Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2418: 208: Preaching the Dao (Part 2)
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
Although he felt a bit shocked, after pondering it over, everything appeared utterly ordinary.
In the end, these reincarnation forms of the Innate Divine Demons strive for eternal life and chase after the Dao, so they pay little attention to items from the outside world. They hold the view that through steady meditation and drawing in Spiritual Energy, immortality and the Dao will come to them. Yet, shaped by the deep-seated ideas from their original Innate Divine Demon existences, they fail to grasp the ways to make use of such external items. As a result, treasures that cultivators from other realms have already claimed long ago get plenty of chance to flourish undisturbed in this place.
Witnessing this sight, Wang Ba couldn't resist giving a faint shake of his head, letting out a soft sigh:
“That old saying, ‘A gentleman’s essence isn’t unique, yet he excels at making use of what’s around him.’ No wonder they’ve barely advanced at all.”
Xuan Yuanzi showed a touch of confusion but still agreed with a nod:
“Your point rings true here. Truth is, I’m no expert in these matters myself, and back when I caught those cultivators, I always kept a sharp eye on them, worried they’d cause trouble on the sly. That’s why I never allowed them near. If it catches your interest, why not step in and share some pointers?”
Wang Ba gave a nod at those remarks.
His own knowledge of Alchemy and Artifact Refining remained rather shallow. Out of the Hundred Arts, Beast Control was where he shone brightest, especially when it came to crafting spirit food from spirit beasts. So, the guidance he could provide stayed pretty narrow in scope.
Sure, he knew a few tricks for turning spirit plants into spirit food too, but the value just didn’t stack up as well. It made far more sense to whip up spirit food from cheaper stuff, while saving the pricier ingredients for Elixirs mixed with spirit materials.
That said, even if Alchemy wasn’t his strong suit, the Little Cang World brimmed with skilled Alchemists.
We’ll skip the details on that for the moment.
Tailing after Xuan Yuanzi, Wang Ba dropped down without delay.
The cultivators on the ground rushed forward to bow in respect as soon as they spotted Xuan Yuanzi. In looks and behavior, these reincarnation bodies matched regular cultivators perfectly. Their speech and manners stayed polite through and through. Sure, Wang Ba’s arrival caught them off guard a little, but they all stepped up to offer greetings, displaying not a hint of the wild savagery from Innate Divine Demons—clearly, their human forms had softened their fierce instincts.
Xuan Yuanzi made a formal introduction of Wang Ba to the group of cultivators:
“Meet the famed True Man Taiyi from beyond our borders. He’s so powerful that even Bodhisattvas at the mid-stage of Crossing Tribulation can’t stand against him. With him lingering here for a stretch, grab this chance and learn from him properly.”
The cultivators quickly paid their respects to Wang Ba in a flurry.
Wang Ba dismissed it all with a wave and a grin, insisting humbly that he didn’t deserve such praise.
Still, these cultivators didn’t put much stock in Wang Ba right away. Once they’d given him the proper courtesies, they clustered around Xuan Yuanzi instead, pressing him eagerly for insights.
“Master Xuan, something’s off with my Dao Domain—it feels all murky when I try to run it through.”
“Master Xuan, what’s the right way to shatter the Class IV Dao Domain barrier from Void Refining into Unification?”
“Master Xuan, my Nascent Soul looks weird compared to everyone else’s Nascent Souls—why’s that?”
“Master Xuan, no matter how hard I try, my Dao Secret just won’t form.”
Bombarded by this barrage of queries, Xuan Yuanzi handled it smoothly, tackling each one step by step.
In the end, after spending so much time in the Little Cang World—even without personal practice—he’d rubbed shoulders with countless cultivators along the way. His grasp of cultivation matched what you’d expect from a typical Unification expert, leaving him well-equipped to break things down. Nothing flashy about it, but his advice came across as solid and trustworthy.
Wang Ba, meanwhile, took in the scene and the chatter around him, catching the half-enlightened looks on the cultivators’ faces and sensing a deeper issue lurking beneath.
Once Xuan Yuanzi wrapped up his straightforward breakdowns, he turned to Wang Ba, fully aware that Wang Ba had already grasped the Dao within the Little Cang World. No one could rival his insight into Dao Domains and rules, so Xuan Yuanzi grinned and suggested:
“Fellow Daoist, now that you’ve arrived, why not lend them your wisdom and show off a bit of your skill?”
Wang Ba thought about turning it down at first, but recalling how Xuan Yuanzi had vouched for him so fiercely before the Master of Quiet Cave, he paused and let the refusal slip away. Instead, he eyed a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator close by, sized him up in a flash, and cut straight to the chase:
“Your path’s gone astray.”
“Astray?”
The cultivator blinked in confusion at first, then flashed a hint of defiance.
Sure, he’d reached Nascent Soul, but in his previous existence as a Seventh Tier Innate Divine Demon, his roots ran deep and mighty. Rediscovering that power now felt like a breeze. So, Wang Ba’s blunt comment naturally rubbed him the wrong way.
Xuan Yuanzi barked out sharply:
“True Man Taiyi’s giving you his counsel—show some respect and quit the attitude!”
The cultivator bit back any retort, turning his gaze to Wang Ba, his eyes plainly challenging:
“Alright, speak your piece.”
Catching that look, Wang Ba just chuckled lightly, brushing off the skepticism without a care, and laid it out plainly:
“To cultivate, one must gaze inward at their true self and thoughts, grasp the grand Dao, fully seize the Dao Intention in the end, and weave that Dao Intention into their very being to birth a Dao Secret. This Dao Secret serves as the sprout of your coming Dao Domain and the wellspring for Crossing Tribulation and unlocking rules. You’re gifted beyond measure in this lifetime, yet somehow, you’ve only mimicked the trails blazed by others rather than carving your unique one. That’s why your Dao Domain eludes you, blocking the formation of your Dao Secret.”
“And the reason you’ve fallen into mimicry? Mostly, it’s the overwhelming might from your prior life clouding your authentic self, stopping you from pinpointing what truly fits you today. The road ahead demands your own discovery.”
The cultivator froze for a beat, half-grasping it but still doubtful, and shot back:
“What proof do your words carry? When have I ever just copied another’s way?”
Wang Ba kept his easy smile, paying no mind to the doubt, and replied coolly:
“Your path belongs to you alone—how could anyone else define it? But if proof’s what you want, it’s not out of reach. I see a bold, haughty streak in you that could be a weakness or perhaps a door to something more. You thrive with Fire Methods, so why not weave in ‘Thunder Law’ as well? Pondering the pair might spark the insight to your true direction.”