No to Witches, Yes to Witches

Cui Hao's expression was sincere, and he simultaneously signaled for the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect disciple restraining Donggua to let go. Naturally, Cui Hao also very prudently positioned himself behind the two Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivators at his side.

Although Donggua was still being suppressed by the restraining spell.

Judging by the expression on the opposite side, their favorability towards him had definitely plummeted straight to the underworld.

They were one hundred percent certain to want to send him down there.

Cui Hao also tightly gripped the protective treasure his master had given him.

And he followed the rule of the cultivation world that his master had taught him—play it safe for a good dozen more moves first.

Donggua stood up, her figure slightly unsteady. There was no trace of joy on her face, only a cold voice:

"Are you planning to mock me further?"

Cui Hao shrugged and said:

"Can't it just be that I'm kind-hearted?"

Donggua sneered, "Do you even believe that yourself when you say it?"

"Xigua believed it; he thought I was a good person," Cui Hao replied calmly.

Donggua narrowed her eyes and asked:

"Then where is Xigua?"

Cui Hao answered naturally, "Dead, of course."

"You!" Killing intent surged in Donggua's eyes, "Is this what you call a good person?"

Cui Hao gently stroked his chin, as if recalling, and said with a firm tone:

"Before he died, he even said thank you to me. He seemed quite sincere, so how can I not be considered a good person?"

"Death was Xigua's wish; I granted it for him. Life is your wish; I can naturally grant that for you too."

"Of course, if you've changed your wish and want to die, I can grant you that right now as well."

Donggua stood in place, not replying for a long time.

Cui Hao was also in no hurry to press her to speak.

This operation was naturally not a coincidence. Cui Hao had been specifically dispatched here by Chu Xingchen and happened to encounter Donggua.

All eighteen immortal sects were concentrated in the Central Continent. As long as the eighteen sects had the intention to investigate, nearly all of Donggua's movements within the Central Continent were transparent.

When it came to intelligence, the Central Continent's was naturally the most detailed.

The other four great continents, although they had their own territories, were under the direct jurisdiction of the eighteen immortal sects only in rare cases, except for the Buddhist monasteries under the Buddhist sects.

Mostly, they relied on supporting sects or maintaining good relations for long-arm governance.

The spiritual energy levels in the four continents were extremely low. Apart from relying on sheer luck for ancient relics and secret realms, there was simply nothing there that would make the eighteen immortal sects pay close attention.

The real chessboard was still in the Central Continent.

Within the eighteen immortal sects, information about the Central Continent, aside from each sect's secrets, could always be found if one paid attention and looked for clues.

This was why even someone with the cultivation level of a Celestial Demon like Xu Linglong rarely went to the Central Continent, preferring instead to go to places like the Southern Continent or the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

For Donggua to return to the Central Continent was inherently the most conspicuous move.

It couldn't even be considered bait; it could be directly classified as fishing with a bare hook.

She was essentially pushed out as a test subject to gauge the winds.

Only... for Xu Linglong to personally contact Donggua, only to push her out like this to die.

Viewed by common sense, this was somewhat counter-intuitive.

Among the vast sea of people, Cui Hao was the one who had the most contact with Donggua and was also the one who could stir her emotions the most effectively.

So, Chu Xingchen made the decision to let Cui Hao handle it.

Whether to kill Donggua or not wasn't important; even how to proceed was left to Cui Hao's discretion.

This straight hook released by Xu Linglong naturally had to be sent back to hook Xu Linglong herself.

Whether it was to make Xu Linglong continue to suspect the demon within the Buddhist sect, or to directly hook her into appearing, even just spoiling her mood would be acceptable.

Cui Hao's expression remained placid. Although his master hadn't given many specific instructions, basically leaving all decisions to him.

Even if he messed up, his master probably wouldn't blame him much.

But precisely because of that, Cui Hao was even more determined to handle the matter well.

Before coming, Cui Hao had already thought of a plan. It's just that now, it seemed Donggua's willingness to cooperate wasn't high.

That left only the lowest-tier plan.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator standing behind Donggua frowned again and suddenly spoke up:

"She's forcibly trying to break through the spiritual sense restriction. It's unknown if she's hiding something in the depths of her consciousness. She's deliberately delaying by not answering."

"Thanks for the reminder." Cui Hao nodded with a smile, his gaze returning to Donggua.

"I said I'd let you go, and I will. There's no need to show off any new tricks."

"You can leave directly from here right now."

"However, I have a piece of well-intentioned advice for you: after you go out, whatever you do, don't contact Xu Linglong, your superior. It wouldn't be good if, when we eventually go to eliminate her, she suspects you of being the traitor."

"You've picked up a life, so live it well."

Cui Hao took the lead in making way, and with a slight raise of his hand, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivators who were still cleaning up the battlefield also tacitly cleared a path for departure.

Donggua glanced at the path to survival but felt her feet were unbearably heavy.

Even a fool could tell Cui Hao was playing some scheme here.

Sowing discord or something else.

With such a disparity in the information they possessed, it was impossible to infer the true meaning behind the other party's actions.

But this path to survival... for her, there was only this one.

Donggua let out a sneer, as if mocking.

The next moment, without any hesitation, she mobilized all the spiritual energy she could muster—roughly at the Foundation Establishment level—and charged straight at Cui Hao.

A furious shout from Donggua followed closely, condensing all her resentment and killing intent.

Going out that door, living a life of suspicion and paranoia, would be like a dog without a home.

Might as well end it here.

Enough.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator in front of Cui Hao had an indifferent expression, his spiritual treasure longsword already in hand, ready to strike in the next instant.

"Wait..." Cui Hao quickly reached out and pulled back the cultivator preparing to attack.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator reacted swiftly, halting the killing blow and instead punching Donggua back again.

"I don't want to live either. Kill me."

Donggua collapsed limply on the ground, making no further struggle, her gaze fixed on the sky:

"I've also tried to kill you numerous times. You, Cui Hao, aren't that magnanimous to repay malice with kindness."

"Don't put on this act of compassionate benevolence. I may not understand your methods, but that doesn't mean you can manipulate me at will."

Cui Hao let out a soft sigh:

"Being a good person isn't easy these days. Xigua told me quite a bit, like about the Heaven Beyond Heaven and such."

"Originally, I intended to use you for some schemes, but your performance here is actually quite to my taste."

"I, Cui Hao, like people with backbone the most, just like my Second Senior Brother."

"I won't tell you any more information, lest you go back just to die. I'll only say your side's defeat is already certain."

"However, considering you have such strong backbone, I'll personally point you to a path to survival."

"You should still remember the name Wukong, right?"

Donggua felt another heavy blow in her heart, seemingly understanding what Cui Hao intended to do.

This Cui Hao, from the very beginning, where did he ever intend to give her a path to survival? Clearly, every path he offered pushed her towards a fate worse than death.

If she went to Wukong's side, wouldn't she have to listen to his morning lectures again?

Cui Hao continued with a smile:

"He has a great undertaking in the Western Oxen Continent and is currently short of someone like you who knows how to hold things back."

Donggua's heart sank, and she immediately understood:

"You want to sow discord?"

Cui Hao shrugged, reverting to that somewhat shameless smile he had when Donggua first met him:

"Whether it's sowing discord or not, why don't you go see for yourself? It's quite lively over there, with many of the Buddhist sect's Transcendence Tribulation experts gathered."

"I hear the Buddhist Heart Sutra can make people spontaneously turn towards goodness. It would be good for you to go receive some baptism or cleansing as well."

"Then be a good little demon."

"Someone, pack her up."

"Send her off to the Western Oxen Continent."

"Just go ask Wukong if he wants a demoness or not."

"Of course, whether he wants her or not, he's taking her!"