Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2362 - 189: Subjugation

"Teacher."

From beyond the gathering, Xun FuJun descended quietly before Hui Yunzi, clad in a robe of moon-white hue and bearing a frosty look. As he gazed upon the figure he held in highest regard, a subtle spark of suppressed delight, eagerness, and strain danced in his eyes.

Though their looks differed, in that instant side by side, their bearing appeared forged from one single template.

The same robes and matching rigid faces.

Before him, Hui Yunzi scrutinized Xun FuJun from head to toe, a trace of severity and regret creeping across his normally detached features:

"I've instructed you repeatedly: never strike impulsively without grasping your foe's roots, and once you move, aim for utter victory, sealing off every path for retaliation!"

"You dispatched Han Yanzi to mend the heavens, but overlooked his concealed avatar... it ended up as a pointless sacrifice, sparking endless troubles!"

Xun FuJun froze in shock, then naturally lowered his gaze a bit, reminiscent of long-past days absorbing lessons from his mentor—yet now laced with dashed hopes and a faint sense of injustice he hadn't felt even during his banishment from the Sect amid a torrent of blame—murmuring softly:

"Yes, this disciple overlooked the check..."

"Tell me, do you feel discontent?"

Hui Yunzi's tone stayed icy and stern.

Xun FuJun kept his head down, face blank as wood, merely giving a faint shake:

"The highest path discards feelings; disciples of Lianqing Peak forever focus on purging the seven emotions and six desires through cultivation—this disciple has never harbored such sentiments."

Still, deep inside, an odd sense of obstruction stirred; normally, he'd have purged these stirrings ages ago, yet right then, oddly, he allowed this sentiment to gradually unfurl within his thoughts.

Then abruptly, a hand rested softly on his shoulder, and his teacher's voice—typically aloof—now held unfamiliar traces of warmth:

"Purging emotions isn't the same as lacking them entirely..."

"It's fine to feel discontent."

"Rather than emptiness of all feeling, I'd rather you, like any ordinary cultivator, experience your own delights, griefs, and joys—not solely... for the Sect."

In surprise, Xun FuJun lifted his gaze.

There, his master's face—ever stern and chill—now bore an unprecedented soft smile, akin to sunlight melting frost and frost.

Nearby, his master's words continued:

"Furthermore..."

"You've performed admirably, without shaming me."

In that instant, Xun FuJun remained rooted in place, as though trapped in a reverie.

...

"The Supreme True Buddha will probably dispatch forces into the Sea of Chaos Realm once more in the near future. This round, it could involve an Arhat, a Bodhisattva, or perhaps even a Great Bodhisattva, while the Immortal Pass remains unbroken. Should the Supreme True Buddha's followers sense anything amiss, the Sea of Chaos Realm shall confront a calamity like none before!"

"Hence, our pressing task lies in deliberating countermeasures against the Supreme True Buddha."

Within the Taiyi Dojo's Wanxiang Sect Chunyang Palace Grand Hall.

Unlike its prior state, the Chunyang Palace Grand Hall had undergone expansion and refurbishment.

Following some shared yielding, Wang Ba claimed the central position in the hall, flanked left and right by Chongyuan Patriarch, Qitian Patriarch, and fellow Cloud Sky Realm cultivators. Seated alongside Qiao Zhongxu and Taoist Master Yingyuan were guests below: Shao Yangzi, Yan Wenzheng... Zhao Feng, Ji Ying, Liang Wuji, and other Little Cang World cultivators, plus Gan Xiong, the Five Ghost Kings, Yun Qi, Yan Zhi, and more.

This gathering marked the pinnacle assembly in the Sea of Chaos Realm, pivotal to the destiny of every faction and practitioner therein.

As such, all present held themselves straight-backed right then, faces etched with gravity.

As Wang Ba and Chongyuan Patriarch took turns describing the external threats beyond the Sea of Chaos Realm, the assembled cultivators gained an initial grasp of the Supreme True Buddha's immense might and fully appreciated the gravity in Wang Ba's declarations.

Qiao Zhongxu broke the silence first, his visage heavy with concern:

"With Taoist Friend Taiyi absent, he might not realize how profoundly the Sea of Chaos Realm has transformed these years. Nearly all external Immortal Ascension, Void Refining, and Unification cultivators from most powers have joined your Sect's three key divisions. With shifts this profound, the odds of concealing them from the Supreme True Buddha's agents are slim. If they uncover the upheaval in the Sea of Chaos Realm and discover Taoist Friend Taiyi's true nature, I'm afraid..."

Wang Ba listened without quick reply, instead turning his eyes to Chongyuan Patriarch.

Catching Wang Ba's look, Chongyuan Patriarch lightly caressed his flowing beard, head swaying as he remarked:

"Concealing it from the Supreme True Buddha's agents isn't out of reach; I acquired a Secret Technique known as the 'Heavenly Observation Mirror' in the past. By placing the needed Magic Tools across the Sea of Chaos Realm, we can place the whole domain under surveillance. The moment they trigger the Realm Sea vortex, detection will be instant, making it straightforward to handle that intruder. That said..."

"The Supreme True Buddha's agents enter the Sea of Chaos Realm to harvest elite cultivators and abundant resources. Should they find it lacking, that simply won't suffice."

"Excellent."

Wang Ba gave a nod, then shifted his attention to Shao Yangzi and the rest.

Both Shao Yangzi and Yao Wudi could count as extensions of the Realm Spirit, needing merely a dose of Power of Creation to rouse them. Amid these chaotic days, extra voices in counsel proved advantageous.

Shao Yangzi pondered briefly before voicing his thoughts:

"Shao's knowledge is shallow, so he hesitates to speak rashly, but in my view, tackling this boils down to understanding both sides fully."

"Their cultivation levels? Any Secret Techniques or treasures? A lone figure, a handful, or a throng? What's their aim on this visit?"

Shao Yangzi's input drew solemn looks from the group.

Wang Ba nodded faintly too, aware that pooling ideas worked best for such dilemmas—like how his own rigid thinking missed the chance of multiple arrivals this time. Considering the present circumstances, with Sea Market vanished, the Supreme True Buddha dispatching a sizable group seemed highly plausible.