Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2268: 157: Fallen Souls (Part 2)
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
One can only avoid being influenced by these surroundings when the laws they have mastered reach a state of perfection and become entirely self-contained.
“The primary advantage of early-stage Tribulation-Transcending Realm cultivators is stripped away when they cannot utilize their rules. In this state, the gap between them and Unification cultivators isn't that large… It makes sense why this region is labeled as a death trap.”
As the expressions of the nearby cultivators shifted slightly, a moment of clarity passed through Wang Ba’s mind.
In a place like this, perhaps only Mahayana Cultivators—those whose mastery of rules transcends the Realm Sea and remains self-contained—can travel without concern.
Wang Ba quickly observed True Man Ba leading the group and True Man Nie guarding the rear. While both appeared vigilant, they didn't share the same level of dread as the others, which gave Wang Ba further insight.
Cultivators at the early stage of the Tribulation-Transcending Realm have only begun to grasp the rules, making it difficult for them to withstand the environment of Soul Falling. However, middle-stage cultivators possess a deeper level of rule mastery and are consequently less affected.
This was clearly the foundation of True Man Ba’s self-assurance.
Within Soul Falling, the ability to wield rules is the difference between navigating the waves in a fragile skiff versus a massive galleon.
Though the logic was intricate, these thoughts crossed Wang Ba’s mind in a mere instant.
Meanwhile, the group trailed behind True Man Ba, slowing their pace as they cautiously entered the encroaching gloom.
Chaotic gales and whistling winds buffeted the party. While they caused no physical injury, they brought a sinister, bone-deep chill that only intensified. Before long, ghostly whispers and mournful cries began to echo in their ears, never-ending and eerie…
Wang Ba scanned the path ahead, his eyes suddenly locking onto a cultivator just in front of him. The man’s Primordial Spirit had unexpectedly drifted out from his Xin Gate; with a dazed expression, the soul began to float away, caught in the malevolent wind!
“The falling of the soul!”
“Is this why they call it Soul Falling? Even those in the Tribulation-Transcending Realm can lose their lives if they drop their guard for a second!”
With a grim expression, Wang Ba prepared to intervene.
However, True Man Ba had already sensed the disturbance. Abruptly halting, he spun around and thrust his palm downward with great force!
The drifting Primordial Spirit was violently slammed back into the cultivator's body by True Man Ba's strike!
Once his Primordial Spirit was reinstated, the cultivator’s eyes regained their clarity immediately.
Flooded with a mix of terror and profound gratitude, he stammered out:
“Thank you, Taoist Brother Ba!”
“Save your breath! Shut off your five senses right now! Use only spiritual sense to communicate! Stay close to me!”
Without sparing the man a glance, True Man Ba issued a sharp, urgent warning as he sensed the growing danger.
Flushed with shame, the rescued cultivator didn't dare argue. He immediately sealed his five senses, relying solely on his spiritual sense to track his surroundings.
Wang Ba narrowed his eyes and looked around, but he chose not to close his five senses.
Due to the potent effects of his Dharma Lineage, the foundation of his Primordial Spirit was exceptionally sturdy. Despite being at the early stage of the Tribulation-Transcending Realm, the sheer variety of rules he had mastered was unmatched by anyone present, leaving him unafraid of the ghostly sounds haunting Soul Falling.
Furthermore, spiritual sense was not infallible. Combining it with his natural five senses provided a vital secondary layer of protection.
Wang Ba soon noticed that he wasn't alone in this choice; both True Man Ba at the front and True Man Nie at the back had kept their five senses active. Both were meticulously scanning the area, adjusting their speed to navigate the hazards.
Suddenly, True Man Ba turned his head, his eyes flashing with sharp irritation as he barked:
“You, the one from Zhang’s Ruins…”
“I am Taiyi.”
Noting the man's hostility, Wang Ba’s expression darkened slightly as he raised a hand in acknowledgment.
“I ordered you to close your five senses! What do you think you're doing?!”
True Man Ba’s face was stern as he shouted his reprimand.
This outburst drew the attention of the other cultivators. Their spiritual senses swept over the scene, seeing True Man Ba lose his temper once more. Although a few felt some sympathy for Wang Ba, no one dared to speak up.
Wang Ba stared at his accuser, his face clouding over with annoyance.
With a focused gaze, he suddenly threw his arm out. His sleeve billowed outward like a great cloud, abruptly lunging toward True Man Ba!
The sudden move startled the entire group!
At the rear, True Man Nie’s expression shifted rapidly as he shouted in alarm:
“Stop!”
True Man Ba was caught off guard by Wang Ba’s sudden outburst. Feeling a mix of shock and fury, he prepared to launch a counterattack.
But in the following heartbeat, a freezing sensation raced down his spine!
Before he could move, a high-pitched, piercing shriek erupted, followed by the sound of something scraping past him at high speed.
The chill vanished as a shadowy figure struggled violently while being dragged away.
Exclamations soon broke out from True Man Nie and the other cultivators.
“What on earth is that?!”
“There are monsters hiding inside the wind!”
“Is that the source of those ghostly whispers?”
“Taoist Friend Taiyi is truly skilled; I didn't even sense it!”
True Man Ba turned toward the voices.
He saw Wang Ba standing calmly, gripping a dark object about three feet long.
The creature looked like a fox, but it was wreathed in ghostly Qi, appearing half-solid and half-incorporeal. Its throat was firmly pinned, and it bared its teeth in a desperate attempt to flee.
The cultivators gathered around, whispering in amazement at the sight.
Even True Man Nie, who had remained aloof until now, looked at the Black Fox with surprise and stepped forward to inspect it.
Standing outside the circle, True Man Ba realized that the man from Zhang’s Ruins hadn't been attacking him at all, but was capturing this entity.
He replayed the speed and precision Taiyi had just shown in his mind, and his heart tightened with apprehension.
Meanwhile, Wang Ba spoke in a casual tone: