Will you let me use it first

It was unknown how long they had sped or how many concealment methods they had deployed along the way.

The Bright Buddha decisively excavated a hole a hundred zhang deep. The three of them huddled inside, casting shielding techniques once more.

Moreover, in the brief moment Donggua was dazed, not yet understanding the situation, Bright had already finished all his movements.

His proficiency left no doubt that this Tribulation Crossing Buddha possessed incredibly strong skills in fleeing and hiding.

When Donggua came back to her senses, they were already hidden, looking at each other in dismay.

A speck of spiritual light illuminated this rather small underground space.

The Bright Buddha looked calm. He signaled for the human and the demon to sit down first, then spoke:

"Too many Tribulation Crossers have come. There is almost nowhere left to hide in the entire Western Continent. We can only hide here temporarily and wait for a turning point in the future."

Wukong's expression was also extremely ugly. "Does the turning point Your Honor speaks of rely on Chu Xingchen?"

The Bright Buddha answered decisively:

"Naturally. They will not leave the Western Continent until they find me personally."

Wukong frowned. "Aren't we in this wretched state precisely because Chu Xingchen went back on his word? He promised to withstand the pressure from the Buddhist Sect, but now he just throws us a message saying the Buddhas have crossed the Pudu River and tells us to run."

The Bright Buddha shook his head gently. "This situation is abnormal. Patron Chu likely encountered a true dilemma and had no choice but to act this way. Even disregarding friendship and considering only benefits, he shouldn't have given up the Western Continent so easily."

"Once Patron Chu frees his hands, he will naturally arrange a safe path for us."

Wukong, however, was not so optimistic, though he didn't say anything else negative. Maintaining one's mood and composure was essential for accomplishing great things.

At the very least, he shouldn't be the one to ruin the mood.

Since the situation was already like this, he could only hope that Chu Xingchen hadn't truly sold them out.

Wukong let out a heavy breath, accepting this reality. But next, his gaze naturally turned to the only demon present—Donggua.

Facing Wukong's gaze, Donggua naturally revealed an ingratiating expression.

There was no other choice; the killing intent in Wukong's eyes was extremely obvious.

"There is no point in keeping this demon," Wukong said, his gaze turning slightly cold. "She might even ruin things. It would be better to send her to see the Demon Lord she wants to see."

Donggua's breathing grew heavier, but she didn't speak up to defend herself. She simply tried to calm the fear of impending death in her heart.

At this moment, there was nothing to argue; she was just a prisoner.

Moreover, Wukong's speculation was correct. Donggua had been trying hard to contact Xu Linglong, aiming to be the rebellious prisoner who leads the enemy in for a backstab.

Bright shook his head slightly. "Since Chu Xingchen sent her here, she must have some use. We just haven't figured out what it is yet."

Hearing this, Wukong was stunned again.

Only now did he realize—wasn't the Bright Buddha romanticizing Chu Xingchen too much?

It was as if every move Chu Xingchen made had deep meaning. If this demon was useful, he should have said so when sending her, rather than letting them guess blindly now.

Could it be... this was also to save Chu Xingchen's face?

Wukong looked silently at Donggua's dejected expression...

He had had contact with this Donggua before and hadn't seen what use this little piece of trash had.

Wukong's expression turned cold as he questioned:

"In our current situation, we cannot accommodate trash. If you really have some use and want to keep your life, you'd best speak up now."

Donggua remained silent, merely shuffling toward the Bright Buddha with a pale face.

If possible, stalling for time and hoping for Xu Linglong's rescue was also a good option for Donggua.

Wukong ignored her and decisively reached out to grab Donggua.

Donggua didn't resist but instead cast her gaze toward the Bright Buddha—Big Boss, save me.

Unfortunately, the Bright Buddha didn't make any significant move, allowing Wukong to grab Donggua by the collar.

Before Wukong's Buddhist magic could land on her face, Donggua immediately spoke:

"I explained clearly when I first arrived here! I was just caught by Cui Hao and he sent me here. I don't know what happened here at all."

"You were the one who insisted on dragging me along to run away. If you had just left me there..."

Donggua didn't finish her sentence. After all, if she had been left behind, she might have actually survived.

Since the Buddhist Sect's target was the Bright Buddha, an inconspicuous demon like herself could very likely have fished in troubled waters and slipped away.

Wukong stared tightly at Donggua and said coldly:

"Are those your last words?"

"Do not be impatient," the Bright Buddha said gently. "Even if Chu Xingchen truly had no deep meaning in sending her, she may not be completely useless right now. There might be a time when she is needed."

"And if she is of no use at all?"

"Amitabha, great mercy and great compassion." The Bright Buddha pressed his palms together.

Hearing this, Wukong let go. He understood the meaning—kill her when she's truly useless.

Donggua's expression was tense. As expected, there wasn't a single good thing in the Buddhist Sect.

Wukong looked like a fiend, and the other, despite being a Mahayana Buddha, had absolutely no mercy either.

Kill if useless.

"Mercy at heart" was all bullshit, and Mahayana Buddhism was just a lie to fool idiots.

At this moment, the Bright Buddha's voice sounded softly beside Donggua, as if offering advice:

"All fortune lies within oneself. Even Buddhas find it hard to save themselves; for everything, one must rely on oneself."

Donggua pursed her lips tightly and nodded heavily to show she understood.

Wukong said coldly:

"Why aren't you saying thank you?"

"Thank you..." The sound was almost forced out of Donggua's mouth.

The Bright Buddha waved his hand.

"Saving a life is better than building a seven-tiered pagoda."

Tianyan Sect, noon, sunny and warm.

Lin Luoyu restrained her aura, ending her secluded cultivation. She gently pushed the door open and started walking toward the courtyard.

Li Junzi had not followed Lin Luoyu back to the Central Continent but had detoured to the Western Continent, preparing to write a book there.

She said she was not a cultivator. Although she could live a few days longer than average, her life was still short.

Unlike cultivators who could squander time and postpone their tasks, Li Junzi had to race against time. At her age, she could only pour all her heart and soul into writing one book.

Being a Great Confucian Scholar, she had put most of her life's realizations into practice.

Even if she couldn't use this to ascend to become a Sub-Sage, she wanted to leave a book behind to point out the path for future generations.

Many sages of the past had done so, pushing this path further and making it smoother, allowing those who came after to walk more easily.

Lin Luoyu originally wanted to accompany her for a while, but was refused by Li Junzi. The excuse was one Lin Luoyu found hard to reject—they would meet again in the future, and if Lin Luoyu were there, Li Junzi wouldn't be able to fully immerse herself in her work.

People always have their own paths to walk, and they must learn to say goodbye and grow up alone.

Li Junzi spoke calmly. Although her temples were already white, her literary Qi and state of mind were no longer what they used to be.

Lin Luoyu could only bid a temporary farewell to Li Junzi.

Paths in life will always cross again.

Lin Luoyu walked through the corridor. Her gaze fell upon the stone bench, where she saw Cui Hao gesturing wildly in front of her master.

What is he doing?

Lin Luoyu looked closely and only then roughly understood that Cui Hao was writing characters.

[Master! You know my character; surely you realize I am your most cherished disciple. We have weathered wind and rain side by side, hacking our way through thorns and brambles together. Moreover, the contributions I have made to the Sect are immeasurable.]

["Think back to the beginning, when you personally promised to forge a set of Invincible Battle Armor for me, making me unrivaled under the heavens...]

What is this? A new story script written by Fifth Junior Brother?

The very next moment.

He saw his Master let out a cold sneer:

"Bullshit. If I could actually build something like that, do you think I'd let you use it before I did?"