Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2490: 233: The Banquet

The slate-gray waters remained perfectly still, a pool of frozen liquid void of even a single ripple. In the distance, the Waterside Pavilion cast a shimmering projection onto the surface, though it appeared as if that light were swallowed by an abyss, leaving no trace of brilliance behind.

Wang Ba felt nothing of the icy currents. He kept his fish-eyes fixed just above the water line, tracking the distant, luminous spot. A plaque hung beneath the eaves of the pavilion, bearing the faint, elegant characters: Yuan Zhai.

A storm of uncertainty swirled through his thoughts:

“The Lord of Realm Sea… he must be inside that structure.”

“With someone of such immense power, would he be able to sense me?”

“And these visitors inside—if they truly are immortals as the master claimed, surely they would have detected my presence by now?”

“Why have they not dragged me out? Or have they already noticed me and simply do not care?”

It was exactly like a human ignoring the ants beneath their boots; they never bother to seek them out. In their eyes, he was likely indistinguishable from a mere insect.

His heart skipped a beat as he recalled Li Yuehua's past words. In the Origin Realm Sea, every resident True Spirit Fish was technically dead; this environment was a place of ghosts. Perhaps taking the form of a True Spirit Fish was the only reason he had managed to blend in so far.

He pondered this theory for a few moments, then slipped quietly back into the depths. Before long, he spotted another True Spirit Fish meandering slowly toward deeper water. It was clearly another entity like himself. Using this fish as a guide, Wang Ba mirrored its movements as best he could, drifting languidly toward the pavilion. Sometimes he descended, sometimes he rose to the surface, and sometimes he drifted with the current. Having no idea if the immortals were watching, he did his best to replicate the natural behavior of these creatures.

As he neared the surface, he didn't need to get too close to hear the conversation spilling out from the pavilion above.

“…Haha, those are the established rules. I cannot breach them. Otherwise, if everyone returned to the Third Realm Sea to feast on the True Spirit Fish, wouldn't the entire sea eventually be stripped bare?”

The voice reached him first, rhythmic and soothing like water flowing over fine jade. It was a harmonious sound that calmed the spirit, conjuring the image of a refined scholar even before one saw his face. Yet, tucked beneath the gentle tone was a sharp edge of warning.

Wang Ba absorbed this single statement, his mind working in overdrive.

“The speaker must be the Lord of Realm Sea… is he denying these visitors their wish?”

“Are these guests so insatiable that they demand more True Spirit Fish? Or are they brewing some grand scheme involving the Third Realm Sea itself?”

Lacking sufficient background, he could only guess. He calmed his racing thoughts and focused intently on the dialogue, moving his body with extreme caution.

Almost immediately, a second voice interjected, dripping with sycophantic politeness:

“The Master of the Zhai is far too humble. With you guarding the Third Realm Sea, who would dare to act recklessly? Besides, to set foot in this place, even a True Immortal—no matter their stature—must bow to your will.”

This voice felt like a silver needle dipped in venom, sliding against the back of his neck. It was sinister, sharp, and left him with a lingering sense of chill.

“A True Immortal?”

Wang Ba’s thoughts shifted instantly: “This implies that one of the Second Realm Sea immortals is a massive powerhouse…”

Inside the pavilion, the Lord of Realm Sea chuckled softly.

“Taoist Friend She is too kind with his praises.”

“I have heard that your Palace Master also possesses the rank of a True Immortal. Should he ever grace the Third Realm Sea with his presence, I would certainly treat him with the utmost hospitality. However, this Third Realm Sea is the bedrock of creation for the Second Realm Sea; its majesty is boundless. While I am called ‘Taiyuan,’ I cannot easily influence such a place. Recognized by the origin to serve as a mere gatekeeper, I am confined to the entrance and cannot fully enter.”

“At the very best, I can only pluck a few stray melons at the doorstep for meager solace.”

“It is rather you, my Taoist friends, who come and go as you please. That is a freedom worthy of envy.”

His speech was calm and deliberate, delivered in a way that compelled listeners to fall silent and heed his every word.

“So the Lord of Realm Sea is named Taiyuan…”

Hiding beneath the surface, Wang Ba etched the name into his memory, focusing on the tactical implications of this revelation. “This Taiyuan… it seems he lacks the power or authority to even enter the Realm Sea itself.”

“Unless, of course, that is just a fabrication to deceive his guests.”

If his words were the truth, it explained why his existence had never reached the ears of those who cultivated in the Inner World. Perhaps his tenure had been brief, or perhaps his inability to truly occupy the Realm Sea kept him hidden from the world’s notice.

Wang Ba drifted in the dark, lost in contemplation. Inside the pavilion, a new voice boomed, resonant as a tolling bell:

“The Palace Master of the Si Palace is not merely a True Immortal; he is an Immortal Monarch. If he were to arrive in person, this Third Realm Sea would surely be in for a chaotic time of it, but if we were to enter first…”