Above the surface of the East Sea.
Two figures continuously unleashed their respective techniques, churning the entire East Sea into chaos.
Waves rose a thousand zhang high, only to be flattened in the next instant.
Though Chu Xingchen couldn't figure out how to catch a fish, he certainly knew how to catch other prey.
The spiritual energy he intentionally leaked outward was further increased under Xu Linglong's gaze, a stream of azure light trailing behind him like a comet.
This was showing weakness to the enemy—your techniques are extremely effective on me; hold on a little longer and I'll collapse!
The second crucial element was giving hope.
If he simply flew at full speed the entire time without giving Xu Linglong a single chance, forget Xu Linglong—even Qinghe wouldn't fall for it.
And so, one could see that from time to time, a rainbow arrow would strike Chu Xingchen when he couldn't dodge in time.
Chu Xingchen would either block with a treasure or simply take the hit, his figure sent tumbling as Xu Linglong seized the opportunity to press the attack—before he exploded with power and pulled away again.
His movements had to grow slower and slower. The opportunities he offered had to grow more and more frequent.
But the seemingly increasing openings still needed enough time to materialize.
Wanban darted at Chu Xingchen's side, intercepting Xu Linglong's relentless barrage of full-power attacks.
Chu Xingchen, who had been calculating the time in his mind the entire while, felt it was about enough. The Xu Linglong behind him was probably doing the same calculations.
Chu Xingchen raised his hand and called Wanban back. His figure twisted and he caught the sword Xu Linglong had thrust at him at blinding speed.
But the instant they made contact, Chu Xingchen's figure was sent flying.
Xu Linglong followed, its long sword dissolving into ripples.
A single ripple was enough to tear space itself.
Chu Xingchen's gaze remained calm. The azure light on Wanban flared.
Xu Linglong seemed utterly unaware that its own movements had already slowed to a ludicrous degree.
As expected—wielding the Dao Authority meant inevitably suffering its backlash.
And the backlash itself seemed barely perceptible to the user.
What appeared as an airtight barrage of killing moves in Xu Linglong's eyes was riddled with openings in Chu Xingchen's.
Wanban flew into the ripple and shot straight toward Xu Linglong.
Only now did Xu Linglong seem to react, staring as Wanban hurtled toward it. It tried to raise its sword to block, but realized it was already far too late.
Wanban pierced through.
A massive hole was bored through Xu Linglong's abdomen, though in the next instant, its Origin Power sealed the wound.
But the force carried by Wanban was not something simply covering the wound could neutralize.
Xu Linglong's pursuit halted immediately. It retreated slightly, drew its bow to a full moon, and continued attacking Chu Xingchen.
"Time's up." Spiritual energy still leaked from Chu Xingchen's body. If Xu Linglong possessed the Dao Authority, then other Celestial Demons might as well. Though he still didn't understand why he could resist the Dao Authority's erosion, this trump card had to be kept secret until the very end.
Even if the Xu Linglong before him was eighty percent certain to escape.
But one could never be sure that these Celestial Demons didn't possess incomprehensible methods of transmitting information.
Perhaps Xu Linglong's clone was standing right beside another Celestial Demon.
This concealment now might become the decisive killing blow in the future.
Wanban spun before Chu Xingchen, forming an impenetrable barrier. His eyes locked onto the expressionless Xu Linglong:
"It seems you're the one who can't endure the Dao Authority's erosion first. That last blood-qi authority experiment—you were actually researching how to suppress the authority's backlash, weren't you?"
Xu Linglong's attacks suddenly ceased. The brilliant gold in its eyes slowly faded.
The reason was simple—several powerful Tribulation Transcendence cultivators had already arrived from every direction.
The instant it stopped, they were already surrounding the area.
Xie Lingyu had already been taken away by two Tribulation Transcendence cultivators for protection.
Xu Linglong swept its gaze around. Including Chu Xingchen, a total of eight Tribulation Transcendence cultivators had sealed off the area.
It said nothing, and simply produced the prism crystal Boluo had given it.
Xu Linglong could figure out with its toes that what Boluo had given it was far from a good thing, and certainly not a trump card that could salvage this situation.
After all, in Boluo's eyes, ensuring the grand formation triggered stably was what mattered—not burning a trump card to save a single Celestial Demon.
But at this point, it couldn't hurt to take a look.
The instant Xu Linglong produced the prism crystal, several powerful attacks lashed toward it.
But the crystal dissolved even faster.
In the next instant, a monstrous torrent of wish-power surged from the prism crystal.
Dense, earthen-yellow wish-power pierced the heavens, and the collective greed of all living beings unfurled into layered images.
To call it wish-power was perhaps inaccurate—it was closer to an absolutely terrifying spiritual assault.
Wanban in Chu Xingchen's hand trembled slightly, warning him—the means that had bound this colossal wish-power within the prism crystal was also authority.
Only authority could achieve something of this magnitude.
At the center of the wish-power storm, Xu Linglong was locked onto by the wish-power itself, which poured directly into its body.
Countless emotions flooded its spiritual consciousness, the cacophony of countless voices drowning out its senses.
Amid the ocean of noise, Boluo's calm voice rang with startling clarity:
"Wield the greed of all living beings. Forge it into the blade in your hand."
"When hope is gone, the moment has come."
A faint smile finally appeared at the corner of Xu Linglong's mouth.
Boluo truly was a master of exploitation—burning every usable thing to ash before being satisfied.
The golden glow of the Dao Authority reappeared in Xu Linglong's eyes.
Since it had come to this, it might as well stall for a little more time.
These wish-thoughts, though cacophonous, could still be endured with enough effort to maintain a sliver of clear consciousness.
Xu Linglong raised a hand slightly, and the wish-power condensed and clung to it.
Its arm armor shattered under the pressure of the wish-power, the twisted visages of countless beings etched into its flesh.
A phantom blade forged from the collective wish-power of all living beings merged into the spirit treasure sword in Xu Linglong's hand.
Xu Linglong began burning all the Origin Power remaining in its body.
Since death was inevitable, it would give this heaven one last reason to tremble.
Chu Xingchen watched as Xu Linglong's aura continued to climb, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly—how is anyone supposed to save the world when stuck with these Buddhist vermin!
Though Xu Linglong's actions were still a deathbed struggle, if it was given enough time to complete its struggle…
Another surprise might well be waiting for Chu Xingchen.
Eastern Divine Continent, Huanglian River.
The height of summer. Lotuses bloomed in full splendor.
Heavy rain poured down. Leaf platters could no longer hold the dense, bean-sized droplets and began to tilt.
Summer solstice brought great rains.
A pale-skinned monk in tattered robes sat beside a small boat under an umbrella, his feet dangling in the lotus river.
A yellow glass bead at his waist suddenly cracked, and a wisp of wish-power drifted free.
Boluo reached out and gently tapped the drifting wish-power, then sighed softly.
"What a waste…"
His tone carried a note of helplessness as he continued:
"Those who are too clever always instinctively spot the opportunity within danger…"
"Forgetting that sometimes, being a fool is the best choice."
"Unable to restrain the greed and fury within—then one will inevitably be consumed by the backlash."
Beneath the lotuses, a clear, childlike voice spoke:
"Master, what comes next?"
Boluo withdrew his feet and gazed into the endless rain:
"There is no such thing as a flawless plan in this world. No such thing as absolute perfection."
"It's all just one step at a time."
"If we can't finish preparing, then we simply won't."
"Go spread the word. We move today."