Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2396: 201: Visit (Part 2)
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
Right now, a wave of frustration and regret surged through Yin Tianzhi's heart.
Previously, influenced by the fake Palace Master of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace, groups like the Spirit Origin Prefecture and the Illusion Sky Realm had assembled beyond the Yin Ruins Arena, pressuring the Taiyi Tributor to depart.
Even after exhausting all efforts, he had no choice but to witness the other's forced exit.
Had the Taiyi Tributor remained, the Bai Qu Yin Family might not have ended up in such a defensive position, as Yin Penglai had pointed out.
Yet, he pushed aside those futile feelings and spoke gravely instead:
“Any recent moves from Yutang Prefecture and Longcong Prefecture?”
The Second Ancestor gave a faint shake of his head:
“They reached out to us, claiming interest in an alliance, but I suspect they're mainly trying to keep us steady while they swallow up the leftover pieces of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace… Tensions with the Laowen Sect have heated up lately, so probably the Laowen Sect fears us teaming up with Yutang Prefecture and moved fast to counter that.”
Yutang Prefecture and the Golden Water Pond hold down the Ear Acupoint, while Longcong Prefecture and the Ten Thousand Demon Palace control the Eye Acupoint, and the Laowen Sect oversees the Xin Gate.
These five powers lie in close proximity, forming the trickiest region within Zhang’s Ruins.
But after the Ten Thousand Demon Palace's Master got secretly swapped by a Supreme True Buddha agent, and Jiu Futu—the second-in-command—was seized by True Man Taiyi, leaving the group leaderless, the nearby four powers spotted their chance. Upon their return from the Cloud Sky Realm, those four launched a joint assault to carve up the Ten Thousand Demon Palace.
The Yin Family, Spirit Origin Prefecture, and Illusion Sky Realm knew what was happening but couldn't respond quickly enough, and they distrusted each other. When they finally could move, the Ten Thousand Demon Palace was already gone, its territory claimed by the four forces all at once, each refusing to yield ground.
This spot also serves as a key gateway to the Chaos Origin Substance, and holding it offers huge advantages to whatever power controls it, so nobody wants to let go.
After a brief pause, the Second Ancestor murmured:
“Great Ancestor, the Laowen Sect has rooted itself deeply in Zhang’s Ruins for countless years. Its founding Patriarch reached Mahayana and rose to The Heavens. Though it's weakened nowadays, its base is still solid. The Sect Master ‘Cheng Lianzi’ stands as the closest to late-stage Crossing Tribulation in Zhang’s Ruins, poised to break through anytime, and scanning the landscape, maybe only the Laowen Sect holds the best shot at ruling all of Zhang’s Ruins…”
“And then?”
Yin Tianzhi's expression grew icier as he fixed a chilly gaze on the Second Ancestor and replied:
“Should the Laowen Sect rise to dominance, even unite Zhang’s Ruins entirely, would they spare a spot for our Yin Family?”
“I understand Cheng Lianzi far better than you do; he seems open-handed on the surface but is actually wary inside, ruthless, and lacking mercy.”
“Long ago, a band of Rogue Cultivators arriving in Zhang’s Ruins depended on them, handled all sorts of shady tasks for them, yet Cheng Lianzi turned them into Human Pills!”
“Once they seize full control of Zhang’s Ruins, us Yin family members would likely be drained until nothing's left, and he wouldn't stop until he'd wrung every last drop from us!”
“This…”
The Second Ancestor froze in shock, then lowered his head in embarrassment:
“I was too thoughtless.”
Yin Tianzhi let out a cold huff but refrained from exploding further.
A sense of powerlessness and unusual bewilderment filled his mind.
He knew the Laowen Sect's circumstances well, and the Second Ancestor's words held truth. In his own assessment, out of the thirteen great powers in Zhang’s Ruins, the Laowen Sect truly possessed the strongest potential to emerge on top.
That very fact deepened his inner turmoil.
Yin Penglai paused briefly before prompting:
“Great Ancestor, Second Ancestor, the messengers from the Laowen Sect and the Golden Water Pond wait outside—what's our plan for dealing with them?”
Yin Tianzhi stayed quiet for a beat, thoughts whirling, before he finally agreed:
“Bring in the envoys; I'll prepare a letter for them…”
While he spoke, a person shoved open the ancestral hall's door and burst inside, shouting with thrill:
“Great Ancestor, Elders! Wonderful news! Amazing news!”
“Yin Fu?”
Yin Tianzhi's brows furrowed a touch, yet he overlooked the impropriety.
Yin Penglai pressed right away:
“Yin Fu, what's this exciting news that's got you so worked up?”
The Yin family's Chief Steward, Yin Fu, grinned widely and gestured outward with urgency:
“Tai, Taiyi Tributor!”
“The Taiyi Tributor stands beyond the Taoist Field, paying a visit!”
At those words, silence enveloped the ancestral hall.
Following a short hush, Yin Tianzhi vanished in a flicker from his position.
“Great Ancestor, Great Ancestor, and the envoys?”
Yin Penglai shouted after him.
The Second Ancestor gave a subtle head shake and whispered:
“Nothing to do but delay them for the moment.”
With that, he vanished as well.
Witnessing this, Yin Penglai set aside all else, gave orders to Yin Fu, and dashed out of the Taoist Field.
The instant Yin Tianzhi stepped from the Taoist Field, his eyes caught a known silhouette in blue robes, hands clasped behind, apparently deep in contemplation. Sensing the stir, the figure turned with a grin and lifted a hand:
“It's been ages, Taoist Brother Yin—how have things been for you?”
“Hahaha! It really is Taoist Friend Taiyi! I figured Yin Fu must be pulling my leg!”
“I'm overjoyed, overjoyed—I've longed for you since your departure!”
Yin Tianzhi, filled with astonishment and joy, soared over to him, then drew back to inspect him closely, a trace of surprise flickering in his gaze:
“Your present realm eludes my perception entirely…”
Wang Ba chuckled loudly:
“Merely a simple trick to hide my aura! You look even more vibrant now, Taoist Brother—has your Cultivation advanced further?”
Yin Tianzhi shook his head with a wry smile:
“You're teasing me—a small step forward, nothing noteworthy.”
Then, he brightened:
“I've been remiss; your coming back is no small thing—let's head inside the Taoist Field to chat.”