Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2426: 211: Taiyi!
Simultaneously, inside the Reclining Buddha, an immense distance separated from Zhang’s Ruins.
Buried deep inside the Six Paths of Reincarnation, a silhouette enveloped in pure white radiance slowly lifted its head. Its eyes appeared to cut across boundless expanses, fixing upon the skies over Zhang’s Ruins, quietly watching the arrival of the three Great Bodhisattvas. A grave expression blended with faint uncertainty crossed its face:
“Why has the entity inside Zhang’s Ruins stayed silent?”
For years, he had kept a close eye on the shifts happening in Zhang’s Ruins. Though he anticipated Wang Ba’s rising power, the revelation that Wang Ba had rapidly taken control of all of Zhang’s Ruins left him shocked nonetheless.
He marveled at how Wang Ba managed to overpower the many factions in Zhang’s Ruins so quickly, yet he wondered why the enigmatic force lurking there hadn’t stepped in.
One must remember that when he covertly took over the Master of Ten Thousand Demon Palace, even before he could act against Zhang’s Ruins, that concealed power had already issued a warning to him.
“Maybe his power hasn’t hit that threshold yet? Or could the being in Zhang’s Ruins simply ignore these upheavals?”
“Still… with the Supreme True Buddha launching an assault, would that entity truly remain unmoved?”
Uncertainty gripped him, and as he viewed the events from afar, a subtle restlessness stirred within.
He harbored no fondness for this True Man Taiyi—or more precisely, a deep-seated dislike toward him.
Only at the Tribulation-Transcending Realm, yet True Man Taiyi stood before him without flattery or submission, even bold enough to resist his directives. This clearly challenged his authority as a Mahayana Cultivator… Truth be told, no Mahayana would tolerate such defiance unless they desired something from the offender.
That said, credit where it’s due.
True Man Taiyi’s rapid conquest of Zhang’s Ruins caught him off guard and surpassed all his predictions; indeed, True Man Taiyi proved the ideal figure to draw the Supreme True Buddha’s focus, making him the prime pick for his schemes right now.
If a ally like this crumbled before the task was done, it would spell a massive setback.
“However… if my senses are accurate, his Primordial Spirit realm has merely stepped into the mid-stage of the Tribulation-Transcending Realm… facing off against the three Great Bodhisattvas…”
A flicker of seriousness appeared in his eyes, and buried deeper, a touch of frustration emerged:
“Too bad I can’t step in freely at this point; if only…”
With a soft exhale, his sight shifted back to the green-robed form standing high above Zhang’s Ruins:
“I trust you won’t let me down—at the very least… strike when you must, and pull back when the moment calls for it!”
The white-light-shrouded figure whispered to itself.
Meanwhile, not just in the depths of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, but also beyond Zhang’s Ruins in the endless void.
A colossal presence had newly arrived yet chose to stay concealed, instinctively merging into the emptiness, observing the drama playing out on Zhang’s Ruins’ surface with quiet vigilance, poised for action.
Just then, a strange flutter stirred in his core, prompting him to turn his attention toward another spot in the void surrounding Zhang’s Ruins.
Faintly, a recognizable energy lingered there, concealed.
This energy caused his face to harden, igniting a wave of killing intent:
“Cloud Sky Realm… True Man Gai!”
His form brimmed silently with raging Blood Energy, on the verge of erupting.
This energy felt achingly familiar, and he had nursed grudge against its owner for ages untold, so he instantly pinpointed the lurker’s identity.
His initial urge was to lash out at the foe.
Yet, as his eyes glanced over the green-robed figure hemmed in by the three Great Bodhisattvas atop Zhang’s Ruins, he restrained himself in the final instant.
Settling scores could wait, but not if it jeopardized a crucial endeavor…
Gazing at the three Great Bodhisattvas, a icy glint sharpened in his eyes, nearly tangible, as if plotting ways to rip them asunder…
In the meantime, within that void, an elderly silhouette observed the occurrences over Zhang’s Ruins in utter silence.
But at that instant, a sensation hit him, causing him to look up toward the facing void, brows knitting in mild astonishment:
“Master of Quiet Cave?”
“Why is he showing up here?”
His forehead creased lightly as his mind raced, then he directed his view toward Wang Ba inside Zhang’s Ruins, inwardly baffled:
“How on earth did Taoist Friend Chao’s apprentice get mixed up with the Master of Quiet Cave?”
“Or is he merely observing the chaos?”
After some contemplation, the elderly figure decided against any action, pretending ignorance of the other’s presence, and kept his watch on Zhang’s Ruins. He studied the green-robed figure encircled by the three Great Bodhisattvas, his expression tinged with indecision, weighing the choice to get involved.
High above Zhang’s Ruins.
Streams of light churned wildly, the shimmering barriers of Zhang’s Ruins syncing seamlessly with the golden array overhead.
Even after the Arhat Formation shattered mere moments ago, the monks held the edge in sheer numbers; despite losing over a dozen Bodhisattvas, the survivors still numbered in the tens, backed by hordes of Arhats. They swiftly reformed ranks and bore down again, unleashing a dazzling barrage of premium Dao Treasures.
Fang Yi, Yin Tianzhi, and their allies launched furious counterattacks, only to get driven back repeatedly, as fellow cultivators perished and Arhats faded away—the clash between the factions raged without mercy.
For now, the formations on both sides hung in a tense stalemate, with fires blazing, waters crashing, incantations clashing, Dao Treasures soaring… endless rays of brilliance darted in frenzy, amid ceaseless booms and cries.
And right over the breach in Zhang’s Ruins, a hush fell, nearly severing it from the surrounding turmoil of battle.