Chapter 388: A Two-Pronged Approach

Seeing that Xie Ningyuan was unharmed, Lu Sangjiu let out a sigh of relief. She stepped forward and asked, "Did you find anything?"

Xie Ningyuan nodded, leading her to a seat at the table.

His expression was grave. "Unfortunately... I think our previous theory may have come true."

Lu Sangjiu froze, then realized instantly. "You mean... the theory that your Tribulation Crossing Ancestor might be involved?"

’Aside from that, Lu Sangjiu couldn’t think of anything more unfortunate.’

Xie Ningyuan gave a bitter smile and nodded. "Precisely."

Lu Sangjiu felt just as helpless. "Well... that really is unfortunate."

Xie Ningyuan had secretly infiltrated the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect. By listening to the disciples’ conversations from the shadows, he had gotten a general idea of the sect’s current situation.

After he escaped the sect, Ting Chan had personally issued an order for his arrest.

Of course, many people didn’t believe it. After voicing their doubts, they demanded to inspect the body of Xie Ningyuan’s master.

However, Ting Chan rejected all their requests. He even berated them, claiming he had personally witnessed Xie Ningyuan commit the murder. He declared that anyone who spoke up for Xie Ningyuan would be charged as an accomplice.

His words intimidated some, but a few exceptionally righteous individuals refused to yield to the threat and went directly to the Sect Leader Abbot, seeking his judgment.

They went, but they never returned. Rumor has it they were thrown into the dungeons.

Furthermore, the Sect Leader announced he was entering seclusion and hasn’t been seen since.

The other Supreme Elder also raised no objections. In short, the matter seemed to have been settled quietly, and the wanted notice for Xie Ningyuan was distributed throughout the entire Cultivation World.

After recounting all this, Xie Ningyuan said bitterly, "I suspect something has happened to the Abbot... at the very least, he’s under house arrest."

"Normally, the Sect Leader Abbot can contact the Ancestor directly. And even if the Ancestor has been in seclusion on the back mountain and not seeing visitors, there’s no way he wouldn’t know about something this major happening in the sect."

Lu Sangjiu nodded in agreement. "It seems things really are heading in the worst possible direction."

"And if that’s the case, it means the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect will certainly not agree to a truce. When the Major Sects meet for discussions, they will inevitably face obstacles."

"We all believe you, but others might not. It will be even harder to convince them that the highly respected Ten Thousand Buddha Sect is the mastermind behind all this."

"So our top priority is to find evidence proving there’s something wrong with the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect’s Tribulation Crossing Ancestor and Ting Chan as quickly as possible."

As Lu Sangjiu spoke, she and Xie Ningyuan thought of the same person at the same time. They said in unison, "The Abbot!"

After speaking, the two looked at each other and both smiled.

Xie Ningyuan smiled. "Exactly. If we can rescue the Abbot, the situation will turn around."

"The Abbot’s Life Token is on display in the sect. To avoid causing panic and suspicion among the disciples, he must still be alive, just imprisoned somewhere."

"Knowing the Abbot’s reputation, if we can rescue him and have him speak out, the other sects will surely believe our story!"

Lu Sangjiu nodded emphatically, a glimmer of hope finally kindling in her heart.

At the same time, she remembered something else. "So, did you find out Ting Chan’s whereabouts?"

Xie Ningyuan nodded again. "With the Abbot supposedly in seclusion and the other Supreme Elder also not emerging, Ting Chan now controls all sect affairs, large and small."

"However, the Immortal Demon War has become critical. Since the Buddhist Sect has a natural advantage against Demon Cultivators, the other sects have requested more reinforcements from the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect."

"Ting Chan plans to lead a group there himself, to demonstrate the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect’s resolve in vanquishing demons and defending righteousness."

"If nothing unexpected happens, he will depart the day after tomorrow."

Lu Sangjiu’s eyes lit up. "If he leaves the sect, doesn’t that give us the perfect opportunity to rescue the Abbot?"

"I thought so too." After a pause, Xie Ningyuan added, "But I’m also worried it might be a plot. What if he’s leaving the sect deliberately to lure me into a trap?"

"He knows me. He knows I won’t let my master’s death go, and that I’m bound to return."

Lu Sangjiu nodded. "That’s a possibility, but... are you going to give up this chance?"

The moment she asked, they both knew the answer. They exchanged a look, each seeing the helplessness in the other’s eyes.

’They were the weak fighting the strong; their odds of success were already slim. Even knowing it might be a trap, how could they bear to pass up this opportunity?’

After a moment of silence, Xie Ningyuan spoke up. "I have an idea... perhaps we can do both things at the same time."

Lu Sangjiu raised an eyebrow. "You mean, ambush Ting Chan and rescue Master Ming Jue?"

Xie Ningyuan nodded. "Exactly."

He said seriously, "I’ll be the one to ambush Ting Chan, while the task of rescuing the Abbot falls to you."

"I’ll strike first. It would be best if I succeed, but even if I fail, I can draw him out and make him chase me."

"When news gets back to the sect that I’m occupied with Ting Chan, they’re bound to lower their guard around the Abbot. They’d never imagine the rescuer isn’t me—the one with the highest cultivation who’s most familiar with the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect—but you instead."

After Xie Ningyuan finished, Lu Sangjiu agreed it was a viable plan. But undoubtedly... the risks were immense for both of them.

After all, Ting Chan would be leading Sect Disciples to the battlefield, and Xie Ningyuan would never bring himself to seriously harm his fellow disciples. His hands would be tied, while Ting Chan would have numerous allies. It would be an extremely unfavorable situation for him.

Lu Sangjiu’s part was even more dangerous. The entire thing was likely a trap to begin with. Even if Xie Ningyuan’s diversion caused them to lower their guard, there was still a Body Integration Realm expert and a Tribulation Crossing Ancestor in seclusion within the sect.

Even if those two didn’t intervene, there were still plenty of disciples in the sect. If she were discovered, she would face being surrounded and killed by the entire Ten Thousand Buddha Sect.

Thinking it through, both of them fell silent.

’It wasn’t that they were afraid to take the risk... they were just worried for each other’s safety.’

But similarly, they couldn’t think of a better way.

’They were already fighting against the odds. How could they possibly find a foolproof plan?’

After a moment of silence, Lu Sangjiu made up her mind. "Let’s do it! But I’m afraid the two of us alone won’t be enough. Let’s get my master and the others to help!"

’She had hesitated before saying that, wondering if she should drag others into this dangerous situation.’

’But she quickly came to terms with it. They had all been through life and death together to get this far; there was no point in talking about who was a burden to whom.’

’Besides, this wasn’t just their personal business. Acting like an outsider would only offend her friends.’

’Her master and the others were powerful in their own right. To worry excessively would be to look down on them.’

Xie Ningyuan had the same idea but had been afraid Lu Sangjiu would be unwilling. Hearing her say this, his expression relaxed a bit, and he immediately nodded. "Okay, let’s call Gu Jue too."

"Let’s leave Feng Lin and the others out of it. Those at the Golden Core Stage can’t help much in a situation like this, and it would only put them in danger."