Chapter 847: Not Long Now

Chapter 847: Chapter 847: Not Long Now

Eastern Divine Continent. Lotus Pond. Heavy rain.

In a small pavilion, Boluo sat in a yellow monastic robe, gazing at the muddy pond choked with silt.

Of the Eight Great Heavenly Demons, two had been lost — Xu Linglong and the previous Baidu.

Six remained.

Half of them were now gathered in this small pavilion.

Zhong Su stood behind Boluo with arms folded and posture rigid. Mei Yu sat to one side, eyes half-lidded, as if lost in thought.

Boluo raised a hand and spoke first, his tone mild:

"Heaven’s waters are displeased..."

"Today, you get to choose between nonsense and fists." Zhong Su cut Boluo off with brutal bluntness, the extreme impatience in his eyes making it clear he was dead serious.

Boluo fell silent. Then he turned leisurely to study Zhong Su’s expression, paused in thought, and asked:

"The new Baidu’s Heavenly Endowment has been mostly processed — enough to meet the positional requirements at least."

"Xu Linglong’s couldn’t be collected in full. Chu Xingchen likely has means to sever the Heavenly Endowment. Besides, our time is short. We had to abandon it for now."

The Eight Great Heavenly Demons could be broadly described as positions — or perhaps authorities, similar to Dao mandates.

When a current-generation Heavenly Demon died, if the remaining essence was still intact, it could be cultivated further — a suitable individual selected and groomed into a new Heavenly Demon.

But the cost was enormous, and some genuine essence was always lost, making the successor never as formidable as the predecessor.

Even under safe conditions, the passing of essence caused significant loss. If death came violently and suddenly, the losses were catastrophic.

The Heavenly Endowment was a secret among Heavenly Demons. Only the most powerful of their kind knew what bloodline and essence truly flowed within them.

Only by guarding this secret could the Heavenly Demons endure and avoid extinction.

Back when there were Eight Great Heavenly Demons — aside from Yuanqiong, who had no essence to pass — all the others, in their turns, transferred their essence to successors, preserving the last thread of Heavenly Demon survival.

Humanity had once counted Heavenly Demon heads one by one, never daring to relax for a single moment.

Yuanqiong had even split his essence and smuggled it through under a false name.

Otherwise, the calendar would still read "Great Tribulation" today.

The previous Baidu’s death had been real. Much of the essence that could not be recovered and dissipated was also real. The new Baidu would inevitably be at least a fifth weaker no matter what.

But in the current situation, every demon who could stand had to be thrown into the fight.

Boluo’s expression carried a trace of sorrow, as if recalling the past — though inside, he was calculating coldly: the new Baidu’s strength now qualified as Tribulation Transcendence. The foundation was shaky, but at least the essence was present, and the combat power was decent. They needed hands now. If the new one wasn’t ready, it would have to be.

Most importantly, the new Baidu didn’t know the full picture — only that Boluo had personally chosen a lucky demon to inherit the Baidu title.

Right now, the new Baidu’s gratitude and trust toward Boluo were absolute.

This was the moment to push. Once the Baidu eventually realized the truth, it would never be so cooperative again.

Yuanqiong was the most senior. Though he had remained silent throughout this operation — apparently acquiescing — when it came time to act, even he would have to move personally. No more sitting on the sidelines.

Boluo, the new Baidu, and Fangjin Tianmo already occupied three seats. He just needed to bring Zhong Su and Mei Yu on board. Then, no matter how reluctant Yuanqiong was or how senior his standing, he couldn’t remain unmoved against the collective will of so many Heavenly Demons.

Boluo turned his gaze to Zhong Su and got to the point:

"The Evil Spirit Sect and those incense gods in Northern Julu Continent are fighting at white heat. Chu Xingchen has been more decisive than I expected — he actually plans to use this opportunity to sweep away the Northern Julu incense gods as well."

"By that calculation, he’s really not losing out. I imagine he’ll wait until the incense gods are devastated, completely stripped of bargaining power, and forced to submit again to the eighteen immortal sects. Only then, when the Evil Spirit Sect has served its purpose, will they be destroyed."

Zhong Su said nothing, just stared intently at Boluo.

Boluo smiled, then turned his gaze to Mei Yu:

"I know what you’re asking — why surrender the cards we’d been hiding in Western Jambudvipa, especially when I already knew the Evil Spirit Sect in Northern Julu was going to be abandoned."

"The reason is simply to show our hand. We’re willing to do small favors for the evil cultivators."

"Especially after Chen Baiqing’s purge in Eastern Divine Continent — so ruthless, driving those evil cultivators to cover their faces and flee."

"She did well, but she was too thorough."

"We’ve lost the Evil Spirit Sect, but we can have another Evil Spirit Sect. Just as our essence endures and can be passed on, so too can these organizations be rebuilt."

Mei Yu spoke gently:

"Those evil cultivators’ relationships are tangled beyond measure. An organization as large as the Evil Spirit Sect was completely purged — why would those evil cultivators let themselves be recruited again? Why would they trust an organization they know is abnormal?"

"Evil cultivators are the most opportunistic. When the wind shifts, they simply lay low and wait for the great tribulation to pass before seeking their chance. For thousands of years, they’ve been rats — but not once have those rats come out to claim the house."

"If you intend to use this to rally the evil cultivators again... then I can only say I overestimated you."

Zhong Su nodded in strong agreement, his scrutinizing gaze fixed once more on Boluo.

Boluo waved a hand with languid ease, then sat down across from Mei Yu:

"That’s not the calculation at all. A mortal trying to turn a river’s flow with their hands would be laughable. The human heart is like water — it’s not so easily manipulated."

"The world knows Chu Xingchen bears the great tribulation, that he is a Dao Scion."

"But who in the world actually calls him that? The name that’s stuck is none other than ’Yanxing True Lord.’"

"Consider Chu Xingchen’s deeds — he risked everything, personally leading forces to fight Xu Linglong in Southern Zhanbu Continent."

"And yet he hasn’t been seen wielding particularly vicious power against anyone. He’s no Bai Xuanling with her true slaughtering ways."

"But this reputation? Those who don’t know better would assume he was one of my underlings."

"Then consider Chen Baiqing — Baiming True Lord. She’s clearly inherited her master’s style."

"Whether their actions were right or wrong — we won’t judge. But reading between the lines, there’s plenty to see."

"We’re not recruiting evil cultivators. We just need to make them understand who their enemy is, how to strike back safely — for example, by spreading Chu Xingchen’s name far and wide."

"The incense-god affair — we’ll use it to build up Chu Xingchen’s infamy."

"The eighteen immortal sects may well understand Chu Xingchen’s Dao Scion identity, but the ones who truly accept and trust him are few."

"The world’s only True Immortal certainly cuts an imposing figure. The Buddhist sect is spineless, and her methods are formidable."

"The alliance of immortal sects is already a formidable power. The reason Chu Xingchen hasn’t yet fully united the eighteen immortal sects is manifold — but fear must surely be one of them."

"The common folk dare not speak loudly, lest they disturb the beings above."

"Chu Xingchen acts decisively toward the immortal sects. But given an opportunity to take him down a notch..."

"Let this heavenly being fall to the mortal world, into the hands of the world, into their rules."

"Then the one who was a heavenly being above will be called a villain by all below."

"We need the common folk to shout — and drag the heavenly being down."

"When that happens, Chu Xingchen will lose his reputation. Lose his ability to rally support."

"That will be our... last chance. The moment we stake everything."

"This moment — for demons who have waited so long..."

"Not long now."