Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2267: 57: Lost Souls
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
“We would never have ended up in this wretched place if the Evil Monks of the Supreme True Buddha hadn't barricaded the borders of the Cloud Sky Realm…”
Standing in the vast void, more than ten figures stared toward the horizon where "black waves" surged. Before them lay a stretch of the Realm Sea filled with debris and countless mysterious, shadowed zones that resembled silent, murky swamps.
To the naked eye, it appeared as a bottomless ocean combined with the characteristics of a boundless, ancient marsh forest.
The danger lurking within was already palpable to these Tribulation-Transcending Realm cultivators, whose sharp Spiritual Sense warned them of the risks even before they set foot inside.
“Is this truly the Soul Falling?”
“Does it really contain that many Realm Sea whirlpools?”
Wang Ba stood amidst the group, his gaze fixed on the area ahead—a place even darker than the surrounding void—feeling a growing sense of anticipation.
“Everyone, use extreme caution once we enter. The Soul Falling is a natural death trap within the Realm Sea, filled with erratic laws and hidden perils. Your Dao Domain, Magic Tools, and Dao Treasures will be severely restricted and cannot function as they usually do, which is why most avoid this place. However, to reach the Cloud Sky Realm in time, this is our only path.”
Their leader, a middle-aged man at the middle-stage of the Tribulation-Transcending Realm known as ‘True Man Ba’, turned to face the group. With a grim expression, he continued:
“Since everyone here has gathered to support the Cloud Sky Realm, I will be blunt.”
“Only Taoist Friend Nie and I have reached the middle-stage of the Tribulation-Transcending Realm. We recognize our responsibility, so we will take the lead. Taoist Friend Nie and I will guard the front and the rear of the formation until we locate a Realm Sea whirlpool that can transport us near the Cloud Sky Realm.”
“But let me warn you now; this journey is treacherous. If any Taoist Friend ignores my orders, acts on their own, or endangers the group, I will show no mercy! You should all be familiar with my reputation.”
Though he did not raise his voice, the cold severity of his words caused several cultivators to scowl.
Many of them hailed from different Domains and were Tribulation-Transcending Realm experts themselves. Usually treated with the highest reverence in their own lands, they were unaccustomed to such a disrespectful tone.
Nevertheless, because he was one of the two strongest cultivators present and the success of the mission hinged on his guidance, no one spoke up to challenge him.
Observing their silent compliance, True Man Ba’s expression softened slightly as he turned to the female cultivator at his side.
“True Man Nie, is there anything you wish to contribute?”
The woman, dressed in a pale yellow robe, possessed a gentle aura rather than striking beauty. She answered in a soft tone:
“True Man Ba has covered everything. I have no objections and will follow your lead.”
True Man Ba smiled and nodded.
“Very well. I shall spearhead the group, while you keep watch from the back.”
The cultivator surnamed Nie gave a small nod of agreement.
She said nothing more.
True Man Ba did not seem to mind her brevity.
He turned back to the others, his face darkening once more as he issued a cold command:
“Stay close! If you stray into a danger zone by accident, do not expect me to rescue you!”
With a sharp flick of his sleeve, he stowed his Flying Dao Treasure and accelerated toward the looming darkness of the ‘Soul Falling’.
The others traded looks of annoyance, but unwilling to stir up conflict, they suppressed their irritation and hurried after him.
Wang Ba paid little mind to True Man Ba’s arrogance. Instead, he was mentally comparing the locations of the Soul Falling and the Cloud Sky Realm using the Yin Family’s maps.
According to the charts, the gap between the two was not vast. If he pushed the Wind-Driving Staff to its limits, he estimated he could cover the distance in roughly a month.
Of course, he remained wary, knowing the Yin Family maps could be flawed or contain major inaccuracies.
As they approached the boundary of the Soul Falling, several cultivators began deploying Talismans and Magic Tools as a safety measure.
A cultivator beside Wang Ba, distinguished by blue patterns on his face and a large earring, pulled an item from his sleeve and tossed it forward.
Noticing Wang Ba watching, the patterned cultivator offered a friendly warning:
“The interior of the Soul Falling is incredibly lethal. It is better to prepare now so you can rely on yourself if things go wrong… Taoist Friend Taiyi, you should do the same.”
“I appreciate the tip, Taoist Friend Guang. Taking precautions is indeed the right move.”
After a moment of thought, Wang Ba produced a Token and tapped it, causing an intricate Divine Pattern to glow briefly.
He released it outside the Soul Falling, where the Token vanished without a sound.
Having learned from the incident where the Divine Corpse’s six-finger vanished, he had refined the Divine Pattern to ensure he could track it even across immense distances.
With his preparations finished, he followed the group into the shadowy, mysterious ‘deep swamp’.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the light failed, and his vision became a blur.
His heart tightened instantly!
For a Tribulation-Transcending Realm cultivator to struggle with visibility was unheard of, confirming that the warnings from True Man Hanqing and True Man Ba were accurate.
“The laws governing this place are truly distinct from the rest of the Realm Sea.”
He looked around, watching as the darkness rolled in like a deep-sea tide.
As he attempted to sense the surrounding environment, he realized the local laws were massive but utterly chaotic, resembling the messy scribbles of a child rather than an orderly system.
In such a place, not only were Dao Domains and Dao Treasures suppressed, but even the specific laws he had mastered were nearly impossible to invoke against such overwhelming, disorganized power.