Central Province, Wanhua Ridge.
"You certainly have a leisurely mood." Bai Xuanling stood with her arms crossed, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. "Aren't you afraid of your whereabouts being discovered? Those Celestial Demons are fond of you to the point of obsession. If they knew you weren't at Tianyan Sect, they'd probably spare no cost to come kill you first."
Chu Xingchen sat down in the chair Chen Baiqing usually occupied, his eyes lightly taking in every visible corner of the sect grounds.
Under the protection of the formation, not even dust had settled here.
Everything remained unchanged, just as it had been when he left.
Counting carefully, it had been over twenty years since the emergency relocation from Wanhua Ridge to Tianyan Sect.
During these twenty-plus years, Chu Xingchen's cultivation had already recovered to the Integration Peak realm, not far from the Mahayana stage.
His cultivation progress was naturally extremely fast—after all, his disciples' cultivation levels were already quite high, and the feedback they provided was extremely powerful.
Moreover, the system seemed to have… slightly strengthened this feedback.
Chu Xingchen took a deep breath, feeling his spirits lift, then smiled lightly:
"Being popular is like that. But in reality, I'm not truly in that much danger. Never mind how fierce you are—just considering whether those Celestial Demons could even regroup and launch a surprise attack on me, the possibility isn't that high."
"If they really could do that, worst case I'd just trade myself for all of them."
"Besides, their ultimate goal isn't to kill me."
"That's also why I let my disciples go out and travel a bit under safe conditions."
"If we really have to fight the Celestial Demons in the future, the true main force won't be me—it'll be my disciples."
Bai Xuanling turned to look at him, her tone making it unclear whether it was praise:
"You see things clearly enough. You specifically called me to Wanhua Ridge—it couldn't just be to look at the scenery and reminisce, could it?"
Chu Xingchen tilted his head, asking curiously:
"What if I said it was?"
Bai Xuanling had wanted to say she'd hang him from a tree so he could look properly, but the words didn't come out.
Regardless of whether Chu Xingchen truly wanted to save the world from the great tribulation, his actions and sacrifices were undeniable.
He had already paid a sufficient price for it. There was no need to be too harsh on him.
Besides, Bai Xuanling owed Chu Xingchen a massive favor.
Not hearing a response from Bai Xuanling, Chu Xingchen's expression turned to an indifferent grin:
"Naturally, it's not just that. The Small Vehicle Buddhist teachings have already started spreading across the Southern Zhanbu Continent. The relationship between my disciples and Li Junzi isn't exactly top secret—the Buddhist sect can find out too."
"And more than half of my sect's disciples are now in the Southern Zhanbu Continent. Runan isn't an idiot. If things go halfway and he feels something's off, feels like he's being used, he might just decide nobody gets to have a good time."
Bai Xuanling understood at that: "You invited Runan here?"
"That's right." Chu Xingchen's gaze turned toward outside the sect. "I'm taking a huge risk to meet and talk with Runan here. Doesn't that show absolute sincerity? Wouldn't Runan be moved to tears?"
Bai Xuanling's tone was dismissive:
"Just surface gestures. What's the difference between negotiating at Wanhua Ridge and at Tianyan Sect?"
Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled:
"The feeling is naturally different. Negotiating at Tianyan Sect is about interests. Talking with him at Wanhua Ridge—that's about trust and laying everything on the table."
Bai Xuanling didn't respond, for good reason—a golden light had arrived stealthily.
Chu Xingchen raised his hand slightly, and the sect's grand formation opened its gates. The golden light passed through, and Runan's figure landed.
"A day apart feels like three autumns—I've missed you greatly." Chu Xingchen stood up, cupping his hands with a smile. "Fellow Daoist, I trust you've been well lately?"
Hearing such cloying words, Runan still felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart, a very strange sensation.
But he first returned Chu Xingchen's greeting, then bowed to Bai Xuanling beside him. Bai Xuanling lowered her eyes slightly—that counted as her returning the greeting.
Though the courtesy was insufficient, given that this was Bai Xuanling, the world's only living True Immortal,
Runan naturally decided not to hold it against her. His face bore a gentle smile:
"Thanks to your help, fellow Daoist. But if there's something to discuss, couldn't we have met at Tianyan Sect? Coming to Wanhua Ridge seems rather dangerous."
Chu Xingchen gestured for Runan to take a seat on the stone chair at the same table:
"With a fellow Daoist like you here, danger is out of the question. I invited the Honored Buddha here for two reasons—first, to apologize, and second, to ask a favor."
Runan sat down. The stone table wasn't large—the two of them sat barely a meter apart. For cultivators, that was extremely close, especially for Tribulation Transcendence cultivators.
Suppressing the strange feeling, Runan spoke with a calm expression:
"Then let's take them one at a time."
Chu Xingchen sighed: "First, I apologize on behalf of my eldest disciple. Her reason for choosing the Southern Zhanbu Continent as a pilot site is that Tianyan Sect has many locations under its jurisdiction there. Starting from Tianyan Sect would be more persuasive to other sects."
"Actually, that point isn't wrong. But she also has her own purposes."
"There's a Confucian cultivator in the Southern Zhanbu Continent named Li Junzi, who is currently trying to push through new policies. The policies are facing resistance, so my eldest disciple planned to use the Buddhist sect's promotion of Small Vehicle Buddhist teachings to assist Li Junzi."
Runan pondered for a moment, then grasped the key issue and asked:
"How does this affect the promotion of Small Vehicle Buddhist teachings?"
Chu Xingchen sighed lightly: "Naturally, one rises while the other falls—disparaging the Buddhist sect. If you've been paying attention, most of my disciples have actually gone to Xuanwu Kingdom in the Southern Zhanbu Continent, planning to help Li Junzi push through the new policies."
"My eldest disciple also felt I'd suffered a loss, so she wanted to make up for it from this angle."
"I failed to properly discipline those under me."
Runan thought for a moment, then asked again: "So, things have already started?"
"Not yet." Chu Xingchen immediately replied. "I reprimanded my eldest disciple. Given various reasons, pushing through new policies isn't easy—after all, those who oppress others will see their people scatter and their policies fade."
"So, this is also what I want to ask the Honored Buddha to help with."
Runan's eyes were calm as he looked at Chu Xingchen:
"I agree."
Chu Xingchen was startled at that, not expecting Runan to agree so readily—without even asking what the favor was.
Runan, seeing Chu Xingchen's somewhat stunned expression, suddenly felt a bit more at ease. He looked up at the sky and spoke softly:
"It's been a long time since I've had anyone by my side, and a long time since I've had a genuine conversation with anyone. Today, I'll say what I'll say. Once I leave Wanhua Ridge, I won't acknowledge any of it—consider it repayment for your favor in stabilizing my Buddhist sect."
"Your desire to promote Small Vehicle Buddhist teachings—I actually found it strange. The Buddhist sect's intelligence has always been sharp. As Honored Buddha, I naturally keep up with everything daily, especially regarding you, this Child of Heaven's Fortune, whom I pay extra attention to."
"Now it seems clear—your desire to promote Small Vehicle Buddhist teachings is false. Your true goal is to help Li Junzi achieve the Sub-Sage realm."
"As for Small Vehicle Buddhist teachings, I already suspect in my heart it probably won't succeed."
"Regardless of the situation, I will push through against all opposition. I only hope that this mortal world can truly gain another Sub-Sage."
Having spoken, Runan looked at Chu Xingchen with gentle eyes, his voice steady:
"I am an Honored Buddha who cultivated from the path of a Buddhist Son. My compassion in heart is no less than yours, this Child of Heaven's Fortune."
Bai Xuanling frowned slightly, feeling that Runan's expression was strangely similar to someone's look when they were about to bamboozle someone.
She subconsciously looked at Chu Xingchen beside her.
Bai Xuanling recalled.
Hmm…
She could only say they were exactly the same.
[
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