I Am Loaded with Passive Skills

"Xu Xiaoshou, my advice is that the time has not yet come."

The five regions eagerly await, all longing to sacrifice a Lord Shou to obtain more intelligence.

The private telepathic communication channel of the Spirit Rhinoceros Technique abruptly transmitted Dao Qiongcang's solemn concern:

"Using Ah Si as a pawn now and revealing everything to the public—remember, there's a seventy percent chance you'll provoke an unnameable enemy. The threat of Ai Cangsheng will pale in comparison."

"I must have told you before: Do not judge the other Four Holy Emperors by Wangze Holy Emperor's standards. Shengshen Continent is their backyard, and here, they're even stronger than the newly awakened Cursed Yin."

"Hua Yuan may die at the hands of Cursed Yin while Yunshan Emperor realm stands helpless, because that's Cursed Yin. But Ah Si must absolutely not die by your hand."

"These are merely reminders."

"If you insist on proceeding, I can provide a Divine Secrets Shield to temporarily suppress Stairway to Heaven's perception of the Lower Plane. However, it is highly limited."

"Perhaps you can indirectly ask questions, but be mindful of countless concerns—or, of course, you can ignore my warnings. The choice is yours."

"Bear in mind the 'Thirteen Forbidden Sayings': Forbidden Saying Self-Imprisonment, Forbidden Saying Position, Forbidden Saying Guidance, Forbidden Saying Forgetting, Forbidden Saying Cold Palace, Forbidden Saying Qianshi, Forbidden Saying Demon Ancestor, Forbidden Saying Ghost Ancestor, Forbidden Saying Medicine Ancestor, Forbidden Saying Third Ancestor Stone Carving, Forbidden Saying Origin True Stele, Forbidden Saying Lord Qing Shi of the Divine Prison."

Xu Xiaoshou was bewildered by this endless string of "Forbidden Sayings."

At first, he felt uneasy with Dao Qiongcang's inexplicable concern, suspecting the guy of conjuring fear to intimidate him.

Soon, he realized it wasn't so. On the road to opposing the Five Great Holy Emperor aristocratic families, Dao Qiongcang and he seemed to be on the same side.

That raised a huge question.

Unconsciously, a trace of fear towards the Ah Si in his grasp emerged—could such a pawn truly connect to so much complexity?

But the correlation between strength and intelligence didn't always align. Xu Xiaoshou was relieved that he hadn't impulsively performed a Soul Reading just moments earlier.

"Thirteen Forbidden Sayings!"

The information Dao Qiongcang provided was also peculiar.

It practically framed every possible question, leaving the significance of Ah Si in his hands scarcely meaningful.

With a precise enumeration of "Thirteen" items, it indicated no omitted details.

Thus, among the many Forbidden Sayings, while Xu Xiaoshou understood some earlier on, he was flummoxed when it came to those concerning the Five Great Holy Emperors.

"Forbidden Saying Cold Palace, Forbidden Saying Qianshi... There is no omitted content; just these two—why?"

"The two of them fall under Forbidden Sayings, yet Mournful, Yunshan, and Wurao are permitted? On what grounds?"

"Yue Bei Hua Rao Dao, with one ranked first and the other last—yet oddly enough, the head and tail are forbidden while the middle is permissible?"

What's even stranger, though, lies below!

The Demon Ancestor, Ghost Ancestor, and Medicine Ancestor are also Forbidden Sayings, but there are no restricted details stating the other Seven Ancestors cannot be discussed.

Looking at it this way, the other Seven Ancestors are negotiable, but these three are not?

Why is that?

Could it be that they're still alive?

The last item, "Lord Qing Shi of the Divine Prison," left Xu Xiaoshou equally puzzled. Isn't this unrelated to the Five Great Holy Emperors? He appears to be the Saint Emperor of the Inner Island of the Abyss Island.

Yet this too is forbidden?

Could Lord Qing Shi of the Divine Prison be the contingency plan of the Five Great Holy Emperors?

If so, Bazhun'an—the Eighth—might have been kept in the dark, with the Five Great Holy Emperors waiting for the critical moment to stab him in the heart.

But if the shrewd Bazhun'an finally decided to utilize Lord Qing Shi, wouldn't he have thoroughly investigated his background?

If he chose to proceed, that would suggest the background is relatively clean.

That implies Lord Qing Shi is fine, yet tied to another mysterious enigma comparable to the Cage Theory of this continent?

"I'm stunned!"

Gripping Ah Si in his hand.

Under the control of the Three Loathsome Eyes, Ah Si was utterly powerless, yet Xu Xiaoshou felt like he was holding a ticking time bomb.

He reviewed the "Thirteen Forbidden Sayings" again and vaguely sensed there might still be something peculiar...

Upon reexamining, nothing peculiar emerged.

The Spirit Rhinoceros Technique's telepathic communication allowed reciprocal interaction, enabling Xu Xiaoshou to reply in kind:

"Why 'Forbidden Saying'?"

But before the question could even leave his lips, Dao Qiongcang seemingly anticipated it, interrupting with suddenly weighted phrases:

"Don't ask, don't ask, don't ask."

"Forbidden Saying, Forbidden Saying, Forbidden Saying."

Elder Dao the Flamboyant, what tricks are you playing!

Xu Xiaoshou felt a strong urge to rush over and beat up the cryptic storyteller. These heavily emphasized lines were even more insufferable than "The Way of the Heavens cannot be leaked!"

But somehow, it seemed justifiable?

It's explicitly stated as forbidden, clearly meaning no inquiries can be made, nor answers given.

What if I insist on asking?

Xu Xiaoshou pondered this intriguing question.

Insist on asking, then compel someone like Elder Dao the Flamboyant or Ah Si to reveal the answer—what would happen?

Would someone die?

Would the victim be himself or the one who divulges the answer?

...

"Ask away!"

"Lord Shou, go ahead and ask further!"

The Five Domains Spectators were like ants in a hot pot, restless and anxious due to the sudden halt in the mirrored dialogue.

The saints atop the Sacred Mountain trembled and kept watch.

Feng Zhongzui nervously focused his attention.

Everyone was watching.

"Take it slow..."

Xu Xiaoshou, on the contrary, calmed himself, attempting to pull away from the perplexing state to better analyze the current situation.

Inexplicably, fragments from past events surfaced—the Windcloud Competition of Tiansang Spirit Palace, the days of crafting elixirs together with his little junior sister in the Spiritual Library Division...

"Stop!"