Early morning.
The sun had just risen, the sky clear for ten thousand miles.
At this moment, the formation rituals of Huazhen Hall were layered in multiple rings, pale gold streams of light surging up from the ground and illuminating the clear sky. Cultivators from Taidao Sect each held their positions at the formation's key points, standing ready.
Outside Huazhen Hall, an ornate and expansive platform had already been set up.
Huang Miao of Xuanqing Heavenly Sect and Chen Xiao, the Supreme Elder of Tianyan Sect, had also arrived early. Each of them was accompanied by a fellow Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, who now sat to the side of the main seat to provide support.
In addition, three Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from Taidao Sect had also returned to take their places.
In total, seven Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from the Three Sects were present at Huazhen Hall.
Although in terms of numbers, they seemed to have more than enough compared to the Buddhist side's shortfall.
But if those were Secular Buddhas boosted by secret techniques, then in the eyes of these properly cultivated Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from the Eighteen Immortal Sects — cultivators who had painstakingly advanced step by step — those Tribulation-level Secular Buddhas could only be considered an upgraded Mahayana version.
They didn't count as true Tribulation Transcendence. Only those Karma Buddhas were worthy of respect in their eyes.
If it came to a real fight, with the formation's enhancement, they wouldn't necessarily fall to the losing side.
"Many thanks for the effort, Senior Elders." Chu Xingchen flew up to the platform and cupped his fists toward the Tribulation Transcendence Supreme Elders who had already taken their positions.
Xie Lingyu followed at Chu Xingchen's side. She said nothing, but cupped her fists together with him in greeting.
Chen Xiao was a Supreme Elder of Tianyan Sect. He had been in closed cultivation for quite some time, but he still recognized Xie Lingyu. He had once received a favor from Bai Xuanling as well.
Before setting out, he had even consulted Lu Xuan for the details, understanding just how important Chu Xingchen was to Tianyan Sect now, as well as the relationship between Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu.
Xie Lingyu needed no introduction — she was a brilliant disciple of their own sect, and her master Bai Xuanling was a righteous and upright person to boot.
Chu Xingchen could be considered half a member of Tianyan Sect.
And Chen Xiao was hardly the type to put on airs — he was naturally going to support the younger generation of his own sect.
A hint of a smile appeared on Chen Xiao's face. "Well done. Bai Xuanling praised you several times before we left. Seeing you today, you truly are a dragon among men — and a perfect match."
Chu Xingchen quickly cupped his fists and replied, "Senior flatters me. You all are the enduring legends of this world, your reputations spreading far and wide — someone like me can only look up to you from behind."
The Tribulation Transcendence cultivators of Taidao Sect nodded with relatively calm expressions.
The matter of Chu Xingchen's earlier incident had been explained. After his fall, Taidao Sect had also conducted joint research. At the very least, what Chu Xingchen had done back then was the right thing, and Bai Xuanling seemed to have paid a tremendous price for it.
A top-tier Tribulation Transcendence cultivator unable to act — the loss, if truly tallied up, might far exceed losing the initiative on Western Niu Continent.
Huang Miao's gaze swept over Chu Xingchen, then shifted to Xie Lingyu. After a moment's thought, he spoke. "The other day was a misunderstanding. I hope you'll forgive it."
Xie Lingyu immediately cupped her fists and replied, "It's fine. It was just a misunderstanding."
Hearing their exchange, Chu Xingchen glanced at Xie Lingyu with a questioning look — what happened?
Xie Lingyu's eyes flicked slightly — a small misunderstanding, nothing more.
Chu Xingchen smiled lightly and nodded. Cui Hao was following at Xie Lingyu's side. If they had truly suffered a major loss, Cui Hao would have reported to him yesterday.
It was probably just a minor misunderstanding. Huang Miao was rather proud — at least he would never show any weakness in front of Bai Xuanling. Yet now he was willing to apologize first, and he was a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator with a long-standing reputation at that. That showed considerable sincerity.
Huang Miao nodded gently, then asked, "If Runan is coming today, has the Radiant Buddha arrived?"
Chu Xingchen's gaze turned back toward the main hall. "Isn't he coming right now?"
Huang Miao looked over and saw an elderly monk approaching with a somewhat casual gait, walking in a manner not unlike a street loafer.
Wukong walked beside the old monk, talking nonstop, going over all the precautions.
On the other side, Cui Hao was also talking without pause, all of it reassuring Yuankong that everything would go smoothly.
The two each spoke their own words without interfering with each other.
Yuankong stood in the middle nodding, responding to both sides simultaneously.
This is what high-ranking monks are like these days? No wonder Runan is called an Evil Buddha.
He really was quite peculiar.
Chu Xingchen extended his divine sense and discovered that this high-ranking monk was actually only at Golden Core cultivation. He immediately understood the situation.
A Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, no matter how imprisoned and restricted, could never have their cultivation reduced to Golden Core. This was clearly an act.
Huang Miao roughly understood Chu Xingchen's line of thinking and asked:
"Can it work?"
"That depends on the other side."
"You're not actually expecting Runan to cooperate, are you?" Huang Miao asked with a strange expression.
Chu Xingchen smiled but didn't answer.
Yuankong walked up onto the platform, his gaze sweeping over the immensely powerful cultivators present. He first offered a slight smile, then quickly moved to Chu Xingchen's side and whispered:
"I've more or less memorized everyone."
Chu Xingchen nodded and praised him. "Very good. You're truly the Buddhist Son — sharp as ever."
"Not really…" Yuankong shook his head slightly, his expression tinged with worry. "When I agreed yesterday, my mind was still calm. But now that I know the Honored Buddha Runan is truly coming, I'm getting a bit nervous."
"The closer the time gets, the more anxious I feel. Thinking about it carefully, I'm just a Buddhist Son that the Central Continent didn't even want…"
Chu Xingchen reached out and lightly patted Yuankong's shoulder, interrupting him.
"Nobody's asking you to go fight him. Even if the act falls through, it won't matter. I'm the one taking responsibility for everything. You just go up there and pretend. I used to handle this kind of thing myself. This time I'm giving the chance to you — you just need to enjoy it."
"If this were Cui Hao's job, forget about being nervous — he'd be so excited he wouldn't sleep a wink the night before."
Hearing this, Yuankong turned to glance at Cui Hao beside him.
At that moment, Cui Hao cooperatively put on a devastated expression, as if he'd lost a million spirit stones, his envious gaze fixed tightly on Yuankong.
The expression was convincing, the look in his eyes sincere.
Yuankong activated his innate divine ability to look, yet even he couldn't tell whether Cui Hao's feelings at this moment were genuine or not.
But the logic held.
Yuankong took a deep breath, found it didn't help at all, and then suggested:
"Usually for big occasions like this, there would be a rehearsal. When I was at Chanlin Temple and they held the Water Forest Dharma Assembly — that kind of grand event — we always rehearsed beforehand."
"Once everyone's rehearsed, they feel more confident."
Chu Xingchen nodded in strong approval at the suggestion.
"Very good proposal."
"So you agree?"
"No."
"If you don't agree, why are you nodding?"
"Because I'm not rejecting your proposal — it's that we don't have time to rehearse."
As Chu Xingchen spoke, he gestured for Yuankong to look to the east.
On the horizon under a clear blue sky, golden auspicious clouds were drifting in — and at tremendous speed.
Buddhist golden light blazed from within the clouds, celestial mist swirling and flowing.
Arhats and Bodhisattvas pushed apart the auspicious clouds, revealing canopies of glorious light.
Golden lotuses bloomed, Buddhist light cascaded, and the display was extraordinarily grand.
Yuankong stared at that Buddhist light and silently swallowed.
Chu Xingchen teased, "Don't look like you're about to wet yourself."
Yuankong gave a bitter smile. "…It's not just my expression at this point."
Chu Xingchen patted Yuankong's shoulder.
"Then hurry up and sit in the main seat. If you can't hold it together, at least make sure the other side can't see."
Yuankong took a deep breath and walked toward the main seat.
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