I Am Loaded with Passive Skills

Chapter 3798: Chapter 1834: Shocking Change (Part 2)

Moreover, in that instant, various obscure thoughts flashed through the Body of Consciousness of the Demon Ancestor.

Consciousness, in essence, is difficult to articulate.

Previously, Xu Xiaoshou seldom used "Intent Stripping" and wasn’t proficient with it. But now, using it with the Will Dao Disc, he has learned to summarize:

’The middle choice of equivalent exchange is indeed an irresistible deadly temptation for any cultivator.’

’Compared to the essence of the Great Path provided by the Demon Ancestor, the freedom sought by ambitious ones like Bazhun’an is nothing but child’s play.’

’Is this why the Demon Ancestor is confident that I will trade with Him and ultimately abandon Bazhun’an and others?’

Such smoke-like, mist-like thoughts cannot form straightforward words. In the end, when cutting off "Intent Stripping," Xu Xiaoshou faintly heard a mocking inner voice:

’Playing house...’

Indeed, from the height of the Demon Ancestor, looking at the Saint Servant and the Holy Divine Palace, it truly resembles a game of playing house.

While He was plotting against the Ten Ancestors and Time Ancestor, Bazhun’an, Kui Leihan, and others, be they Saint Servant or self-imprisoned, were still seeking a direct "return to zero" path.

Little did they know, this path was utterly unfeasible.

The Demon Ancestor said "mountain," and in His eyes, He is the mountain, under which all people are pressed down, including Bazhun’an, as well as Xu Xiaoshou...

This mountain cannot be moved, surpassed, or climbed!

"You have many little clevernesses and have played some small tricks."

The Demon Ancestor could not laugh anymore. Sensitive as He is, He knew in an instant what Xu Xiaoshou had just done behind His back.

But He did not hold it against him, generously saying: "It is precisely because of this that you can be more certain that what I said just now is not empty talk. So, tell me, your answer."

"No!"

Xu Xiaoshou smiled with pursed lips but firmly shook his head.

He did not mention the mind-reading act just before, letting it go with a smile, generously sparing himself: "It’s just the middle choice. I’m a greedy person, and I want to hear the upper choice too."

"Upper..."

The Demon Ancestor had given a choice earlier, but now was not too willing to speak. It seemed He favored the fair trade of the middle option:

"For the upper, you won’t be willing to listen."

"Whether I’m willing or not depends on me, not you. You are not fish, how do you know the joy of fish." Xu Xiaoshou smiled and shook his head, "First, tell me the cost of the upper choice."

The cost of the lower choice is five hundred years.

The cost of the middle choice, on the other hand, is a fair transaction.

Looking at it this way, Xu Xiaoshou thought this "upper" might be something he can get for free, and he liked getting things for free.

"The cost of the upper is just a promise from you."

"What promise?"

"Responsibility."

"?"

Xu Xiaoshou was briefly stunned; if you want to chat like this, I’m going to misunderstand!

"Demon Ancestor bro, you’d better be clearer. Some matters aren’t suitable for ambiguities..."

"The upper is a secret, and I will reveal to you a secret."

"What secret?"

"Hearing it signifies the end of your choice, with the middle and lower choices disappearing. Of course, once you hear the secret, it also signifies entering the ’responsibility’ phase." The Demon Ancestor smiled, "Will you listen?"

"..."

Xu Xiaoshou pondered in silence.

One had to admit, from start to finish, the Demon Ancestor didn’t seem much like a demon, more like a fair contractor.

Although the contract content He provided did indeed resemble something of a demon.

"How to fulfill it, what the promise is, can’t you first explain the cost?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"You can consider it a favor."

The Demon Ancestor condensed an image, gracefully descending to the ground, returning to simplicity, astonishingly in a tone of equal communication, spoke again slowly:

"Anytime, anyplace, anyone, when I need you, you must act once."

Xu Xiaoshou instinctively wanted to refuse; there were too many pitfalls in these words.

Yet the Demon Ancestor said: "I won’t make it difficult for you, nor force you to choose, nor push you beyond your limits."

"..."

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent again; doesn’t this mean I can refuse anytime on these three conditions?

Wouldn’t that mean getting it for free?

But is there really such a thing as a pie falling from the sky, especially thrown over by the Demon Ancestor?

The free is the most expensive.

Xu Xiaoshou always understood this principle.

However, this did not deter his curiosity about the upper choice: "Any hints?"

Xu Xiaoshou, so greedy he laughed at himself, "Just like the additional information earlier, does the upper choice come with one or two add-ons?"

Once I hear the extras, I’ll leave!

This time, both middle and upper, I won’t choose.

The main thing is getting it for free; after gathering the wool, I’ll leave, and when I become stronger, I’ll return for the mutton to skin and eat.

But the Demon Ancestor seemed unbothered by Xu Xiaoshou’s freeloading from beginning to end.

This time, His gaze fixed directly on the lost little lamb before him, casually extending a hand, bending a finger, and tapping it against the side of his head, he spoke softly:

"Everyone has secrets..."

...

"Snap!"

The ruins of Sacred Mountain Gui Zhe.

A crack appeared as if a finger tapped, and blood suddenly burst out from Ghost Buddha’s forehead.

"Sizzle..."

Hot blood gushed forth, creating steam in the snowy day, while a "pfft" sound ensued, evaporating it completely.

Ghost Buddha trembled.

The wound healed.

The previous anomaly felt like an illusion, as if nothing had actually occurred.

...

The small town beneath Qingyuan Mountain.

Kui Leihan in the blacksmith shop suddenly got up, grabbed a cloak, and strode quickly into the snow.

"You stay in the shop and watch, I’ll be out for a bit. If anything happens, call Dao Uncle. If he doesn’t help you, I’ll kill him."

Bam!

The hammer fell to the ground.

Cao Erzhu’s heart clenched, shouting towards the diminishing shadow outside the door: "Dad, where are you going!"

The wind howled, making it impossible to hear a response.

The sound of the wind was alarming, and as Cao Erzhu rushed out the door, he felt as if he were being watched by the entire world.

"Eyes..."

Clearly, he saw nothing, yet from the sky to the earth, from all directions, it was as if countless eyes were staring at him.

——As if wanting to devour someone!

"Dad!"

Cao Erzhu shouted loudly, lightning exploding under his feet as he raced towards where his dad went.

At this moment, a clear voice came from the corner across the street outside the shop, seemingly suppressing some emotion:

"...Rock Luo."

Cao Erzhu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

No outsider could possibly know his nickname!

This was something he used against strangers since childhood; apart from his dad and himself, no outsider could possibly know!

"Who?"

Cao Erzhu turned his head.

What he saw wasn’t anyone familiar or unfamiliar.

It was a little girl in white, who looked lively and fresh...

Her face, somewhat familiar?

Cao Erzhu couldn’t recall where he had seen her, "Who are you?"

The girl walked closer, looking towards where his dad had disappeared, and instead of answering, she asked back: "Where is he going?"

In this kind of situation, Cao Erzhu would usually just lock the shop and go back.

But this girl gave him an unusual sense of familiarity. He had always been accurate in seeing people, distinguishing the good from the bad, or identifying someone like powerful old immortal Mei at a glance.

He moved forward, looking down at the little girl who barely reached his chest, feeling both familiar and warm, he spoke in a deep voice:

"He’s my dad."

Now, he feared no one, nor any unexpected occurrences, and wasn’t afraid of anyone knowing he’s Kui Leihan’s son, or what Kui Leihan was up to!

She seemed to bear no ill will...

"Is he looking for someone?"

The girl in white didn’t mind Cao Erzhu’s non-answer, with a hint of hope in her eyes: "Did he ever tell you he’s going to find someone about my age, someone who looks a bit like me..."

"What are you trying to say?"

The girl stopped, looking up at him: "Is he coming to find me?"

After hearing this, Cao Erzhu was flustered. Why would my dad be looking for you, this is too inexplicable, and where exactly did you come from!

He seemed to feel something.

Cao Erzhu turned his head to look at the street side.

A distance away a slender figure clad in red stood, looking closely, it was a man, waving and greeting:

"Hey there, young sir, you’re so strong~"

Cao Erzhu’s scalp tingled, staring at the little girl in front of him, "Who exactly are you all!"

The girl in white’s eyes flashed with disappointment, bypassing him but hesitating, decided not to enter the blacksmith shop.

She let out a dejected sigh, turned back, and returned to the man in a red dress, departing with him.

But that man in red, after a few steps, suddenly turned back, waving and calling out:

"Hey! Rock Luo! Do you have no memory at all of ’Luo Leilei’?"