Ah Si fell silent.

He didn't quite understand what kind of person Lord Shou was in the past.

All he heard was that from one person came thousands upon thousands of offspring, a man of numerous schemes, whose tongue blossoms like a lotus, and that was it.

But why is Lord Shou receiving high praise from the young master for his performance in the mirror at this moment?

Thinking of forming alliances, Ah Si asked:

"Young Master Li, should we help the Holy Divine Palace now, or should we assist Lord Shou?"

Yue Gongli turned his head and glared at the old fellow, returning from the state of contemplation:

"Are you stupid? Of course, the Holy Divine Palace!"

"We are the forces of justice, while the Saint Servants belong to the dark factions!"

You said it yourself, we can cooperate with anyone... Ah Si bitterly smiled, but also knew that now was not the time.

After all, one should help the weak, not the strong.

"How do we help?"

"No! I am still considering whether to intervene or help." Yue Gongli thought further, "After all, I am not on the sacred mountain right now; I am still recuperating."

Ah Si suddenly perked up his ears, quickly furrowed his brows, and said helplessly:

"Young Master Li, people from the Holy Divine Palace have come up, saying they are executing some 'Plan Sixteen', and are requesting the Emperor's assistance."

"Get lost, let them ask other families for help."

"Yes, but if other families offer help and we do nothing..."

Yue Gongli then stroked his chin, falling into thought.

Ah Si's words made sense.

The Holy Divine Palace is an organization used by the Five Great Holy Emperor Families to manage the continent. At least on the surface, one can't just stand by idly; it would be disheartening.

Furthermore, regardless of victory or defeat in this battle, if Ai Cangsheng gets help from other families, then the hearts of all the saints on the sacred mountain would turn towards that family.

Wouldn't that family gain a seat among the Ten High Nobles?

But which family would make a move?

"Qianshi has no one to use. Emperor Qianshi, just like my father, would never personally take action to deal with the likes of Xu Xiaoshou..."

"Bei Huai certainly wants to help, after all, his intent is on Xu Xiaoshou, but Ai Cangsheng isn't foolish enough to request that madman's help, and the other families wouldn't agree to let Bei Huai leave the mountain either..."

"Indeed, only Sword Deity Hua is left. He and Bazhun'an still owe each other a battle. It's about time to push them to fight and weaken one another..."

Yue Gongli lifted his head, looking towards Ah Si, and said earnestly:

"You must personally go to the sacred mountain and sincerely inform Lord Cang Sheng that when necessary, the Cold Palace Emperor will surely assist him; there's no doubt about this!"

Ah Si nodded. Quite a large promise.

"But before that, if the 'Hallmaster' and 'the Ten High Nobles' can't even handle the First Pavilion in the Sky, can't even force out Bazhun'an."

"Let him, Ai Cangsheng, carry a rod and apologize, go request Dao Xuanji to come out of seclusion. At least after everyone from the sacred mountain walks to their doom, the Great Holy Emperor Families will certainly not stand by; the Emperors will take turns taking action."

"In the process of sanctioning Dao Xuanji, the First Pavilion in the Sky and the Saint Servants will also be conveniently wiped out, right?"

Ah Si sighed. Such a clumsy method of provocation.

But it must be said, it's also a direct strategy; it's just that a lot of people will die.

"Just these won't be enough. Ai Cangsheng currently lacks a battle strategy. Fortunately, Hallmaster Dao is not around, and I am barely adequate—after all, I know Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts. But all this, you wait until he finally demands answers; then give it to him."

"Please elaborate, Young Master Li."

Yue Gongli smoothed out his thoughts, adopting Hallmaster Dao's tone, and expounded:

"First, Xu Xiaoshou possesses the Heavenly Realm Core. The Divine Relics are his relay station; he has the right not to return Sleeveless to the Dead Sea, so 'Plan Sixteen' fundamentally doesn't stand up, even though he doesn't know the content of 'Plan Sixteen'."

"Second, Xu Xiaoshou has encountered The Divine and Hallmaster Dao; he would surely not engage directly with his Ai Cangsheng. He need not try that. At the same time, pay attention to Guidance, but it's important that Xu Xiaoshou will probably not be guiding him, but demi-saints like Qin Duan—Indirect Guidance within indirect guidance."

"Third, Xu Xiaoshou's goal is indeed to rescue Sleeveless. Thus, his current tactic is to attract attention. Ai Cangsheng doing well to stand his ground is correct. If he comes out, the sacred mountain will be empty, and Sleeveless can return; if he doesn't, the sacred mountain can hold out, but Sleeveless won't return, and Xu Xiaoshou will keep provoking until he does."

Ah Si suddenly raised his eyes, coming to a realization.

So this is why Young Master Li highly appraises Xu Xiaoshou's 'filthiness'—it is an overt strategy!

But still...

How is continuous provocation useful?

As long as Ai Cangsheng can endure it, Xu Xiaoshou can't become so strong through provocation, so strong that he could directly defeat Ai Cangsheng, commanding his Master to come down from the mountain?

"It's useful."

Yue Gongli nodded with a smile:

"You don't understand 'fame', so you can't grasp why Bazhun'an cultivates fame, why Xu Xiaoshou cultivates fame."

"Moreover, Elder Dao the Flamboyant once mentioned to me in passing, he had a premonition that Xu Xiaoshou is not just cultivating fame. Each time after he wanders and behaves recklessly, his strength always grows rapidly..."

"Perhaps through seemingly bizarre behaviors, he's practicing path principle comprehension, deepening his own insights gained at the Divine Relics, turning them to his use? In any case, we need to be cautious of this."

Lord Shou's realization quality, terrifying isn't it?

Ah Si felt that this wasn't any less daunting than "Three breaths for Innate stage, three years for Sword Deity."

"In a hundred generations, such a prodigy is unseen; in ten thousand years, none surpasses him... Xu Xiaoshou's claim is arrogant, as though it came from Bazhun'an himself, yet it truly describes him." Yue Gongli still gave a high evaluation.

Ah Si once again lapsed into silence.

He was starting to not want to deliver the message anymore.

To paint a rosy picture for Ai Cangsheng, and after finishing the painting, to have him humbly seek Dao Xuanji with an apology, and then to tell him... oh, actually whatever you do will be of no use, Xu Xiaoshou is using an overt strategy. You advance, he retreats; you retreat, he advances; you'll never get the better of him; indeed, you are just a worthless dog.