves.

So when Xu Xiaoshou emerged, these people subconsciously wanted to retreat.

One man with a sword, and everyone was shocked.

"Collecting corpses at my door, why didn't your leaders come themselves?"

In terms of experience, Xu Xiaoshou, who had been in the outer court for three years, was already considered an elder, even a senior brother.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have so many assets, a courtyard, and a spirit sword.

Those stronger than him had entered the innate realm and moved to the inner court, while the so-called leaders still in the outer court were once his followers.

So when he shouted, no one dared to contradict him, even Liu Zhen, who was one realm higher, remained silent at the sight of the black sword on his shoulder.

"Go back where you came from!" Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, like shooing ducks.

The group was completely taken aback by Xu Xiaoshou's sudden assertiveness, their morale crushed, and they turned to leave without a word.

"Senior Liu, are we just leaving?" Zhou Zuo asked cautiously.

Liu Zhen looked at Xu Xiaoshou, though reluctant, he couldn't just attack and carry away the corpse.

Not only was private fighting not allowed in the Spirit Palace, but whether he could win was also a question.

"Let's go." He sighed and followed the others.

"Wait!"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly called out, as if remembering something.

The group turned, confused, and saw Xu Xiaoshou plant his sword in the ground and shout, "You come and go as you please, do you think I, Xu Xiaoshou, have no temper?"

Everyone was angry. They had wasted several hours waiting and got nothing. Now they were leaving, and he wanted to do what?

"What do you want?" Liu Zhen frowned. If they all attacked together, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't stand a chance. Was he out of his mind, thinking he could take on seventeen people?

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, "Nothing, no need to get excited, I just have a few questions."

The group was silent, and Xu Xiaoshou asked with a smile, "I said I broke through to the fourth realm, do you believe me?"

Everyone was stunned. Did he stop them just for this question? But to leave, they all nodded quickly.

"Uh-huh."

"Believe it, believe it!"

"Senior Xu is so powerful, you're at the fourth realm, so we can go?"

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback. Why this reaction?

No, doubt me, please doubt me!

He shouted in his mind. He had finally come up with a way to earn passive values, but no one was playing along.

Seeing the group eager to leave, he had an idea, sheathed his sword, and said calmly, "To be honest, I, Xu Xiaoshou, have already broken through to the fifth realm..."

"How is that possible?"

"Ha, Senior Xu is joking..."

Everyone spoke up. They weren't blind; his fourth-realm aura was as bright as a light bulb. Saying he was at the fifth realm?

Lying with your eyes wide open, impressive.

"Suspected, passive value, +15."

Xu Xiaoshou was delighted. So this is how it works?

He saw only 15, meaning two people still believed him. Were they idiots?

"Ha, actually, I've already broken through to the sixth realm..."

Everyone: ???

"Suspected, passive value, +17."

Good, this is a great tool for earning passive values. Who are these corpse collectors?

Xu Xiaoshou shrugged, "No more pretending, I've already broken through to the seventh realm..."

Everyone felt their veins pop. Was Xu Xiaoshou toying with them? Was this fun?

"Suspected, passive value, +13."

Oh, it's lower now!

Xu Xiaoshou, focused on his mind, didn't notice the group's expressions and quickly added, "Alright, alright, no more jokes, I've already broken through to the eighth..."

"Xu Xiaoshou, don't push it!"

"A man can be killed but not humiliated!"

"Brothers, attack!"

Xu Xiaoshou was startled and saw the seventeen angry faces. He quickly retreated into the courtyard, and the door slammed shut, the array immediately activating.

My goodness, just a few questions, is it that serious?

Like they ate fireworks!