"The purpose of insects is to feed the fish. Don't you think so?"
Before the Demon Buddha's phantom, which protruded from the seal, a scene of Meng Qi and the others appeared. The Demon Buddha watched it all with a smile on His face.
Zhang Yuanshan, Fu Zhenzhen—or rather, everyone except Qi Zhengyan—existed to nurture those two fish.
The purpose of insects was to be fed to them; only the timing and nutritional balance of the feeding mattered.
Even though more insects had survived thanks to Xu Yue's occasional interventions, if the Demon Buddha wished it, they still could not escape becoming feed.
At the same time, the Demon Buddha had been observing Xu Yue, sensing the changes in his aura.
This being, suspected to be the reincarnation of Great Creation Powers, had likely chosen reincarnation to avoid the scouring of the River of Time and to facilitate making arrangements in advance.
To abandon one's cultivation rather than choose slumber, and instead dare to reincarnate—combined with origins that had yet to be uncovered—even though the Demon Buddha was quite confident in Himself, He had no intention of abandoning caution.
"Of course. But the nourishment in the bait can also govern the fish's growth. The bait you arranged is indeed comprehensive, containing every kind of nourishment, but it lacks one crucial ingredient."
Xu Yue likewise watched the scene within the light screen calmly. Whether it was Cao Zhan dying in battle or Zhang Yuanshan and Fu Zhenzhen becoming star-crossed lovers bound by the same fate, nothing stirred the slightest ripple in him. The aloof coldness about him did not waver in the least.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
The Demon Buddha spoke with interest, His aura taking on an increasingly Zen-like quality.
"A bitter wine called betrayal."
"I see..."
A