Within the arena.
Demon Emperor Blood River stood in the void, his upright posture like a proud sword piercing through heaven and earth, his majestic figure resembling a solitary peak holding up the sky.
His hair was like ink, his robes like night.
Black hair danced wildly in the darkness, sleeves fluttered in this dark night.
His cold, stern face was as sharply defined as a sculpture, his expression indifferent, his eyes like abysses—deep, dark, mysterious, and chilling.
Opposite him.
Da Xing the Mad Monk had been silently waiting, waiting for Demon Emperor Blood River's reply.
Demon Emperor Blood River had not responded for a long time, and he dared not say anything more.
Facing such an aloof and supremely domineering Demon Emperor Blood River here, Da Xing felt that even one more word from him seemed superfluous. Moreover, standing beside Demon Emperor Blood River, he felt utterly uncomfortable, an indescribable sensation—not fear, not terror, but more like a kind of tension.
Damn it!
Those old bastards from the Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven, you made your own mess, yet you call this old monk out to clean up your shit!
If it weren't for the fact that your Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven once showed kindness to the Zen Sect, this old monk would never have stepped in to deal with your wretched affairs even if beaten to death!
Da Xing the Mad Monk swore inwardly that no matter whether Demon Emperor Blood River agreed today or not, this favor of his would be considered repaid. From now on, even if the Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven were slaughtered to extinction, he wouldn't spare it a glance.
Just as he was waiting, Demon Emperor Blood River, who had been standing silently and motionless in the void, suddenly moved.
He still did not speak, nor did he agree or refuse. Instead, he stepped forward and raised his hand. A strand of divine sense belonging to the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor appeared in his palm. He said, "Da Xing, we are even."
As his words fell, with a *bang*, this strand of the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor's divine sense was crushed to dust in his hand, utterly annihilated.
"From now on, we owe each other nothing."
After saying another sentence, he waved his hand, and a strand of divine sense belonging to Warrior Emperor Wuzang also turned to ash between his fingers.
Watching this scene, the Great Dao experts hiding within the ancient ruins all knew that Demon Emperor Blood River had ultimately given Da Xing the Mad Monk this face.
Only his words left many puzzled.
What did 'we are even' mean?
And what did 'we owe each other nothing' mean?
Wasn't it said that Da Xing the Mad Monk owed the Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven a favor, forcing him to step in and resolve this matter?
Judging by his tone, could it be that Demon Emperor Blood River also seemed to owe Da Xing the Mad Monk a favor?
Indeed.
Demon Emperor Blood River did owe Da Xing the Mad Monk a favor.
However.
That was a very, very long time ago, so long that even Da Xing himself had forgotten about the help he once gave Demon Emperor Blood River. Only now, hearing Demon Emperor Blood River mention it, did he remember, and he was deeply moved.
That incident back then, calling it help was perhaps too much; for Da Xing, it was merely a matter of convenience. If that could be considered a favor, it was at most a casual favor.
Da Xing truly hadn't expected Demon Emperor Blood River to remember such a casual favor from so long ago, and even more, he hadn't expected that for the sake of that casual favor, Demon Emperor Blood River would give him such face today.
How could this not move Da Xing? He was so moved he was at a loss for words, standing there dumbfounded, unsure what to do.
In truth, he did not know.
That incident back then might have been just a casual favor for Da Xing, but in Demon Emperor Blood River's eyes, a favor was a favor. There was never such a thing as 'casual'.
"Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven!
Let today's matter end here!"
Demon Emperor Blood River gazed at the heavens, his aloof and supremely domineering voice exploding through the Kan Palace void: "However, I will not forget this debt. When we meet again, I will make you repay it in blood."
Da Xing the Mad Monk also loudly shouted: "Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven, the task you asked this old monk to handle, this old monk has handled it for you. From now on, this old monk owes you no more favors. In the future, don't bother this old monk with your wretched affairs!"
"Heh heh!"
Laughter came—it was Miao Tathagata.
He sat cross-legged on the palm of that sacred great Buddha, the corner of his mouth still curled in an inscrutable smile. He shook his head slightly and said, "Blood River, you have greatly disappointed this seat, utterly disappointed."
Demon Emperor Blood River paid no attention to Miao Tathagata, not from beginning to end, not even sparing him a glance.
He hadn't when he arrived, and now as he was leaving, he still didn't.
Instead, it was Da Xing the Mad Monk who suddenly jumped out, pointing at Miao Tathagata and cursing: "Miao Tathagata, don't you just watch the fun without worrying about the trouble."
"This seat has never been watching any fun."
"Don't think this old monk doesn't know, this whole setup today is most likely your doing, you brat."
"Heh heh."
Miao Tathagata looked down at Da Xing the Mad Monk and said, "Da Xing, have you not noticed that this seat is also within this setup?
The one behind the scenes setting this trap is not just scheming against Blood River, but also against this seat."
Da Xing didn't know whether Miao Tathagata's words were true or false. Thinking carefully, it did seem as Miao Tathagata said—he himself was also within this setup.
But if this setup wasn't laid by Miao Tathagata, then who could it be?
Could it be the Great Sun Radiance Emperor?
Hard to say, and not easy to say.
Da Xing had carefully probed the surroundings; many experts were lying in ambush. He could detect most of them, but there were a few whose concealment was so profound he could only sense their presence, yet knew nothing about what kind of existences they were.
Whether the Great Sun Radiance Emperor was among these few existences was impossible to know.
Bei Changqing, hiding within the ancient ruins, had been closely watching everything happening in the arena. Hearing the conversation between Da Xing the Mad Monk and Miao Tathagata, she was deeply shocked and asked, "What do their words mean? Is all of this actually a conspiracy?"
"Indeed it is."
Elder Qi said gravely, "And it's a meticulously designed conspiracy. The seniors of the Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven likely saw that this was a conspiracy, which is why they never showed themselves. Miao Tathagata might also have long seen that this was a trap carefully laid by others, which is why he only suppressed the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor earlier and did not annihilate him."
"If both Miao Tathagata and the seniors of the Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven could see that this was a conspiracy, then Demon Emperor Blood River should also know. However, Demon Emperor Blood River has always done as he pleased, utterly unconcerned with so-called conspiracies. The one behind the scenes also gambled that Demon Emperor Blood River would not relent."
Elder Qi sighed, "If Da Xing the Mad Monk hadn't stepped in today, this situation would likely have been irredeemable. If they had truly fought, it would have been too..." "Then who laid this trap?"
Elder Qi shook his head; he didn't know the answer to that question either.
In the void.
Watching Demon Emperor Blood River walk further and further away, his figure gradually disappearing into the darkness, Da Xing the Mad Monk was just about to chase after him when suddenly, he sensed something amiss.
Not only him—Miao Tathagata also noticed the anomaly, and even Demon Emperor Blood River, who was gradually vanishing into the darkness, halted his steps in the void.