Preparation

Bai Xuanling, seeing that she couldn't manipulate the Primordial Chaos Yin-Yang Pearl, was content to stand idly by with a clear conscience.

Under Chu Xingchen's control, the two streams of Primordial Qi slowly drifted out from the Chaos Pearl and began to coil around his body.

Chu Xingchen's expression was solemn as he let out a heavy breath.

The white clear qi ascended and vanished the next moment without a trace.

Bai Xuanling's spiritual sense had been tracking the two qi all along. Such a profound magical treasure was not only a chance to broaden her horizons but might also offer some enlightenment.

However, the moment the clear qi rose, even with her spiritual sense locked onto it, she completely lost track of it the instant it dissipated, as if it had vanished into thin air.

Similarly, once the turbid qi sank into the earth, she could no longer sense it either.

Bai Xuanling scrutinized Chu Xingchen up and down, yet found him unchanged at this moment, merely holding the gilded pearl from which the clear and turbid qi had disappeared.

"Stealthy enough, I'll give it that. Even standing right here, I couldn't detect where the two qi went," Bai Xuanling remarked, looking at Chu Xingchen, whose expression remained serious and focused. "But as for this thing's power, I've only heard it's formidable, never witnessed its true capability."

Chu Xingchen's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze shifting sideways towards Bai Xuanling.

In the next instant, Bai Xuanling suddenly felt the world itself rejecting her.

This was no illusion, but... something actually happening.

The spiritual energy here was no longer as freely manipulable as before; it had become like thick sludge, and her own body felt a hundred times heavier.

There was also an indescribable sensation.

Chu Xingchen's eyes returned to their original position.

Only then did Bai Xuanling feel relief, her gaze turning extremely grave.

For a Tribulation Transcension cultivator to experience suppression of this level... one could only say she had still underestimated the ultimate treasure the Profound Azure Heaven Sect kept in reserve.

If one fought a duel with this treasure activated, even a deity would stand no chance.

Chu Xingchen seemed to read Bai Xuanling's thoughts, letting out another heavy sigh. "This thing isn't that easy to use. Once activated, it takes tremendous effort to control. Most of my spiritual sense is tied to the treasure. However..."

His eyes fell on Bai Xuanling, yet it seemed he wasn't really looking at her.

In Chu Xingchen's vision, a red qi billowed up from Bai Xuanling, dense and massive enough to blot out the sky.

Further away, every object emitted its own unique qi, varying in size and intensity.

And if Chu Xingchen willed it, he could manipulate these qi.

However, mobilizing them consumed a significant amount of spiritual power and mental focus.

This treasure... seemed to be rule-based.

No wonder it was so difficult to control.

After all, anything involving rules bordered on invincibility.

But the cost of using it was too great.

Nearly all of Chu Xingchen's spiritual sense was occupied by the treasure, and his spiritual power consumption was immense.

If he became too distracted, the two qi would revert, forcing him to restart the activation process from scratch.

Each activation took about three minutes.

Three minutes—in a fight between cultivators, let alone mortals, that was enough time to slice someone into eight pieces.

With a stern face, Chu Xingchen spoke slowly, "Place a chair here. I need to sit."

Seeing that Chu Xingchen didn't even dare to turn his head casually, Bai Xuanling understood the immense mental strain and retrieved her usual lounge chair from her spatial ring, along with a complete tea table set.

These items didn't take up much space in the ring, or rather, for someone like Bai Xuanling, many things were no longer essential to carry.

Moving slowly, Chu Xingchen lay down directly on the recliner and closed his eyes to rest his mind.

He began manipulating the earth's veins and connections, deploying a large formation he had memorized repeatedly, newly learned from the Profound Azure Heaven Sect.

Since the demon clan planned an ambush here, both Yu Zhou City and this location must have been thoroughly infiltrated.

A large-scale formation could never be set up silently under their noses by normal means.

Only by utilizing the Primordial Chaos Yin-Yang Pearl to control the earth's veins and using the qi of all things as conduits could a grand formation be laid—stealthy and undetectable until activated.

At least, it would remain undiscovered until triggered.

Bai Xuanling also took a seat, retracting her spiritual sense to scan only within a hundred-mile radius.

This was a somewhat bold gamble.

They were betting that the demon horde wouldn't charge in recklessly without confirming all preparations, but would instead ensure everything was ready before launching their assault.

This window of time was precisely what Chu Xingchen needed to deploy his methods.

Bai Xuanling sat quietly in her chair, her long sword already placed on the table beside her.

She picked up the jade teapot and began brewing tea for herself.

For now, her greatest role was that of a deterrent.

Time flowed, the sun set, and the moon rose.

Under the bright, clear moonlight, the deep pool reflected an serene glow.

Bai Xuanling brewed pot after pot of tea, her gaze calm as she watched the spirit fish in the deep pool.

When bored, she would casually toss in some fish food.

Fortunately, these were spirit fish; sustained by spiritual energy, they wouldn't starve.

Otherwise, upon returning this time, the deep pool would have become a pond of dead fish.

Bai Xuanling's gaze shifted again to Chu Xingchen, who sat with closed eyes and a furrowed brow.

A sense of contentment arose within her.

Chu Xingchen didn't have to come. Whether it was an ambush or a misjudgment, not coming meant no risk. Even if Yu Prefecture City were razed to the ground, it wouldn't harm Chu Xingchen in the slightest.

Yet he came anyway.

The world is full of clever people, but only those who, guided by their heart, choose to be the fool are the most interesting.

At the very least, the Bai Xuanling of old would have come for the same reason.

A faint smile appeared on Bai Xuanling's face as he raised his cup to the moon.

A toast to this moment of peace.

Xu Linglong's figure was concealed within the night. Her gaze was calm as she looked toward the layers of rotating formations, asking softly:

"After they arrived here, they haven't moved since?"

Bai Bo, standing at Xu Linglong's side, gave a slight nod:

"That's correct. However, the people who followed them here are clearing out the surrounding demonic cultivators. It's likely Chu Xingchen came only to be a hands-off manager and to conceal his tracks, which is why he hasn't acted recklessly."

"If we strike now, we can catch them off guard and simultaneously crush their followers."

"Even if they react quickly, even if Bai Xuanling fights with his life on the line, he still couldn't possibly protect Chu Xingchen."

Xu Linglong's eyes still held a trace of doubt.

Beside Bai Bo,

a young man of upright appearance, tall and wearing black robes, spoke up softly:

"At this point, with the intelligence we've gathered, what are you hesitating for? If you don't plan to act, we might as well disperse sooner rather than later."

Xu Linglong's gaze shifted to the speaker, Zhong Su:

"Chu Xingchen is exceptionally cunning. How do you know he doesn't have additional methods, or that he isn't waiting for us to take the bait?"

Zhong Su glanced at her:

"The more methods Chu Xingchen has, the sooner we should act. Are you waiting for him to deploy all his tricks?"

Xu Linglong replied firmly, "My meaning is that we must be fully prepared."

Zhong Su retorted just as quickly, "You've been preparing for a long time. I've also wasted a lot of time here."

Bai Bo raised a hand to interrupt Xu Linglong, who was about to speak again, and asked:

"Linglong, do you still have methods and preparations you haven't yet employed?"

Xu Linglong did not answer directly.

At this moment, her heart felt unusually agitated, her emotions in turmoil.

She couldn't tell if it was excitement or a sense that something was amiss.

After a moment, Xu Linglong narrowed her eyes:

"Prepare to move!"