If the old man in blue hadn't needed to ensure that whoever entered that place was free of restrictions and of sound mind, he would have long since refined Xuan Xiao into a puppet.
Why go through all this trouble, only to put himself on the defensive?
Besides, even after entering, the most important thing was for Xuan Xiao to go willingly; otherwise, the slightest misstep would implicate everyone.
Chapter 1417