Li Miaozhen?!

How could she be here…

A brief silence fell over the room, with everyone’s expressions showing subtle changes—some embarrassed, some surprised, some ashamed. Among them, Golden Lotus Daoist and Chu Yuanzhen were the most uncomfortable, one being a steady and reliable elder, the other a highly educated top scholar.

The higher their social standing, the more awkward they felt.

Asura couldn’t help wanting to press his palms together to ease the tension. Though they claimed to be planning, it was still beneath their dignity for such distinguished second-rank experts to gossip about others’ private matters.

Relatively speaking, Xu Qi’an, Miao Youfang, and Li Lingsu felt the least embarrassed. Being a scoundrel, wandering swordsman, and playboy respectively—the benefits of having a poor reputation were showing.

“Heh, why did you stop prying?” Li Miaozhen swept her gaze across the room, quite satisfied with everyone’s expressions.

The group could only respond with awkward laughter.

Blue Lotus Daoist refused to let this opportunity pass, saying with a cold smile: “This poor Daoist doesn’t mind. Ask whatever you wish to know.”

Having spent so much time together, she knew exactly what the members of the Heaven and Earth Society were like. When she heard them urging Guardian Yuan to read minds, Li Miaozhen knew someone would try to investigate afterward. So she pretended to leave the Imperial Observatory but secretly doubled back, hoping to catch Guardian Yuan returning from the latrine. Struck by inspiration, she hid herself in the soul-nurturing sachet and waited like a hunter for prey.

She just hadn’t expected there would be so many “rabbits”…

The atmosphere grew awkward as Li Lingsu, Miao Youfang, and the others kept glancing at Xu Qi’an, hoping he could step forward to dissolve this mortifying situation.

Only he could make Li Miaozhen happy now.

Miaozhen has become quite clever, and increasingly difficult to handle… Well, when everyone loses face together, it’s like no one lost face. That’s some consolation… Xu Qi’an cleared his throat and said: “After three days apart, I see you with new eyes. Miaozhen, seeing your growth makes this Silver Badge truly proud.”

Li Miaozhen responded with a delicate snort.

Xu Qi’an immediately brought up a new topic to divert everyone’s attention: “Since almost everyone is here, instead of waiting until tomorrow, let’s discuss our plan to attack Arantha and rescue Divine Executioner’s head.”

Golden Lotus Daoist said with righteous dignity: “Share your thoughts.”

Everyone cooperatively put on serious expressions, appearing focused on important matters.

Since they were forcefully steering toward serious business, Li Miaozhen couldn’t continue her group mockery. She muttered internally: Xu Ningyan is such a scoundrel!

“I plan to have Huaiqing, Yang Gong, Kou Yangzhou, and the National Preceptor stay to guard the capital against attacks from Witch God Cult’s transcendent experts. As for the battlefield at Arantha, I will handle the Bodhi Tree. How to deal with Crystal Buddha and Guangxian Buddha—that’s what we need to focus our discussion on.”

Xu Qi’an glanced at Asura and said: “Among our second-rank experts, both Asura and Nine-tailed Celestial Fox favor close combat. They might have difficulty dealing with the two Buddhas’ Dharma Bodies.”

Though martial artists could dominate battlefields, their biggest flaw was the inability to pin down opponents.

When facing other experts of the same rank, the opponent might not be able to defeat you, but they could still flee. They might even spit at you and say: “Pah, crude martial artist!”

And there would be nothing you could do about it.

Asura tapped the table, seeming somewhat displeased: “Though my style is similar to martial artists, I possess the Bandit Slayer and Alms Receiver rankings. Compared to martial artists, I have many more tactical options.”

His expression suggested, “Don’t lump me together with those crude martial artists.”

“Furthermore, the Nine-tailed Fox has numerous techniques at her disposal. She simply hasn’t displayed them because her spiritual essence hasn’t fully awakened, or perhaps it’s not as strong as her physical form.”

Martial artists are truly a despised profession. When I advance to Martial God, I’ll make all transcendent experts from every system in the Nine Provinces kneel and sing “Conquest”… Xu Qi’an counter-questioned: “So?”

Asura replied: “For Guangxian Buddha, the combined forces of myself, the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, and Zhao Shou’s support should be sufficient.”

With Zhao Shou wearing his Confucian cap and wielding his carving knife, he was equivalent to a second-rank expert. In past battles, they had discovered that three second-rank experts working together could roughly handle one of the Buddhist sect’s first-rank experts.

Of course, this required complementary skills and proper coordination between different specialties.

If their domains were too similar, three second-rank experts facing a first-rank one would only result in a thorough defeat.

A positive example was the Heavenly Tribulation battle with Luo Yuheng, where Asura, Zhao Shou, and Golden Lotus Daoist worked together.

A negative example was the transcendent battle outside Xunzhou City, with Asura, Kou Yangzhou, and Xu Qi’an.

Additionally, the three-versus-one strategy only applied to Buddhist Buddhas; there was no combat data for first-rank experts from other systems.

Asura continued: “Among the Buddhist Buddhas, while the Bodhi Tree has the strongest combat power, Crystal Buddha is universally acknowledged as the most difficult to handle.”

Li Miaozhen frowned: “Crystal Buddha?”

Asura nodded and explained: “She controls the Crystal Dharma Body, also known as the ‘Colorless Crystal Dharma Body’ and the ‘Walker’s Dharma Body.’ The former creates a domain where all techniques, thoughts, and movements become extremely slow for those trapped within. Only Crystal herself can move freely.”

The non-martial artist transcendent experts present felt a chill.

For them, this ability was practically a trump card.

“The Colorless Crystal domain extends roughly sixty zhang in radius. While not particularly large, she also controls the Walker’s Dharma Body. In terms of speed, Crystal Buddha is unmatched in the current Nine Provinces. With ultimate speed and domain deployment, no one can escape.”

“This is why I say Crystal is the most difficult to deal with.”

After Asura finished, Li Lingsu pondered: “Could we use Confucian techniques to prevent the domain from expanding?”

Since Zhao Shou wasn’t present, Xu Qi’an answered on his behalf: “That’s one approach, but directly harming or restricting experts of higher rank causes severe backlash. It shouldn’t be used carelessly except in critical moments—best saved as a trump card.”

Li Miaozhen then looked at the Orange Cat Daoist: “Daoist, if you sacrifice yourself for the Dao, could you use merit power to counter-kill her?”

“Excellent idea!” everyone exclaimed with delight.

…Orange Cat raised his paw and firmly smacked the table: “Don’t joke about this!”

“If this poor Daoist dies by Crystal’s hand, she would certainly be plagued by misfortune afterward, making it difficult to survive the chaotic transcendent battle. Even if this Daoist were willing to sacrifice myself, Crystal might not be willing to kill me.”

We can consider Golden Lotus Daoist a troublemaker. Unless opponents are prepared to perish together, no one dares touch him. Earth Sect is truly shameless… Xu Qi’an was internally criticized.

“That’s not right!” Yang Qianxian, being a ritualist, shook his head: “Fortune can offset misfortune. If the Buddhist sect uses their fortune, Daoist, your death would be in vain.”

Orange Cat’s feline face showed vigilance.

Xu Qi’an reassured him: “Fortune is something the Buddhist sect treasures dearly; they won’t use it against you. Besides, only ritualists can control and use fortune. The Buddhist Buddhas don’t possess such ability.”

Even he only awakened to control the power of national fortune after repeatedly hammering his skull with the Chaos Command Hammer.

And all of that still required help from ritualists.

Super-rank Buddhas might be able to control fortune, but the Bodhisattvas definitely couldn’t possess such ability.

Orange Cat relaxed slightly.

Chu Yuanzhen glanced at the frowning Li Lingsu and smiled: “I recall that Crystal Buddha is a rare beauty. Why not send the Holy Son? He’s most skilled at handling women.”

Li Lingsu protested: “Why not Xu Ningyan? He’s the more unfaithful and lecherous man.”

No, no, no, I focus on quality, targeting young and beautiful premium women, while you’re just a shared bicycle that ladies take turns riding… After finishing his internal criticism, Xu Qi’an swiftly slapped Guardian Yuan to the ground.

Guardian Yuan rose, covering his face and complaining pitifully: “Why did you hit me?”

Xu Qi’an apologetically said: “Sorry, reflex action.”

Guardian Yuan silently retreated to Sun Xuanji’s side. In this cold Central Plains, only Senior Brother Sun could give him a slight sense of security.

Sun Xuanji glanced at him, and Guardian Yuan understood, reading minds: “I remember when Xu Ningyan killed Joan back then, Observatory Master wounded Crystal. How did he manage that?”

Xu Qi’an pondered briefly before answering: “As expected, it was through ‘brute force.’ At that time, Crystal was in the Central Plains, and Observatory Master could mobilize the power of the masses.”

Ritualists’ methods weren’t many, yet weren’t few. The Fate Master’s divine ability was to glimpse the future, so the Observatory Master’s ways of defeating enemies weren’t numerous.

Orange Cat swayed his tail and said: “In other words, possessing Observatory Master’s combat power from that time would be enough to break Crystal’s Colorless domain.”

Everyone looked at Xu Qi’an.

Orange Cat shook his head: “When Xu Ningyan mobilizes the power of the masses, his combat power surpasses Observatory Master’s, but in the Western Regions, it’s still somewhat lacking.”

Hearing this, those around the table frowned in worry.

Crystal Buddha was extremely troublesome, truly capable of threatening their lives.

Among those present, only Asura and Xu Qi’an were safe from mortal danger.

At this point, Xu Qi’an slowly said: “With the Nation-protecting Sword’s support, I should be able to break Crystal Buddha’s Colorless domain.”

Everyone was startled.

Asura expressed disbelief: “Your cultivation has progressed so rapidly?”

He couldn’t believe Xu Ningyan could continue advancing so dramatically after reaching first rank. That seemed impossible.

Is he some kind of monster? Even with national fortune blessing him, this shouldn’t be possible… Chu Yuanzhen and others clicked their tongues in amazement.

“Not exactly!” Xu Qi’an explained: “My Seven Fatal Gu has advanced to a transcendent level. The Strength Gu’s ‘Blood Sacrifice’ can temporarily boost my combat power. Combined with the Nation-protecting Sword, my power should match Observatory Master’s from that time.”

Almost forgot this guy knows Gu techniques… Asura felt better.

Won’t the Seven Fatal Gu have hidden dangers? Need to find a chance to warn him… Li Miaozhen was more concerned about potential backlash from this item originating from the Gu God.

Orange Cat Daoist spoke with some anticipation: “Perhaps this time we can thoroughly investigate the relationship between Buddha and Divine Executioner.”

Hearing this, the Heaven and Earth Society members all showed excitement—they were about to unveil the mysteries of a super-rank expert.

After discussing for another half a quarter hour, Miao Youfang seized the opportunity to raise a concern: “Is it possible that Witch God Cult’s transcendent experts might ambush us in the Western Regions? We think we’ve figured out their plan, but what if they’ve anticipated that we’d anticipate their plan?”

No one spoke.

“That won’t happen!” Xu Qi’an broke the silence, helping his disciple save face: “Both the Witch God Cult and the Buddhist sect covet the Central Plains; they’re competitors. Once in the Western Regions, who can guarantee the Buddhist sect won’t move against the Witch God Cult? Remember, Buddha has already broken free from the seal and can take action, while Witch God’s influence can’t reach that far.”

“Saren Agu will seize the opportunity when we fight each other, but he absolutely won’t risk everything just to kill us.”

Miao Youfang looked around, and seeing everyone’s expressions unchanged, realized these people had already considered this point.

I’m still not clever enough… Miao Youfang felt ashamed for a second.

“Senior Brother Sun, is there any way to extract the essence of a first-rank expert?” Xu Qi’an suddenly asked.

Guardian Yuan read minds and translated nearby: “I only know the formation for refining blood pills, but that can’t refine first-rank flesh essence. You plan to…”

Those around the table raised their eyebrows, looking at Xu Ningyan as a bold guess arose in their minds.

Xu Qi’an nodded: “I plan to take this opportunity to kill the Bodhi Tree and extract his flesh essence to advance to mid-first rank.”

“Of course, this isn’t the main objective; we needn’t force it. Bodhi Tree’s defense is too formidable. We might defeat him but not necessarily kill him. Besides, as you said, blood pill refining methods can’t extract first-rank expert flesh essence.”

This was what Nine-tailed Fox had helped him learn from Divine Executioner—the fastest way to advance to mid-first rank. Bodhi Tree followed both Chan Master and Warrior Monk paths, making him half a martial artist, perfectly compatible with Xu Qi’an.

However, crudely consuming flesh and blood would only allow limited essence absorption, not enough to support his advancement to mid-first rank.

Yang Qianxian said irritably: “Foolish!”

“Leave such intellectual matters to Song Qin. Give him a chance to extract first-rank flesh essence, and he’ll be so excited he won’t sleep for seven days and nights, developing a complete plan.”

“If even Song Qin can’t manage it, then we needn’t consider it.”

Right, there’s still the genius Song Qin. Biological alchemy is his specialty… Xu Qi’an’s eyes lit up.

Observatory Master’s disciples may all be freaks, but they’re certainly useful… everyone inwardly sighed.

Xu Qi’an concluded the meeting: “Then, we end here for today. Two days later, we’ll gather at the Imperial Observatory to attack Arantha.”