A human’s lifetime is just a lifetime. Concepts like the next life, reincarnation are all illusions; merits and blessings, to hell with them."

The Hulu Taoist abruptly waved his hand, signaling his three younger brothers, Zi Niu, Red Pill, and Bajiao, to slow down their attacks a bit.

Initially, Li Changxun was suppressed by the three Tun Jia Taishang and was barely able to catch his breath. Now, he managed to find some respite.

And the reason these four Tun Jia Taishang acted this way was nothing more than to force the people of Buddha Country to agree to join them.

You people of Buddha Country take us in, and we will fight with all our might. If you don’t, then we’ll just slack off — after all, at worst, we’ll die together.

This act of palace coercion did not draw the favor of that Medicine Buddha; the people of Buddha Country just quietly dealt with Zhou Xuan.

"Then let us endure and see who can last longer."

Hulu Taoist thought to himself, while continuously adding incense power to the "River Character Formation".

This incense power was added in a very subtle manner, ensuring Yun Ziliang couldn’t escape, yet not too forceful, so as not to harm Yun Ziliang’s fighting strength.

Preserving the opponent’s fighting strength has ironically become Hulu Taoist’s leverage now.

The audience, looking at the battlefield, felt annoyed, but among them were two people—Tiancan Monk and Eternal Life Sect Leader—who weren’t observing the battle but were looking at the Starry Sky Map above the stage.

Zhou Xuan’s Starry Sky Map was continually absorbing the eruptive Seven Emotions and Six Desires from the audience.

These "Seven Emotions and Six Desires" were the most crucial materials for refining the Human Pill.

Tiancan Monk looked at the Starry Sky Map with deep sorrow and said to Eternal Life Sect Leader, "Sect Leader, Zhou Xuan has calculated every possibility, but ultimately he didn’t rise to the power of nine sticks of incense. I fear he cannot win this battle.

If the future Dan Officer of the Heavenly Dome dies, we will not be able to handle the consequences. Shouldn’t we step into the battle ourselves?"

"No need to worry."

Eternal Life Sect Leader kept looking at the Starry Sky Map while shaking the rattle in his hand. Its rhythmic sound was punctuated by beads resembling tiny balls of blood staining each impact on its surface.

After shaking the rattle for a while, he laid his left ear against the drum skin, listened for a while, and then whispered, "Old Can, Yun Ziliang and Zhou Xuan have all reached the level of nine sticks of incense, which matches my predictions."

"Oh?" Tiancan Monk seemed surprised.

Eternal Life Sect Leader continued, "When Yun Ziliang used Feng Shui power just now, I was puzzled. His aura faintly reached nine sticks but looked like eight sticks. I guessed he must have reached nine sticks, but for some reason, he hid this fact.

Earlier, I used my "Mountain King Drum" to tap and calculate. As expected, both Zhou Xuan and Yun Ziliang wield the power of nine incense sticks.

Once Yun Ziliang and Zhou Xuan reach nine incense sticks, I dare not say they will dominate all sides, but at least, in the battle with Buddha Country and Tun Jia Taishang, the outcome is quite uncertain."

Tiancan Monk heard this and was about to speak loudly, but Eternal Life Sect Leader stopped him.

"If you speak loudly, the secret will be heard by Hulu Taoist and Medicine Buddha. Wouldn’t that disrupt Zhou Xuan’s plan?"

Despite their disagreements with Zhou Xuan, Eternal Life Sect Leader and Tiancan Monk found themselves on the same boat—if Zhou Xuan fails to refine a good pill, their days back at Heavenly Dome will likely be unpleasant.

"Do you think hiding one’s true strength is Zhou Xuan’s strategy?"

Tiancan Monk asked.

"Zhou Xuan is cunning. When unexpected things happen, there’s likely a demon involved. He’s got a trick up his sleeve, let’s just watch how things unfold."

After finishing, Eternal Life Sect Leader gazed once more at the Starry Sky Map.

...

Yun Ziliang and Li Changxun are both entangled, while Zhou Xuan with "Eight Incense Sticks" faces the siege of three Buddha Country people.

For a moment, danger seems imminent.

"Zhou Xuan, you are a person with the power of eight incense sticks, yet you can really run."

The Jieyin Vajra, finally managing to reach Zhou Xuan with quick footwork, immediately spun the Moon Wheel in his hand and hurled it towards Zhou Xuan. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The Moon Wheel, sharp beyond measure, whipped through the air with a howl.

Zhou Xuan neither dodged nor avoided, waiting until the wheel’s edge was about to slice his garments before abruptly activating "Divine Movement Armor", pulling himself tens of Zhang away from the Moon Wheel.

Having escaped desolation, Zhou Xuan wasn’t content with fleeing. Once he distanced himself, he immediately exercised "Divine Soul Day Trip",

His soul, invisible and intangible, clung to the all-white Medicine Buddha,

followed by Shifting Form, his true body emerging suddenly behind Medicine Buddha.

Then comes the Bone Teeth strike.

A white light shot towards Medicine Buddha’s vulnerability at his back.

"At such a time, how dare you counterattack? Should I admire your courage or despise your foolishness?"

The Pagoda-Bearing King’s statue guided the towering Golden Tower to shield the trajectory of Bone Teeth.

With a crisp "clang",

Bone Teeth was repelled, but the tower’s body acquired a barely visible crack.

"Something’s wrong, Pharmacist, this Mr. isn’t eight looking at nine, he’s Fake Nine Incense."

The Jieyin Heavenly King, who had chased Zhou Xuan by foot, concurred, "He was just eight looking at nine, now he’s Fake Nine Incense? His incense power is still rising!"

This news excited the audience, rekindling hope. As long as Mingjiang Prefecture’s Mr. stands, Mingjiang Prefecture still holds one last everlasting flame.

"If I don’t exert some pressure, you and Tun Jia Taishang cannot truly unite."