Divine Will

Central Continent, Tianyan Sect.

Xu Jin had taken his seat early in the main hall of Tianyan Peak.

Yanyun's secluded cultivation had not yet concluded, so Lv Xuan was handling the reception at this moment.

Lv Xuan's expression was natural, his eyes closed as he calculated, strands of heavenly secrets transforming and swirling around him.

Xu Jin's gaze would always steal a glance towards the main entrance of the hall, and just as he was about to repeat this action,

Lv Xuan spoke up, almost teasingly:

"Young people after all, your heart is ultimately a bit too impatient. Has it even been that long?"

Xu Jin looked back, only to see the swirling strands around Lv Xuan slowly dissipate as the man opened his eyes, wearing an expression that questioned how a young person could be so lacking in composure.

Has it even been that long?

Xu Jin very much wanted to retort and ask Lv Xuan the same question. He had been sitting in this hall for over a month.

The two had gone from initially engaging in quite interested casual conversation, discussing the great chaotic affairs of the world together,

to the current scene where they had not a single topic left and could only sit awkwardly in the hall.

After all, Lv Xuan had already covered everything from the founding of the Tianyan Sect by its predecessors to its current operational philosophy.

He had even talked about his own retirement plans, about letting Yanyun take over as sect leader so she too could understand the hardships of the position.

If they kept talking, they'd probably end up discussing who Xu Jin wanted to find as his own successor in the future.

In the end, Lv Xuan simply began calculating heavenly fate on the spot.

Perhaps because sitting there in stiff silence would seem too awkward.

As for Xu Jin, he sat alone in the hall for several days, watching the sun and moon rise.

Although the main hall of Tianyan Peak had a decent supply of spiritual energy, cultivating on the spot would be somewhat impolite.

Fortunately, Xu Jin had long been tempered by a certain someone's trials, so Lv Xuan's words didn't provoke much of a reaction in him.

Xu Jin did not answer the remark, instead asking:

"I once heard my master say that the Tianyan Sect's Art of Heavenly Derivation can calculate the past and future. I wonder how Senior Uncle Lv's calculations are going?"

Lv Xuan replied with a composed expression:

"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"There's a distinction?"

"Naturally. After all, few people like to hear the truth, while many prefer lies."

Xu Jin paused slightly before speaking:

"Then let's hear the lie first."

A smile appeared on Lv Xuan's face: "Smooth sailing, all matters favorable, immediate success."

These words made Xu Jin frown deeply. If this was the lie, then the real situation must be disastrous beyond measure.

Xu Jin pressed his lips together but still asked:

"And the truth?"

Lv Xuan's expression turned serious: "I couldn't figure it out."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jin took a deep breath. His mentality had remained steady despite being left waiting here for so long, but now it wasn't so calm anymore.

"If heavenly fate were so easy to calculate, the great calamity back then shouldn't have been so utterly despairing."

Lv Xuan looked towards outside the hall and continued:

"Not seeing clearly isn't necessarily a bad thing. Seeing clearly is what makes people restless."

"Good news makes people blind, no longer steady."

"Bad news makes people cowardly, losing their brave heart."

"A vast expanse of uncertainty is what makes people both steady and driven to forge ahead, simply focusing on doing."

Xu Jin did not respond to this, instead also turning his gaze outside the hall.

Several figures were walking in from outside.

Chu Xingchen led the way, with Bai Xuanling and Xie Lingyu by his side, followed by his disciples.

Xu Jin stood up. The person he had long been waiting for had finally arrived.

Ever since encountering Xu Linglong at Pusaman and detecting the aura of rules within the secret realm,

Chu Xingchen had made a decision: to shift from initially targeting the Buddhist sect to first keeping a tight grip on Xu Linglong.

Xu Linglong's bizarre behavior seemed like that of a fool selling out her allies.

But clearly, Xu Linglong probably wasn't that stupid.

Therefore, selling out her allies must be Xu Linglong's objective.

Chu Xingchen speculated that only if Xu Linglong herself was currently unsure whether the demons within the Buddhist sect had rebelled would she make such a choice.

Eliminate variables, especially deadly ones.

Chu Xingchen felt that blindly following the enemy's line of thinking was undoubtedly foolish.

Especially letting the enemy obtain the intelligence they wanted.

Thus, he decided to do the opposite.

First, set aside the Buddhist sect and continue investigating Xu Linglong.

After all, if Xu Linglong was truly selling out her allies, then that wisp of rule aura would still affect the demons within the Buddhist sect.

Since they're all meat in the bowl, naturally you eat the one that might run first.

Even if there were demons within the Buddhist sect, dealing with them would be a time-consuming affair. The Buddhist sect wouldn't just hand over a Buddha because of a few words.

Continuing to investigate Xu Linglong would be good if they could kill her, and if not, it would likely deepen her suspicions.

Most importantly, exterminating demons remained the great righteousness of the world, something not easily obstructed.

To this end, the three great sects quickly laid the groundwork.

It wasn't that the three great sects only had a few usable Transcendence Realm experts they could mobilize; rather, the movable Transcendence Realm experts weren't deployed to the Western Oxen Gift Continent.

On the Pudu River that day, it really was only Bai Xuanling and Huang Miao.

If Runan had truly wanted to cross the river, he absolutely could not have been stopped.

But if Runan didn't come, it wouldn't attract enough attention.

The Bright Buddha's discourse on the Great Vehicle was an absolute spotlight, keeping everyone's eyes firmly fixed.

The overt contention among four of the eighteen immortal sects...

It was just that Runan probably never expected Chu Xingchen's actions to be so bold.

From then on, the Western Oxen Gift Continent transformed from bait thrown out by Xu Linglong into bait repackaged and thrown out by Chu Xingchen.

While everyone, even Xu Linglong, was observing the situation in the Western Oxen Gift Continent,

they would launch a surprise operation.

Daoist Yuyang was still in the Western Oxen Gift Continent, so the rest wouldn't cause too much turbulence.

Chu Xingchen stepped into the hall, a relaxed smile on his face:

"It's been a while, everyone. Is the intelligence all confirmed?"

Lv Xuan nodded slightly: "With the combined intelligence of the three great sects, everything that should be clarified has been, except for the final confirmation of the Heavenly Demon's location."

"The Evil Spirit Sect and other heretical sects are places demons particularly love to hide."

"After all, those who only covet power without considering the cost are the most easily bewitched by it."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen smiled and said: "In that case, I've thought of an operation codename as well."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jin quickly interjected:

"This matter of the operation codename... perhaps we should let someone else think of it?"

One only needed to look at the name "Harmonious Family Peak" to understand a thing or two about Chu Xingchen's naming style.

Proper names almost never came out of Chu Xingchen's mouth.

Bai Xuanling said with a calm expression:

"Since it's Chu Xingchen's plan, it's only natural for him to name it."

Seeing the senior expert speak, Xu Jin couldn't say more, mentally preparing himself even if the operation name was highly likely to be something like—"Sweeping Dog Dung."

Lv Xuan's gaze swept over Bai Xuanling's utterly ordinary expression, naturally understanding that she also wanted to join in on the fun.

However... Bai Xuanling still underestimated her own sect leader.

Lv Xuan looked calmly at Xie Lingyu beside Chu Xingchen:

"It's rare for Lingyu to participate. How about letting Lingyu name it this time?"

Xie Lingyu looked up at Lv Xuan. She wasn't as straightforward as she used to be, after all, she occasionally had to deal properly with Chu Xingchen.

But seeing her master's gaze urging her to stir the pot...

Just as Xie Lingyu was about to speak,

Chu Xingchen suddenly spoke up first:

"Operation Codename—Heaven's Will."

Everyone's eyes turned to Chu Xingchen, their expressions varied and complex.

Even Bai Xuanling's gaze held a trace of astonishment.

This plan name...

Was this still the same Chu Xingchen?

Chu Xingchen cupped his hands in salute:

"I invite you all to join me in fulfilling the will of Heaven!"