What's the use

"Bai... Ancestral Master... What are your plans now?"

Chu Xingchen followed behind Bai Xuanling, observing the surging murderous intent radiating from her, and promptly changed his address, asking with a cautious tone.

Bai Xuanling walked with calm and measured steps, as if she had already shaken off the influence of her killing intent. Her voice sounded much like usual as she replied:

"Nothing for now. The way those two Heavenly Demons retreated was rather peculiar—it warrants further study. Though, I suspect those two won’t be seen or heard from for centuries."

"Even if they didn’t die from my sword strike, they’ve likely lost most of their bodies. My sword intent will continue to grind away at what remains."

Chu Xingchen nodded slightly.

For now, his attempt to persuade Bai Xuanling to formally acknowledge him as her master would have to be shelved.

The reason the system hadn’t recognized it still needed investigation. Was it because Bai Xuanling had merely paid lip service without truly accepting him as her master in her heart? Or was it because her cultivation far surpassed his, making the system reject the arrangement? These were questions that required further study.

Chu Xingchen could have just bluntly stated—"If you sincerely acknowledge me as your master, I can grant you a supreme cultivation method perfectly suited to you, even upgrade your destiny traits. Something as trivial as inner demons would be nothing."

And if asked for proof? The proof would be: "I am the Child of Destiny."

He could certainly make it sound grandiose, but with the conditions still unclear, even if Bai Xuanling were willing to cooperate, it wouldn’t necessarily be easy.

What if, in the end, the condition turned out to be cultivation level? Then it would all just be nonsense.

Bai Xuanling would undoubtedly think he was trying to deceive her.

According to her own words—no one who had fooled her twice had ever lived to tell the tale.

Moreover, Bai Xuanling probably wouldn’t believe him again. More crucially, this Tribulation Transcendence expert’s temper was far from mild.

Chu Xingchen was deeply grateful that she had at least allowed him to walk away unharmed.

With the situation around taking disciples still unclear, his next step would be to visit the Tianyan Sect and inquire further about Bai Xuanling’s circumstances before deciding on his course of action.

Chu Xingchen cleared his throat and asked, "Bai—"

"Hmm?!"

"Ancestral Master... Why not leave the remaining trivial matters to Ying Ling? Let me escort you back to the Tianyan Sect first so we can prepare the necessary seals in advance?"

"A seal capable of suppressing Tribulation Transcendence cultivation and concealing it from the Heavenly Dao isn’t something you can just conjure with a few words. The sect leader—that fool—has a jade slip that alerts him when my seal is undone. He’s likely already making preparations. He’ll notify me when ready."

"Then you could still return to the Tianyan Sect first. It’s safer with more people around. Or perhaps head to Ten Thousand Blossoms Ridge—Lingyu is still there."

Bai Xuanling turned her calm gaze toward Chu Xingchen and said:

"The one who should hurry back to the Tianyan Sect isn’t me. And Ten Thousand Blossoms Ridge is no longer a place you should return to either."

"You made quite the impression in front of those Heavenly Demons. Neither of them cares about anything else now—they just want you dead."

"Of course, you’re strong enough to flee, but what about your disciples? Core Formation cultivation might seem decent, and the Central Continent may appear peaceful."

"But there will always be moments when defenses fail. You don’t actually expect demons to play by the rules, do you?"

"Ten Thousand Blossoms Ridge is lovely, but it should be a home for after the calamity, not now."

Chu Xingchen didn’t respond, merely continuing to walk behind Bai Xuanling.

He didn’t outright agree, but her words held truth. Still, he needed to consider his options—aside from the Tianyan Sect, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect was also a possibility.

Bai Xuanling, hearing no reply, assumed Chu Xingchen harbored some reservations.

After all, prodigies were often prideful—she was no exception. After a brief pause, she spoke again:

"It’s not exactly like living under someone else’s roof. You’re the prophesied savior. If anything, the Tianyan Sect would be the one benefiting from your presence."

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? In that case, shouldn’t Sect Leader Lü be paying me spirit stones?"

"If you dare ask, that dim-witted sect leader would probably hand them over."

"Then I’d like to reside on Tianyan Peak. Can the sect leader vacate his spot for me?"

Bai Xuanling stared at Chu Xingchen, who was pushing his luck: "..."

Chu Xingchen pressed further: "And can Yanyun be my maidservant?"

Bai Xuanling scoffed.

"Asking the fool of a sect leader won’t help—you’d have to ask Yanyun herself. But she’s more likely to crack open your skull than serve you."

Chu Xingchen sighed.

"If this isn’t allowed and that isn’t permitted, then Sect Leader Lü gets all the advantages."

"I’ll be sure to relay that to him."

"Wait—I was just joking!"

After a few lighthearted exchanges, the two figures soon arrived at their destination.

They swiftly returned to the ruins of Jiaxiang Town.

Chu Xingchen gathered his disciples, including the unruly Li Xingtian, who had been itching for a fight, and bid farewell to Daoist Yuyang, who was still present.

Daoist Yuyang fixed Chu Xingchen with a resentful gaze but could only nod silently in farewell.

Originally, they had come for amusement—the demons were just an excuse.

Yet in the end, there had been no amusement to be found. After a fierce battle, he was left behind to handle the aftermath.

Ah, well... These were trying times for everyone.

Daoist Yuyang withdrew his gaze and turned toward the spoils collected in the aftermath—only to notice something missing.

He couldn’t help but ask, "Where’s the severed arm of that demoness that Bai Xuanling cut off?"

Someone answered, "Chu Xingchen took it earlier. Said he had great use for it."

Daoist Yuyang frowned slightly.

Use? What use could it possibly have?

Central Continent, Yellow Sand Ridge.

A fierce wind whipped up endless clouds of yellow sand, howling as grains battered against the rocky cliffs.

The relentless pitter-patter of sand striking stone echoed from all directions.

"Damn it... Damn it all..."

Xu Linglong leaned against a windbreak, her upper body enveloped in dark energy as her lower half slowly regenerated. Yet each time new flesh formed, the lingering sword intent from Bai Xuanling’s strike would shred it apart again.

She snarled, "Bai Bo! It was an ambush! A trap set for us!"

"Keep your voice down..." Before Bai Bo could finish, he coughed up a mouthful of black blood, having reverted from his final form.

Most of his body had been obliterated by the residual force of Bai Xuanling’s sword strike.

Had they not retreated in time, he would have surely perished under that single slash.

Dark energy coiled around Bai Bo as he worked to regenerate, his voice weak as he muttered:

"We’re still in the Central Continent—we’re not safe yet. We need to find a way back first..."

"Back?" Xu Linglong let out a cold laugh. "Going back now would be suicide. Among the Eight Great Heavenly Demons, my identity was the most closely guarded secret, yet Li Xingtian clearly knew exactly who I was!"

"First, they claimed the Eastern Victory Divine Province’s main branch had been annihilated and asked me to return to investigate."

"But ‘investigation’ was just a pretense—they wanted me dead! I bet the branch’s destruction was an inside job, betrayed by someone who let the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect blast them all to oblivion!"

Bai Bo fell silent for a moment. "If what you say is true, then the traitor must be at least at the Heavenly Demon level. But what would they gain from betraying us?"

"Peace, of course!" Xu Linglong’s eyes burned crimson as she spat, "They’d rather live as cowards than die with us! By severing ties, they erase all traces leading back to them!"

Bai Bo understood her implication immediately, his voice dropping low.

"You mean... the Buddhist sects?"

"Who else could it be but them?!" Xu Linglong said sharply. "Do they truly think donning monk's robes makes them enlightened Buddhas?!"

Bai Bo listened to her words and found some logic in them, so he asked, "Then where do you wish to go?"

Xu Linglong scoffed. "Isn't there news that a little fish still survives in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent? The main sect suspects it might be a hook they dare not touch."

"That fish belongs to my branch. Whether it has betrayed us or not, I have my own means to detect."

"First, we’ll go and clarify the situation there, see if we can uncover any clues."

"I’m not afraid of the Buddhists trying to scheme—what I fear is that some among us might also be tempted to scheme!"

Bai Bo fell silent for a moment but ultimately accepted the arrangement.