Chu Xingchen took a step forward, descending from the colossal sword formed by Wanban. With a slight raise of his hand, the deeply embedded sword effortlessly lifted from the ground, its form shifting as it flew, transforming into the shape of an ordinary longsword by the time it landed in his grasp.
"Let me remind you—this isn’t a negotiation."
Chu Xingchen raised Wanban, its blade pointed directly at the Faceless Great Buddha. Streams of water coiled around the sword, radiating an oppressive aura.
The lotus of wish-power beneath the Faceless Great Buddha bloomed wider in an instant, shielding its entire body save for its head. Its tone grew wary:
"The divine consciousness of the Buddha’s disciple resides within this vessel. Shatter the Buddha, and the disciple will never return—"
Before it could finish, a flash of water-like sword intent pierced through the lotus barrier. The Faceless Great Buddha instinctively raised an arm to block, only for it to be severed in a single stroke.
Fine currents of water swirled around Chu Xingchen, his eyes flickering with a faint azure glow.
That strike had been impossibly fast—so fast that the Great Buddha barely registered it.
Seizing the opportunity, the young monk smashed through the now-sluggish illusory arhats flanking him and darted into the Grand Hall. He didn’t know who Chu Xingchen was, but there was no doubt he was aligned with Xu Jin.
After all, Xu Jin stood calmly, his spirit treasure sword held loosely, showing no concern for the terrifying pressure emanating from Chu Xingchen beside him.
Still, the young monk had a rough idea of who this person was.
With skills like his… he had to be at least a core disciple. But the core disciples of the Eighteen Immortal Sects were all publicly known, and only one had risen to prominence recently.
"Patron Chu! This evil Buddha—"
The young monk’s words cut off abruptly.
Not because Chu Xingchen had struck at him, but because the latter’s disdainful gaze swept over him, as if warning that another word would be met with a blade faster than speech.
"This place has nothing to do with you. I’ve spared your disciple’s life—now scram." Chu Xingchen’s eyes returned to the Great Buddha.
"Say one more word, and don’t blame me for not warning you. You know I follow Bai Xuanling. Consider this advice a kindness."
The young monk immediately clamped his mouth shut. After a hesitant pause, unwilling to leave, he quietly retreated to the threshold of the Grand Hall.
Xu Jin might speak boldly, but as a core disciple of the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect, his actions often reflected the sect’s stance.
He wouldn’t lightly provoke a feud with the Buddhist sects—or at least, he’d only do so under the direst circumstances.
So, the skirmish between the young monk and Xu Jin had been restrained, neither side going all out.
But for Chu Xingchen to say such things…
Just the mention of following Bai Xuanling alone carried immense weight. No one dared question whether Chu Xingchen would act on his threats.
Because if he did, Bai Xuanling would undoubtedly clean up the aftermath—and might even praise him with a remark like, "Well done. Those bald donkeys had it coming."
After all, Bai Xuanling was currently blocking the river crossing at Pudu.
If Xu Jin threatened to kill, it might be a bluff. But judging by Bai Xuanling’s temperament, if Chu Xingchen said it, he was likely on the verge of acting.
Yet even if the evil Buddha escaped, the young monk had to deliver the news.
After a moment’s hesitation, the Buddha possessing the young monk could only swallow his pride and linger by the doorframe.
His gaze was wary, even pleading—I won’t speak. Can’t I just stand here and watch?
If even that wasn’t allowed… well, he could still flee.
Chu Xingchen’s opening move—that single sword stroke severing the Great Buddha’s arm—combined with the overwhelming pressure of his divine abilities and the unfathomable power of his sword, left the young monk with one impression: This man is a pure monster.
Fortunately, Chu Xingchen seemed indifferent to his presence, perhaps deeming him no threat.
The Faceless Great Buddha, too, fell silent, as if recognizing Bai Xuanling’s infamous name.
Chu Xingchen’s patience visibly waned, the spiritual pressure around him intensifying.
Xu Jin quietly positioned himself beside Yuan Kong, shielding him from the crushing weight of Chu Xingchen’s aura. Otherwise, Yuan Kong’s cultivation would never withstand the mere passive pressure of a top-tier expert.
"I can release him," the Faceless Great Buddha offered, choosing to yield first. "All I need is to break these chains binding me. I want freedom; you want him."
"Otherwise, I’d rather drag him along to meet his senior brother."
Chu Xingchen arched a brow, then used his spiritual power to force Yuan Kong’s mouth open, shoving a pill down his throat.
He wasn’t sure it would work, but he could only hope his self-refined elixir had some effect.
According to feedback from his first and second disciples, aside from physical torment, the pill delivered an additional, soul-rending experience.
Even Li Xingtian, a Golden Core cultivator, had admitted his divine consciousness couldn’t endure the pill’s trial.
Whether this "divine consciousness" effect was just a bizarre side effect of overuse, Chu Xingchen couldn’t say. But he could only pray it worked now.
If not…
Well, he’d have to hope Yuan Kong could endure or that another solution emerged.
As for trusting the Faceless Great Buddha’s words? He’d sooner stuff three San Dongs into his own skull—one less, and it wouldn’t happen.
The Faceless Great Buddha watched Chu Xingchen’s actions, uncertain whether the man was truly hesitant. That first strike had been lethal enough.
But time was its most pressing concern. Without delay, it continued manipulating the arhats and bodhisattvas of its Buddha-realm to break the chains.
A wisp of water flickered in and out of view under the moonlight.
The next instant, the surrounding arhats disintegrated into wisps of wish-power.
Chu Xingchen’s gentle smile remained. "You seem to be overstepping."
The Faceless Great Buddha stayed silent, offering no retort, but inwardly prepared for a desperate fight.
Returning to captivity was worse than sinking back into the Sea of Annihilation.
Then, abruptly, an indescribable, unbearable sensation surged through the divine consciousness controlling the Buddha’s disciple, transmitting directly to the Great Buddha itself.
With all other methods sealed, the Faceless Great Buddha could only rely on this divine link.
This bizarre, unsettling feeling was unlike anything it had ever experienced.
What kind of technique is this?
Its head turned slightly toward Yuan Kong, only to see the disciple’s body—devoid of divine consciousness—trembling violently.
That pill?!
"Does your divine sense feel uncomfortable? Outdated after being suppressed for a thousand years, aren't you?" Chu Xingchen's smile grew even gentler after receiving Xu Jin's transmitted message. "Never tried the Soul-Devouring Pill, have you? It was only developed a century ago."
"You Buddhists really are blessed. Just stepping out, and you get to taste such a rare delicacy. The ingredients are hard to come by—precious beyond measure."
"Today, I’ll let you savor something new. The life of a mere Buddha’s disciple is nowhere near as valuable as yours."
"Among my countless virtues, vast as the ocean, two stand out—I never trust an enemy’s words, and I’m always prepared to perish together."
"I told you before—that wasn’t a negotiation. It was a notice."
"Since you refuse to accept it, then you and this pitiful little Buddha’s disciple can go reunite with his senior brother."
"Of course, being the kind-hearted soul I am, I won’t let you die so easily. How else could I face this poor disciple?"
The Faceless Great Buddha remained silent, staring at Chu Xingchen’s gentle smile.
An endless chill ran down its spine.
This kid… is truly wicked.