870: Between heaven and earth, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

He couldn't see through Xie Weilou, who was before him; he felt that even if he didn't intervene, the other party wouldn't fear a Venerable's threat.

This young man was a sudden emergence; his background and origins were a mystery.

Not long after his appearance, he had already stirred up trouble in the Eastern Desolate, though it was unknown how far he could go.

"Regardless, I still have to thank the Sword Emperor!"

Xie Weilou bowed again.

The Sword Emperor smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's a small matter. When you fought with Xiaoshu earlier, that move, Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens, was extremely profound. From which master did you receive its true pass?"

That move, Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens, was far from simple.

At that time, the two were within a domain, which ordinary people might not have witnessed, but he saw through the domain and personally witnessed that sword strike.

That sword strike was transcendent and extraordinary, definitely from the hand of a master.

As a sword cultivator, he knew that anyone capable of creating that sword strike was certainly no ordinary person.

Xie Weilou smiled and said, "That sword strike indeed came from the hand of a master."

The teachers and elders of the Great Xia Holy Academy all had their areas of expertise.

Ye Gucheng's three self-created moves were indeed transcendent, not like swords from the human world.

"Hm!"

The Sword Emperor nodded slightly, asked no more questions, and flew away directly.

Xie Weilou watched the Sword Emperor's departing back and thought to himself, "The vast world is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!"

The Sword Emperor's ability to sever another Venerable's arm in a short time was enough to show his terrifying power.

Up until now, he had met many powerful individuals, five of whom were the most mysterious and unfathomable, impossible to see through in the slightest.

The first was his Third Uncle, Xie Bian; the other party was too mysterious, especially the back he saw on the three lives stone earlier, which made him feel even more eerie.

How strong the other party truly was remained a huge mystery; their identity, background, and true details were all secrets that he needed to slowly investigate.

The second was Fourth Mr. Spring Autumn Cicada.

The third was Liu Xiahui, the Ninth Under Heaven, whom he met in the Barren Desert. She explicitly stated she was the Ninth Under Heaven, and "Under Heaven" didn't just refer to the Eastern Desolate, but the entire Heavenly Desolate!

The fourth was the number one madman of the Eastern Desolate, Chu Qingtian.

The fifth was the owner of the Undying Pawnshop.

He didn't know what cultivation level these five individuals possessed.

Take Chu Qingtian, for example; he could enter Undying City and successfully come out with a coffin.

Such a heaven-defying individual's cultivation must not be inferior to any of the Great Holy Lords, and might even be a step higher.

And how many such figures were there in the Eastern Desolate?

What he could see of the Eastern Desolate now was just the tip of the iceberg.

"..."

Xie Weilou pondered for a moment, then turned and left.

No matter how many powerful individuals there were, one could only observe others' paths; the key was still to cultivate oneself and walk one's own path... The next day.

Inside the inn.

Xie Buxian opened his eyes, a look of joy on his face.

This time, the harvest was truly immense; his cultivation advanced from the early Xuanhuang Realm to the peak of the Xuanhuang Realm.

More importantly, within the book of vast righteousness, there was a method of vast righteousness called the "Vast Righteousness Art," which was the general outline of vast righteousness, extremely profound, and could become his main cultivation technique.

Xie Weilou sat nearby, drinking wine, and said with a faint smile, "The harvest this time is not bad."

Xie Buxian quickly said, "Big Brother Xie, I obtained a Vast Righteousness Art within the book of vast righteousness. It's the general outline of vast righteousness, and I'll make a copy for you."

He couldn't offer other things, but the Vast Righteousness Art was extremely extraordinary, and he felt it would be useful to Xie Weilou.

Xie Weilou chuckled and said, "You keep it for your own cultivation! I don't lack those things."

"But..."

Xie Buxian subconsciously started to say something.

Xie Weilou smiled and waved his hand, saying, "No need to speak of this matter again. What I gave you is yours. Prepare yourself; we should set off."

"Your cultivation has already advanced to the peak of the Xuanhuang Realm. Next, you should consider matters of the Shackles Realm, but you can settle down for a bit, master the power of the Xuanhuang Realm well, and then consider breaking through."

Seeing this, Xie Buxian could only give a bitter smile and say, "Understood."

Not long after.

A white jade flying boat sailed into the sky, continuing south. This time, the destination was Eastern Desolate City!

From here to Eastern Desolate City, there was still a very long journey.

--------

Half a month later.

The white jade flying boat cut through the sky, constantly moving.

Xie Weilou stood on the flying boat, looking ahead, and saw a beautiful Pear Mountain, covered in Lihuas, a truly beautiful environment.

"Let's rest on that mountain."

Xie Weilou waved his sleeve, and the flying boat headed towards Pear Mountain.

Not long after.

The flying boat arrived on Pear Mountain. Xie Weilou put away the flying boat and walked forward with Xie Buxian.

A hundred meters ahead.

There was a stream and a wooden house. Outside the wooden house, a white jade chessboard was set up.

Currently, a woman dressed in a stone-green long dress and wearing a bamboo hat was sitting beside the chessboard, holding a white piece, silently gazing at the board.

There were no pieces on the chessboard yet; she seemed to be contemplating how to make the first move.

"..."

Xie Weilou looked at the woman, a strange glint appearing in his eyes.

The woman's aura was restrained, her cultivation unfathomably deep, impossible to see through. Moreover, her bamboo hat could block divine sense probing, making her face unclear.

What interested Xie Weilou even more was that on the back of this woman's hand, there was an exquisite white scale totem.

Coincidentally, this white scale totem was very similar in shape to the green scale on Elder Gu's hand, which he had seen in the Twin Sons' memories!

The woman sensed Xie Weilou's arrival and slowly spoke, "Daoist friend, are you planning to go to Eastern Desolate City?"

"Hm!"

Xie Weilou smiled and nodded.

The woman said, "From here to Eastern Desolate City, it's still a three-day journey. If Daoist friend knows how to play chess, how about a game with me? It won't waste much time."

As she said this, she added, "This humble one is Shi Qingxuan!"

Xie Weilou cupped his fists and said, "I am Xie Weilou."

Shi Qingxuan heard this, her eyes showing no ripples: "I have heard of Fellow Daoist Xie's name. I wonder how Daoist friend's chess skills compare to your martial arts? Which is stronger?"

Xie Weilou walked forward and sat opposite Shi Qingxuan. He said with a faint smile, "I've been traveling a lot lately, and I am indeed a bit tired. A game of chess might help relieve the fatigue, but in the path of chess, I only have a slight understanding."

"No matter! Fellow Daoist Xie, please!"

Shi Qingxuan extended her hand towards Xie Weilou, signaling him to make the first move.

Xie Weilou looked at Shi Qingxuan: "Since it's a game, how about we add a wager?"

Shi Qingxuan asked, "What wager does Fellow Daoist Xie have in mind?"

Xie Weilou said, "If I win, you answer one question for me; if I lose, you name the condition. How about that?"

"That's fine!"

Shi Qingxuan nodded lightly.

"..."

Xie Weilou didn't hesitate, casually picked up a black piece, and placed it in the center of the board.