"Ancestor Bai... what are your plans now?"
Chu Xingchen followed behind Bai Xuanling, watching her murderous intent surging, and decisively changed his form of address as he asked with an utterly deferential expression.
Bai Xuanling's pace was calm and orderly, as if she had already shaken off the influence of her killing intent. Her voice carried the same tone as usual.
"No particular plans for now. The way those two Heavenly Demons withdrew was rather peculiar — it warrants investigation. Though those two will likely stay hidden for several hundred years."
"Even if my sword didn't kill them, they should have lost at least half their bodies. My sword intent will continue grinding away at whatever remains of them."
Chu Xingchen nodded gently.
Persuading Bai Xuanling to formally acknowledge him as her master would have to be put on hold for now.
The reason the system didn't recognize their relationship still needed to be investigated. Was it because Bai Xuanling was merely paying lip service and didn't truly believe she had submitted as a disciple? Or was it because her cultivation far exceeded his own, causing the system to reject the bond?
Chu Xingchen could always just come right out and say it — as long as she sincerely acknowledged him as master, he possessed a supreme cultivation method perfectly suited to her, and could even upgrade her attribute entries. A mere mental barrier would be a trivial matter.
And what proof did he have? The proof was that he was the Child of Destiny.
Naturally, Chu Xingchen could spin things to sound incredibly convincing. But with the conditions still unclear, even if Bai Xuanling was willing to cooperate, it wouldn't be easy.
If it turned out that the condition was simply cultivation level, then he would be talking pure nonsense.
Bai Xuanling would absolutely believe he was making a fool of her.
According to what Bai Xuanling herself had said — no one had ever managed to trick her twice and still come out bouncing and alive.
Moreover, Bai Xuanling probably wouldn't believe him again anyway. The more critical issue was that this Tribulation Transcendence expert's temper really wasn't all that good.
Chu Xingchen felt profoundly grateful that she had even let him walk away under his own power.
With the situation regarding taking her as a disciple still unclear, he would head to Tianyan Sect first to ask about Bai Xuanling's circumstances, and then decide on his next move.
Chu Xingchen gave a light cough and asked, "Bai—"
"Hmm?"
"Ancestor... you can leave the remaining trivial matters to Yingling. Why don't I escort you back to Tianyan Sect first, and we can prepare that seal you mentioned?"
"A seal capable of locking away Tribulation Transcendence cultivation while hiding it from the Heavenly Dao isn't something you can just conjure up by moving your lips. Now that my seal has been broken, that idiot sect master will know through his jade slip. He's probably already making preparations — he'll notify me when there's news."
"Then you could return to Tianyan Sect first. There are more people there, so it's safer. Or you could go to Wanhua Ridge — Lingyu is still there."
Bai Xuanling turned her calm gaze toward Chu Xingchen and spoke.
"The one who needs to go to Tianyan Sect immediately isn't me. And Wanhua Ridge is no longer a place you should return to."
"You made quite the spectacle of yourself before those Heavenly Demons. Both of them couldn't care less about anything else — they just want you dead."
"Naturally, your cultivation is high and you can run. But what about your disciples? Their Nascent Soul cultivation may seem impressive, and the Central Plains may appear peaceful for now."
"But there will always be moments when you can't guard against everything. You don't expect those demons to fight fair, do you?"
"Wanhua Ridge is wonderful, but it should be your home after the great calamity — not now."
Chu Xingchen didn't answer, simply walking behind Bai Xuanling in silence.
He didn't explicitly agree, but what Bai Xuanling said was undeniably true. Still, these matters required careful thought — after all, besides Tianyan Sect, Xuanqing Heaven Sect could also be an option.
When Bai Xuanling didn't hear a response, she assumed Chu Xingchen had some reservations in his heart.
After all, those blessed by heaven had always been proud and aloof — she was the same way herself. Bai Xuanling waited a moment before speaking again.
"It wouldn't really be living under someone else's roof. You're the savior of the world, after all. When the time comes, it might well be Tianyan Sect that's considered to have climbed into your good graces."
Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? If that's the case, wouldn't Sect Master Lu owe me spirit stones?"
"If you actually ask, that foolish sect master would probably still give them."
"Then I want to live on Tianyan Peak. Can you get the sect master to move someone for me?"
Bai Xuanling stared at the ever-encroaching Chu Xingchen. "..."
Chu Xingchen asked again, "Then can Yanyun be my serving maid?"
Bai Xuanling gave a scornful laugh.
"Asking the foolish sect master about that is useless. You'd need to ask Yanyun herself. Though rather than being your serving maid, she'd be more likely to open a window in your skull."
Chu Xingchen gave a soft sigh.
"This won't work, that won't work either — doesn't that mean Sect Master Lu gets all the benefits?"
"I'll be sure to mention that to the sect master."
"Don't... I was just joking."
After their brief exchange of banter, the two figures quickly reached their destination.
The two figures then swiftly returned to the ruins of Jiexiang Town.
Chu Xingchen packed up all his disciples, and even Li Xingtian — who had been looking to freeload — was bundled up as well. He then bid farewell to Yuyang Daozi, who was still present at the scene.
Yuyang Daozi cast a resentful glance at Chu Xingchen, but could only give a silent nod in parting.
They had originally agreed to come and watch the spectacle. The demons and everything else had merely been an excuse.
In the end, by the time they arrived, there hadn't been any spectacle to witness at all. They fought a battle and then had to stay behind to clean up the mess.
But so be it... these were difficult times for everyone.
Yuyang Daozi pulled his gaze back and looked toward the area where all the spoils had been gathered, only to find something missing.
He couldn't help but ask, "Where did the arm that Bai Xuanling severed from the demoness go?"
Someone answered, "Chu Xingchen just took it. He said it would be of great use."
Yuyang Daozi's expression turned slightly puzzled.
Of great use? What use could that possibly have?
——————
Central Plains, Yellow Sand Ridge.
A great wind whipped up yellow sand that filled the sky. The howling wind passed by as sand particles pelted the hard stone walls.
The crackling sound came from all directions without cease.
"Damn it... truly damn it all..."
Xu Linglong leaned against a sheltered spot, dark currents wrapping her upper body while her lower half slowly regenerated. But every time she recovered slightly, the lingering sword intent of that divine ability would shred away the newly grown flesh.
She shouted in fury, "Baibo! It was an ambush! An ambush specifically targeting us!"
"Keep your voice down..." Baibo hadn't even finished speaking before he spat a mouthful of black blood, having just withdrawn from his final form.
Over half his body had been obliterated by the residual power of Bai Xuanling's single sword strike.
If they hadn't retreated early, he probably would have met his end beneath that sword.
Dark currents also repaired Baibo's body as he spoke in a somewhat weakened tone.
"We're still in the Central Plains. We haven't reached true safety yet. Find a way to get back first..."
"Go back?" Xu Linglong gave a cold laugh. "Going back is the real death sentence. Of the Eight Great Heavenly Demons, my identity was the most closely guarded — yet that Li Xingtian clearly knew exactly who I was!"
"They originally claimed that the Eastern Victory Divine Continent's main stronghold had been destroyed, and asked me to return to investigate."
"Investigating was just a pretense — sending me to my death was the real goal! I'm certain the destruction of our Eastern Victory Divine Continent stronghold was caused by a mole leaking information. We were blown straight to the sky by a grand formation from Xuanqing Heaven Sect!"
Baibo fell silent for a moment. "By your reasoning, it would have to be someone close to the Heavenly Demons' upper echelon. But what would be the point of selling us out?"
"Naturally, someone wanted peace and quiet! They decided that surviving on their knees was better than dying standing up!" Xu Linglong's eyes glowed crimson as she bitterly denounced them. "As long as they sever all ties with us, no one will ever be able to catch their trail!"
Baibo understood the implication in Xu Linglong's words. His voice turned low.
"You're saying... the Buddhist Sect?"
"Who else could it be?!" Xu Linglong's voice was sharp. "Did they really think that putting on monk's robes makes them true Buddhists?!"
Baibo considered her words and found them quite reasonable, so he asked.
"Then where do you want to go?"
Xu Linglong gave a cold snort.
"Haven't there been reports that a little fish is still alive somewhere in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent? The main stronghold said the hook was too dangerous to make contact."
"That little fish is my subordinate. Whether they've betrayed me or not, I have my own ways to find out."
"I'll go there first to get a clear picture of the situation and see if I can find any clues."
"I'm not afraid of the Buddhist Sect wanting to lay low — I'm afraid that some of our own want to do the same!"
Baibo fell into a brief silence, but ultimately accepted this arrangement.
[
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