Chapter 20

Xu Xiaoshou spent the night at Goose Lake.

On a summer lakeside, there were always some mosquitoes and flies. Among them, there were even some overambitious ones who wanted to make a small contribution by increasing his passive value.

However, his innate physical body was no longer something these mosquitoes and flies could pierce with their weak mouthparts.

In the early hours of the morning, the sky was cold. Xu Xiaoshou tightened his clothes. His mood had recovered, and he was planning to leave.

He turned his head and saw a gaunt face staring at him.

Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

This old man was fine in every other aspect, but those two large black circles under his eyes were quite overwhelming.

"From the outer courtyard?"

The old man's lips twitched, and he smiled. "Young man, aren't you going to watch the 'Struggle of the Stormy Clouds'?"

Xu Xiaoshou took a few steps back, and only after creating some distance did he realize that the old man's words sounded familiar.

"You are..."

Xu Xiaoshou tried to recognize him. Wasn't this the old man he had encountered by chance during the group match when his legs went weak?

Such a coincidence?

The old man chuckled and put on the straw hat. Xu Xiaoshou immediately confirmed it was him.

"Senior, what are you..."

Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled. Meeting once was a coincidence, but meeting twice was too much.

Could it be that this old man was specifically looking for him?

The old man with the straw hat stroked his back and said, "You are a pity. I heard that the 'Struggle of the Stormy Clouds' has been producing a lot of geniuses recently."

"Yesterday, there was a young man, seemed to be called Xiao Shou?"

"He even killed someone, tsk tsk, these young people!"

Xu Xiaoshou's face darkened. Why bring up that topic? The murderer is right in front of you!

The old man, however, seemed to not recognize him and continued, "But it's fine, I'm not looking for him, I'm looking for you!"

"I..."

Xu Xiaoshou was about to speak when the old man raised his hand to stop him. "I know you!"

"Lao Xiao and Lao Qiao said that the outer courtyard has produced two innate cultivators, plus a sword cultivator who has comprehended the sword intent."

"But, I particularly like you!"

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't take it anymore. You've been talking nonsense, and you've mentioned four people, two of whom are me!

"I am..."

"Hey!" The old man's eyes widened, signaling the young man not to be hasty and let him finish.

"Hehe, you are the one with the innate physical body, right?"

"I've been looking for you for several days, searched the entire outer courtyard, and didn't expect you to be here admiring the geese. You are indeed the one I've been looking for..."

"You have taste!"

Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes. What kind of taste is this? I was thinking about life, not admiring geese.

What's so special about these fat geese? They're better off being eaten.

"Last night, I noticed you when I came here!"

The old man's words startled Xu Xiaoshou. Last night?

He hadn't noticed at all!

He secretly observed the old man and found that he couldn't sense his aura, as if he were just an ordinary old man.

But how could that be?

An ordinary old man in the Tian Sang Ling Palace?

This must be a big shot!

He secretly speculated, not understanding why such a big shot would seek him out. Was it because of his innate physical body?

Taste, physical body, secret observation...

Xu Xiaoshou shivered. Something felt off.

The old man didn't notice his unease and continued, "I observed you all night. Good lad, you have great composure!"

"Even with mosquito bites and eerie sounds, you didn't move an inch, not even turning your head."

"I admit, you have the style of my younger days!"

Xu Xiaoshou stumbled. He remembered feeling a cool breeze on his neck at midnight, as if someone was breathing behind him...

So there really was someone!

He was scared, as he had been deep in thought and a bit tired, standing and dozing off without noticing the old man.

Speaking of which, why didn't the information bar give any warning about an ambush or intimidation? It was really negligent!

No, no, from now on, he would definitely go back to the courtyard to sleep.

Standing outside, he might die without even knowing how!

The old man nodded, his sparse eyebrows showing satisfaction. He looked Xu Xiaoshou up and down and suddenly asked, "After all I've said, don't you have anything to say?"

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

He said with a pale face, "Didn't you tell me not to speak?"

"Did I?"

"You didn't?"

"Think again, did I?"

Xu Xiaoshou was about to argue but suddenly recalled that the old man had only used gestures and eye contact to stop him, not verbally.

He said helplessly, "I've disappointed Senior!"

"The young man who killed someone is me, the one who comprehended the sword intent is me, and the innate physical body... uh, is also me!"

"Also, my name is Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Xu as in 'receive,' thank you."

He paused and continued, "I'm going to participate in the 'Struggle of the Stormy Clouds,' not just watch. Goodbye!"

Although he didn't know the old man's intentions, he decided to avoid trouble. The best strategy is to leave.

"Wait!"

The old man grabbed him, his grip incredibly strong, causing Xu Xiaoshou's wrist to hurt.

"Senior, let me go! I'm not tasty, I didn't even shower last night!"

The old man's eyes twitched. "Eat what? Are you saying the pills are not tasty? Why would I eat you?"

"Really!"

He looked Xu Xiaoshou up and down again. "Are you really that talented?"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the information bar, seeing no "suspected" status, and said with a sob, "You already believed me, why ask this?"

"Good lad!"

The old man grinned. "Your confident speaking style, just like me, it's definitely you!"

He pulled out a red, seed-like object from his pocket and handed it to Xu Xiaoshou. "Eat it!"

Xu Xiaoshou almost wet himself. What the hell is this?

Is this old man crazy? Coming up with nonsense and then asking him to eat a seed?

I swear, I, Xu Xiaoshou, will never come out to daydream again!

Am I asking for trouble? For a dead Wen Chong, I'm about to lose my innocence?

"Eat it!"

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's pleading eyes, the old man said sternly, "Don't worry, it might hurt a little, but you have an innate physical body, you can endure it."

I beg you, please stop talking!

Xu Xiaoshou almost knelt down. If you hadn't said anything, I might have had some hope, but now it's all gone!

He was forced to take the red seed, which was the size of a fingernail, and found it surprisingly hot.

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked. With his innate physical body, if anyone else held it, their hand would have been burned through.

He looked at the old man again, who was eagerly watching him. "Eat it! It's very tasty!"

This must be a big shot, no need to use poison or aphrodisiacs on me...

Right?

Xu Xiaoshou felt bitter. Although he was handsome, he wasn't the type that would make others lose control and resort to any means.

Let's do it!

"Swallow!"

Xu Xiaoshou, as if drinking poison, swallowed it with a look of despair and then looked at the old man. "What's next?"

"What's next?"

"There's nothing next!"

The old man grinned and disappeared in a flash.

Damn!

Xu Xiaoshou was furious. What the hell is going on?

He gave me an unknown thing, told me to eat it, and now he's gone...

Gone!

Really gone!

Xu Xiaoshou was enraged. He swore that if he ever saw the old man again, he would use the "White Cloud Drifts" technique to show him what "nothing next" means!

The next second, he suddenly felt his face and ears turn red, and his entire body became hot.

Xu Xiaoshou's face was trembling.

It's over!

His body, his body feels so strange...

What the hell is this feeling!

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized. Could the old man have gone to get someone?

"Help!"

"I'm not worth it! Help!"