There were many questions that required answers. However, observing how quickly Niu Chang grew and adapted to his situation, the seven saints felt the weight of time pressing upon them. Even the nonchalant old monk began to take Niu Chang seriously; he might not care about the world, but he did care about his own well-being.
If they were to release Niu Chang for a month, what would naturally await him? Naturally there will be someone who is stronger than him come knocking on his door, ready to put a leash around his neck.
"I understand that many of you have your own confusion and doubts. I will address all of them using this simple method," the young man declared as he stood up from his seat.
"I swear on my dao heart that I will assist all seven of you in breaking through to the perfection stage once we eliminate the danger. I will not prolong my help beyond the completion of this mission. If I fail to uphold this vow, I am willing to be consumed by my inner demon's fire and let my dao dissipate."
With this statement, the young man provided the seven saints with an offer they could not refuse when it came to confronting Niu Chang.
Their current world was insufficient to support their next stage of cultivation, which resulted in their constant stagnation at the advanced stage of the saint realm.
Continuing his explanation, the young man added, "As you are aware, the threat tend to become stronger when facing adversaries. It's a form of karma—whenever he forms negative karma with someone, he gains their power level. However, there is no need to worry, as I can prevent this from happening."
This explanation cleared the last remaining doubt in the saints' hearts. They now understood the peculiarity of Niu Chang's ability—to naturally gain the same power as his enemies, a concept beyond their previous knowledge.
However, many of them were still puzzled as to why Niu Chang hadn't increased his cultivation level by absorbing that energy. Lan Xin voiced this question, asking, "What if the boy is actually concealing his true cultivation level? Given his understanding, it wouldn't be too difficult for him to create a skill that hides his true strength."
"Do not concern yourselves with this matter. I assure you that the threat is indeed not concealing his true cultivation level or anything else, except for a technique he has yet to reveal," the young man reassured them.
The other saints followed, each asking their own question for the young man to answer, reassuring them again and again.
It reached the point where the other monk asked the real question, "Why are you gathering seven of us if you are stronger than the seven of us to face the boy?"
The saints were naturally aware of how grandiose their lineup was, but they didn’t want to be the ones who pointed this problem out.
“I know what you are trying to say, but you already knew how powerful this threat was. It is not something that can be solely judged by his cultivation level alone. When facing the threat was fighting Da Jiu, an early stage saint, he could easily defeat him with one simple move.”
“Now let me ask you this, if I had not shown the real footage of that battle, would you believe me if I said someone who is not even at the foundation establishment realm is able to defeat a saint in one move?”
The young man looked at Lan Xin, “Miss Lan, what do you think the biggest danger of this threat actually is?”
Lan Xin put down her celestial board and said seriously, “Although the boy had unlimited energy resources, that was actually not a problem. We can just seal off the world and disperse his energy. The method he used to defeat Da Jiu was the only application of energy when facing a saint while not being a saint. By combusting the energy at an instantaneous rate to cause a massive explosion, even the saint was unable to defend himself properly since it was pure destruction, not any fancy trick or anything.”
“The biggest danger he possesses is his great comprehension and limitless creativity in solving problems in the most efficient way.”
“If I had to put it in simpler terms, I believe I don’t have any chance of winning if I face him alone. He might adapt and counter everything I do after each move and ultimately defeat me without leaving any escape.”
“He is someone who is not limited by his realm, for his mind has already transcended the nature of cultivation itself.”
“What a great evaluation,” the old monk said while clapping, but the sarcastic remarks were evident. “So what if he is able to defeat that puny early stage with one move? Isn't it because he does it sneakily?”
“Now that we know his method, naturally we are better than that guy.”
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Everyone was looking at the old monk with the same gaze. Lan Xin had just stated that the biggest threat of Niu Chang was his unfathomable method, but he was suggesting that they only need to counter it.
The man with many wives, Tu Nong, and the elderly from the Green Sun Sect turned their attention to look at the other monk.
They remained silent, as everything was very clear.
Aware that the old man was a monk, they chose to ignore it. Talking with a monk would lead to no accomplishment; this was a universally acknowledged fact.
Perhaps he spoke bluntly out of ignorance, but that didn't imply he was foolish. Maybe he intended to keep the boy's secret for himself.
This was why the three men fixed their gaze upon the other monk, a younger man who still retained his hair.
The younger monk let out a sigh and chanted, "amabatukam."
"I understand you harbor prejudices, but your judgment should be based on the present reality. Please leave room for an unbiased perspective."
The younger monk refrained from retorting or defending himself, as he simply desired an opportunity for understanding from the others.
However, this proved to be an unattainable wish.
Between a devil and a monk, the three individuals would readily trust the devil. With a devil, at least, the evil nature was evident. Yet, for a monk... no further thinking was needed...
Nevertheless, given their gathering here, the young man hosting the assembly had undoubtedly considered each member thoroughly.
Therefore, he chose to step forward. "Rest assured, I guarantee there will be no backstabbing or betrayal during this mission."
Though he avoided looking at the monks, his words carried a distinct clarity.
Upon hearing this, the old monk sneered, while the other monk remained silent.
Lan Xin's assessment had persuaded everyone, so further inquiries were unnecessary.
During a brief intermission, everyone took a moment to rest.
The remaining individuals were the young man with the heavenly appearance, Dao Jin Dan, and the monk who retained his hair.
“I know what the two of you wanted to ask. But I can’t fulfill it even if you ask. But that person promised to meet you if we succeed in eradicating the threat.”
"Since you have already given your word, I can be assured," the younger monk said.
Dao Jin Dan simply nodded in affirmation.
"Now, shall we leave?" the young man's voice echoed throughout the entire Flower Fruit Island.
He didn't ask; rather, he provided a notification to depart immediately.
...
In the deep part of the sea,
The sky remained as gloomy as ever, with harsh winds and endless giant seawaves.
Niu had just finished setting up his small goal when he suddenly felt that something was amiss.
But just as he was about to capture this fleeting feeling, it suddenly disappeared.
He immediately entered his space of mind and looked at the gigantic celestial astrolabe, which was working independently.
There, he discovered what he had just forgotten.
He extended his hand to grasp something from the celestial astrolabe.
It was a weightless gray light with the texture of water. Niu Chang played with it while pondering what this thing was.
'Something is actually interfering with me without triggering the system?' Niu Chang thought.
The gray light remained stable in his hand, but his thoughts were continuously interrupted, as if an invisible force was trying to erase them.
‘There is actually something that is able to influence my thoughts inside my own space of mind? What powerful enemy do I have now?'
Niu Chang didn't need to activate any countermeasures, as everything he had was on standby all the time. Even now, he was already utilizing every countermeasure he possessed.
'Tsk tsk, nothing works against this invisible force.'
'You don't want me to think about you, but that is a mistake in itself.'
'The way of karma is intricate and elusive; causality is prominent but fragile. For every effect, there will be a cause. Now the cause is being erased, leaving only the shadow of the effect.'
'But in the end, it's always about two sides. If the other side wanted to erase it, why bother chasing after its trail if I can just use my side.'
Even if his thoughts could be influenced, it was different for the celestial astrolabe, which stood on its own using only binary. Even so, it still affected it, but that was not really a problem for it.
It could just use various methods to address the "***" with other named variables and run deductions based on that.
Nothing was unbreakable; for something to rise, something also needed to fall.
Not long after, the second brain presented Niu Chang with its deductions naturally, using various methods to re-route everything that was banned with something else, so he could understand what was actually happening.
'Hah!' Niu Chang let out a short laugh. 'This is going to be exciting.'
He exited his state of mind and abandoned his plan to resurrect his two followers. Instead, he prepared himself for what was coming at him.