Chapter 167 The guide personally explained "which one hurts the most," sending chills down

In front of the Taiji Hall, the sun had already begun to set in the west.

The light in Baiyu Square was no longer the blinding, piercing brightness of midday; instead, it possessed a clear, slanting brilliance. The cracked paving stones, the collapsed altar, the lingering dust, and the fairy cage standing to the side with a wooden sign hanging at its entrance were all illuminated more clearly by this layer of slanting sunlight.

It was as clear as a painting that was utterly absurd yet undeniably real.

At the very center of the painting is Bai Heng.

The white-robed guide stood amidst the shattered white jade, his robes stained with blood, his skeletal structure disordered, a bone missing from his shoulder and the back of his neck. He had already pleaded "Please stop!" twice, but instead of stopping, Su Changqing calmly sat down in a chair, offering him an even more absurd choice—

He said it himself.

He told himself which bones were the most valuable, which were the most painful, and which could be kept so that he could stand a little longer.

This kind of thing would no longer be considered humiliating for any normal person.

This involves dissecting a person and then making them point out with a knife which piece of flesh is the most tender.

Bai Heng stood there, his fingers slightly curled.

It's not that he didn't want to hold on tight.

Instead, after losing two key bones, the internal skeletal system began to show signs of sluggishness and difficulty in many movements that were originally so subtle as to go unnoticed.

Especially the area from the left shoulder to the back of the neck.

Every time I try to exert real force, I feel an indescribable emptiness and tearing sensation that spreads outward from the bone defect.

Like a perfectly fitting piece of jade, even if two spots are removed, it still looks like a whole piece. But as soon as it is subjected to the slightest force, cracks will secretly appear along the texture.

Worse still, Su Changqing hadn't stopped at the level of "demolishing".

He'll take a look after he disassembles it.

They would hold it in their hands and feel it.

They will review the materials, texture, and uses.

Then, they casually placed this thing in a position that is either absurd or malicious, such as "door lock," "bell," or "water-drawing bone."

Bai Heng never imagined that one day he would be afraid of being "watched" by someone.

But now, he is truly afraid.

He was afraid that Su Changqing would look at him again.

She feared that the person's gaze might fall on a certain spot on her body, and that their eyes might flash a hint of "Oh, so that's where it is."

Because that's basically equivalent to—

That place, too, couldn't be saved.

The wind passed through the front of the palace.

The wind caused a few strands of black hair that had fallen around Bai Heng's neck to sway gently.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Su Changqing, who was sitting in a chair not far away.

He sat in a blue robe, leaning against a chair, his expression relaxed, showing no sign of being on high alert. Beside him, Li Hanyi stood holding Su Xiaonuo, his white robes cool and aloof, his gaze steady. Xiao Se, Lei Wujie, Wushuang, Sikong Changfeng, and others were scattered around, forming a strange yet complete "spectator field."

They are not waiting for the final battle to end.

It's more like waiting for a project to move to the next stage.

And myself—

It refers to the project itself.

Thinking of this, the anger and resentment that Bai Heng had been forcibly suppressing surged up again in his chest.

Despite the turmoil, he ultimately didn't dare to make a move rashly.

He knew that if he forced himself on now, the third and fourth bones would likely leave his body even faster.

Su Changqing was clearly not in a hurry.

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers absently on the armrest, as if waiting for a customer who clearly knew he should pay but was stubbornly sticking to his pride to speak up.

This lack of urgency is actually the most agonizing.

Because it was reminding Bai Heng again and again:

Even if you don't tell me, I can still take it apart.

You now have the opportunity to choose for yourself, which is already a privilege.

No one was urging them on in front of the Taiji Hall.

But that heavy silence was itself heavier than any urging.

at last.

Bai Heng swallowed hard and slowly exhaled a breath that tasted of blood.

The voice was lower and more strained than before.

"What...do you want to know?"

He finally spoke up.

It's not a direct bone marrow report.

Instead, they try to use a question to give themselves a little room for transition.

However, Su Changqing only raised his eyes after hearing this.

"Was I not clear enough?"

The coldness in Bai Heng's eyes faltered for a moment.

Sikong Changfeng, standing beside him, cleared his throat cooperatively, opened the ledger, and solemnly repeated the rules for the boss:

"Special Q&A session for Bai Heng".

"Please, Guide Bai Heng, tell us the truth:"

"First, which of the locomotor bones are the most valuable?"

"Secondly, which ones will hurt the most if they are removed?"

"Third, which ones should be kept for now to ensure you can continue to stand, speak, and maintain your basic aesthetic value?"

"If the answer is sincere, Mr. Su may consider slowing down the pace of bone removal."

"If the answer is perfunctory, lies, or attempts to mislead, then the preferential treatment will be forfeited, and the analysis will continue according to Mr. Su's personal interests."

After he finished reading, he added a sentence.

"Oh, right."

"This segment will be one of the key selling points of tonight's 'Bai Heng Special Session.' Thank you for your cooperation."

Bai Heng: "..."

At this moment, even though his Dharma body was in complete chaos, one thought still clearly arose within him—

If Sikong Changfeng were to fall into the hands of the Patrol Palace, he would be considered a special source of pollution.

Because he always manages to twist any part that should be serious, terrifying, or nerve-wracking into a more bizarre and humiliating "operational process".

Ironically, it actually worked.

When Sikong Changfeng repeated his words, the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the room was pulled back into a subtle "business order".

Many people even understood it subconsciously.

I understand what we're going to watch next today.

This wasn't just an ordinary fight.

It is "Bai Heng Bao Gu".

Su Changqing was very satisfied with Sikong Changfeng's on-site commentary.

He nodded, which was taken as approval.

Then he looked at Bai Heng.

"Do you understand now?"

Bai Heng remained silent for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes.

When it opened its eyes again, the last bit of "aloofness" that it tried to maintain was suppressed once more.

"it is good."

"I said."

The moment those two words were uttered, the expressions of many people in the room changed.

If Bai Heng's request to stop was the first time he had bowed his head, then Bai Heng's earlier request was the first time he had ever done so.

So this "I said" is the second time.

Moreover, it was a deeper one.

Because asking to stop can also be interpreted as being unable to bear the pain.

But now, he was going to personally reveal the value and vulnerability of his guiding bones, bit by bit.

This is almost a form of self-destruction.

Lei Wujie felt a chill run down his spine and muttered under his breath:

"The boss is too ruthless..."

Wushuang, however, surprisingly responded with a comment.

"I won't let him talk."

"What's ruthless is that after he says it, the boss will still dismantle it."

Lei Wujie choked on his words.

Yes.

Whether Bai Heng says it or not, the boss can still dismantle it.

The difference is just—

It would be more humiliating and more desperate if you said it yourself.

Xiao Se stood on the other side, listening to the conversation, his eyes slightly deep.

He had seen many ways to make people bow their heads in the Tianqi court before.

They have power, influence, old cases, people's hearts, and a knife.

But someone like Su Changqing, who didn't say a single extra word, somehow managed to force a guide to the point where he had to reveal his bones—

This was also the first time he had met him.

Ultimately, this tactic is still not a strategy.

It's not a calculation.

It is pure strength.

It's so powerful that you have no choice at all.

……

Bai Heng took a slow breath.

He knew that if he tried to pull any more tricks now, he would most likely suffer an even worse fate.

Even so, having him say "which bones are the most valuable and which hurt the most" was still more painful for him than being slapped.

Because every word I say feels like I'm tearing off a layer of my own face.

His eyes were downcast, and his voice was hoarse.

"The shunt bone... is divided into five layers."

As soon as he said that, Sikong Changfeng immediately made a gesture to the record-keeping assistant.

记！

Wushuang, on the other hand, was visibly more focused, listening more attentively than before.

Bai Heng continued:

"The outermost layer is called the 'strength and support bone'."

"These are the bone patterns, bone sharpness, and fragmented bones that you saw floating on the surface of the white-robed Dharma body earlier. They carry the intent of the patrolling realm, used to display power, issue orders, suppress people, and judge the realm. They look conspicuous and are the easiest to be mistaken for the core, but in fact, among the five layers, they can only be considered the shallowest."

Upon hearing this, Lei Wujie couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment.

"Good heavens, is the outermost layer already this difficult to deal with?"

Xiao Se said calmly, "So these guys are naturally good at misleading others with superficial appearances."

Bai Heng ignored him and lowered his voice even further.

"The second layer is called bone setting."

"The bones that truly support the operation of the Dharma body are all in this layer. They are divided into the main connecting bones, secondary connecting bones, circulating bones, lateral connecting bones, breath-guiding bones, and sequence-supporting bones, etc. The lateral connecting bones and circulating bones that you just removed are in this layer."

His lips twitched noticeably as he said this.

Clearly, bringing up the fact that his two bones had been removed was still an extremely embarrassing thing for him.

Su Changqing simply listened, his expression remaining unchanged.

It felt like listening to a very ordinary explanation of materials.

Bai Heng paused for a moment before continuing.

"The third layer is called the boundary support bone."

"This floor is the most valuable."

As soon as he said this, Sikong Changfeng's eyes lit up instantly.

The most valuable item.

These three words truly touched his heart.

Not to mention him, even Lei Wujie perked up his ears.

valuable?

Shouldn't we listen to it carefully?

Bai Heng did not explain immediately, but instead glanced at Su Changqing first.

He wanted to see how this person would react when he heard "most valuable".

As a result, Su Changqing only said one sentence.

"continue."

Bai Heng's eyes lingered slightly, and the slight probing in his heart was immediately suppressed.

He continued:

"There are not many lateral ribs, usually only three to five."

"The location is not fixed and will vary depending on the path cultivated by the guide."

"What they truly inherit is not the art of guidance itself, but the qualification to 'connect with the boundary'."

To put it more bluntly—

"Without these bones, even if the guide were still alive, he would only be a high-level cultivator who knows some of the upper realm's methods, and would no longer be qualified to truly carry out the will of a realm or influence its order."

When these words were spoken, many people present, though they couldn't hear everything, understood the meaning.

The true core asset is the inheritance of the body's structure.

Whether it's the Patrol Hall or the Guide, most of the "authorities" that make them so high and mighty fall under this level.

Sikong Changfeng's eyes lit up even more.

This is good stuff.

This is really good stuff.

He had even started to plan in his mind that if they were to be dismantled, Mr. Su would keep two for himself, and the rest... of course, Mr. Su would have to decide first.

But what if?

If one of them is not used, it would be very prestigious to keep it in front of Changqinglou as a store treasure.

The sight of immortals hanging at the entrance of the Taiji Hall is frightening enough.

If we were to place another "Jiecheng Gu" (a type of bone) as the base for the signboard—

Just thinking about Sikong Changfeng's glory makes my back feel hot.

Bai Heng was already talking about the fourth level at this moment.

"The fourth layer is called the Life-Illuminating Bone."

"This level is neither for border crossings nor for fighting."

"It's used to illuminate people."

"According to the destiny of a realm, according to the main result, secondary result, guiding thread, soil, and account book, see which should be supported, which should be suppressed, and which should be removed."

"It can be said that the reason why the guides can see a person's fate at a glance is not entirely because of their high cultivation level, but because of this bone layer that is seeing for them."

Upon hearing this, many people in front of the Taiji Hall subconsciously shivered.

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder when Bai Heng looked down at the mortal realm earlier, it didn't feel like he was looking at people, but rather like he was looking at accounts, maps, or an open table.

It's not because he's actually smarter than anyone else.

It's because he has a "life-illuminating bone" in his body.

The thought of this kind of thing makes me uncomfortable.

Treat other people's lives as entries, as markers, as objects to be categorized casually after seeing through them at a glance.

This is not supernatural power.

This is disgusting.

The coldness in Li Hanyi's eyes deepened even further.

She hated that kind of look the most.

I hate that some people view every living person and every path they have forged as something "worthless" on a predetermined track.

Although Su Xiaonuo didn't fully understand, she still keenly grasped the key points.

She asked Li Hanyi in a low voice:

"Mother, does having a prominent bone in one's eye mean one has bad eyesight?"

Li Hanyi was taken aback.

Then, she gave a soft "hmm".

"right."

"How about we take it apart?"

"very good."

Su Xiaonuo was immediately satisfied and nodded seriously.

"Then Daddy's going to take this apart later!"

The expressions of the people nearby were extremely subtle upon hearing this childish arrangement.

Bai Heng, in particular, turned even paler.

As a dignified guide, the fate of his life-giving bone was now being seriously decided by a little girl in public.

This is no longer just a drop in value.

This has completely dragged them into the mundane world; they even dare to criticize children.

Bai Heng, however, still had to continue.

"The fifth layer is called the 'Guiding Bone'."

This time, his voice was noticeably deeper.

"This layer is the least dense and the deepest."

"Many guides only truly condense into one in their lifetime."

"Its function is not to connect boundaries, to grant decrees, or to engage in fighting."

"It is... a vessel located near the back of the Heavenly Gate."

"Without it, one cannot be considered a true guide."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

Because even if people don't fully understand what this means, they know its significance.

The septum.

Relying on.

The true guide is probably here.

Bai Heng paused for a long time before continuing:

"If you only ask which ones are the most valuable—"

"The most valuable bone is the Jie Cheng bone."

"The portal vein is next."

"While the life bone may seem strange, in terms of material and function, it may not be as good as the former two."

Upon hearing this, Su Changqing finally nodded slightly.

"Um."

"That's at least somewhat human-like."

Bai Heng's eye twitched violently.

He was really having a hard time figuring out whether Su Changqing was praising him or putting him down.

Sikong Changfeng was so excited that he could hardly remember anything.

OK OK.

The most valuable bone is the Jie Cheng bone, followed by the Yin Men bone, and the Zhao Ming bone is also quite a gimmick.

If this could actually become one of the "Three Treasures of Changqinglou" in the future, wouldn't that be amazing?

Thinking of this, his breathing quickened.

Xiao Se glanced at him, and without even asking, he knew that the third brother's mind was starting to wander again.

However, this time, even he himself had to admit it—

It's valuable, really valuable.

It's not just about the value in silver.

Rather, it holds real weight in the context of the evergreen world and in the subsequent confrontation with that higher-level network.

Su Changqing was clearly aware of this as well.

So he didn't interrupt, but continued to ask:

Which ones hurt the most?

Upon hearing this question, Bai Heng's breathing noticeably faltered.

Compared to the question of "most valuable," which can be answered somewhat from the perspective of the object itself, the word "most painful" is what truly exposes the truth.

Because this means that he will have to confess in person next—

The part of myself I'm most afraid of being demolished.

This is no longer about structure.

Instead, he was talking about his own weaknesses.

Bai Heng remained silent for a long time.

So long that Lei Wujie couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"He's not trying to renege on his debt, is he?"

Wushuang shook her head.

"It's not about shirking responsibility."

"It's hard to say."

Xiao Se replied calmly, "Because once you say that, there's really no room for politeness anymore."

Sikong Changfeng understood the value of this step better than anyone else, and immediately lowered his voice to urge the man beside him:

"Notice."

"This part must be memorized carefully."

"This is the very essence of tonight's special event."

"The 'Guide personally admits where it hurts the most' gimmick will raise the VIP seating area by two more rounds."

The guy was overwhelmed by what he was hearing, but he still gritted his teeth and memorized it like crazy.

Bai Heng finally spoke slowly.

"If we only talk about pain, the first one is the life bone."

"The second is the tragus."

"The third is the boundary bone."

When this order was announced, many people were taken aback.

Sikong Changfeng was the first to react.

"what?"

"Isn't the most valuable thing the most painful?"

Bai Heng's face was grim, but he still endured the humiliation and explained.

"The essence of the boundary-bearing bone lies in its ability to support the boundary, and in its ability to 'receive' it. If it breaks, what is lost is its qualification and its capacity to bear the burden."

"The life bones are different."

"The life bone is more deeply connected to the soul. Once it is touched, dismantled, or pulled out, it will be like peeling the life consciousness itself out of sight layer by layer."

"As for the trachea—"

At this point, Bai Heng's voice became even more hoarse.

"It's connected to the door feel."

"That's not ordinary pain."

"It's like someone has ripped away the last bit of 'awareness' that leads you to higher places."

This passage is spoken very slowly.

It was also very depressing.

But the more this was the case, the more chilled everyone in the audience felt.

This is because it means that dismantling the life-giving bone and the introductory bone is not only valuable, but also more agonizing.

Su Xiaonuo couldn't understand anything too complicated, but she understood one word.

"The most painful."

She immediately turned to look at Li Hanyi.

"Mother, is the worst pain the most intense pain?"

Li Hanyi said softly, "Mm."

Su Xiaonuo thought for a moment, then whispered:

Did that bad person ever receive kindness from others?

Li Hanyi glanced at Bai Heng, her gaze indifferent.

"Let go of a lot."

"Then he should know too."

"right."

Su Xiaonuo was finally satisfied, hugged Li Hanyi's neck, and continued to listen attentively.

Bai Heng had already finished explaining the most difficult part.

But what truly embarrassed him was yet to come.

Because Su Changqing asked more than just two questions.

There is a third sentence.

"Which ones can be kept for now, so you can stand a little longer?"

At this, the color in Bai Heng's face seemed to fade even further.

Saying it's the most valuable or the most painful thing still sounds like you're talking about "objects".

But this third question was essentially asking him to answer "how to keep himself looking better".

to be honest--

Let him explain how he dismantled it; that way, he can hold out a little longer, making it easier to observe and deal with later.

This kind of question is even more humiliating than the previous two.

Bai Heng remained silent for a long time.

So long that the entire area in front of the Taiji Hall fell silent once again.

Finally, he spoke.

"...The life-giving bone should not be touched for the time being."

Why?

Su Changqing asked the question casually.

Bai Heng gritted his teeth and said:

"If my life-giving bone breaks, my spiritual senses will immediately collapse."

"I might not be able to stay sober by then."

Sikong Changfeng's eyes lit up, and he immediately interjected:

"In other words, the life bone is best removed later."

"Keep the front part open for now, so that he can still speak, see, and cooperate with the project."

Bai Heng closed his eyes and didn't respond to that sentence.

In the end, Sikong Changfeng was absolutely right.

But hearing these words spoken so publicly by an ordinary person still made his chest feel incredibly tight.

Su Changqing nodded in agreement.

"continue."

Bai Heng whispered:

"Don't move the thoracic vertebrae unless absolutely necessary."

"After the movement, many of the meridians in my body will immediately retract."

"Even if the person doesn't die, their Dharma body will collapse by the time they do."

"Um."

Su Changqing nodded again.

"That's the grand finale."

Bai Heng froze when he heard the words "final act".

The grand finale?

You actually ranked them?!

And Su Changqing clearly thought so.

He sat there, listening to Bai Heng recount the bones in person, and the faint interest in his eyes became noticeably more stable.

It's like someone who could dismantle things on their own suddenly has an "expert self-reported structural diagram," making the dismantling process much smoother.

Bai Heng continued speaking, his voice already low and deep.

"The Jie Cheng bone... can be moved first."

"But it can't be fully activated."

"If more than three are drawn in succession, I will immediately lose the ability to 'connect with the boundary' and my Dharma body will collapse rapidly."

"At that time... many bones will break off on their own."

Upon hearing this, Sikong Changfeng actually memorized it carefully, muttering to himself:

"Oh, I understand."

"Quantity needs to be controlled."

"We can't dismantle it too much at once, otherwise it will affect the overall value."

Xiao Se was completely numb by this point.

He didn't even want to comment on what Sikong Changfeng had become.

Lei Wujie, on the other hand, felt his scalp tingle from the absurdity.

The guide personally explained which bones couldn't be touched first, which ones could be removed one at a time, and that removing too many would affect the "overall value" of the bone.

If this gets out, it'll probably terrify the entire martial arts world.

After Bai Heng finished speaking, he felt as if a part of him had been drained.

That wasn't physical exhaustion.

It's about one's spirit.

Because of this round of "reporting bones," it's as if he personally exposed his true form as a guide to enlightenment to everyone.

The most valuable one.

The most painful.

The ones that should be kept the most.

The one that should not be moved first.

I've told you everything.

Now, in front of Su Changqing, he is almost transparent.

Su Changqing listened quietly until the end.

After listening, I finally sat up a little straighter in my chair.

As soon as he sat up straight, all eyes in the room instantly turned to him.

Because everyone knows—

The boss listened.

Next, it's time to "break it down according to the table".

Su Changqing looked at Bai Heng and said calmly:

"He's fairly honest."

Bai Heng's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't speak.

At this point, he no longer expected to save face.

He only hoped that since Su Changqing had asked him to speak, at least... they could follow this order somewhat.

But he soon realized that he had been thinking too simply.

Because Su Changqing's next sentence was:

"However, there's one thing you didn't say completely."

Bai Heng's eyes widened in shock.

"Incomplete?"

"Um."

Su Changqing raised his hand and tapped Bai Heng's chest slightly to the right from a distance.

"You said the Zhaoming bone is the most painful, followed by the Yinmen bone, and then the Jiecheng bone."

"That's right."

"But you forgot to mention one thing."

"Within the Jie Cheng bone, there is a 'Cheng Men Jie bone' hidden one inch outside the right side of the heart. It is not as painful as the Zhao Ming bone, but it is more valuable than the ordinary Jie Cheng bone."

"And tear it down—"

He paused, looking at Bai Heng's suddenly changed expression, and slowly finished the second half of the sentence.

"You're not going to collapse right away."

"It's the perfect time to dismantle it."

boom.

Upon hearing these words, it felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Bai Heng's mind.

Because he was right.

You were right again.

Moreover, it was even more detailed than what I reported myself.

Chengmen Jiegu.

This is the most special one among the Jiecheng Bone, and it's also the one that Bai Heng least wants Su Changqing to target right now.

It is valuable and crucial, and unlike the life-enhancing bone and the gate-guiding bone, it won't immediately render you useless.

This means that, for Su Changqing—

It is simply the most suitable "third bone".

Bai Heng felt a chill run down his spine.

It's not the cool breeze outside.

It was a coolness that seeped out from between the bones.

He finally truly understood that his resurrection of bones was never for "preservation".

It simply made it easier for Su Changqing to dismantle it.

Su Changqing sat in the chair, looking at Bai Heng's face, which had finally turned completely pale, and said calmly:

"Looks like I wasn't mistaken."

"Let's go with this one."

The wind rustled softly.

In front of the Taiji Hall, countless hearts were once again gripped by these words.

The third bone has finally been decided.

Moreover, it's the one Bai Heng least wants anyone to touch right now.