Above the wilderness, dust and smoke whipped up as more than twenty thousand monks hurriedly fled, retreating from the Yellow Earth Plain and sprinting over two hundred miles toward the capital Da Xing before they finally paused.

Even though everyone possessed cultivation and Dao Fruit, running a thousand miles in such a short time had exhausted most of the monks to their limits, forcing them to stop and rest.

Moreover, this place was already far away from the impact range of the battle, considered safe. Continuing to retreat would only waste energy and power.

If our side won, there was no need to continue fleeing.

If the enemy won, retreating another thousand miles would still let them catch up.

Rather than being easily slain in exhaustion when pursued by the enemy, it would be better to retain some strength and attempt to fight back.

Of course, this is the worst-case scenario, as the monks were actually very confident in Manjusri Bodhisattva.

They would win.

Shen Hou rode atop Dragon Whisker Tiger, letting the tiger leap onto a nearby peak, gazing toward the direction of the battle. He observed the remaining ripples gradually dissipating in the distance. Although Gang Wind still arose and clouds changed unpredictably, the blood-colored filling the heaven and earth had disappeared, and the bloody rain had ceased.

This indicated that the battle had ended.

So...

"Who won?" Shen Hou murmured.

An ominous premonition filled his mind, unsettling his spirit.

As the Gang Wind gradually subsided, Shen Hou squinted, seemingly focusing his sight this way.

"Junior Brother Shen Hou."

A voice suddenly sounded, as Yin Yang Sword Light fell beside Shen Hou with a speed impossible for ordinary people to capture, condensing the illusory figure of Daoist Guang Cheng.

"Senior Brother Guang Cheng?!"

Shen Hou immediately looked around, only to be halted by the voice of Guang Cheng's apparition saying, "No need to worry, Fellow Daoist Jiang has confirmed that Tan Wuwei's divine skills can only observe the future within her perception range. She is not here now, so she cannot see our dialogue in the future. As for others, they cannot see you and me within the barrier."

A gentle Pure Light formed a barrier, quietly covering the mountaintop, a Six Harmonies Barrier from Yuxu Temple. It wasn't considered profound but could be profound enough in the hands of a master of magic to block sight and sound, even simulate illusions.

Daoist Guang Cheng was precisely such a master of magic. He was not merely a Sword Cultivator; the Sky Flipping Seal was indeed a great evidence. Besides slaying enemies with the sword, Daoist Guang Cheng was adept at using the Sky Flipping Seal to open Heavenly Spirits, instantly obliterating the Divine Soul when hit.

At this moment, others could only see Shen Hou looking into the distance, unable to perceive any actions or words he might make.

Upon hearing this, Shen Hou immediately relaxed, as if he were about to collapse onto the back of the tiger.

"Finally able to relax, being under the watchful eyes of that Lifeless Master was truly more enduring than being chased by the Upper Pure Sect back in the day."

Shen Hou exhaled deeply, seemingly expelling all the heart-stopping tensions of recent days, then turned to Daoist Guang Cheng, "Since Senior Brother is here, it means Fellow Daoist Jiang has won. What should we do next? Eliminate all these monks?"

He casually uttered this sentence.

"Though there were some setbacks, we've won," Guang Cheng nodded, "Manjusri is dead, Tan Wuwei and Guanyin, even if they regroup, can no longer contend with us. Retreat is their only path. But..."

"But what?" Shen Hou felt his ominous foreboding intensifying.

"Tan Wuwei is supported by the Heavenly Monarch from behind; they will certainly return to Buddha Country and make a comeback. To prevent future troubles, Junior Brother Shen Hou must continue to infiltrate Buddha Country,"

Guang Cheng's face showed a hint of awkwardness, seemingly feeling a bit troubled for Shen Hou, "Junior Brother Shen Hou, you wield the God-beating Whip, countering Divine Practitioners. Tan Wuwei and Guanyin will undoubtedly recruit you, so you can assist them and then..."

"Still infiltrate?"

Shen Hou raised his voice directly, interrupting Guang Cheng's words, "I've been a spy for two years. Two years! Do you know how I've spent these two years?"

"Tan Wuwei's divine skills make me dare not relax even a bit. Every action must be thoroughly considered, these two years were harder than two hundred years. Now to continue? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

This time even the usually smooth Daoist showed a rare loss of composure, highlighting the heavy pressure.

Open confrontations are not frightening or difficult; the real difficulty lies in remaining constantly vigilant and disguising oneself, never allowing a moment of relaxation. Because Tan Wuwei can directly observe the future, any flaw could expose Shen Hou's identity.

"One year, a year at most."

Daoist Guang Cheng promptly said, "Junior Brother, at most one year, you can return. Buddha Country is undergoing significant changes, Fire House Buddha Hell has emerged, within a year it will be settled. No matter what, you can return to the temple by then."

One year...

Calculating this, in total it would be just three years.

For a fourth-rank cultivator, three years is genuinely not long; sometimes a single retreat lasts more than three years. Besides, two years have already passed, just another year of hiding.

Thinking of this, Shen Hou was inclined to agree.

However, some guarantees cannot be omitted.

"With Tan Wuwei present, wanting to do anything is too difficult, just like these two years; I can't guarantee any major contribution," Shen Hou said.

To this, Daoist Guang Cheng directly waved his hand and said, "Junior Brother, just being in Buddha Country is the greatest contribution."

He hadn't forgotten the words from Jiang Li earlier.

This time, Shen Hou played an indispensable role in Manjusri's deception.

As long as Shen Hou was within the enemy's core, even if he did nothing, it was already a great help.

And once Shen Hou returned to their side...

Maybe Manjusri's today could be Jiang Li's future.

The carrier of Shen Gongbao Dao Fruit being on the ally's side is truly terrifying.

After patching Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit, Jiang Li could observe even the microscopic fortune of third grade; he personally witnessed the tremendous impact Manjusri's fortune faced as it diminished.

Perhaps not fatal, but definitely a hindrance.

Upon hearing this assurance from Daoist Guang Cheng, Shen Hou showed a somewhat satisfied nod, saying, "So be it."

He was still unaware that Jiang Li's reason for having him infiltrate included preventing him from causing trouble upon his return, just assuming he was meant to sabotage the enemy's plans. Shen Hou not only minded this but actually felt quite proud.

Seeing the enemy defeated with his inactivity, talking and laughing as allies crumble, isn't it delightful?

"Good." Daoist Guang Cheng was also quite satisfied with this response.

"By the way, remember not to tell Junior Brother Yin the truth, he's still a child despite his age. I'm worried he might leak it."

"Alright."

"More importantly, I want to see Junior Brother Yin realize the truth and recall the hostility and killing intent towards me over the past three years, and feel guilty. With his personality, he might slap himself instantly."

"...Alright."

Daoist Guang Cheng hesitated for a moment but agreed.

This was also a necessary sacrifice.

After that, Shen Hou continued with some trivial talk, then waved his hand, saying, "That's about it, Senior Brother, you should go."

"Not continuing to talk?" Daoist Guang Cheng asked.

Shen Hou rarely relaxed, and Daoist Guang Cheng also wanted to give him as much relaxation time as possible.

"Tan Wuwei should return soon."

Shen Hou had already resumed his calm demeanor, saying, "She greatly values believers and incense, and it might relate to her Dao Fruit. Now that Manjusri is defeated, to prevent these monks from being pursued, Tan Wuwei will surely come promptly."

So, snatching even a brief moment to unwind was enough.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Guang Cheng no longer lingered, nodding, "Junior Brother, until we meet again."

"Until we meet again."

The two bid farewell, the barrier dissolved, and Yin Yang Two Extremes Sword Light also instantly dissipated.

Everything seemed as if it had never happened.

Soon afterwards, within less than half a cup of tea time, Tan Wuwei returned.

Indeed, just as Shen Hou said, she highly valued her followers and was greatly relieved when she observed the monks' minimal losses, her expression softened somewhat.

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