Chapter 843: Leave the Rest to Cui Hao

Chapter 843: Chapter 843: Leave the Rest to Cui Hao

Northern Julu Continent. Cangxi Kingdom.

Chu Xingchen held a jade token in his hand, eyes half-closed, expression contemplative.

Bai Xuanling walked at his side, her gaze drifting to the streets for anything that caught her interest.

She had already seen the jade token in Chu Xingchen’s hand.

When the conflict between the incense gods and the Evil Spirit Sect reached full-blown intensity, traces of Heavenly Demons had appeared in Western Jambudvipa. At the same time, numerous demon creatures recorded in ancient texts had awakened and begun sweeping across the continent.

A bold move — but the Buddhist sect had reacted swiftly, and the situation was currently under control.

Still, an unprovoked attack like this was obviously a cover for something. These long-hidden demon creatures wouldn’t simply choose to throw their lives away for no reason.

They had to be concealing something.

Either the Western Jambudvipa operation was meant to draw attention away from Northern Julu Continent — or the Northern Julu operation was the diversion, and Western Jambudvipa was the Heavenly Demons’ real trump card.

Clearly, the Heavenly Demons intended to use this opportunity to make a move.

Rushing back and forth wasn’t ideal. The Southern Zhanbu Buddhist sect had already recalled most of its strength, and Runan himself had returned to Western Jambudvipa.

After all, Western Jambudvipa was the Buddhist sect’s bedrock — whether the threat was real or not, Runan couldn’t afford to gamble with it.

Chu Xingchen’s approach was simple: confront Zhao Xuan directly. The head of the Evil Spirit Sect would certainly know something and could help confirm the situation.

Once things had heated up in Northern Julu, the useful intelligence flowing back from Zhao Xuan had dried to almost nothing.

Chu Xingchen cut through the crowd and entered the most popular incense-god shrine in this small city. One glance, and he locked onto Zhao Xuan — standing by the main gate in black robes, waiting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Chu Xingchen approached with Bai Xuanling, his eyes sweeping the surroundings.

Zhao Xuan pressed in eagerly: "It’s been too long, Senior."

"You’ve done very well." Chu Xingchen nodded slightly, then asked, "The activity in Western Jambudvipa is also well done. I originally thought you might give up. Is it happening any day now?"

Zhao Xuan smiled but didn’t answer directly:

"It’s not just about winning. The arrangements and how we withdraw afterward — that’s the real matter. Now it’s time for Senior to reveal some of your hand."

"How does Senior plan to deploy? What do you need? Where should the final location be?"

"With those answers, we can make preparations. Once there’s a lead, people will be willing to keep going."

Bai Xuanling knew it was her turn to step forward. She took a step ahead, glaring at Zhao Xuan with undisguised contempt, and spoke in an unfriendly tone:

"We have intel — Yunmeng Pavilion has already started investigating this area. Your operation was sloppy; word about the Evil Spirit Sect has leaked. Xuanqing Heavenly Sect is already exchanging information with Yunmeng Pavilion."

"Now两大 immortal sects are watching us like hawks, and you want us to prepare for what?"

"Didn’t you say you’d handle it quietly? That it would be perfectly stable?"

"Stick your divine sense outside and see what the fighting looks like out there?"

"’Northern Meng’s demons die, but the homeland does not.’ Does that slogan ring familiar? We don’t know if the eighteen immortal sects have their eyes on us here already."

"What — do we look like fools to you?"

Zhao Xuan’s expression stiffened slightly. Then he replied:

"If Senior found it unacceptable, you should have said so sooner. Now that success is within reach, this kind of talk — are you suggesting we scrap everything?"

"Senior should understand that this is the only chance you’ll ever get."

"Setting aside everything we’ve invested, Senior must know this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity."

"After this, Senior will never find anyone willing to do this again."

Chu Xingchen sighed softly, his gaze drifting to the worshippers around them:

"I was willing to risk coming to see you personally, so naturally I’m not here to tell you to scrap everything."

"But charging in blindly really could get your head lopped off without warning."

"So I want to ask you — can the Western Jambudvipa operation be scaled up? Ideally, draw the attention of all eighteen immortal sects over there temporarily."

Zhao Xuan was taken aback, then let out a hollow laugh:

"Senior, do you think the demon-creature awakening in Western Jambudvipa is the Evil Spirit Sect’s doing?"

"It’s not your doing, but you certainly know whose doing it is." Chu Xingchen’s tone was even. "I’m willing to hand over the formation plan first — you can get started."

"But further down the line, I have no guarantees. And you’ve made what was supposed to be quiet into quite the spectacle..."

Zhao Xuan suddenly interrupted:

"Then Senior should also help. If Senior is aware of the current situation and truly cares, you should be doing more than just pushing us."

Zhao Xuan’s tone turned deadly serious. His right hand was already gripping his life-preserving treasure, as though the moment talks collapsed, he would flee immediately — and abandon everything here without hesitation.

Before the operation began, Zhao Xuan had naturally been constrained by Chu Xingchen’s promises — he was the one asking for help.

But now that things had progressed to this point, with enormous costs paid, and with this likely being the only chance — it was Chu Xingchen, who wanted his goal achieved, who should be constrained by Zhao Xuan.

Unless Chu Xingchen genuinely didn’t care whether the operation succeeded — in which case the probability of this being a trap would be very high.

Zhao Xuan would absolutely turn and leave, no longer chasing the prize.

The power dynamic had reversed — and so had the leverage.

Zhao Xuan had earned his current position. Flexibility was basic operating procedure. Now was the time to flex.

Chu Xingchen heard this and stood silent, staring at the Zhao Xuan before him. After a soft laugh, he asked:

"So what do you want me to do?"

"The incense gods of Northern Julu Continent — can Senior do something to hold them back? An entire continent’s worth of them is a bit much for us alone."

"The incense gods are manageable. I can do it. But are you ready to withstand the pressure from Yunmeng Pavilion?"

"What does Senior mean by that?"

Chu Xingchen chuckled, then produced a Yunmeng Pavilion elder token from his sleeve.

Zhao Xuan’s eyes went wide as he stared at the Yunmeng Pavilion elder token, practically within arm’s reach.

In all honesty, the moment he saw that token, Zhao Xuan’s heart nearly stopped. The treasure in his hand nearly activated on reflex.

The words "caught in a jar" nearly leaped from his mind.

But the intelligence the Deputy Leader had gathered on Chu Xingchen made him hold back — their capabilities shouldn’t have been that wrong.

Chu Xingchen spoke calmly:

"What I’ve done for you is far more than you realize. There are things I always thought it was better you didn’t know."

Zhao Xuan stared blankly and asked: "Senior — you’re a Yunmeng Pavilion elder?!"

"Are you stupid?" Chu Xingchen replied with contempt. "My blood energy is this pure — Yunmeng Pavilion isn’t blind."

"In any case, I have this connection, and I can shield you from Yunmeng Pavilion’s pressure."

"Whether this succeeds now depends on whether Western Jambudvipa can draw the other immortal sects’ attention."

Zhao Xuan nodded immediately: "Naturally. Please rest assured, Senior."

Chu Xingchen instantly understood the situation. Zhao Xuan’s words were pure nonsense.

He could confirm via his attribute reading that Zhao Xuan was not bound by the Heavenly Demons. Zhao Xuan was building up a righteous-sect reputation for the future — entirely on his own.

Since Zhao Xuan wasn’t one of the demons’ people and agreed so readily, it was almost certainly an attempt to pacify him.

Agreeing immediately to his face meant Zhao Xuan understood that Western Jambudvipa was currently the limit.

Otherwise, he would have at least made a show of consulting someone before answering.

So...

Was the Western Jambudvipa operation a feint?

Were the Heavenly Demons cooperating so readily because they were trying to redirect his attention?

Chu Xingchen said nothing more and turned to leave.

Cui Hao had exceeded even his expectations — he hadn’t anticipated things getting this loud.

He had assumed Cui Hao would work quietly. Instead, Cui Hao had decided to drag the incense gods out into the open to deal with the Evil Spirit Sect.

Gotta hand it to Cui Hao — the surprises just kept coming.

Even Chu Xingchen hadn’t foreseen things developing this way. The Heavenly Demons, with their sharp instincts, should have realized something was off. The Evil Spirit Sect should have been a pile of rotting meat waiting to be buried.

Yet the Heavenly Demons were willing to burn their Western Jambudvipa reserves over this pile of rotting meat.

Even Xu Linglong hadn’t gotten that kind of treatment.

So the Heavenly Demons’ real target was almost certainly aimed elsewhere.

Things had reached this point. The allies had been rallied for Cui Hao. Chen Baiqing had already arrived at Yunmeng Marsh and met with him.

There should be no further problems on this end.

Time to withdraw and hand things over to Cui Hao.

Staying longer would serve no purpose.

The rest was up to Cui Hao.