This Monk Has Not Lived in Vain

"These days, you really see all sorts of things."

Poluo kept his figure concealed, his aura deeply restrained. He only used the most basic form of far-sight, not even daring to rest his gaze directly on Bai Xuanling, fearing that even an inadvertent glance would be caught by Bai Xuanling's True Immortal spiritual sense.

Beside him, Xu Linglong's somewhat hastily crafted avatar also looked toward the battlefield ahead with lifeless eyes.

Calling it a battlefield wasn't quite accurate; a more precise description would probably be—Huang Miao and Bai Xuanling's sparring ground.

One was a god of slaughter at the peak of the Tribulation Transcendence realm, and the other was a True Immortal who had stepped into the True Immortal realm.

They began sweeping through this remote and obscure corner. Their tyrannical spiritual senses scanned the area meticulously; even the earthworms hiding in the soil were too terrified to move.

Flocks of birds scattered in panic, and the myriad beasts fell silent.

Whenever their spiritual senses picked up on something, the two didn't delve into it. They simply struck with a single person and a single sword, and then scanned the area again.

Moreover, their relationship seemed to be as poor as ever. From time to time, their sword qi would go a bit awry, slashing toward each other.

Poluo narrowed his eyes at the scene ahead, his tone filled with puzzlement:

"The direction of their search is somewhat too accurate. There shouldn't have been any intelligence leaked. What are they basing their location deductions on? Could it be the Heavenly Divination Art? But ever since the Heavenly Dao intervened and the truths scattered, shouldn't the heavenly secrets be too murky to see clearly?"

Xu Linglong's avatar replied in a somewhat stiff voice:

"It might be the spiritual veins. To set up a grand array, one definitely needs the support of spiritual veins. Isn't the direction of their search somewhat similar to the course of the spiritual veins you arranged?"

Hearing this, Poluo nodded in agreement, but his tone remained puzzled:

"It's close, but those are just tributary veins. How did they determine that the spiritual vein had slightly changed its course? And to catch it so keenly... it's simply too abnormal."

"Is it because of Chu Xingchen? It's honestly so formidable that it's hard for me to comprehend."

"If this continues, I'm afraid those two damned bastards are really going to find it."

Poluo's expression was calm, though his tone had grown increasingly dissatisfied. He pondered for a moment before finally asking:

"Huang Miao and Bai Xuanling are undoubtedly in their true bodies. That Dao rhythm, spiritual power, and sword intent cannot be faked, and their auras are terrifyingly steady."

"So, is the Chu Xingchen floating on the sea his true body, or is someone impersonating him?"

Xu Linglong's avatar did not reply immediately. After a moment, her previously dull eyes suddenly grew a bit more lively, and the corners of her expressionless mouth curled up:

"The Chu Xingchen on the ship has his aura concealed by the Innate Primordial Dao-Fixing Dual Qi Pearl. Without fighting right in front of him, there's no way to distinguish true from false."

"However, that Xie Lingyu is the real deal."

"So guess, would Chu Xingchen throw his fellow Daoist and the supreme treasure of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect onto a wandering ship in the Eastern Sea just to bait us into making a move?"

Poluo's expression remained unchanged, but the look in his eyes fluctuated. He reached out and rubbed his chin lightly, whispering:

"Is Chu Xingchen forcing our hand? Chu Xingchen definitely has other Tribulation Transcendence cultivators with him... If we send too few, we fall into a trap. If we send too many and they uncover our base, everything will come to nothing."

"What if we ignore Chu Xingchen? Could he have additional methods that I am unaware of?"

"If we don't go, will there be a greater loss? But out on the Eastern Sea, the only one who truly matters is you."

Hearing Poluo's words, Xu Linglong sneered:

"Then isn't the situation already very clear? Losing just me won't affect the big picture. I'll reveal myself and try my best to string Chu Xingchen along, and incidentally see if I can lure Bai Xuanling and Huang Miao away from here."

"Don't worry, Poluo. I will definitely die a worthwhile death, ensuring your grand strategy is executed perfectly."

Poluo naturally understood that these words carried a hint of sarcasm.

But sarcasm aside, this strategy was naturally the best.

It gave Chu Xingchen something to do, guarded against any extra moves from him, and if it could attract the attention of Bai Xuanling and Huang Miao, that would be even better, despite the slim chances.

Aside from the high likelihood of Xu Linglong dying, there was nothing bad about it.

As for whether the loss of a Xu Linglong was acceptable.

The truth in Poluo's heart was—what was there to be unacceptable about it?

Even Bai Bo, one of the Heavenly Demons, had died, and it hadn't caused any irreversible impact on the grand scheme. By the same logic, the same naturally applied to Xu Linglong.

But the problem was... Xu Linglong might not genuinely be willing to try and die.

Furthermore, this was a critical moment; there was no need to say things that would cause dissatisfaction, which would serve no purpose other than ruining things.

A smile appeared on Poluo's face, and he said in a relaxed tone:

"Those words are a bit too heavy. Your death would be the greatest loss. The Heavenly Demons are an indispensable core that cannot afford to be lost."

"Letting Chu Xingchen roam freely in the direction of the Eastern Sea is truly disadvantageous for you. I will see if I can use some methods to interfere with his vision and energy, to see if I can temporarily get you ashore from the Eastern Sea."

"However, the task of monitoring Chu Xingchen can still only be handled by you. The other Heavenly Demons all have their arrangements and can hardly spare the energy."

"You have avatars. As long as you hide your true body well, just monitoring him still comes with some guarantee of safety."

Xu Linglong coldly snorted and didn't speak further.

Poluo watched the two streaks of rainbow light speed away, leaving only their tyrannical Dao rhythms still coiling high in the sky. Only then did he take out a strangely shaped, prismatic dark purple crystal from his spatial ring and hand it toward Xu Linglong's avatar:

"Carry this with you personally. It contains preparations I've made. Unless it's a moment of absolute desperation, absolutely do not use it."

"Naturally, if you don't trust me, you don't have to use it. But try to keep it by your side; if you truly reach a dead end, there is no harm in using it."

Xu Linglong stared at the prismatic crystal in front of Poluo. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and took it. The next moment, her avatar, like mud, directly swallowed the prismatic crystal into her body.

Seeing this, Poluo breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and then subconsciously formed a Buddhist hand seal:

"Let's leave this matter at this for now. If there are any problems, I will contact you again. Be careful with everything in the Eastern Sea; I will make preparations immediately."

Xu Linglong glanced at the hand seal Poluo formed, but didn't answer. Her figure simply sank into the earth, disappearing without a trace.

Poluo naturally noticed Xu Linglong's gaze. He also looked down and saw the Buddhist hand seal he had formed.

He chuckled lightly, his tone extremely amused:

"Being a monk really wasn't in vain."

Poluo released the hand seal, his gaze gradually turning icy as he looked into the distance at the Dao rhythm that had not yet completely dispersed.

By being a monk, he learned endurance.

By being a monk, he learned to understand the thoughts of others.

By being a monk, he learned ruthlessness.

By being a monk, he learned karma.

The myriad Great Daos were all contained within karma.

The myriad causes of the world bore myriad results.

The Heavenly Dao won a round back then when the truths shattered, but because of that, it also provided a chance for a second round.

An opportunity for a complete sweep, an irrevocable chance.

Karma was just; even the Heavenly Dao could not avoid it.

This monkhood was truly not in vain.