Wan Hua Ridge, before the sect's grand formation.
Wu Kong stood before the formation, a gentle breeze stirring around him, carrying the fragrant scent of countless flowers.
His gaze fell upon the slowly flowing spiritual energy of the mountain-protection array, and at a single glance he discerned its true nature — a grand array designed to intercept and divert a spiritual vein.
There may have been numerous modifications in the details, but the fundamental principle remained the same.
Such techniques for diverting spiritual veins were closely guarded secrets of every major power.
All Eighteen Immortal Sects possessed this method, and "closely guarded" naturally meant it was never shared beyond their ranks — every single one of the Eighteen Immortal Sects had signed that agreement.
Chu Xingchen had initially been described as one of Tianyan Sect's hidden prodigies, and later his relationship with Xuanqing Heavenly Sect also seemed quite close.
Then there were claims that Chu Xingchen had founded his own independent sect, separate from the Eighteen Immortal Sects entirely.
One look at this formation, and Wu Kong knew that was pure nonsense.
There was no way Chu Xingchen had developed an array of this caliber entirely on his own.
Wu Kong studied the flowing formation, thinking that the world these days was full of convoluted schemes designed to keep people guessing.
Wu Kong sensed something and withdrew his gaze, looking straight ahead.
A streak of rainbow light arrived in the blink of an eye, followed by a Jiaolong transforming into human form, two horns still visible atop its head.
Qinghe looked Wu Kong up and down, his tone wary and suspicious.
"Are you this so-called Buddhist Son? Who are you here to see?"
Wu Kong pressed his palms together in greeting. "I have come to seek your sect master, Chu Xingchen."
"You know Chu Xingchen?"
"Not yet."
"Then... why come looking for him?"
"There are a few questions I wish to ask him face to face."
Qinghe's brows rose, and just as he was about to say something, a large hand came to rest gently on one of his horns.
He felt no panic. Qinghe turned his gaze to the side and saw Chu Xingchen studying the figure standing outside the formation.
Yu Yang Daozi and Xu Jin had also hurried over, flanking Chu Xingchen on either side as they regarded Wu Kong beyond the array, their expressions somewhat grave.
Qinghe irritably swatted at Chu Xingchen's arm, which was leaning on his horn.
"Don't you know a Jiaolong's horns aren't to be touched?!"
"I'm just leaning, not touching." Chu Xingchen continued to study Wu Kong. "Leaning makes me look more impressive — especially when the two people next to me are just standing there looking useless."
Qinghe's small expression drooped slightly at this, but he still allowed Chu Xingchen to keep leaning.
Chu Xingchen glanced back and noticed that Qinghe genuinely didn't look happy about it, so he withdrew his hand.
He turned his gaze to Wu Kong and asked in a calm tone.
"Wu Kong, the Buddhist Son? I can't say I've heard that title before. But looking at your cultivation, it's certainly nothing to sneeze at."
Wu Kong's eyes swept over Yu Yang Daozi and Xu Jin. He naturally recognized both of them — Xu Jin's presence here was one thing, but why was Yu Yang Daozi here as well?
The implications of this were far from ordinary.
Tianyan Sect, Xuanqing Heavenly Sect, Tai Dao Sect...
The gathering of core disciples from the Eighteen Immortal Sects couldn't simply be dismissed as friendship. At times, it signaled the future trajectory of the sects themselves.
This was the sort of event that could reshape the cultivation world's balance of power.
What mattered most was that Xuanqing Heavenly Sect's current attitude toward the Buddhist Sect might very well influence the other Eighteen Immortal Sects as well.
But then again... none of this had anything to do with him, Wu Kong, at least for now.
At worst, the bad news was that if he actually got beaten up later, he probably wouldn't be able to fight back — and it would hurt considerably more than usual.
Wu Kong was more interested in getting answers to the questions burning in his heart. He lowered his posture slightly, and after offering a bow, he spoke.
"I am still far inferior to Sect Master Chu."
Chu Xingchen's eyes narrowed, his tone dismissive.
"Don't waste my time with obvious flattery. I've never had much fondness for bald donkeys, and I don't necessarily have to answer whatever it is you want to ask."
"If you ask something I don't want to hear, the two brothers beside me — whom you've probably already recognized — can beat you to death without bearing any responsibility for it."
Wu Kong froze at these words. This was far too arrogant by any standard.
But then his gaze fell on Xu Jin, who looked genuinely ready to make good on that threat.
He was no fool. Chu Xingchen's words reflected his true attitude, and with Xu Jin present, Chu Xingchen's feelings toward the Buddhist Sect were clearly less than warm.
Beyond being a warning, this might also be laying the groundwork for actual violence.
Moreover, with this level of wariness, even if Chu Xingchen did answer, he probably wouldn't be told the truth.
Wu Kong hesitated for a moment before carefully retrieving the Buddhist prayer beads that the Radiant Buddha had given him.
"A certain Buddha sent me to ask. He said that presenting this item would prove the purity of my intentions — that I harbor no ulterior motives."
Chu Xingchen's gaze fell upon the prayer beads, and he reached out with a thread of spiritual energy to draw them closer.
With a single glance, Chu Xingchen confirmed their origin — they came from the Radiant Buddha.
The aura they carried was the same source as the relic that Yuan Kong had taken away.
The Radiant Buddha was currently being hunted by the Buddhist Sect. If he had been captured, there would inevitably have been a confrontation — and even the Buddhist Sect couldn't conceal news of a clash involving a Mahayana cultivator, even a half-crippled one.
"A guest has come from afar — let us at least share a cup of tea."
Chu Xingchen pocketed the prayer beads. Regardless of what this Buddhist Son claimed, the beads themselves meant the Radiant Buddha owed him a favor.
As his words fell, the mountain-protection array parted just enough to allow entry.
Wu Kong pressed his palms together and bowed. "Thank you, Benefactor."
"You can thank me later." Chu Xingchen replied evenly.
Wu Kong found this statement somewhat puzzling, but he stepped through the gap nonetheless.
He learned very quickly what Chu Xingchen had meant by "you can thank me later."
The moment he entered, the mountain-protection array surged to life, pressing down on Wu Kong without any attempt at subtlety. There was no doubt that if Chu Xingchen so wished, the array could suppress him completely in the very next instant.
Even as a streamlined version of the Eighteen Immortal Sects' mountain-protection arrays, it was nothing to be underestimated.
At the very least, suppressing Wu Kong was more than sufficient.
Being inside was worse than being outside — out there, at least running away would have been smoother.
This was no way to treat a guest. It felt more like imprisonment, the spiritual pressure hanging over him like a shackle waiting to snap shut at any moment.
Wu Kong lowered his eyes slightly but made no complaint.
He had come with a request, and a request demanded the proper attitude. His heart was pure — a few tests were no concern.
The four of them headed toward the great hall. One Jiaolong, feeling it hadn't shown off its majesty properly and having been used as a prop by a certain someone, sulked off toward the deep pool, feeling it had gotten a raw deal.
Chu Xingchen asked in a calm tone.
"Is it you who wants to ask, or him?"
Wu Kong answered evenly. "It is I who wishes to ask. He merely directed me to find you."
"You've got some nerve, still daring to step inside after meeting the three of us." Yu Yang Daozi's expression was placid, but his words carried a note of mockery.
Wu Kong responded without hesitation. "You are all prodigies of this generation — each of you naturally possesses your own grace. You would hardly stoop to petty retaliation against someone like me."
Xu Jin's gaze was cold as he replied.
"That's not necessarily true."
Chu Xingchen looked toward the great hall not far ahead and asked.
"So — what is it you came here to ask?"
Wu Kong's tone turned solemn and earnest.
"I wish to ask whether any of you know: the Buddhist Sect itself almost never cultivates with Willpower, so where does all that Buddhist Willpower actually flow? Why is such an enormous amount of Willpower needed, and what is it truly being used for?"
"Is the Buddhist Sect secretly raising something?"
Chu Xingchen's expression shifted with mild surprise, and he chuckled.
"No hair on your head, but a sharp mind nonetheless. You're a Buddhist Son, yet you can't even dig up information from your own sect?"
Wu Kong answered directly.
"I can investigate, of course. But when I do, I only see what someone has carefully prepared for me to find."
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