Atop the walls of Huangliang City, and within the walls.
Everyone looked up at the rainbow lights streaking across the horizon, fanning out in all directions.
They watched cultivators in different sect robes descend into Huangliang City.
The first wave of disciples to arrive at Xi Niu He Zhou was naturally from the three great sects. But beyond them, sects with close ties to the three would also dispatch disciples to support their action.
In truth, the total number from the three great sects was far fewer than the disciples sent by the other sects.
The chain of command for this operation was crystal clear—directly led by the three great sects.
Yan Yun, Daoist Yuyang, and Chu Xingchen.
Thanks to a certain someone's ability to perfectly harmonize relationships, the operation proceeded smoothly. No one raised differing opinions. There was only execution.
So from the moment this cultivator force entered Xi Niu He Zhou, progress was extremely rapid.
They swept across all of Xi Niu He Zhou, slaying and searching as they went.
There was no negotiation with the Buddhist faith, nor with the other forces, nor with the so-called Eighteen Immortal Sects in Xi Niu He Zhou.
The swords in their hands and the burning Dao techniques they wielded—these were Chu Xingchen's declared form of negotiation.
Along the way, if a Buddhist temple blocked them, they tore it down. If a sect barred their path, they shattered it.
Whatever complaints anyone had, they could take them up with the united three sects.
For this operation, Chu Xingchen's own small sect had also sent many people.
Li Yingling, Li Xingtian, Chen Baiqing, Lin Luoyu, and Cui Hao.
It could be said that the backbone of the sect had been mobilized.
They weren't sent to the front lines to slay enemies. Instead, they handled logistics for the rather large cultivator force.
Their status carried weight. Whoever's sect they belonged to would give them face. This was far more efficient than sending them to fight personally.
Before Chu Xingchen could chat much, another streak of rainbow light landed on the wall.
Yan Yun touched down, her gaze sweeping over Lychee before settling on Chu Xingchen. She cut straight to the point.
"We've reached Huangliang City. The pressure on the Buddhist faith is mounting. How do we address the matter of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple?"
"There are reports that the Buddhist faith already has Arhats and Buddhas preparing to cross the Pudu River."
Chu Xingchen wore a smile as he spoke.
"Did the three sects come to Xi Niu He Zhou to answer to the Buddhist faith? I somehow feel like we're holding a top-tier immortal treasure yet still bowing our heads to get slapped."
Yan Yun's eyes remained calm.
"The three sects naturally hold greater power than the Buddhist faith. But the Buddhist faith has Tribulation Transcendence Buddhas."
"Tribulation Transcendence cultivators are not existences that can be predicted by ordinary logic. If we go too far, the other immortal sects may well grow fearful and choose to pressure us."
"The Tianyan Sect can naturally see this through to the end. But you must also consider the bottom lines of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect and the Tai Dao Sect."
Chu Xingchen withdrew the myriad lights that had condensed into a long sword, hanging it at his waist. He offered no explanation.
"Apply pressure freely. Just know that tearing the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple down to a Thousand Buddhas Temple poses no obstacle."
Seeing Chu Xingchen's fearless expression, Yan Yun didn't press further. If Chu Xingchen made such arrangements, he naturally had good reason. She nodded slightly.
"Good. Then I'll lead the three sects' disciples and three elders to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple first."
Chu Xingchen thought of something and added a parting instruction.
"Go ahead. Remember to be arrogant."
"The most important thing is that your threats must be harsher than theirs. If they say they'll kill you, you say you'll kill their whole family."
Yan Yun gave Chu Xingchen a speechless look. What did he take her for?
Without further words, Yan Yun's figure shot toward the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple. The next moment, hundreds of rainbow lights followed in her direction.
Lychee stood on the city wall, staring at Chu Xingchen in somewhat stunned disbelief.
The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect... the former number one sect under heaven. The Tai Dao Sect—a formidable power even among the Eighteen Immortal Sects.
Buddhas arriving before the Pudu River, and then tearing the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple into a Thousand Buddhas Temple.
The words Chu Xingchen had just spoken were not something a Divine Transformation cultivator should be able to say.
Previously, Lychee had judged Chu Xingchen to be nothing more than a disciple of a great sect—just one who happened to be easy to talk to.
But the way Chu Xingchen was now issuing orders clearly overturned that assumption.
Lychee had her doubts but didn't dare ask again.
Chu Xingchen glanced at Lychee, then at the tense-faced burly man beside her, and smiled as he spoke.
"No need to be so reserved. You and I escaped from the hands of a Buddha together, after all."
"The reason I'm here is that the cold-faced Xu Jin informed me of the situation in Xi Niu He Zhou. He also told me about how you've been doing."
"Before coming, I considered bringing you a lychee. But then I thought—dreams are sweeter when you pursue them yourself."
Saying this, Chu Xingchen retrieved a brand-new set of protective Dharma treasures from his spatial ring. This set wasn't top-tier, but it was quite good within the Tianyan Sect. In Xi Niu He Zhou, it would be an absolutely unparalleled treasure.
"This set of protective Dharma treasures is my gift to you. Consider it my treat for the lychees I owe you."
"And remember, when you come to Central Plains in the future, spread my name—Chu Xingchen."
"Praise my generosity and grandeur. Spread my renown far and wide."
Seeing the rich spiritual energy emanating from the protective Dharma treasure in Chu Xingchen's hand, Lychee knew at a glance how precious it was. She quickly shook her head, wanting to refuse.
Chu Xingchen would brook no argument. He placed the item in her hands.
"You are Lychee, the one with exceptional talent in Xi Niu He Zhou. It would be a terrible waste if such talent perished."
"Perhaps one day I'll need your help. Make sure you stay alive."
"Time is pressing. I won't linger to catch up. There are still monks coming to cause trouble."
Lychee clutched the protective Dharma treasure in her hands, watching Chu Xingchen's figure transform into rainbow light as he departed. She could only nod fiercely, shouting after him.
"Next time you need me for anything, come find me! I won't run away this time! I'll follow you to the end and see things through!"
In her gaze, Chu Xingchen's figure never paused.
The sky-covering rainbow lights continued forward with him.
Lychee didn't understand what this three-sect alliance meant. She didn't understand the twists and turns between high-level sects and cultivators. But she did understand—Xi Niu He Zhou would finally stop suffering.
This barren land, beyond the people of Xi Niu He Zhou, had others guarding it as well.
Before the Pudu River.
A tall, thin figure stood in the middle of the great river. Before him were still Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, a sea of auspicious golden clouds.
A Buddha stood before the Bodhisattvas and Arhats, his gaze fixed on the tall, thin man at the river, taking in his slightly graying temples.
At this moment, the Buddha's heart was utterly still, yet filled with bitter laughter.
Last time, it had been him who came—facing Bai Xuanling. Watching Bai Xuanling grow fiercer with every exchange, looking as though he would lose his reason and slaughter everything in the next second, he had chosen the cautious path.
He had thought that this time, with Bai Xuanling's inner demons flaring up again, he wouldn't come to block them.
But he never could have imagined.
The most notorious fierce god of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect—Huang Miao—had come.
This fierce god's combat prowess was likely no less than Bai Xuanling's. But this fierce god, unlike Bai Xuanling, had no inner demons. And he could freely display the true might of a top-tier Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.
Huang Miao's eyes were calm. He glanced sideways at the lead Buddha.
"Today, this Pudu River is temporarily under the jurisdiction of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect. All irrelevant parties shall withdraw."
The Buddha pressed his palms together.
"The demon beasts of Xi Niu He Zhou are running rampant. We go to save the suffering."
"What does the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect intend by this?"
Huang Miao sneered, making no attempt to conceal his intent.
"Naturally, we also go to save the suffering—to prevent those with ill intent from entering Xi Niu He Zhou and causing further calamity."
The Buddha was about to speak again when an Arhat behind him reported news.
"The Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple is under attack. The Zhengyin Dharma Temple is also suspected of being attacked."
This was meant to be a sound-transmitted message.
But the transmission of a Nascent Soul Arhat was directly intercepted by Huang Miao.
A smile appeared on Huang Miao's face.
"It seems a demon beast tide has struck the Buddhist temples. But you young ones needn't worry. Your little temples—the three sects will protect them for you."
The Buddha said nothing, only his expression darkened with quiet fury.
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