Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2403 - 203: Salty Submission (Part 3)
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
Being led chiefly by Taiyi True Man is far better than groveling like a dog to the powers inside the Laowen Sect.
Right then, Fan Fenglei gazed at Wang Ba encircled by six Cultivators at the middle Crossing Tribulation stage, his emotions a tangled mess.
The events had played out just as he foresaw, unfolding even quicker than anticipated.
"Looks like all the clans can't restrain themselves anymore, and the Yin Family, being so inexperienced, has taken a heavy blow from this setback, probably never bouncing back... Curious what direction the Spirit Origin Prefecture will head in."
A wave of mixed feelings washed over Fan Fenglei briefly.
True Man Taiyi proves truly powerful, yet in the end, he's alone and vulnerable—how can he stand against the multitude of factions in Zhang’s Ruins?
Particularly today, exposing his plans before all these groups was a grave error; had he moved in secrecy, there could have been a slim chance of success.
Maybe his lofty realm and profound cultivation bred excessive arrogance in his abilities, leading to this fatal blunder, drawing universal condemnation and squandering any shot at reversal... such is the harsh truth and brutal law of Zhang’s Ruins, and regrettably, True Man Taiyi didn't recognize it soon enough.
While pity stirred in him, a explosive clamor erupted from the rear!
Turning his focus forward, shock struck him at once!
Over there, True Man Taiyi flicked his sleeve, unleashing hordes of Spirit Beasts that sprang forth, morphing instantly into streaks of radiance, merging with a silver-furred ape and the staff it clutched.
Within a mere instant, the silver-furred ape swelled up as if inflated with wind.
Right away, it morphed into a towering twenty-foot Demon Ape bearing gleaming golden eyes!
Boasting three heads and six limbs, its faces twisted in grotesque, dignified, or savage grimaces!
Within those golden orbs lurked what appeared to be the Double Pupil.
Spotting the six middle-stage Crossing Tribulation Cultivators charging as one, the Demon Ape bared a wicked smile, extended a hand to seize the Black Gold Mixed Iron Ruyi Stick, bounded skyward, and savagely smashed toward the initial assailant, the Master of Golden Water Pond!
Boom!
The Ruyi Stick crashed down with immense force, the Demon Ape's form steady as a rock, while a section of the Golden Water Pond Master's Dao Domain cracked apart, exposing the Master's stunned visage, his momentum grinding to a sudden stop.
After the staff's descent, the Demon Ape pressed on without halt, its frame swelling further as the other five arms extended, each hand lashing out to clash with the five oncoming Dao Domains!
Bang bang bang!
Five shaggy paws crashed against the five surging Dao Domains!
The five Dao Domains came to a brief standstill!
Under the wide-eyed amazement of the onlookers, the Demon Ape single-handedly pinned down the six middle-stage Crossing Tribulation Cultivators, displaying no hint of retreat!
Yin Tianzhi, speeding through the air to join Wang Ba, caught sight of this and halted abruptly in the sky, stupefied.
Fan Fenglei along with Sang Kong, the Realm Master of Illusion Sky Realm, first froze in disbelief, then their gazes ignited with sudden hope!
Cheng Lianzi alone darkened his features, his eyes darting sharply between Wang Ba and the Demon Ape, as if piecing together a revelation, before his form vanished quietly from its spot.
"He possesses such a savage divine beast!"
The Master of Golden Water Pond and the Yutang Mansion Master, now showing themselves, blurted out in astonishment.
"Hold on, why does this feel so eerily familiar?!"
Not the Demon Ape itself, but rather the pairing of cultivator and beast...
The earlier rejected theory surged back unbidden.
The matching title, the identical duo, even with minor variances in aspects, the resemblances pile up too heavily... it's far too questionable...
While all were ensnared in this doubt.
A raging inferno of light abruptly ignited in the emptiness, resembling a meteor crashing into the lunar surface, hurtling straight at the apparently exposed Wang Ba!
At that very moment, the full volume of Chaos Origin Substance crammed into the nasal cavity seemed pulled by the flames, surging into it at breakneck pace, making the blaze swell swiftly and boost its velocity!
Yin Tianzhi's face twisted, crying out in fury and alarm:
"Cheng Lianzi!"
After a brief pause, he dashed forward without delay to intercept!
"That's the Mahayana Relic from the Laowen Sect!"
Fan Fenglei's pulse quickened at the sight of the roaring flames, his Spiritual Sense buzzing with frantic warnings!
Though unfamiliar with its appearance, he deduced it right away.
The Laowen Sect had birthed Mahayana Cultivators in its past, boasting profound heritage that set it apart from other groups.
To this day, even after its decline, every faction views it as a prime candidate to consolidate Zhang’s Ruins, thanks to its grasp on a Mahayana Relic—never glimpsed, yet unquestioned in existence.
From the flames, he sensed a presence surpassing the middle Crossing Tribulation stage, grasping the truth in a flash.
"Likely, Cheng Lianzi's cultivation caps it at late Crossing Tribulation might, or else its force would dwarf what's shown..."
Even calling it 'late,' Fan Fenglei bellowed urgently all the same:
"Hurry and array the formation, shield the imperial palace!"
Spirit Origin Prefecture wants for a proper Taoist Field, and while Formations exist, their safeguards remain quite frail.
The Cultivators from Spirit Origin Prefecture wasted no time, swiftly assembling a Formation to defend their provisional imperial palace.
Fan Fenglei watched the hurtling blaze intently, struggling to track its blistering pace.
Despite the cascade of events, everything spanned only a heartbeat.
Yin Tianzhi had barely summoned his Dao Domain, ready to soar and block, when the flames surged ahead, evading him in a streak, barreling forth with ferocity to slam right before Wang Ba!
Amid the flames, Cheng Lianzi's silhouette dimly surfaced.
His face bore a malevolent yet determined scowl:
"Whether you're the True Man Taiyi from Cloud Sky Realm or not, die you shall!"
He had already surmised the foe's true nature, likely the legendary 'True Man Taiyi' who dominated the Cloud Sky Realm conflict more than three centuries back, yet it changed nothing.
Zhang’s Ruins will never tolerate a figure like True Man Taiyi!
"Taoist Friend Taiyi!"
Yin Tianzhi twisted just in time to witness, shouting in terror.
But all he could do was watch the inferno swallow Wang Ba whole...
Nearby, the combatants against the Demon Ape shoved it back for a moment, eyeing the flames with a mix of terror and glee.
Even now, a few at last perceived the eerie folds the blaze tore through in the void, a spectral phenomenon.
"Truly, it's a Mahayana Relic!"
In the midst of their inner fear, a deeper unease and icy dread began to seep through.
Yet before joy could take hold, they all stiffened in place.
To their shock, the roaring flames swiftly faded away!
After just a handful of instants, two silhouettes appeared inside, facing off squarely.
Pale-faced, Cheng Lianzi clutched a Fire Stone, staring at Wang Ba with bulging eyes, as if refusing to believe.
"You, you really are..."
From the Fire Stone, the flames reversed course, streaming directly into the Yellow Dao Domain guarding Wang Ba.
The Yellow Dao Domain churned wildly, glowing with crimson heat as the flames flooded in, as though concocting some potent brew.
Wang Ba remained impassive, untouched in demeanor, regarding Cheng Lianzi with a touch of sorrow:
"Looks like Taoist Friend disagrees with my earlier statement, so if that's how it stands..."
From the Yellow Dao Domain, the ingested flames erupted anew with amplified rage aimed at Cheng Lianzi!
Its might matched the prior assault without diminishment!
Right before impact, Cheng Lianzi's cry rang out desperately:
"I admit defeat!"
"I admit defeat!"
The surging flames came to an abrupt stop, taming instantly like a obedient Spirit Beast.
Wang Ba narrowed his eyes faintly, fixing his gaze on Cheng Lianzi amid the encircling blaze.
He sensed the icy intent in that stare, the looming flames everywhere.
For all the blistering warmth, Cheng Lianzi broke into a chill sweat down his spine, trickling steadily!
Wasting no moment, beneath the stunned and furious glares from the Master of Golden Water Pond and the rest nearby, he appended swiftly with feigned composure:
"Before, I only meant to probe whether True Man Taiyi possesses the resolve to rescue Zhang’s Ruins; having done so, I'm pleased to find no letdown."
"With that confirmed, the Laowen Sect pledges allegiance to True Man Taiyi!"
"To clear the barriers in Zhang’s Ruins for unity, and drive out the backward fools!"