Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2358 - 87: Consolation (Part 3)

Once his talk with Gan Xiong wrapped up, Wang Ba glanced over at the far-off Qiao Zhongxu and Taoist Master Yingyuan, who lingered in hesitation without approaching, and he offered a subtle smile:

"Won't you two join us for some conversation?"

At Wang Ba's words of invitation, the pair shared a quick look, then clenched their jaws and soared forward through the air, delivering a respectful bow:

"Qiao Zhongxu, greeting Taoist Friend Taiyi."

"Jiang Chi, greeting Taoist Friend Taiyi."

Wang Ba's eyes remained steady as they passed over the duo, catching the subtle ripple of a top grade Dao Treasure emanating from their Primordial Spirits. All at once, his face lit up with a wide grin; he bypassed Taoist Master Yingyuan entirely, fixed his gaze on Qiao Zhongxu, and teased lightly:

"Taoist Friend Qiao, we're bound by an alliance and a sworn agreement—why do you act so aloof when facing an old comrade?"

Qiao Zhongxu never imagined that Wang Ba, with his vastly enhanced cultivation base, would remain so approachable. A flicker of surprise crossed his features, followed by a forced grin cracking his stern expression, and he replied with blunt honesty:

"Circumstances shift, and in the end, I'm just a regular fellow. Witnessing Taoist Friend's comeback stirred fears that you might lean on your power, filling me with unease."

Qiao Zhongxu's candid words caught Wang Ba off guard, prompting a brief hesitation before he burst into booming laughter:

"Excellent! That kind of straightforwardness is key to achieving big feats!"

With those words spoken, his amusement faded away, replaced by a grave tone:

"Taoist Friend, you're aware I've come back from beyond these borders. If my suspicions hold true, the Supreme True Buddha won't delay sending forces here once more. When that happens, their raids could extend far beyond mere recruits and Dao Treasures. That's why I've summoned you—to hash this out."

"Forces from the Supreme True Buddha are returning?"

"Why this quickly on this occasion?"

Qiao Zhongxu's face tightened a bit.

Wang Ba dipped his head in affirmation and continued:

"The Supreme True Buddha now knows of the Sea Market's vanishing. Those arriving this round might include Arhat-level powerhouses..."

"Arhat?"

Qiao Zhongxu blinked in shock.

"On par with early-stage Crossing Tribulation."

Wang Ba clarified offhandedly:

"Handling a single Arhat poses no real threat. The real challenge lies in managing the Supreme True Buddha's external forces. For the moment, it's wise to hold back from them... Yet this tangle runs deep, and I must return to untangle it fully. Right now, I'm merely warning you ahead so preparations can begin. After I've pieced it together, I'll call you back for a proper talk."

Though Wang Ba shared plenty, Qiao Zhongxu fixated on just one line.

Simply... an Arhat?

Could it truly be so straightforward?

This equates to early-stage Crossing Tribulation...

A swirl of tangled feelings churned within him, yet as he remembered how the other had just clashed alone against Taoist Master Chonghua and Taoist Master Man without breaking a sweat, he quieted once more.

Maybe for this Taoist Master Taiyi, an Arhat truly amounts to nothing much.

Still, his focus quickly turned to the threat of 'the Supreme True Buddha dispatching forces anew.'

Growing even more serious, he saw that Wang Ba showed no signs of delving further, so he skipped further words and promptly bid Wang Ba farewell.

Wang Ba made no effort to detain him. Their gathering had been a side matter at best. Truth be told, fresh from his return, he hadn't yet devised a strategy for the looming pressure from the Supreme True Buddha's incoming forces.

Stepping back into the Sea of Chaos Realm had been unavoidable.

That said, with his presence here now, he couldn't afford to waste the chance; careful scheming lay ahead.

Yet prior to that, a few tasks still demanded his attention.

Chonghua grasped his aims, furrowed his brow faintly, and remarked with scorn:

"This feels rather bland."

Wang Ba, catching the comment, simply grinned and replied:

"It won't hold up any real progress regardless."

Chonghua huffed in disdain and shifted his mind.

From afar, an enormous silhouette hurtled swiftly in their direction—it was Fanming.

Wang Ba and his companions descended promptly onto Fanming's broad back.

Fanming unfurled its wings, unleashed a piercing cry, and streaked away as a blazing light...

Half a day passed.

Fanming came to a halt near a domain shaped like a tadpole, encircled by nine vigilant Guard Cities where cultivators streamed in and out endlessly, alive with fervor, as though it formed the pulsing heart of the Sea of Chaos Realm.

Despite drawing knowledge from Chonghua's recollections about Little Cang World's evolution across these years, beholding its current vibrancy—several times more thriving than before—stirred a whirlwind of sentiments in him, mingled with profound satisfaction.

With a casual sweep of his sleeve.

In a flash, silhouettes tumbled forth from within it.

These cultivators, through their garb and bearing, differed sharply from the Sea of Chaos Realm's natives, seeming utterly mismatched; they gazed about in bewilderment, eyeing the Little Cang World ahead, utterly lost.

Just a handful of them stood frozen, fixating on the domain nearby, abruptly struck by a profoundly intimate and warm sensation deep inside.

"Is it possible...?"

Within the cluster of forms, a skinny elder and a young man clad in earthy robes both locked their stares on Little Cang World, their gazes brimming with astonishment and thrill:

"Little Cang World?!"