Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2333 - 178: Outbreak

Yet, the degree of peril matched precisely what was unfolding at this very moment.

A surge of profound joy welled up uncontrollably in his chest:

"With this one's arrival, we now hold genuine hope!"

Yet in that instant, his gaze caught True Man Taiyi in the heavens, who was inclining his body toward the Heavenly Monarch Chao beneath and uttering in a far-off tone:

"Wang Ba, I have seen Master Chao."

"Gratitude to Master Chao for your crucial intervention."

"Master... Master Chao?!"

The emaciated elder, the youth clad in scarlet robes, and the rest were stunned upon hearing Wang Ba's form of address for Heavenly Monarch Chao.

What stunned them further was the white-robed silhouette responding with a touch of resignation:

"I instructed you to focus on your cultivation, so why plunge into this chaotic mess?"

They... are acquainted?

Bewilderment crossed the emaciated elder's features, yet amid the astonishment, a spark of clarity dawned on him swiftly.

True Man Taiyi and Heavenly Monarch Chao weren't just familiar; it seemed all of True Man Taiyi's prowess stemmed from Heavenly Monarch Chao!

"No surprise, no surprise..."

Right then, he sensed he had grasped the reason behind Wang Ba's current formidable power.

Under the guidance of a Mahayana Cultivator, it's no wonder one's might eclipses that of contemporaries.

This cleared the lingering doubt in his mind.

After all, he knew the conditions in Little Cang World intimately; the rise of a figure like Wang Ba had always seemed implausible.

On the other side.

"Master Chao, what brings you here?"

High in the Sky Dome, Wang Ba's form shimmered before descending next to Heavenly Monarch Chao. Noting his steady poise, Wang Ba felt a mix of astonishment and elation, inquiring:

"Weren't they claiming you all were outside the Domain?"

Heavenly Monarch Chao regarded the Wang Ba before him with a grin, a flicker of pride in his gaze, and rather than reply right away, he offered praise unbidden:

"I've observed all your magical clashes with those phony monks these past days."

"Your grasp of the arts outpaces my expectations. The diverse Dharmas of our domain, you wield them with ease and mastery! My judgment was spot on; you truly are the ideal successor for my Canlong Realm."

Though accustomed to acclaim, Wang Ba still fretted upon these words:

"Tianshang Buddha Lord hasn't emerged yet, and Master Chao has already revealed himself. Could this throw off the initial scheme?"

Hearing Wang Ba's concern, Heavenly Monarch Chao gave a faint shake of his head:

"That petty northern monk had you in his sights. Without my intervention, you could've been in peril, though it's hardly a major setback..."

Wang Ba had meant to mention his own hidden aces and belief in self-preservation, even if countering proved tough, but feeling the other's worry, he held his tongue.

At the same time, a youthful silhouette in violet attire had quietly materialized from nothingness, bearing a divine aura. It was Bai Lechan, the Cloud Sky Sect Master.

Catching sight of Heavenly Monarch Chao, that striking visage betrayed a hint of exasperation too:

"Senior Chao, emerging now wasn't wise... even without your move, if Taoist Friend Taiyi faced true peril, I'd have rescued him foremost."

To this, Heavenly Monarch Chao stayed composed, tilting his head subtly:

"He's just a side matter."

"Besides, your scheme mostly falls flat; Tianshang won't surface. Lacking sufficient lure, he'll stay concealed forever!"

Warmth flooded Wang Ba's heart.

Clearly, per the strategy, Master Chao ought to have stayed out of sight, yet he stepped forward prematurely from fear that Wang Ba couldn't handle the Northern Great Bodhisattva. Despite calling it incidental, Wang Ba knew it was likely the core motive.

The violet-robed youth, grasping the underlying purpose from those words, felt no irritation and merely furrowed his brow before retorting promptly:

"Then, does Senior Chao plan to serve as the lure?"

A profound unease gripped Wang Ba as well.

Heavenly Monarch Chao answered offhandedly:

"The grand monk isn't dimwitted. For you all to demand a trade, you need to display true commitment... You'll have to step up eventually, so I'll force their hand now!"

On another front.

Up in the Sky Dome, the Northern Great Bodhisattva, who had recoiled in alarm, pondered slipping away unnoticed, as no eyes seemed fixed on him.

But the white-robed form spotted it at once, his eyes sharpening, fixing on the Northern Great Bodhisattva with a voice that grew icy:

"Little monk, we cross paths once more. You believe you can simply depart after wounding my disciple?"

"When did I even..."

The Northern Great Bodhisattva's face paled, poised to protest, but memories of his form being shredded by the foe's divine beast flooded back. Dread gripped him, and without pause, he morphed into a streak of radiance, fleeing toward the outer domain!

From below, the Lion Beast vaulted skyward, its maw gaping like an infinite chasm, unleashing a tremendous pull that yanked the light beam straight toward it!

In that split second, the Buddha beads encircling the Northern Great Bodhisattva's neck shimmered faintly, projecting a subtle '卍' silhouette that scattered luminous motes to counter the draw, hovering uncertainly in the air!

Witnessing this, the white-robed figure scoffed:

"If Tianshang arrived in person, I'd grant him deference, but a simple Dao Treasure to halt me?"

The Lion Beast dug its four paws into the ground, then propelled itself upward explosively!

Innumerable jaws surged ahead, swallowing the Northern Great Bodhisattva whole in an instant.

With dull thuds resounding, the Buddha beads started fracturing sequentially!

Mere moments from total annihilation of the beads.

But right then, the enormous Buddha effigy in the Outer Realm Void, as though detecting a disturbance, gradually parted its long-shut eyes.

The hands, once forming the 'Fearless Seal' and 'With Wish Seal', now shifted into a unified gesture:

'Demon Suppression Seal'!

The instant after, the Northern Great Bodhisattva, mauled by the horde of Demonic Beasts, burst into golden Buddha radiance, dropping safely into the grasp of the looming Buddha statue.

"Hmm?!"

Within the Cloud Sky Realm.

The battling monks appeared to perceive a shift, all shoving back their foes, withdrawing with palms pressed together and heads bowed, murmuring softly:

"Supreme True Buddha."

"Hail to Tianshang Buddha Lord."

Their tones were subdued, yet carried an expansive, infinite resonance.

At that juncture, the sole Mahayana Cultivator baring his authentic presence, Heavenly Monarch Chao, also detected it, his gaze piercing the Realm Membrane to lock onto the Outer Realm's seated Buddha.

His mind weighed down, a blend of shock and uncertainty stirring within:

"Tianshang Buddha Lord, concealed right here?!"

"Is this his Dharma Aspect, or another manifestation?"

Curiously, despite countless encounters with the Supreme True Buddha, he'd never beheld the actual visage of Tianshang Buddha Lord.

For the foe, appearing just thrice during assaults on Canlong Realm, Void Demon Realm, and Cloud Sky Realm, had only unleashed a ray of Buddha light, rendering resistance nearly futile.

The final clash struck Cloud Sky Realm, where three Mahayana united, slaying numerous Bodhisattvas and Arhats in a desperate bid, scarcely driving the adversary back.

It was this dread of the enigmatic, overwhelmingly potent Tianshang Buddha Lord that left him, even with assembled allies, devoid of full confidence.

Even at present, assurance evaded him, deepening his doubt.

Still, he offered a faint smile and addressed the violet-robed youth:

"See, my emergence draws him out too."

The violet-robed youth stayed silent, his thoughts racing over the scene, until resolve ignited in his eyes as he bellowed:

"All cultivators, hear my command!"

"Charge with me into the fray!"

Against overwhelming might, schemes crumble to nothing.

With the prime target hooked at last, though the moment wasn't ideal in his view, such concerns faded into irrelevance.

Only enduring the tempestuous onslaught paves the way to seizing the mighty prize!

Failure spells the breach of defenses and doom for all.

As the violet-robed youth issued his decree, the horde of cultivators pinned in the Cloud Sky Arena burst forth abruptly!

Myriad rays streaked across the firmament!

Heavenly Monarch Chao kept his gentle smile, yet in his transmission to Wang Ba, the burden in his soul surfaced at last:

"If victory crowns this clash, excellent... if defeat looms, it's no finale; keep in mind, should tides turn against us, withdraw at once. This isn't retreat but safeguarding the true prospect."

"Keep it in mind..."

Wang Ba's spirit quaked, unable to stop himself from glancing at the elder.

The elder, with flowing silver locks and billowing white garments, stared into the distant outer domain, his gaze free of dread yet brimming with calm resolve.

The very next breath, this silhouette soared beyond the realm, confronting the gigantic seated Buddha in the Outer Realm Void...

The epic confrontation, at long last, ignited!