Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2557: 255: The Source

Cloud Sky Realm.

Zhang’s Ruins' enormous gray-black form reemerged close to the Cloud Sky Realm, precisely as before. The eerie blue fires in its eyes had vanished, while every pore softly absorbed and released the surrounding Chaos Origin Substance.

Zhang’s Ruins' appearance swiftly drew crowds of cultivators and monks from the Cloud Sky Realm and Eastern Luli Buddha Realm to observe.

Concurrently, more cultivators pressed on with reinforcing the formations shielding the Cloud Sky Realm.

At that moment, within a provisional pavilion atop Zhang’s Ruins' surface.

Heavenly Monarch Chao, Bai Lechan, Kong Zen, and a handful of other Mahayana experts had assembled here, faces etched with gravity, the mood oppressively somber.

Master Gai, nearly spent, also occupied a seat among them, eyes half-shut, obviously straining to remain awake until now.

Lady Hua, eyes swollen and red, remained at Master Gai’s side, relentlessly sustaining his vital state.

Wang Ba took the central seat, facing the group, his eyes passing over the desperately ill Master Gai and the dour Mahayana cultivators as he spoke measuredly:

“Heaven’s Mourning Buddha will not let us go. Once he fully masters the Unification of the Three Great Realms, he will surely seek vengeance against the Four Great Realms.”

“Of course, not just the Four Great Realms. As Zhang’s Ruins is likely the only entity within the Boundary Sea capable of threatening him, it will certainly face his attack.”

“Not only us, but in the future, even places like the Extreme Azure Abyss and the Heavenly Demon Caverns will be thorns in his side.”

At the mention of “Heavenly Demon Caverns,” Bald Man Jiao hesitated a bit before voicing:

“Taoist Friend Taiyi, I have sent a message to the Heavenly Demon Caverns, but the journey is too long. Even if they rush over, I’m afraid it will still take some time.”

“And the forces within the Extreme Azure Abyss are complex; it’s impossible for the Heavenly Demon Caverns to deploy all their people…”

Grieving deeply, Lady Hua still interjected upon hearing this:

“I have also contacted several fellow cultivators, but they too face the problem of distance. Even if the Realm Sea’s vortexes can shorten the distance, it still takes quite a few days to arrive…”

“I’m afraid they may not arrive before Heaven’s Mourning Buddha does.”

Wang Ba's brows knitted tightly, then he glanced toward Master Gai and Bai Lechan.

Master Gai gradually parted his eyes, but the once-vibrant glow was absent; he issued a faint sigh and gave a subtle headshake:

“As things stand today, I can’t think of any better solution. That Supreme True Buddha has already become a force of his own; we are no match for him. The gap between Human Immortal and Profound Immortal is truly vast…”

Pouring out every ounce of strength, even to the point of death, would merely postpone the foe's advance by a fleeting instant, revealing the staggering divide between them.

He paused briefly, then turned slowly to gaze at Bai Lechan nearby:

“Liaochan, do you have any thoughts?”

Bai Lechan regarded his old teacher, now frail like a candle in the gale. Despite his prior True Spirit's integration reshaping his nature, this lifetime stirred him deeply, a glimmer of grief and torment passing through his eyes.

After Master Gai's question, he reflected momentarily before responding:

“The Three Great Realms have already unified, and in this Realm Sea, the Profound Immortal Realm is already unmatched.”

“Moreover, as I think about it, this Supreme True Buddha should be the personal disciple left behind by the Tibetan Bodhisattva of the ancient Buddhist sect, a Great Power of Buddhism, a presence of the True Immortal Realm. Even within our Immortal Gate, only the Palace Masters of the Twelve Palaces and some senior Great Powers can contend against it… Although this is merely a portion of his legacy, based on your descriptions earlier, cultivating to the end of that Dharma Realm might very well summon that Tibetan Bodhisattva.”

“Although rumors have it that the Bodhisattva has already fallen, the Profound Immortal Realm is too mysterious, and nothing is certain.”

“If it truly is as I suspect, no matter our abilities, we have no chance at all.”

Silence gripped the assembly upon these words.

The atmosphere hung crushingly heavy.

Even Bai Lechan, the Banished Immortal reborn, conceded no path to triumph existed. The rest, long crushed under Heaven’s Mourning Buddha's dread pressure, nursed only gloom in their hearts.

Heavenly Monarch Chao let out an involuntary sigh and stated:

“I had hoped there would be a chance to avenge the destruction of the Canlong Realm, but it seems a distant hope.”

“Xiahou Heaven Demon certainly seems pleased, but he took all those Buddha Seeds earlier, and who knows what he’s planning.”

The mention of Xiahou Heaven Demon invigorated Master Gai, who rallied to speak:

“Xiahou Heaven Demon’s intentions are impossible to fathom. Though his prowess in magical combat lags behind mine and Fellow Daoist Chao’s, his techniques prove profoundly enigmatic and slippery. All we can do is guess at his reasons for seizing those Buddha Seeds.”

“Maybe he’s plotting something as well.”

His gaze then turned to Wang Ba: “What’s your opinion, Taoist Friend Taiyi?”

Wang Ba gave a slight shake of his head, answering in a grave tone:

“Putting Xiahou Heaven Demon aside, he has already attained Mahayana and might ascend anytime. His presence here now must stem solely from a desire to avenge the obliteration of the Void Demon Realm.”

“Regarding my view… We face two paths: confront or retreat. In confrontation, none of us possess full confidence. However, should we retreat…”

Master Gai involuntarily straightened his posture, fixing his stare on Wang Ba and urging him on:

“If we retreat, what then?”

The rest, Heavenly Monarch Chao included, also turned their eyes to Wang Ba.

At these words, Wang Ba sank into contemplation.

For retreat, he truly held a number of strategies.

He weighed his options deliberately:

“To retreat, we need to shift these last three Great Realms elsewhere, leaving Heaven’s Mourning Buddha no chance to bolster his troops. And if we’re bold enough, we might even move every Domain across this whole region.”