Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2284: 162: Identity (Part 2)

The eyes of the youth in purple robes flickered momentarily upon hearing those words, and his expression turned grave as he spoke:

“The Supreme True Buddha wields immense power; even if every cultivator joined forces, standing against him would be a struggle. Furthermore, the Tianshang Buddha possesses such limitless mana that few in existence can rival him. Because of this, the Heavenly Monarch and True Man Gai of my Sect, alongside the Xiahou Heavenly Venerate, are currently in deep seclusion. They are working together to forge a treasure specifically designed to oppose the Supreme True Buddha.”

“As it stands, I am afraid they are unable to grant you an audience, Taoist Friend.”

“Forging a treasure?”

Wang Ba felt a wave of anxiety wash over him as he processed this information.

In the vast expanse of the Realm Sea, what kind of treasure could possibly hold its own against a Mahayana cultivator?

Moreover, the Supreme True Buddha holds a staggering array of Dao treasures within the Sea of Chaos Realm. The sheer volume of top-tier Dao treasures he has amassed over countless years must be an astronomical figure.

Who could possibly hope to match the sheer wealth and resources of the Supreme True Buddha?

Despite his confusion, Wang Ba held his tongue and did not pry further, mindful of his status as a newcomer.

He simply nodded and remarked:

“I see. It appears my arrival was poorly timed, causing me to miss the chance to meet True Man Gai…”

The purple-robed youth, possessing keen intuition, showed a flash of curiosity:

“Is it your wish to meet True Man Gai? For what reason?”

He posed the question bluntly. Wang Ba was prepared to respond, but he suddenly recalled the strange attitude Heavenly Monarch Chao displayed regarding the breaking of the Immortal Pass, as well as the guidance he had received. Changing his approach, he replied with respect:

“I have long admired the illustrious reputation of True Man Gai and hold him in high regard. Since he is currently in seclusion, I can only lament this missed opportunity.”

The youth in purple robes accepted this without suspicion. While True Man Gai might not be a household name among the younger generation, his prestige was well-established among Crossing Tribulation cultivators beyond the realm.

He offered a word of comfort, saying:

“The Supreme True Buddha has kept our realm besieged for several years, maintaining a tight grip. A massive conflict is unavoidable, and when that time comes, you will surely have your chance to meet True Man Gai, Taoist Friend.”

Hearing this caused Wang Ba’s thoughts to drift back to the ambush he faced after emerging from the Soul Falling abyss, and his heart grew heavy.

The realm sea vortex located just outside the Cloud Sky Realm was extremely close. The fact that they could not even secure such a short distance proved how precarious the Cloud Sky Realm's situation truly was. Even if the defenses had not yet crumbled, the state of affairs was dire, perhaps even hopeless.

“Why does the Supreme True Buddha maintain the siege without launching an all-out assault?”

As they continued their walk, Wang Ba could not help but knit his brows in thought:

“Based on what Sect Leader Bai mentioned, if the Cloud Sky Realm cannot hope to defeat the Supreme True Buddha, they should have been crushed long ago…”

He paused briefly, searching for a more diplomatic phrasing:

“They should have breached the realm by this point, shouldn't they?”

The purple-robed youth remained composed and replied:

“There is no need for such formality. As a disciple of the Heavenly Monarch, we are of the same rank. Since I am likely your senior in years, you may simply call me Dao Brother… As for the reason they surround us without attacking, they likely fear a repeat of the invasions of the Canlong Realm and the Void Demon Realm. In those instances, both worlds were annihilated, yet the Heavenly Monarch and Xiahou Heavenly Venerate—two Mahayana cultivators—managed to escape. They have spent the time since then relentlessly harrying the Supreme True Buddha’s forces, stalling their progress. If the Cloud Sky Realm were to fall now, True Man Gai and the other two would surely flee as well…”

He left the thought unfinished, but Wang Ba caught the meaning instantly and was shocked:

“So, their goal is to trap all three Mahayana cultivators within this single realm?”

The youth in purple robes continued his leisurely pace toward a distant Taoist field that had just come into view, nodding in confirmation:

“Given the strength and foundation of the false monks serving the Supreme True Buddha, they are in no rush. By slowly tightening the noose, they can force the three Mahayana cultivators into the open and strike them down. Once they are gone, the Cloud Sky Realm will be nothing more than a ripe fruit waiting to be plucked.”

“In truth, the Supreme True Buddha has already shown us his hand.”

Perhaps because of the connection to Heavenly Monarch Chao, the youth was quite open with Wang Ba.

Wang Ba’s expression shifted as he listened.

If Sect Leader Bai’s assessment was accurate, the Cloud Sky Realm was doomed against the Supreme True Buddha.

However, observing how calmly the youth discussed their predicament and the enemy's plans, it became clear that the Cloud Sky Realm must have a hidden plan of their own.

As for the details of that plan, he knew the other man would not reveal them so easily.

Wisely, he did not press for more information. Instead, after a moment of hesitation, he said:

“Sect Lea… Dao Brother, if there is anything I can do to assist, please do not hesitate to ask.”

The purple-robed youth stopped in his tracks, turned around, and gave a small smile:

“The moment Taoist Friend Taiyi appeared, you were already of great service. Had you not scouted that region and its occupants, we would have remained ignorant of the many traps they set. We would have suffered terrible casualties once the fighting started in earnest.”

He then seemed to recall something important:

“Ah, it slipped my mind. Our realm has sent out a wide call for fellow Daoists to assist us, and in return, we have opened the treasure vault. With the Merit you earned from slaying several Bodhisattvas, you should be able to trade for something of value…”

Wang Ba felt his interest sharpen at those words. Remembering Chen Zhongqi’s mention of 'realm marrows,' he felt a surge of anticipation, though he spoke with feigned modesty:

“I worry that I have not earned such a reward…”

The purple-robed youth waved off the concern with great poise, replying:

“We are like family; there is no need for such politeness. I will have Zhong Qi escort you there immediately, before someone else claims whatever you might have your eye on…”

As luck would have it, Chen Zhongqi and several other Cloud Sky Realm cultivators were currently escorting a group of practitioners who were flying toward them.

Upon hearing the summons from the youth in purple, Chen Zhongqi quickly descended to join the two.

The purple-robed youth paused, looking at Wang Ba with a slight look of sheepishness: