The Path Protector Has Gone Mad

【God Xiaoyao’s status in the Xiaoyao Sacred Land is similar to the Sword Master’s in the Boundless Sword Sect.】

【Everyone in the sacred land deeply idolizes God Xiaoyao.】

【Whenever God Xiaoyao emerges from the Time House, he holds a sermon to share his cultivation experiences and answer questions from the younger generation.】

【Because God Xiaoyao spends such a long time inside the flow of time, it isn’t easy to meet him. Many people may only get one chance to see him in their entire lives.】

【As a result, every time he gives a sermon, the place is packed with people.】

【There are even people from the other two sacred lands who come because of his reputation and wait for him for a long time.】

【From high above, you could only see that the small island where God Xiaoyao was preaching had been completely packed. There wasn’t even room to put your foot down.】

【“If I descended from the heavens right now, raised my chin at God Xiaoyao, and said, ‘Oi~ Step outside for a word,’ would that be a little too badass?”】

【You decided not to be quite that ostentatious. Instead, you would use a voice-transmission spell to greet him and tell him that the Ascension Road had opened.】

【Before you could cast the spell, God Xiaoyao noticed you first.】

【That was because you hadn’t concealed your aura.】

【Everyone on the island thought that the overwhelming pressure came from Martial God Xiaoyao. Only God Xiaoyao knew that he was feeling the exact same pressure.】

【So he looked up and saw your familiar face—you had removed the disguise effect of your Trait after returning to the human world.】

【God Xiaoyao smiled and said to everyone on the island,】

【“A friend has arrived. Please wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”】

【With that, God Xiaoyao rose gracefully and rode the wind into the clouds.】

【“Guardian, long time no see. May I ask what brings you here?”】

【After emerging from the Time House, God Xiaoyao should have had someone inform him about the major events that had taken place in the human world.】

【The succession of the Guardian was undoubtedly one of those major events.】

【So he recognized you and knew that you were the Guardian.】

【“God Xiaoyao, you’re too polite. I’m merely passing through today, and I thought I’d take the opportunity to tell you that the Ascension Road is at the far end of the Northern Sea. There is one available spot every year. If God Xiaoyao wishes to advance further along the immortal path, you might consider following the examples of Li Liushui and Dongfang Shuo and venturing into the True Realm to fight for an opportunity.”】

【God Xiaoyao cupped his fists.】

【“Thank you, Guardian, for coming all this way to remind me. However, if all the human world’s top cultivators leave for the True Realm and something happens to the human world, I’m afraid…”】

【“Don’t worry. With me here, any foreign race that dares invade will be sent flying together with its entire world!”】

【“I have heard about the new Guardian’s combat strength, but I also wish to do my part to protect this world.”】

【You shrugged.】

【“All right, you…”】

【You hadn’t meant to do it deliberately.】

【But ever since you obtained the “Mind Reading” Trait, you had unconsciously begun using it to listen to other people’s thoughts, so you could tell whether they were telling the truth.】

【You had just used it on God Xiaoyao as well.】

【And the result was…】

【Empty.】

【There was no inner voice.】

【You couldn’t hear God Xiaoyao’s thoughts!】

【“How…”】

【“Guardian, is something wrong?”】

【“It’s nothing. You may return to your duties.”】

【God Xiaoyao seemed somewhat puzzled. He cupped his fists, bade you farewell, and returned to the island below to continue his sermon.】

【“Why doesn’t he have an inner voice?”】

【Traits couldn’t malfunction.】

【If you couldn’t hear someone’s thoughts, that meant they had no thoughts to hear.】

【“What kind of person has no inner voice? An inner voice is thought itself—it’s consciousness. How could a person have neither thoughts nor consciousness?”】

【Your tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed.】

【“There is one kind: the dead!”】

【A veil of mystery suddenly shrouded God Xiaoyao.】

【In every simulation, your memories concerning him seemed to grow hazy. Some of them even contradicted one another.】

【“God Xiaoyao, what secret are you hiding?”】

【You checked the stability of your projection. It could still hold out for a while.】

【So you didn’t leave. After concealing your aura and movements, you stood high above the Xiaoyao Sacred Land and kept your eyes on God Xiaoyao.】

【Only after the sermon ended and the crowd had dispersed did you drift down from the sky.】

【“Oh? Guardian, you haven’t left?”】

【You replied coldly,】

【“God Xiaoyao’s sharing of his experiences was quite enlightening. Wouldn’t it be a waste not to listen?”】

【God Xiaoyao gave a self-deprecating smile.】

【“Guardian, don’t make fun of me. My little insights are worlds apart from yours. Could it be that the Guardian still has something to tell me?”】

【“Not really. There’s just something I’m curious about.”】

【“Please enlighten me, Guardian.”】

【“I’ve heard that you have a Time House.”】

【“That is common knowledge.”】

【“You know, I’ve never seen it myself. Would you mind letting me take a look?”】

【God Xiaoyao looked troubled.】

【“This object is the key to my ability to cross the river of time. It is a personal possession of mine, so I hope the Guardian will understand. I cannot casually reveal such a priceless treasure to others.”】

【“So you don’t trust me? Are you afraid I’ll steal it?”】

【Your tone gradually turned cold. Your expression darkened as you advanced on him step by step. A terrifying pressure swept out from your body and gathered around God Xiaoyao.】

【God Xiaoyao looked frightened.】

【“Guardian, what’s wrong? I can sense malicious intent from you!”】

【You gave a sinister smile.】

【“Heh heh heh… So what if I have malicious intent? Bring out your Time House and let me see it! Or perhaps you never had a Time House at all, and there’s another reason you’ve been able to live for so long!”】

【Seeing that you had finally revealed your true colors, God Xiaoyao said sternly,】

【“It seems Senior Hua was mistaken about you. You are now the Guardian, yet you covet another person’s treasure. You are unworthy of the title!”】

【With that, God Xiaoyao launched a righteous counterattack against you!】

【Damn it, why have I become the villain again?】

【You casually waved your hand. The shockwave created by sheer physical strength sent God Xiaoyao flying.】

【You stomped your foot, and the island beneath you sank into the sea.】

【You walked across the surface of the ocean. Every step sent towering waves surging out, crashing into the surrounding islands and throwing the people of the Xiaoyao Sacred Land into a panic as though they were facing a great enemy.】

【“Chen Yi! You are unworthy of being the Guardian! Today, our Xiaoyao Sacred Land will uphold justice on behalf of Heaven!”】

【You simply settled into your comfort zone and shouted,】

【“Hand over the Time House! Otherwise, I’ll flatten the Xiaoyao Sacred Land!!”】

【Much better.】

【God Xiaoyao still didn’t say a word about the Time House. Instead, he launched a fierce attack against you and swiftly summoned the Xiaoyao Sacred Land’s top experts to join forces against you.】

【When the people of the sacred land saw that the person they were about to attack was the Guardian, they froze for a moment.】

【But after seeing the villainous expression on your face, they no longer hesitated.】

【Their inner voices: This guy is definitely evil. There’s no harm in beating him up.】

【Aside from God Xiaoyao, you used only intimidation against everyone else. You knocked them unconscious, but did not kill them.】

【“He’s going to hurt God Xiaoyao!!”】

【“The Guardian has gone mad! The Guardian has gone mad!”】

【“Quick, go to the Southern Border and ask Senior Hua Wuyan for help!”】

The people of the Holy Land were shouting and making a great commotion.