Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2389 99: Six Paths

Whirr——

Within the silently rotating whirlpool of the Realm Sea.

One after another, the outlines of cultivators began to appear.

These cultivators seemed lifeless, like soulless husks, emerging directly from the whirlpool in an endless flow.

As they treaded upon the glassy stone pavement, their steps produced barely any noise.

The pavement mirrored the magnificent and ornate rafters of the temple overhead, together with the statues of Arhats and Bodhisattvas perched majestically on either side...

Only after the final cultivator had exited.

Following a short pause, the form of a monk also emerged from the whirlpool.

Right after his appearance, the whirlpool at his back sealed itself without a sound.

The monk's countenance was grave as he surveyed his surroundings, then lifted his hand in a formal gesture before his chest, inclining his head toward the guarding Bodhisattvas and Arhats:

"Supreme True Buddha, Wisdom None, I greet Wisdom Void Bodhisattva, Wisdom Sea Bodhisattva, Wisdom Sound Bodhisattva... I greet all Arhats."

"Supreme True Buddha."

Suddenly, in the vast emptiness of the Buddhist temple, a multitude of monks' voices echoed in unison, intoning the Buddha's sacred name.

It resembled a holy chant, instilling tranquility deep into the soul.

However, inside the grand chamber, the cultivators stayed like vacant puppets, displaying zero response whatsoever.

"We have returned once more."

Next to Wisdom None, a figure clad in green robes lingered unseen, shrouded in the emptiness, plainly just steps away but feeling infinitely distant.

His eyes quietly scanned the whole chamber.

Unlike the previous visit, where solely Wisdom Void Bodhisattva occupied the space, now statues of Arhats adorned both flanks, some seated and others upright, with twenty-four on each side, all directing their attention toward Wisdom None and the cultivators he had retrieved.

Their expressions held benevolence, but their stares resembled those appraising prime cattle.

At the heart of the chamber loomed the majestic forms of three Bodhisattvas in their Dharma forms.

The central one was none other than the Wisdom Void Bodhisattva from his earlier meeting; flanking him were somewhat diminutive Bodhisattvas, their eyes fixed on the cultivators with intense examination.

Yet none of these three Bodhisattvas or the Arhats detected his presence, no matter how closely he observed them.

A wave of unexplained emotion washed over the green-robed figure.

During the last trip, his cultivation level was modest, demanding utmost care and dread of detection by the monks, so he relied on the Wind-Driving Staff to masquerade as a speck of dust tucked into a cultivator's robe.

On this occasion, he strode freely alongside Wisdom None, positioning himself fearlessly amid the monks, but still, nobody sensed him.

Time is indeed a wondrous force in existence.

As he pondered this.

From his elevated seat in the chamber's midst, Wisdom Void Bodhisattva shifted away his probing look and offered a faint grin to Wisdom None:

"Wisdom None Arhat's expedition into the Sea of Chaos Realm has been taxing yet fruitful; I'm curious if the conditions in the Sea of Chaos Realm have shifted and if they match our earlier assumptions..."

Wisdom None, refusing to slacken, revealed everything he had witnessed and experienced, including all the steps he undertook in the Sea of Chaos Realm.

The revelation of a fourth domain caught Wisdom Void Bodhisattva and the rest off guard for a moment.

"This Little Cang World stays deeply concealed, undetected across countless years."

Wisdom None clarified:

"The Sea of Chaos Realm isn't enormous, yet it's no mere speck; concealing a domain there proves feasible. That said, I've covertly implemented barriers to thwart their seamless merger."

Hearing these words, Wisdom Void Bodhisattva nodded approvingly and remarked with a grin:

"Such an achievement deserves high praise; I'll inform the Western Great Bodhisattva to record your contributions."

"That said, prior to that... Wisdom None Arhat, you'll have to bear a bit of hardship."

Wisdom None felt stunned:

"Hardship?"

No sooner had he spoken than the Arhats moved in unison, and a golden mesh etched with the symbol '卍' descended from the chamber's ceiling. Underneath Wisdom None and the cultivators, a lotus bloom surged up at once.

"Wisdom Void Bodhisattva, what does this signify?!"

A subtle shift crossed Wisdom None's features, but he refrained from rash moves, allowing the golden mesh to fully encase him and the cultivators, and he turned toward the central, grandest Bodhisattva with a tone laced in bewilderment and fury.

Wisdom Void Bodhisattva's smile lacked warmth as he replied icily:

"Wisdom None Arhat, stay calm; we're merely wary of another incident like with Pu Yuan from before, so we're performing a simple check."

"Though the Sea of Chaos Realm brims with impurities and true attainment of the Dao cannot be evaded, anomalies can occur; the Western Great Bodhisattva believes someone previously tricked Pu Yuan and fled the Sea of Chaos Realm; to avoid any recurrence, we've been commanded to watch diligently at this spot."

Though fury burned in Wisdom None, he wouldn't defy Wisdom Void Bodhisattva, and the third eye on his forehead flickered open and shut, reluctant:

"Even should a cultivator reach Crossing Tribulation in the Sea of Chaos Realm, how could they fool this eye of mine?"

"Nothing's absolute, but this is just a safeguard."

"Bear it without resentment, for I've already sought approval from the Northern Great Bodhisattva on this."

The grin vanished completely from Wisdom Void Bodhisattva's visage as he lightly tapped the edge of the golden mesh.

The golden mesh constricted rapidly.

It adhered tightly to Wisdom None and the cultivators.

Aware of the Northern Great Bodhisattva's endorsement, Wisdom None, for all his ire, had no choice but to submit meekly.

Like creeping tendrils, the golden mesh wrapped around his form, emanating radiant golden glow.

It squeezed further, but nothing else happened.

Observing this, Wisdom Void Bodhisattva's look shifted faintly:

"Might the Great Bodhisattva have erred?"

"Could Pu Yuan's earlier demise have nothing to do with the Sea of Chaos Realm?"

The flanking Bodhisattvas, witnessing the scene, gave slight nods too, murmuring:

"Maybe it was a mistake."