Chapter 831: Chapter 831: 832: The Old Beggar's Burst of Acting Skills

“Senior, what brings you to my humble shop? Come, have a smoke of Huazi to calm your nerves.”

Li Xiaobai offered a Huazi, smiling. Without the little yellow chicken by his side to fake death, he felt a bit uneasy in his heart.

It was quite clear that Wu Chengjue had likely seen the Human Immortal Ranking List and realized he wasn’t dead; she must have come specially to capture him.

The surrounding prodigies watched everything unfold with astonishment. They didn’t recognize this woman, but judging by Li Xiaobai’s demeanor, she was probably a formidable master.

Wu Mengyao compared herself with the other woman and realized she was utterly outclassed. Setting aside cultivation level, even considering beauty and temperament, she usually stood out from the crowd, but she felt ashamed in the presence of the woman in the brocade dress!

In the Eastern Continent, could there actually be such an extraordinary woman?

“How did you survive?”

“Where is that cultivator named Elder Tianwu currently?”

Wu Chengjue’s lips parted slightly, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. She had been somewhat incredulous earlier when she noticed that familiar name dominating the list, but the scene before her seemed to confirm her suspicions. Perhaps if that person were present, her Thousand-Mile Frost ability would indeed pose no threat to him.

She came today to uncover the truth.

“Uh…”

“Actually, this is all a misunderstanding…”

Li Xiaobai didn’t know how to explain to this killing god.

As he fretted, an aged voice suddenly came from the doorway.

“With this old man here, repelling such minor tricks is naturally nothing!”

“Chengjue, long time no see. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of betraying your master and destroying your ancestry!”

Everyone looked toward the voice and saw an old beggar in tattered clothes walking slowly with dignity, hands clasped behind his back and followed by a chicken and a dog. His gaze was imperious, and he had an arrogant air.

“Indeed, with the Patriarch here, this Buddha’s child is curious to see who would dare to cause trouble!” Ergouzi gave a sideways glance and spoke indifferently.

“Cackle, open your eyes wide and take a good look at who this person is!” Ji Wuqing also called out, evidently looking up to the old beggar as the leader.

Upon the arrival of the newcomer, Wu Chengjue hadn’t yet spoken, but the hearts of the prodigies were already in turmoil. They recognized the old man’s face all too well.

In the Southern Continent, they often saw this person interacting with their Sect Master, and occasionally, he would directly open battlefields in the void to spar, one of the few mighty beings in the Central Origin Realm with no airs of superiority.

“Senior Xiao Lao Di!”

“Senior Xiao Lao Di is in the Eastern Continent!”

“From what it sounds like, he seems to have a master-disciple relationship with this lady in the brocade dress?”

“But why is he mingling with Li Xiaobai? Could he be the Villain’s Guild’s high-ranking overseer?”

“Judging from his usual behavior and mannerisms, he matches the Villain’s Guild indeed; I’d believe it if you said he’s the founder of the Villain’s Guild!”

The prodigies were in an uproar. Even in such a tense atmosphere, they couldn’t help but be shocked. How could such a supreme being, on the same level as their Sect Master and the Supreme Elders, appear in such an out-of-the-way place?

The emergence of the all-dominating Villain’s Guild, the unbeatable Li Xiaobai at the same level, and the inscrutable lady in the brocade dress—perhaps the Eastern Continent was not as simple as they had thought. Maybe the cultivators here were just more reserved while actually being a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers?

“There’s no mistake. A year ago, I stepped into the Human Immortal Realm, and the Sect Master bestowed upon me an ancient Divine Demon talisman. It was this old guy who staked out the Hundred Flowers Sect for seven days and nights and finally found the opportunity to knock me out with a surprise attack and steal that treasure, said to have been given to Zhang Kuang!”

“I’ll never forget this face in my lifetime; he is Senior Xiao Lao Di!”

Wu Mengyao stared at the old beggar with wide eyes, her heart filled with a tumult of emotions as past unpleasant memories surged to the fore, bringing a complex mix of tastes.

“Are you… senior?”

“There is something I need to say beforehand, if you deceive me, the consequences will be dire.”

Wu Chengjue narrowed his eyes, exuding strands of dangerous aura.

“Why should I explain my actions to others in this life?”

“In this world, what’s real or fake, right or wrong, who can truly clarify or explain it? In fact, you already have the answer in your heart, don’t you? Otherwise, with your temperament, you would have acted against this youngster long ago.”

The old beggar’s expression was calm as he sat comfortably, smilingly sizing up Wu Chengjue with a hint of admiration in his eyes, as if he really were appreciating a junior.

“Hmph, this person is Senior Xiao Lao Di, hurry over and pay your respects!”

“Have you forgotten the care I’ve shown you in the past, or do you now feel so emboldened that you think you can wrestle with the old ancestors?”

Ergouzi and Ji Wuqing said coldly from the side, pressing in with each step.

“Chengjue dares not!”

Wu Chengjue reined in his aura and quickly bowed his head, saying, with a semblance of frivolousness and a sly demeanor. He was the spitting image of the senior, except for appearing far less cultivated, as if he really were the senior.

“Good to know, have a seat, and tell me about your experiences over the years. I thought it was understood, after our last parting, that we wished to be free from disturbances.”

The old beggar casually waved his hand, speaking as if gossiping, leaving Li Xiaobai speechless and bewildered; he immediately recognized that this old rascal was putting on an act, wildly bluffing his performance to deceive Wu Chengjue as Senior Xiao Lao Di.

This was tantamount to dancing on the edge of a knife, where a single slip could mean no redemption. However, the deception seemed to be effective so far; the other party seemed to be somewhat convinced.

A sidelong glance inadvertently swept Ergouzi and the little yellow chicken, eyes meeting, and instantly understanding each other’s intentions.

A setup, to fool her!

“It’s my dullness that failed to grasp senior’s intention; please, Senior, do not take offense!”

Wu Chengjue, not daring to sit on an equal footing with the old beggar, respectfully stood to the side, and spoke. The ability to face her with composure—a feat not even her fellow cultivators at the Heavenly Immortal Realm could achieve—had her almost completely convinced that the person before her was Xiao Lao Di!

Deliberately hiding his identity and cultivation level to mingle within a small sect of the Eastern Continent must have had its own purpose.

“Since receiving Senior’s fortuitous guidance eight years ago, Chengjue successfully broke through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and is now one step into the Half-Saint Realm.”

“In these eight years, I joined the Enforcement Team, traversing the four continents of the Central Origin Realm, destroying cities and exterminating clans, piling up millions of corpses, and utterly annihilating the sinners, never tarnishing the reputation you’ve granted me!”

“Seven years ago, I eliminated the Flying Evocation Divine Sect…”

“Six years ago, in the presence of the Demon Sealing Sect, I executed their unripe Divine Child…”

“Five years ago…”

“…”

Wu Chengjue reported her achievements of these years, sending chills down the spine of everyone present, feeling the breath of trepidation sweep across them. The male disciples suddenly found the ice-cold beauty less appealing—she was a killing god!

“Your performance is quite satisfactory, indeed not letting down my reputation.”

The old beggar nodded seriously, but was nearly fainting from shock at the next words.

“Rest assured, senior, Chengjue dares not take all the credit; after every eradication, I have reported it in your great name, shaking all seas, never besmirching the three words Xiao Lao Di!”