Chapter 851: Can They Compare?

Chapter 851: Chapter 851: Can They Compare?

Western Jambudvipa. Huangliang City.

Time always carried a certain strangeness. Sometimes it felt like it passed in a flash; other times, it seemed as though nothing had changed at all.

Chu Xingchen strolled through the city, somewhat familiar with the landscape. The damage here had once been severe, and the reconstruction had altered certain features, but the overall layout still bore traces of its former self.

The one accompanying Chu Xingchen this time was not Bai Xuanling.

Xie Lingyu walked with a longsword at her waist, her steps unhurried at Chu Xingchen’s side.

Yuankong had returned to Tianyan Sect on his own, freeing Xie Lingyu to join him.

Li Yingling had sent word — it seemed she had discovered something remarkable. With the blessing of heavenly fortune before her, Chu Xingchen was naturally inclined to believe that this remarkable thing was, in all likelihood, truly remarkable.

Compared to observing affairs in Western Jambudvipa, the weapon that was Bai Xuanling would be better deployed at Li Yingling’s side for whatever she had found.

"Is your eyes up your ass or something? Can’t you see where you’re going? Can’t you smell it, for Christ’s sake? You’re a grown person — can’t you smell it?"

"Smell my ass — something that reeks worse than dog shit doesn’t deserve my attention."

"I’ll knock your—"

"You knock my—"

Chu Xingchen heard the exchange and shook his head with a faint smile — now that was the authentic flavor. This was the real Western Jambudvipa.

Without a couple of such curses on the main street, it just didn’t feel right.

Xie Lingyu clearly had never visited Western Jambudvipa before. The locals’ habit of speaking their minds with such raw candor was a bit much for her — her expression flickered between several shades of discomfort, her mouth opening and closing without producing a word.

Chu Xingchen noticed this and teased with a grin:

"Stay here for half a year, then return to Tianyan Sect. Forget Yanyun — even Sect Master Lü would give you a wide berth. You’d be radiating gravitas."

"Your understanding of ’gravitas’ seems somewhat off, doesn’t it?"

"Not at all. You’d be emanating an aura of sheer terror!"

"That’s probably just bad breath, isn’t it?"

"Tsk, tsk — this is clearly a land of Dao enlightenment. Alas, your aptitude isn’t sufficient to grasp its mysteries."

"What nonsense are you spouting..."

"Hmph, if Qinghe stayed here for three years..."

Chu Xingchen left the thought hanging with deliberate ambiguity, then raised an eyebrow slightly.

Xie Lingyu slowed her steps, pondered for a moment, and spoke with firm conviction:

"I’m going to tell Master immediately that Qinghe absolutely cannot come to Western Jambudvipa. It’d be a stupid dragon if it learned well, but a true dragon if it learned badly. If Qinghe sets foot here, either break its legs or seal its mouth."

Chu Xingchen nodded with a smile.

Poor Qinghe. It would probably never get to experience its own Dragon Field Enlightenment.

The curses along the street ranged from mild to vicious.

In Western Jambudvipa, defending those you loved depended entirely on the sharpness of your tongue.

Through accumulated practice, cursing here had become something approaching a vulgar art.

Simple, blunt — yet it carried a surging aftertaste that struck straight through the skull. The more you thought about it, the more infuriating it became.

Xie Lingyu followed Chu Xingchen for two more blocks, involuntarily absorbing a number of new insults and their applications. She concluded that two more blocks would leave her without a single decent word in her vocabulary.

She asked: "Who are we looking for here?"

"Lizhi." Chu Xingchen answered. "An old acquaintance. First, to catch up. Second, to ask her for information — it might not be accurate, but there’s bound to be a surprise."

Chu Xingchen turned another corner and spotted a certain Lizhi at a roadside tea stall.

Lizhi wore the uniform of a Patrol Heaven Department captain, one foot propped on a chair, the other slung across the table. She leaned forward, surrounded by a group of fellow Patrol Heaven Department members, her expression animated:

"No shit — you think I, Captain Lizhi, am bluffing?"

"Captain, you’re obviously bluffing! What’s this about you being close with Chu Xingchen? Back when Western Jambudvipa was overrun with demons, you’re saying you ran into Xu Jin, a core disciple of Xuantian Clear Sect, and Xu Jin relayed word to Chu Xingchen, and then Chu Xingchen brought three sects to save Western Jambudvipa? The odds of that happening are the same as me attaining the Great Dao tomorrow and ascending through the tribulation."

"Exactly, Captain. By that logic, Western Jambudvipa was saved because of you? Captain, your Golden Core must be pure water — can you get drunk on tea and start talking nonsense?"

Lizhi jabbed a finger at the last teammate to speak:

"If that’s how you want it! Fine! It was I, Lizhi, who saved all of Western Jambudvipa. The fact that you lot are still alive to question me is only because I saved your sorry asses back then!"

None of her teammates responded with words. They answered Lizhi’s declaration with even heartier laughter.

Lizhi heard their bratty giggles and waved her hand helplessly, sheepishly lowering her foot from the table, wiping down the stool her other foot had rested on, and sitting back down with a disgruntled expression.

"You lot are brainless. Can’t even recognize plain truth."

One young team member took a sip of tea, then laughed softly:

"We know you’ve met Chu Xingchen, Captain. Plenty of people saw it back then — that part can’t be faked. But he’s gone on to make a name across five continents now. He’s too far out of our reach."

Lizhi’s expression shifted, then she spoke with unusual conviction:

"But regardless — it was Chu Xingchen who came with the three sects, and he genuinely saved my life, and yours. I carry that debt in my heart."

The young member saw Lizhi’s serious expression and, after a moment’s thought, asked curiously:

"Captain — is Chu Xingchen really that funny? He doesn’t sound like someone from Central Continent at all. More like one of us Western Jambudvipa folks."

Lizhi’s face lit up at the mention:

"Hahaha, of course! Didn’t I tell you? The first thing Chu Xingchen ever said to me—"

"If the bastards won’t believe it, let me say it."

An unexpected voice came from behind Lizhi.

The group finally looked up to see Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu approaching in fine attire.

Lizhi spun around immediately, her eyes locking onto Chu Xingchen standing right behind her. Her pupils dilated, and the mouth that never stumbled over curse words stuttered:

"Chu—Chu—"

Chu Xingchen folded his arms:

"Well, well — little Lizhi, long time no see. Have you tried a litchi yet?"

"Not yet..." Lizhi finally managed, her face breaking into delight. She instinctively wiped her hands on her clothes. "Senior Chu — what brings you to Western Jambudvipa?"

"The lie is that I’m here on a leisurely stroll." Chu Xingchen said with a light smile. "The truth is classified — can’t tell you."

Lizhi giggled foolishly at this.

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow: "Got some free time lately? I’ve got a job for you."

"Of course I do!" Lizhi slapped her uniform. "Now I don’t even need to apply for leave — I just approve myself."

Chu Xingchen nodded with a smile, then turned and walked away.

Lizhi immediately abandoned her wide-eyed, speechless teammates and hurried after him.

Chu Xingchen glanced sideways: "Not bad — early Golden Core already. Truly worthy of being a genius, Lizhi."

"Naturally." Lizhi grinned, then recalled something and grew serious:

"I’m at the Golden Core stage now. That old monk from before was definitely not at Golden Core — you were lying to me."

Chu Xingchen answered without blinking:

"Can a Golden Core cultivator in Western Jambudvipa compare to one in Central Continent?"

Lizhi blinked, her confidence draining instantly:

"Is... is that so?"