Cui Hao, Perish

Chu Xingchen withdrew the paper and looked calmly at Chen Baiqing.

Inside the system panel:

[Heaven-Bewitching Demoness] upgrade successful — [Heaven-Ruling Goddess].

Chen Baiqing suddenly raised her head, looking at her master with an expression of disbelief.

At this moment, a stream of True Intent flowed within her body, seemingly pushing her innate divine ability to a higher level.

Undoubtedly, this was her master's doing.

Her own innate divine ability was already top-tier; why could a single sentence from her master elevate her to yet another level? The deeper the innate divine ability, the harder it should be to advance.

Right now, Chen Baiqing could clearly feel that the power she possessed wasn't just a skill anymore, but... an ability approaching the authority of Law itself.

Chu Xingchen smiled and said, "This is also a gift."

"Baiqing understands," Chen Baiqing responded quickly.

This matter, like the candied fruit in her hand, must not be spread abroad.

As for the deeper reasons, if Master wanted to tell her, he would. If he didn't, there must be a reason for his silence. Moreover, perhaps when Master saved her back then, he had already begun preparing for this very moment.

Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded, waiting quietly for Chen Baiqing to brew the tea.

Chen Baiqing gently pushed the brewed tea toward her master and Xie Lingyu.

Chu Xingchen held the teacup and took a light sip.

As expected... he couldn't taste anything.

It felt like holding nothing in his hand as well.

The Primordial Chaos Dao-Stabilizing Dual Qi Orb of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect was indeed powerful, but using it for a long time placed a heavy burden on his divine consciousness, even if just using the basic technique of observing people through Qi.

It felt like walking a tightrope, constantly having to maintain balance; it was mentally exhausting.

Yet he couldn't stop maintaining it. Once the Primordial Chaos Dao-Stabilizing Dual Qi Orb returned to its original state, Chu Xingchen wouldn't be able to activate it again with his trapped divine consciousness.

Until this illusion technique was resolved, he would probably have to lay low.

Fortunately, the loss of the Heavenly Demon Baibo was a heavy blow to the Demon Race. Their actions this time would likely be picked up by the various sects, leading to an investigation tracing back to them.

According to reports, Xu Linglong and the other Heavenly Demons had chosen to scatter and flee.

For a good while at least, they would have to tuck their tails between their legs.

Naturally, Chu Xingchen's side wasn't much better off.

Both Bai Xuanling and Chu Xingchen had to stay put and could only make arrangements from afar.

Western Cow Hezhou was half-lost, relying entirely on Daoist Yuyang to hold the line.

If things passed like this, the demons within the Buddhist sects might go into hiding again. Revealed cards are never scary; it is the hidden cards that are terrifying.

After all... no one knew the true state of the Buddhist sects right now.

A Buddhist sect gone completely mad would undoubtedly be terrifying.

To say that the sect with the most Tribulation Transcenders wasn't a thorny problem would be a lie.

Chu Xingchen pondered briefly. Under the current circumstances, perhaps relying on his disciples to handle arrangements would be more appropriate.

After experiencing these events, Chu Xingchen roughly understood that surviving this Great Calamity of the world alone would not be easy.

His disciples, who possessed True Immortal aptitude, might be the ultimate means to survive the Great Calamity.

Whether it was Li Yingling's peerless talent or Li Xingtian's ability to reflect upon the River of Time, these were not things Chu Xingchen could possess directly.

To some extent, certain abilities of these disciples were far more prominent than Chu Xingchen's.

Under safe conditions, they should be allowed to gain some experience.

Especially now that he could no longer meticulously control the situation.

After all, if this illusion were truly that easy to dispel, Xu Linglong wouldn't have used it as her trump card.

Western Cow Hezhou.

Two figures were speeding through the air. Behind them, a figure being dragged along with great difficulty looked extremely miserable.

This miserable figure was, without a doubt, Donggua.

It wasn't that Donggua was refusing to cooperate, but that she really couldn't run anymore.

At this moment, Donggua's hatred for Cui Hao knew no bounds.

It was the kind of hate where, if they met again, Donggua would absolutely mince Cui Hao into meat sauce, piece by piece.

Cui Hao had not only destroyed her stable life that was just getting on track but also threw her back into the status of a prisoner.

This was a capital crime punishable by death.

The person Donggua wanted to see least in this life was Wukong, who preached Buddhism with his fists, yet Cui Hao had sent her to him without a second thought.

This was a second capital crime.

Although Donggua knew nothing good would come from coming to Wukong, she never imagined it could be this bad.

Initially, Wukong felt nothing but annoyance and confusion at Donggua's arrival and didn't pay her much mind, even considering sending her to meet the Demon Lord with a single strike.

It was Bright Buddha who had some patience, saying that since Chu Xingchen sent her, there must be a reason, and she might be useful if kept alive.

Fortunately, Bright Buddha called the shots here.

Usually, after finishing his business, this Tribulation Transcending Buddha would even chat with Donggua and discuss life and the future.

Donggua dared to talk back to Wukong because even if Wukong flew into a rage, she could at least withstand a few moves until he came to his senses.

But in front of Bright Buddha, she didn't dare.

This Tribulation Transcender could truly crush her to death with a single move.

So, Donggua could only temporarily pretend to be a good demon on the verge of turning over a new leaf, waiting for an opportunity to flee or contact Xu Linglong through the flower in her divine consciousness.

Wukong seemed very busy here and didn't come to discuss Buddhism with his fists.

He didn't even bother to mock her.

Bright Buddha, on the other hand, seemed easy to get along with.

Just when Donggua thought her days as a prisoner would continue to be peaceful, Wukong brought "good news"—the cultivators of the Taidao Sect were withdrawing from Western Cow Hezhou, and the Buddhist Sect was seizing the opportunity to return in force.

This barren place, where even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't be bothered to tread, finally reached new heights—over a dozen Tribulation Transcenders had arrived in person.

At a glance, it was clear that chaos was imminent in Western Cow Hezhou.

When Donggua heard this news, she was naturally thrilled, thinking her chance to escape was just around the corner.

But the bad news Wukong delivered next was truly depressing—the dozen or so Tribulation Transcenders were all there to kill *them*.

They were currently being surrounded on three sides, and the Buddhist Lord, True Buddha Runan, was rapidly approaching.

If they didn't run now, Wukong and Bright Buddha would really have to return to the Buddha Kingdom, and she would have to go meet the Demon Lord.

Donggua was moved to tears on the spot.

When had she ever enjoyed such treatment—being hunted by over a dozen Tribulation Transcending cultivators?

Who could survive such an encirclement?

Moreover, she was only a Soul Formation cultivator; a Tribulation Transcender could blow her away with a single breath.

And another thing—Donggua was a prisoner!

Why did she have to run away *with* the enemies who were guarding her?!

Why had the world become increasingly strange ever since she met Cui Hao?!

Donggua's current mood was roughly like jumping off a bungee platform only to hear someone shout from behind—"You didn't tie the rope!"

Below Donggua was not a surging river, nor a safety net.

It was concrete ground studded with one-meter steel spikes.

The moment she jumped, she knew—she was dead meat.

Donggua's current state was hanging in mid-air, realizing her ending at a glance—Damn it! I'm dead!

Cui Hao had acted the part of a saint, claiming he was offering her a path to survival.

As it turned out, this "path" was nothing more than a harrowing, desperate flight for her life; he might as well have just executed her on the spot and been done with it!

For this alone, Cui Hao deserved to die a hundred times over!!!

Cui Hao!!

Die!!