Western Niu Continent, deep underground.
A sarira glowing faintly with golden light hung from above, illuminating this not-very-large space.
The surrounding dirt and rocks were varied, but they weren't fixed in place with spells. Instead, some staffs and similar items were used to prop them up.
After all, those pursuing them were all Tribulation Transcendence cultivators. Even the slightest abnormal spiritual energy fluctuation could be detected.
And the reason this glowing sarira hung overhead wasn't because the fleeing trio needed light—it was because the sarira could block aura detection.
That was why it had such a wonderful use and was hung above.
Right now, Wukong had no spirit left either. His expression was calm, carrying a hint of someone who looked like they'd been dead for a while, lying by a dirt wall that would slide without spell reinforcement.
The Radiant Buddha also looked somewhat exhausted, though his mental state was slightly better, and he didn't have too many complaints about their current situation.
At least he was still alive, and he wasn't locked up.
Donggua's condition was undoubtedly the worst.
Her left abdomen had been pierced through, and her clothes were already in tatters. Blood had stained this luxurious outfit red—not because this was the only garment in her spatial ring, but because her other clothes weren't even as good as this one.
If she had to change again, she'd have to borrow monk robes from Wukong.
Donggua's face was extremely pale, and the wound in her abdomen still carried residual attacks from Buddhist cultivators, hindering her recovery.
Among the fleeing trio, only her cultivation was the lowest. She couldn't run fast, and she was easily picked up by a divine sense sweep.
In Wukong's words—she shone like the sun.
Once a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator detected her, they would unleash blanket attacks capable of moving mountains and filling seas.
With the Radiant Buddha's assistance, Wukong could grit his teeth and endure such attacks.
As for Donggua, with the Radiant Buddha's help, she could happily go meet the Demon Lord.
The cultivation gap was simply too large. A casual strike from a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator could end her life, even if she wasn't the intended target.
So throughout their flight, Donggua had always been the most obvious target and the punching bag least able to take hits.
If Wukong's state was mental exhaustion from escaping death time and again,
then Donggua's was the thrill of being half-dead and barely pulled back each time.
Every time Donggua survived under pursuit, she felt it was nothing but overwhelming luck.
At the same time, Donggua had also clarified something about the power of Tribulation Transcendence cultivators—as long as you weren't completely dead, you actually didn't have to die.
Donggua only felt that after taking a hit, her head went dizzy and she thought she was done for, but when she opened her eyes again, she'd see the Radiant Buddha's face carrying a gentle smile.
As if saying—your death day isn't today, oh. Smart you, guess which day it is?
Donggua didn't know whether to be angry or grateful.
This Radiant Buddha had, without a doubt, saved her life quite a few times over these days.
Of course, as for why she was saved…
Just don't dig too deep.
Perhaps because Donggua's half-dead miserable state had accumulated, Wukong also stopped targeting her.
After all, she was already this miserable. Even the Radiant Buddha had shaken his head several times.
She might really die next time, so targeting her further was meaningless.
In this unknown depth underground, in this hollow space with only the faint light of the sarira, only the breathing of the three was clearly audible.
Naturally, among the three, the one breathing most heavily was still Donggua.
Because they had been underground for so long, neither the two humans nor the demon could judge how much time had actually passed.
It only felt like a very, very long time…
The silence at this moment also felt as if it had lasted a long time.
Suddenly, Wukong's expression instantly turned serious. He hurriedly propped himself up and took out a jade token glowing with faint light.
This jade token was what Daoist Yuyang had gone to great lengths to deliver to Wukong's side, used for sending warnings.
Once this thing lit up, it meant—time to run again!
The Radiant Buddha opened his eyes. His movements were also extremely practiced. He reached up, took down the sarira hanging above, then reached out and casually wrapped Donggua up, carrying her as his form shot toward the surface.
Since his whereabouts could only be hidden underground and within mountain bodies, the Buddhist sect now always sealed the underground and surroundings first.
So to escape, they could only fly openly and then find ways to break free.
Fortunately, Daoist Yuyang's messages were always timely, and he could always lend a hand at critical moments, which was how they had escaped until now.
Wukong's form followed closely behind, and the Radiant Buddha's spiritual energy also helped him break through what lay ahead.
Donggua endured the pain without making a sound, only calculating in her heart—this time, she probably really couldn't hold on.
Light suddenly blazed bright.
But then their extremely fast fleeing motion came to a halt.
Donggua didn't open her eyes, but her heart also sank—they weren't even planning to run anymore, which meant the situation was probably terrible.
Opening her eyes would very likely reveal an inescapable net.
Today she was probably really going to die.
Donggua forced her eyes open. She didn't see any inescapable net, nor did she see Buddhist Tribulation Transcendence cultivators surrounding them for a kill.
Instead, there was a person she hated to the bone standing in the distance, smiling and waving hello.
Donggua paid no mind to her injuries. With a ferocious expression, she stared at the man ahead who looked completely at ease, and roared with extreme fury:
"Cui Hao! I'm going to f**king kill you! Kill you!"
Wukong was also momentarily stunned, but hearing this, he still glanced back at the fierce-looking Donggua, then turned his gaze toward the person ahead.
The person standing ahead was no Cui Hao at all—it was clearly Chu Xingchen.
Wukong's gaze also subtly shifted toward the Radiant Buddha. Soon, the Radiant Buddha nodded gently in confirmation—this was the real Chu Xingchen.
So the situation was clear. Chu Xingchen had only cast an illusion on Donggua.
Wukong naturally had his dissatisfaction, but he still considered the bigger picture. He took a deep breath and played along:
"Cui Hao, what are you doing here?"
Chu Xingchen stepped forward, his gaze falling on Donggua, who was still cursing his own disciple Cui Hao regardless of the situation.
The frequency of her speech was nearly without gaps, making use of the cultivator's advantage of not needing to breathe.
Her wording also had almost no repetition, and between her words there was no elegance at all—only the purest output.
Once her mouth opened, it seemed like it wouldn't stop.
Clearly, this tirade was something Donggua had rehearsed in her heart countless times.
Chu Xingchen then noticed that Donggua, despite her heavy injuries and previously pale face, now had a slight blush.
Didn't they say making a girl blush was the greatest skill?
Thinking of it that way, Cui Hao's abilities were indeed considerable.
To make a demoness like this be so obsessed, one only had to hear how she spoke to know she wanted to share life and death with him, pouring her heart out in conversation.
Chu Xingchen raised his hand slightly and pointed at Donggua, who had never stopped her output, toward the Radiant Buddha.
The Radiant Buddha understood the situation and with a light flick of his finger sealed Donggua's mouth shut.
Although Donggua was forcibly silenced, her eyes were wide open as if they could speak.
Seeing this, Chu Xingchen couldn't help but respond:
"I heard all your blessings. Well said. Next time, don't say them again."
"I traveled a thousand miles, leaving the good life at home behind, specifically coming to this broken place to see how you're doing. How can you show no gratitude at all?"
"Really not knowing how to repay kindness at all."
Hearing this, Donggua started writhing like a madwoman again.
But Chu Xingchen didn't speak up for his disciple again.
For no other reason.
Wukong's even more resentful expression represented…
that what he had just said had a bit too broad an attack range.
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