Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2404 - 204: Inherited Treasure
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
"Cheng Lianzi, you!"
Upon catching Cheng Lianzi's statement, the six cultivators at the middle stage of Crossing Tribulation, halted by the Demon Ape, displayed clear signs of rage!
They had collaborated to wipe out True Man Taiyi, but he turned out to be the initial betrayer among them, going so far as to scold them for failing to read the situation!
That burning rage from the treachery burned deep inside their hearts, with no outlet for release.
Yet right after that surged a deep-seated terror from their souls!
Scenes of True Man Taiyi casually neutralizing Cheng Lianzi's assault replayed in their thoughts, filling them with shock, uncertainty, dread, and jealousy:
"This True Man Taiyi could truly be the same person who showed up in the Cloud Sky Realm conflict years ago!"
"No one imagined he'd slip away from the Northern Great Bodhisattva's hold... Rumors say more than twenty middle-stage Crossing Tribulation monks failed to overcome him and got utterly crushed by him instead, leaving nothing behind!"
"It's fortunate we avoided clashing with him..."
"How on earth did the Yin Family get involved with someone like this?"
"The Yin Family is truly blessed with incredible fortune!"
No chance for further talk; the Demon Ape lunged forward once more, pulling both factions back into fierce combat.
Meanwhile, the Yin Family cultivator, in the midst of this turmoil, apart from guiding the path and yelling 'Watch out,' found himself completely swept up in overwhelming joy!
Prior to True Man Taiyi shattering Cheng Lianzi's strike, he wouldn't have dared entertain such ideas, but after Cheng Lianzi unleashed the Mahayana Relic and still suffered defeat, failing to recognize it would mean he'd wasted all those years as the Taoist Master of Yin Ruins.
"Taoist Friend Taiyi is indeed the fabled True Man Taiyi!"
"Yet when he first arrived, he was plainly just at the Unification stage..."
Mixed feelings of surprise, delight, and skepticism washed over him all at once, since such rapid advancement in mere centuries defied comprehension, and even at this point, doubts lingered.
"Perhaps he started as a Crossing Tribulation cultivator, but some event caused his level to drop, appearing as Unification... And now he's simply regained his former power?"
Countless ideas swirled through his head, turning over repeatedly, with only this explanation appearing logical, convincing him he'd probably hit upon the real story.
Let alone the astonishment gripping every soul there.
Wang Ba's eyes narrowed just a bit as he gazed through the flames at Cheng Lianzi's somewhat rigid features, a subtle grin playing on his lips while he casually remarked:
"Pledging loyalty to me requires actual deeds."
Having already committed with his words, Cheng Lianzi sensed the furious stares from nearby cultivators and, though powerless to change it, gritted his teeth and continued:
"True Man Taiyi's orders must be followed without question!"
Wang Ba chuckled and slapped his palms together:
"Excellent, then go capture the Tianshang Buddha Lord."
Cheng Lianzi's face turned rigid in an instant, his eyes bulging wide without control:
"True Man, I..."
"Haha, only kidding."
"Sect Leader Cheng, don't let it bother you."
Wang Ba burst into hearty laughter, flicked his sleeve, sending the flames before him soaring into the far-off emptiness, where they scorched the void along their path...
Sensing the fire's fierce power, Cheng Lianzi paled in horror, hesitated to say more, but managed a forced, awkward grin in response:
"Of course, of course, the True Man speaks wisely—er, no, I didn't mind at all..."
Aside from his early days, he hadn't bowed to anyone in ages, so this submission felt clumsy now, leaving him uneasy and hesitant.
In that instant, a seductive tone drifted from the distance:
"Hehe... Might True Man Taiyi be willing to take on this servant?"
That voice made Wang Ba tremble slightly; he whipped around to see an elegant form approaching through the air. It was Realm Master Sangkong of the Illusion Sky Realm, appearing as a youthful woman with her usual creepy grin—though without that odd smile, she carried real allure.
However, recalling her true age, likely surpassing the Wanxiang Sect's legacy, any hint of appeal evaporated right away.
Wang Ba's brow furrowed a touch, his face taking on a chill edge:
"Is the Illusion Sky Realm ready to yield?"
His presence loomed powerfully, shifting her poised air in a flash to one that demanded awe without rage.
Given his advanced cultivation and the legendary status from the Cloud Sky Realm clash, as his expression hardened, Realm Master Sangkong felt a jolt of fear, straightening her posture instinctively, a mix of bitterness and apprehension in her gentle reply:
"Indeed, Sangkong... The Illusion Sky Realm desires to serve True Man Taiyi."
She wasn't struck by sudden madness, but ever since encountering Wang Ba before, his poise, appeal, and nature had enchanted her.
At present in Zhang's Ruins, all factions scrambled to align. The Illusion Sky Realm held only moderate or lesser power, harboring no dreams of supremacy, fated for absorption anyway, so selecting a dependable ally or leader made sense—and this True Man Taiyi, who evaded the Northern Great Bodhisattva, proved superior in skill and integrity to the other ruin groups.
Backed by the Yin Family, alongside Illusion Sky Realm and Laowen Sect, they now formed the dominant power in the ruins.
His status as an outsider to the ruins ended up mattering little in the end.
As he'd pointed out from the start, with all the conflicts among ruin factions, an external figure like him held the best shot at bringing them together.
Such ideas remained unvoiced.
Wang Ba paid no heed to the musings of these individuals.
In Zhang's Ruins, countless groups clashed in disorder. Organizing and mending them toward unity would demand vast energy, probably ensnaring one in this mess once more, with no easy escape.