Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 905 Situ Xuankong
After leaving the tavern, Xiao Ran did not wander around the town any further.

He turned around and went back to the treasure ship to wait.

Wu Man, Jin Chanzi, and Lu Da have not returned; they are probably still wandering around the boat town.

Xiao Ran wasn't in a hurry. This town was full of hidden talents, and there were even masters from thousands of years ago living in seclusion there.

They were bound to encounter these experts inside. Judging from the attitude of the Gu family patriarch, the people in this boat town had no ill intentions and might even offer them some guidance as newcomers.

He returned to the deck and sat down, and Liu Mu immediately brought him tea.

"Looks like you've had quite a haul."

Liu Mu hadn't seen Xiao Ran for a while, and upon closer inspection, he was secretly astonished to find that Xiao Ran's strength had improved by an unknown amount.

Even a great evil spirit like him, with a complete primordial spirit, feels immense pressure in front of Xiao Ran.

"good."

After Xiao Ran finished speaking, she looked at Liu Mu and asked, "Do you know about Baili Shenfeng?"

Hundred-mile Divine Peak?

Liu Mu scratched his head: "I don't know, I've never heard of it."

When Xiao Ran briefly explained the situation of Baili Shenfeng to Liu Mu, Liu Mu was also greatly shocked.

"This person guards the mountaintop alone. Thousands of years have passed outside. Countless proud sons of heaven and the founders of sects have been stopped by him. His strength is unfathomable."

"Not necessarily." Xiao Ran took a sip of tea: "The fact that there are people at the 'writer' level means that some people can still get through it."

As the two were talking, Xiao Ran suddenly stopped mid-air with her teacup in hand, her expression turning alert.

At that moment, the surrounding light suddenly dimmed.

Immediately following was the sound of gongs and drums.

The sound came from outside the valley, and it was very loud. Not to mention Xiao Ran, even everyone in the boat town looked up and followed the sound.

Suddenly, a treasure ship began to slowly plummet down into the valley.

This treasure ship was far larger than the one Xiao Ran and the others were on. Its hull collided with the mountain walls on both sides from time to time, making a rumbling sound.

However, the ship was extremely sturdy, and even when it collided with the two sides of the mountain wall, it remained unmoved, while the rocks on both sides of the mountain wall flew everywhere.

As the ship slowly descended, a golden-red light gradually illuminated the entire valley.

"Such a big ship?"

The people in the boat town looked up and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

The treasure ship appeared to be forged from molten gold and blazing white flames. Its hull was shrouded in tangible liquid light and flames, and its sails were billowing high, like two small suns spreading out, dispelling all the gloom, cold, and shadows within a radius of several miles.

"Is this the legendary golden treasure ship?" someone asked, widening their eyes.

These treasure ships are divided into different classes.

Gold, silver, jade, ironwood.

The treasure ship that Xiao Ran and his group were on was the lowest grade of ironwood treasure ship.

The legendary jade treasure ship is said to have the ability to break through the fog and sail safely in extremely dangerous forbidden areas.

As for the highest-level golden treasure ship, it is said that very few people in the entire Baiyun Mountain Range have ever seen it.

Everyone in the boat town is an elder from a thousand years ago.

But in all the years they've been here, none of them have ever seen a real golden treasure ship.

"Not really."

At this moment, a middle-aged scholar dressed in a Confucian robe came out, carefully examined the treasure ship in front of him, and shook his head, saying, "The records in the Strange Tales and Extraordinary Books describe a golden treasure ship that resembles a Kunpeng, with sails made from the Buddha's robe, containing the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra, and a statue of the Bai Ze deity at the bow. It is said to protect all living beings and bring good fortune upon seeing it. This ship clearly does not have these characteristics."

Even if it wasn't a real golden treasure ship, it was the first time anyone had ever seen such a huge and magnificent ship.

The ship was too big and sank all the way down, forcibly crushing the mountain walls on both sides.

Countless pebbles continued to fall.

"not good!!"

Suddenly, someone's expression changed. A small boat was hiding in the ravine nearby; it belonged to Situ Sheng and his children.

The constantly falling pebbles forced Situ Sheng to hide his small boat in a crevice, but the treasure ship above him was sinking continuously, and if he didn't run away soon, he would be in danger of being crushed.

Situ Sheng and his children's faces turned deathly pale instantly. Their small boat was forced into a deep crevice in the cliff by the constantly rolling boulders, with nowhere to retreat.

Just then, a figure suddenly rushed into everyone's sight.

"Whoosh!"

The figures were moving too fast for many people to make out.

The person left behind only a faint, almost invisible afterimage, so fast that it even caused a slight distortion in space.

Faced with the boulders rushing towards them like a sudden downpour, the figure neither dodged nor avoided them. The falling pebbles were bounced off with a strange force, and even became stepping stones for the figure.

With a mere flash, the opponent swept up Situ Sheng and the other children, stepping on the gravel, and with a somersault, landed steadily on the treasure ship with them.

At this moment, Situ Sheng and the other children were already paralyzed with fear.

Although it was mentioned before that they had excellent aptitude and even their boxing skills had reached the level of grandmasters, they were still just a few children and had never seen such a dangerous situation before.

It took them a moment to come to their senses and look up to see that the person who saved them was Xiao Ran, who had just arrived in the town not long ago.

Seeing their stunned expressions, Xiao Ran took out a handful of candy from her spatial storage, stuffed it into Situ Sheng's arms, and gently patted Situ Sheng's little head, saying, "Be careful in the future."

After he finished speaking, Situ Sheng and the other children finally snapped out of their daze.

"Wow!"

It's unclear which child started crying first, but soon several children couldn't hold back and burst into loud sobs.

Seeing the bewildered children, Xiao Ran smiled and was about to say a few words of comfort when the Five Dragons Bracelet on her wrist suddenly began to tremble.

Ah!
Xiao Ran was startled and turned around as if she sensed something. She saw a blurry figure standing at the bow of the golden treasure ship, bathed in golden sunlight.

That was a young man.

He looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, with a tall and straight posture like a pine tree, and wore a golden outfit that seemed to be woven from sunlight.

His face was extremely handsome, with sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards to his temples, and his eyes seemed to hold the blazing sun, as if molten gold were flowing within them, giving him a commanding presence.

The moment Xiao Ran's gaze fell upon the golden-clad youth.

hum!hum!
Two clear and violent tremors erupted almost simultaneously on Xiao Ran's left wrist and the golden-clad youth's right wrist!
On Xiao Ran's left wrist, hidden in her sleeve, the bracelet was burning hot, as if it had been ignited by an invisible flame. The five dragon patterns seemed to come alive, swimming and roaring across the bracelet.

At the same time, the boy's eyes suddenly fixed on Xiao Ran, a glint of light flashing in his clear black and white eyes.

Xiao Ran's pupils suddenly contracted. The blazing sun in the golden-robed youth's eyes seemed to scorch through the soul, and an invisible yet condensed killing intent swept over.

"boom!"

A muffled thud exploded in mid-air.

Xiao Ran's face grew increasingly cold, and a strong killing intent emanated from his body.

The deck beneath my feet groaned and creaked under the weight.

Nemesis!

No words are needed, no names need to be announced.

When the bracelets on their wrists vibrated and hummed simultaneously, and their eyes met, a destiny-like cause and effect already sealed their fate, making it impossible for them to coexist.

The boy's lips seemed to curl upwards very slightly, as if he was excited to have met a nemesis like Xiao Ran.

He slowly raised his right hand, and pure, golden flames rose from his fingertips.

Xiao Ran remained silent, only taking out the [Six-Character Measuring Sword] and a stack of paper money as thick as a brick.

"Gentlemen, this is not the place for you to fight."

Just as the two were about to make their move, a light voice interrupted them.

As the sound rang out, everyone's gaze instinctively converged. On a protruding rock near the edge of the town, close to the base of Xiao Ran's treasure ship, stood a figure who had appeared out of nowhere.

The man appeared to be around forty years old, with a thin face and a tall, slender build. He wore a faded gray cloth robe and ordinary cloth shoes.

His hair was casually tied back with a wooden hairpin, with a few strands falling down his temples. He stood there, exuding a restrained and unpretentious aura.

Xiao Ran was startled. This person was standing less than a hundred meters away from her, and she hadn't noticed him at all.

Not only did he not notice it, but even when Xiao Ran looked at it and used his power of rewind, he could not see anything, nor could he see any trace of the past on this person.

At this moment, Situ Sheng saw the person who had arrived, and his eyes lit up immediately. He shouted to the man with great joy, "Father, I'm here!"

After expressing her grievances and panic, it was as if all of them had disappeared, and her eyes were now sparkling with excitement and confidence.

"Situ Xuankong!"

Xiao Ran immediately understood the person's identity.

According to what Jin Chanzi said before, this person was the founder of Emei Tongbei Quan and the number one martial artist recorded in the Martial Arts Records.

"This place is a sheltered spot for rest, not a fighting arena. Why don't you two step back and rest for now? There's plenty of time in the future."

Situ Xuankong's voice remained calm, yet it seemed to carry a strange rhythm, making the howling wind in the valley seem to subside.

The golden-clad youth remained silent upon hearing this, a hint of confusion appearing on his handsome face. His eyes flashed with golden light, yet he could not discern the depth of Situ Xuankong's abilities.

Seeing this, he put his hands behind his back and beckoned with his fingers behind him.

Behind him, a man clad in red armor immediately understood his young master's meaning. He strode forward, pointed angrily at Situ Xuankong, and shouted:

"You old charlatan! How dare you, a mere country bumpkin, interfere in the affairs of my young master? Get out of my way!"

With a roar, the man stomped on the deck, his blood and qi erupting like a volcano, his muscles bulging, and the eighteen-foot-long crimson spear in his hand instantly condensed a dazzling, ferocious light, which he then hurled directly at Situ Xuankong.

"Woo!!"

The spear pierced the air with a shrill, ear-piercing whistle!

The spear was wreathed in intense crimson aura, tearing the air in all directions with twisted lines. The power of this furious strike surprised even Xiao Ran.

Clearly, this red-armored guard was also a top expert who had stepped into the B-level threshold and was skilled in killing!

This spear, swift as lightning and fierce as thunder, was aimed directly at Situ Xuankong!

Many people in the town gasped in surprise, and Situ Sheng was so frightened that his face turned pale: "Father!"

Just as the crimson spear was about to pierce Situ Xuankong's chest—

Situ Xuankong made a move.

His movements were so fast that they defied visual perception, yet they gave the illusion of being extremely slow and incredibly clear.

He raised his right hand very naturally, his five fingers outstretched, as if he were just about to gently brush away a snowflake that had fallen on his shoulder.

The spearhead, brimming with terrifying malevolence, was abruptly and gently pinched between his outstretched index and middle fingers.

Yes, he used two fingers to catch the deadly spear that was powerful enough to flatten half a mountain!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The violent crimson aura vanished without a trace the moment it touched those two fingers, as if it had disappeared into the sea.

That once menacing spear was now like an ordinary wooden stick thrown by a mischievous child, held firmly between two slender fingers, motionless, without even a ripple.

Situ Xuankong didn't even glance at the spear; his gaze remained calmly fixed on the golden treasure ship. His tone carried a hint of helplessness, as if he were scolding a disobedient child:
"Too much hostility will harm both oneself and others."

Before he finished speaking, he casually flicked the spear tip outward with the two fingers he held between his fingers, as if dusting it off.

hum!
There was only a low, almost inaudible hum.

The crimson spear instantly reversed direction, shooting back at a speed ten or even a hundred times faster than when it came, transforming into an almost invisible crimson line!

puff!
The man's face turned deathly pale. He lowered his head and saw a transparent hole the size of a bowl in his crimson armor, right in front of his chest.

puff!
The spear, still powerful, pierced through another guard behind the bodyguard who was trying to raise his shield to block, and the man and shield exploded into a bloody mist!
"Bang!! Buzzing!!!"

The spear was finally driven into the mast, the shaft sinking deep into the ground, leaving only a violently trembling spearhead that emitted a buzzing wail!
The entire valley was deathly silent!

Everyone, including Xiao Ran, was stunned by the power of the spear.

Especially the young man in gold standing next to the man, although his expression remained calm, fine beads of sweat had already seeped out from his forehead.

"Young man, don't be too hot-tempered. This boat town won't tolerate recklessness. Take your men and keep quiet."

Situ Xuankong maintained his calm and composed demeanor, but the weight of his words was completely different this time.

The young man stared intently at Situ Xuankong for a moment, then finally looked away and turned back into the boat.

"Dad! You're amazing!"

After Situ Xuankong boarded Xiao Ran's treasure ship, Situ Sheng quickly rushed into Situ Xuankong's arms.

Situ Xuankong patted his son's head, but scolded him, "Someone saved your life, and you didn't even say thank you."

"Oh!"

Hearing his father's words, Situ Sheng turned around and said to Xiao Ran, "Thank you, big brother!"

Forehead! !

In terms of seniority, although Situ Sheng is young, his seniority is surprisingly high, so Xiao Ran always felt that there was something strange about him calling him "big brother".

But considering the special circumstances here, Xiao Ran accepted it calmly.

Situ Xuankong walked up to Xiao Ran and bowed slightly to him: "Young brother, thank you for saving my son."

"If I had known that you had already arrived, I would not have dared to show off my limited skills in front of an expert."

After exchanging greetings with Situ Xuankong, Xiao Ran invited the Tongbei Quan master to sit on the deck.

Liu Mu carefully served tea, while Situ Sheng stood obediently beside his father, curiously examining the five-dragon bracelet on Xiao Ran's wrist that trembled slightly.

After the two sat down, Xiao Ran got straight to the point: "Unless you are too kind, senior, we came here to reach the summit, so..."

"You want to ask about Baili Shenfeng?"

Situ Xuankong directly stated Xiao Ran's purpose.

His gaze swept across the vast snow-covered landscape outside the treasure ship, and he said in a deep voice, "The Baili clan is indeed extraordinary. Their power can turn the illusory into the real, and they can use the terrain of Changbai Mountain to create an insurmountable barrier."

He abruptly changed the subject, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "However, there are still constraints on its path—it has been confined to the gate for too long, and its mind has long since frozen solid!"

Seeing Xiao Ran listening intently, Situ Xuankong held out his palm, a wisp of invisible energy swirling around him like a dragon: "The way to break the deadlock is not through brute force, but through proving the Dao."

After saying that, he looked at Xiao Ran and said, "When I came here, I heard from the Gu family of the tavern that you are skilled in magic?"

“Hmm…” Xiao Ran hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, “Although he is skilled in martial arts, he is also skilled with a knife.”

"Ugh!"

Sikong Xuankong smiled and shook his head: "You can't bite off more than you can chew. Whether it's technique or swordsmanship, it's ultimately someone else's stuff. If you don't have your own stuff, I'm afraid you won't be able to reach the top."

After saying this, Situ Xuankong stood up: "When your Daoist cultivation reaches perfection, you will know that the so-called gatekeeper is nothing more than a slightly uncomfortable rock on your mountain path!"

After saying this, Situ Xuankong pulled Situ Sheng and the other children off the boat.

Xiao Ran was left alone on the deck, pondering Situ Sheng's words.

Xiao Ran sat there for the entire night.

By the time he came to his senses, Wu Man and the others had already returned.

They saw Xiao Ran sitting there lost in thought, and no one disturbed him. Only when he woke up did Jin Chanzi ask with a smile, "Have you figured it out?"

"The principle is simple, but... it's difficult."

Xiao Ran silently took out her notebook, wrote down Situ Xuankong's words, and then wrote below that she should advance to B-level as soon as possible.

Finally, Xiao Ran looked up at the enormous treasure ship beside her and silently wrote down a new goal in her notebook.

"Kill him!!"

(End of this chapter)