There is nothing perfect in the world, nor is there absolute certainty.

Above the surface of the Eastern Sea.

Two figures continuously unleashed their respective techniques, turning the entire Eastern Sea upside down with their myriad of moves.

Waves towering thousands of feet high surged, only to be instantly leveled.

Although Chu Xingchen wasn't great at fishing for actual fish, he knew perfectly well how to bait this kind of prey.

Under Xu Linglong's watchful eyes, he deliberately increased the spiritual energy leaking from his body. The azure spiritual energy transformed into a streamer of light trailing behind him.

This was a show of weakness to the enemy—Your attacks are extremely effective against me; just hold on a little longer and I won't be able to take it!

The second most important thing was to give her hope.

If he just flew wildly the entire time without giving Xu Linglong a single chance, let alone Xu Linglong, even Qinghe probably wouldn't fall for it.

Thus, from time to time, one of Xu Linglong's rainbow arrows would strike Chu Xingchen as he seemingly failed to dodge in time.

Chu Xingchen would either block it with a magical treasure or take the arrow head-on. His body would plummet, allowing Xu Linglong to seize the opportunity to pursue and attack, before he would suddenly erupt with power to pull away again.

His movements had to become slower and slower, and he had to offer more and more openings.

However, these seemingly increasing opportunities also required enough time to unfold.

The artifact Wanban shuttled back and forth by Chu Xingchen's side, intercepting Xu Linglong's full-firepower bombardment for him.

Chu Xingchen, who had been constantly calculating the time in his heart, felt it was about right. The pursuing Xu Linglong was likely calculating as well.

Chu Xingchen raised his hand to summon Wanban. His body spun around, blocking a sword strike that Xu Linglong rapidly drew and thrust at him.

At the mere moment of contact, Chu Xingchen's body was blasted flying backward.

Xu Linglong's figure followed closely, the longsword in her hand transforming into ripples.

Just a single strand of that undulating wave was enough to tear through the surrounding space.

Chu Xingchen's eyes were calm as Wanban lit up with an azure glow in his hands.

It seemed Xu Linglong genuinely hadn't realized that her own movements had become absurdly slow compared to before.

As expected, using the power of Authority meant one was destined to suffer its backlash.

Moreover, the user themselves seemed largely oblivious to this backlash.

What appeared to be an airtight killing move in Xu Linglong's eyes was already full of flaws in Chu Xingchen's.

Wanban flew into the ripples, piercing straight toward Xu Linglong.

Only at this moment did Xu Linglong seem to react. She stared blankly as Wanban shot toward her. By the time she tried to raise her sword to block, she found it was already too late.

Wanban pierced right through.

A massive hole was blown through Xu Linglong's abdomen, but in the next instant, her Origin Power surged to cover and heal the wound.

However, the destructive power carried by Wanban was not something that could be resolved simply by covering up the wound.

Xu Linglong's pursuing figure immediately halted. She retreated slightly, drew her bow into a full moon, aimed at Chu Xingchen, and continued her assault.

"Time's up." Spiritual energy was still dissipating around Chu Xingchen. Since Xu Linglong possessed an Authority, other Heavenly Demons might have one too. Although he didn't yet understand why he could resist the erosion of the Authority's power, such a trump-card secret naturally had to be kept under wraps until the very end.

Even if the Xu Linglong in front of him had an eighty percent chance of being unable to escape.

It was inevitable that these Heavenly Demons might have some incomprehensible methods to transmit information.

Perhaps a clone of Xu Linglong was standing right next to another Heavenly Demon.

Hiding it now might serve as the ultimate trump card for a future killing blow.

Wanban spun rapidly in front of Chu Xingchen, forming an impenetrable barrier. He stared at the expressionless Xu Linglong and said:

"It seems you were the first to succumb to the Authority's erosion. That blood-qi Authority experiment last time was actually just research on how to suppress the Authority's backlash, wasn't it?"

Xu Linglong's attacking movements suddenly stopped, and the dazzling gold in her eyes slowly faded.

For no other reason than the fact that several Tribulation Stage cultivators with formidable auras were already converging from all directions.

In the brief moment she paused, they had already surrounded the area.

Xie Lingyu had also been escorted away by two Tribulation Stage cultivators.

Xu Linglong's gaze swept across the scene. Including Chu Xingchen, a full eight Tribulation Stage cultivators had locked down the surroundings.

She didn't say much; instead, she directly took out the prismatic crystal that Bolo had given her.

Xu Linglong could figure out with her toes that what Bolo gave her was definitely nothing good, nor could it be a trump card capable of saving this situation.

After all, in Bolo's eyes, ensuring the stable activation of the grand formation was the top priority, not pulling out a trump card to save a mere Heavenly Demon.

However, at a time like this, there was no harm in seeing what it was.

The instant Xu Linglong took out the prismatic crystal, several tyrannical attacks barreled toward her.

But the prismatic crystal dissolved even faster.

The next moment, a monstrous surge of Vow Power poured out from the prismatic crystal.

An extremely dense, earthy-yellow Vow Power pierced the heavens. The greedy desires of all living beings manifested into scenes that unrolled across the sky.

Calling it Vow Power was less accurate than calling it a terrifying form of mental pollution.

Wanban trembled slightly in Chu Xingchen's hand, reminding him that the method used to bind this monstrous Vow Power within the prismatic crystal was also an Authority.

Only an Authority could achieve such a feat.

Xu Linglong, standing at the center of this monstrous Vow Power, was directly locked onto by the energy, which surged straight into her body.

She felt countless emotions flooding her divine sense, and the clamoring voices of all living beings clouded her five senses.

Amidst the ocean of cacophony, Bolo's calm voice was exceptionally clear.

[Take the greedy desires of all living beings and forge them into the blade in your hand.]

[Since there is no hope of survival, this is the moment.]

A hint of a smile finally appeared on the corners of Xu Linglong's mouth.

This Bolo really knew how to exploit things. He wouldn't be satisfied until everything that could be used was burned to ashes.

The golden power of Authority once again surfaced in Xu Linglong's eyes.

Since things had come to this, she might as well stall for a little more time.

Although these vow-thoughts were chaotic, as long as she tried hard enough, she could still maintain a shred of rational consciousness.

Xu Linglong raised her hand slightly, and the Vow Power condensed and clung to her.

The armor on her arm was shattered by the expanding Vow Power, and the twisted visages of all living beings were ethereally carved into her flesh.

An illusory longblade formed from the Vow Power of all living beings clung to the long saber manifested from the spiritual treasure in Xu Linglong's hand.

Xu Linglong also began to burn all the remaining Origin Power in her body.

Since she was going to die anyway, she might as well make this world tremble properly one last time.

Watching Xu Linglong's continuously climbing aura, Chu Xingchen couldn't help but curse in his heart—How can anyone save the world while dealing with these bugs from the Buddhist sect!

Although Xu Linglong's actions were still just a deathbed struggle, if she really managed to struggle for long enough...

There might just be another surprise waiting for Chu Xingchen.

Eastern Divine Continent, Yellow Lotus River.

It was Great Heat, and the lotus flowers were in full bloom.

A heavy rain fell; the lotus leaves, unable to hold the dense, pea-sized raindrops, began to tilt.

Heavy rain was bound to fall on the day of Great Heat.

A pale-skinned monk wearing a tattered kasaya sat on the edge of a small boat, holding an umbrella, and dipped his feet into the lotus river.

A yellow glazed bead worn at his waist suddenly shattered, and a wisp of Vow Power drifted out.

Bolo gently reached out and tapped the drifting wisp of Vow Power, then let out a soft sigh.

"What a pity..."

Bolo continued with a somewhat helpless tone:

"People who are too smart always subconsciously look for the benefits hidden within danger..."

"But they forget that sometimes, being a fool is the best decision."

"If one cannot restrain the greed and anger in their heart, they will eventually suffer the backlash."

From beneath the lotus flowers, a crisp child's voice rang out:

"Lord, what happens next?"

Bolo pulled his feet back, gazing out at the endless pouring rain, and said:

"There is no such thing as a truly flawless plan in this world, nor is there absolute perfection."

"It is nothing more than taking things one step at a time."

"Since we can never be fully prepared, we shall prepare no more."

"Go and send the word. We strike today."