Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2196 137: Zhang's Ruins

"What exactly is the deal with this Wisdom Magic?"

A streak of azure light tore through the immense Realm Sea, racing past the brilliant glitter of distant stars.

Despite having traveled a significant distance, Wang Ba found himself unable to shake the memory of that recent encounter.

He was a man of vast experience who had seen much of the world, yet a spectacle so bizarre was entirely new to him.

The Wisdom Arhat had undergone a terrifying transformation; after its Primordial Spirit was cleaved by his hand, it had manifested a hideous Demon Body.

The sheer purity of the Demonic Qi emanating from it was truly startling.

"A Buddha on the surface, but a demon at the core... Is this the true nature of everyone within the Supreme True Buddha? What kind of link exists between the Supreme True Buddha and that Tibo?"

"And what has become of Junior Brother?"

Wang Ba was lost in deep thought, yet the answers remained elusive.

Not daring to linger in one place, he maintained his rapid flight for a long duration.

Suddenly, a thought struck him.

He came to an abrupt halt and summoned the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers.

Hand seals were formed rapidly to trigger the artifact.

Immediately, a burst of faint light erupted from the four eyes of the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers.

The light pierced the void, and a portal began to manifest quickly.

However, the gateway stayed firmly shut. No matter how much Wang Ba strained to activate the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers to force it open, the portal refused to budge. Instead, it soon crumbled, reverting into a cluster of dim light that was sucked back into the eyes of the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers.

"It failed."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Wang Ba's face at the sight.

The Double Pupil Treasure Technique possessed by Yu Yu was capable of tearing through the void to summon the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers from across great distances.

In theory, the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers could utilize that same mystical link to reverse the process, opening a path to summon Yu Yu.

During the previous conflict with the Jade Pot Realm, he had successfully employed this tactic to bring forth Gan Xiong, Yu Yu, and a group of Cultivators from the Holy Desecration Realm, which had successfully forced Qiao Zhongxu into a ceasefire and negotiations.

He had brought the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers along this time because its martial prowess was formidable enough to protect his Dao, but he had also harbored the hope of using Yu Yu’s Double Pupil Treasure Technique as a backdoor to bypass the Immortal Pass.

He had been too preoccupied with fleeing the pursuit of the Supreme True Buddha to attempt it until this moment.

Regrettably, for reasons he could not fathom, even Yu Yu’s Double Pupil Treasure Technique was unable to penetrate the Immortal Pass.

His heart grew heavy with frustration.

"Taoist Friend Taiyi."

A voice suddenly drifted out from his sleeve.

Snapping back to reality, Wang Ba stowed away the Divine Corpse's Six Fingers and resumed his flight, while simultaneously releasing Tao Bingji from his sleeve.

Tao Bingji emerged but remained within the protective boundary of Wang Ba's Dao Domain. He squinted as he surveyed their surroundings, clearly struggling to orient himself at such speeds.

Realizing the issue, Wang Ba immediately slowed to a stop.

Although Tao Bingji had been a Seventh Tier Innate Divine Demon in his previous incarnation, he was currently nothing more than a Nascent Soul Cultivator. His visual perception simply could not keep pace with such high-speed travel.

Once they were stationary, Tao Bingji regained his bearings and peered into the distance.

In the far reaches of the void, he could vaguely discern the twinkling of domain-like 'stars'.

After a moment of careful observation, his expression brightened, and he gestured toward a faint, grayish-blue speck.

"That is the place... That is Zhang's Ruins!"

Wang Ba’s interest was piqued, but he still sought confirmation:

"Taoist Friend Tao, are you certain?"

Tao Bingji gave a firm nod:

"There is no doubt. I caught sight of it several times in the past..."

"Caught sight of it from afar?"

Wang Ba asked, feeling curious.

With a wry smile, Tao Bingji explained:

"Back when I was an Innate Divine Demon, Zhang's Ruins served as a hub for Cultivators. Even though it was the domain of Rogue Cultivators, the nature of Cultivators and Innate Divine Demons is fundamentally incompatible. I didn't dare approach, fearing I would be captured and refined into rules by the Tribulation-Transcending Realm experts residing there..."

Wang Ba was somewhat taken aback:

"There are actually Tribulation-Transcending Realm Cultivators within Zhang's Ruins?"

"But of course."

Tao Bingji spoke with a nostalgic tone as he recounted the history of the place.

"Whenever a Domain falls, the Cultivators who survive are either exceptionally skilled or possess incredible luck. Though they become Rogue Cultivators deprived of a Domain's resources, when so many gather in one spot, it is inevitable that genius talents will arise. Through sheer will and adaptation, some eventually ascend to the Tribulation-Transcending Realm."

"In fact, there was a time when Zhang's Ruins was home to a Mahayana Cultivator who could hold his own against Great Realm Masters. That era made Zhang's Ruins famous throughout the Realm Sea. Almost everyone who travels these waters knows of it... Ahem, perhaps so much time has passed that it is only natural for Taoist Friend Taiyi to be unaware."

Wang Ba gave a slight shake of his head.

"My knowledge is indeed limited, and I am unsure if any Mahayana Cultivators remain in Zhang's Ruins today. Regardless, is there anything I should be wary of upon entering?"

As he spoke, he once again brandished the Wind-Driving Staff, whisking Tao Bingji toward the grayish-blue light at high speed.

Tao Bingji was secretly stunned by the incredible velocity. Even though he was currently cultivating from scratch, the eyes of his former life allowed him to perceive the nuances of their movement.

After reflecting on what he remembered of Zhang's Ruins, he spoke slowly:

"I was an Innate Divine Demon then, so I wasn't privy to every detail. However, I know that while the gates are open to Rogue Cultivators, Zhang's Ruins is a place of many secrets with various entrenched factions. Given your high Cultivation level, entering will be like putting a sharp wedge in a soft bag; you will be noticed immediately. It is inevitable that you will be drawn into the internal politics of those forces."