Dog-Leg Monk

Eastern Divine Continent, Jiangyue City.

The bright moon shone upon the river, and the river's surface reflected the city.

Jiangyue City was a highly renowned scenic spot in the Eastern Divine Continent.

The long river's surface was like a mirror, its rippling waves forming an illusionary reflection.

In the past, it was just a small town by the river. It began to develop because of this magnificent scenery and even changed its name to the current Jiangyue City.

Outside the city, under the bright moon on the river, there were small boats hung with red lanterns, as well as luxurious giant ships cruising far into the distance.

A full moon reflected upon the river, and dots of red light complemented the stardust.

Leaning against the window screens by the river and gazing out, one could see beautiful scenery by day and breathtaking views by night.

Despite its breathtaking views, Jiangyue City completely avoided almost all the spiritual veins. It was a place so barren in spiritual energy that cultivators would take a detour around it.

Perhaps there simply is no perfect place in this world.

Therefore, Jiangyue City, with its magnificent scenery, was almost entirely a mortal city.

Outside the city, the moonlight was cold and intimidating; inside the city, the smoke and fire warmed the wandering tourists.

Taking a cold boat ride at night was, after all, a privilege for the elegant and refined.

The true mundane atmosphere could only be found inside the city, which had no curfew.

Chu Xingchen led Yun Xiao through the crowded, noisy streets, looking toward the lantern-lit, sleepless city.

"Even if there's news, you didn't have to come here personally, did you?" Yun Xiao frowned deeply, turning slightly to dodge a pedestrian about to bump into him. "There are too many people here. If danger hides among them, even if you survive, wouldn't it be a bit unjust for these mortals to die?"

Chu Xingchen walked at a relaxed pace, looking at his surroundings:

"Do you think Xu Linglong's so-called ritual is real or fake?"

"It doesn't matter whether it's real or fake," Yun Xiao replied. "We have to eliminate them anyway."

"Actually, I think it's real, and Xu Linglong is truly conducting a final experiment." Chu Xingchen's gaze drifted to a nearby peddler selling candied haws. He continued, "Because Bai Xuanling became a True Immortal. Because I made Bai Xuanling a True Immortal."

"Since there is one Bai Xuanling, could there be a next Huang Miao?"

"Xu Linglong knows that time is not on its side, but on mine. However, it wants to determine exactly how much time it has left to prepare."

"So, it wants to ascertain my situation. The tougher I act, the more I can compress its time to think."

"And by doing this, Xu Linglong must feel it still has a chance to win. If it were destined to lose, Xu Linglong would definitely drag down everyone it could to perish together with us."

"Even with the highest number of Tribulation Crossing cultivators in the history of this world, the only living True Immortal, and potentially the next True Immortal."

"Xu Linglong still feels... it might win."

"I don't understand what its current actions mean, but I do know that we must do something."

"If what Donggua said is true, the so-called Heavenly Demon Realm will smash directly into this world, causing a collision of Daos."

"Naturally, doing this will likely cost Xu Linglong a tremendous price, and it will also lose its last route of retreat."

"However, competing with a desperate thug who has no way out to see who is more ruthless and who can afford to lose more..."

Chu Xingchen stood before the peddler selling candied haws, handed over some copper coins, and then looked at Yun Xiao, saying:

"I think we would definitely be the ones at a disadvantage. Fellow Daoist Yun Xiao, when the heavens fall and the earth rends, perhaps chosen ones like you and me might survive, but what about the people you care about?"

Yun Xiao remained slightly silent, watching Chu Xingchen take the candied haws without eating them and continue walking forward.

Thus, he could only quicken his pace to follow.

Holding the candied haws in his hand, Chu Xingchen looked around and then said:

"Saving the common people of the world might look incredibly majestic, but in reality, it truly demands one's life."

"Since Xu Linglong is planning a desperate last stand, I naturally have to let go of my pride."

Although Yun Xiao somewhat understood Chu Xingchen's current difficulties, he didn't quite grasp what Chu Xingchen meant by letting go of his pride.

Puzzled, he asked, "What pride? Didn't you come here to track down Xu Linglong's whereabouts?"

Chu Xingchen chuckled lightly. "I'm here to find someone. I originally thought I would need to make time for a trip, but I didn't expect them to be right here in the Eastern Divine Continent."

Yun Xiao nodded in understanding. If the situation was urgent, seeking help from a big shot was a necessity.

Jiangyue City's night was as bright as day; the lights never extinguished, and the flow of people never lessened.

Chu Xingchen glanced east and west, eventually stopping in front of a densely packed stall where people occasionally cheered.

Amidst continuous shouts of "Do it again!"

Chu Xingchen relied on his cultivation to squeeze his way in.

In the center, a monk was vigorously performing martial arts, smashing bricks and iron bars against his own body.

The bricks shattered upon impact, and the iron snapped.

Seeing this, Chu Xingchen quickly clapped and said in a teasing tone:

"Great performance! I shall reward you with a stick of candied haws!"

Yuan Kong was currently smashing a brick against his forehead. Hearing this voice, he quickly stopped his movements and looked over, only to see Chu Xingchen holding candied haws and smiling lightly with curled lips.

For a moment, Yuan Kong stared blankly at Chu Xingchen.

Seeing this, Chu Xingchen handed over the candied haws. "Take it and eat."

Only then did Yuan Kong snap back to reality. He dropped the brick in his hand and took the candied haws under the gazes of the surrounding crowd. His tone was extremely astonished:

"Why are you here?"

"If you can be here, why can't I?"

"No... did you come here specifically to find me?"

"Pretty much. Are you free?"

"I am free... but it's never a good thing when you look for me."

"Your cultivation progress is absurdly slow. How are you only at the late Golden Core stage? But your lower limit baffles me even more. I can understand lacking spirit stones, but how are you even short on mortal silver?"

Yuan Kong looked somewhat helpless. Just as he was about to pack up his things and leave with Chu Xingchen, a piece of snow-white silver appeared in front of him.

Chu Xingchen smiled and said, "No need to pack up your things. Consider them bought by me. My time is precious."

"Alright!" Yuan Kong quickly took the silver and the candied haws.

Chu Xingchen slightly raised his hand, and the crowd naturally dispersed. It was as if they had all just been passing by, rather than stopping here to watch Yuan Kong's performance.

"Where are we going?" Yuan Kong asked after catching up with Chu Xingchen's footsteps.

Chu Xingchen didn't answer, but instead asked:

"Why are you performing on the streets here?"

"To make money, naturally."

"With your Golden Core cultivation, you can't even earn spirit stones or money? Just casually subduing demons and exterminating monsters should earn you a fee for your hard work, right?"

"Subduing demons and exterminating monsters is a duty; I cannot accept money for it. Street performing brings joy to everyone, so I can accept money for that. It's different."

"Your moral standards are unusually high."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Chu Xingchen nodded repeatedly, then chuckled lightly:

"So you're making money to raise that little girl who wants to repay your kindness?"

Yuan Kong looked at him suspiciously. "Are you spying on me?"

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen unceremoniously reached out and smacked Yuan Kong's head:

"With my status, do I need to spy? If I want to know something, I will know it."

"Besides, I am your creditor. Watch how you speak to me, or I might take your clothes as collateral!"

Hearing this, Yuan Kong quickly clutched his clothes tightly, his tone instantly becoming sycophantic:

"Yes, Boss Creditor. What orders do you have for this lowly one to carry out?"

Yunxiao walked alongside them, watching the two engage in their clownish banter.

He had thought they were here to find some big shot...

But they ended up finding a bootlicking monk instead?