Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2197 137: Zhang's Ruins (Part 2)

A faint smile played on Wang Ba's lips after a brief moment of surprise. "Can these Rogue Cultivators truly be considered such once they have amassed significant influence?"

Shaking his head, Tao Bingji explained, "In the Realm Sea, the criteria for being a Rogue Cultivator depends on whether a Domain stands behind you. Naturally, there are those who fled here after losing power struggles within the Great Realm, but they represent a small fraction of the population."

Wang Ba nodded slowly, his understanding of Zhang's Ruins beginning to take shape.

After a brief pause, Tao Bingji added with a sense of urgency, "Please keep in mind, Taoist Friend, that this information stems from my memories prior to reincarnation. I cannot vouch for the current state of affairs, so do not let my outdated insights lead you astray."

Wang Ba chuckled at the warning. "You have my word, Taoist Friend."

A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he asked, "On another note, are you familiar with the Realm Sea vortex?"

Tao Bingji looked puzzled. "The Realm Sea vortex? Do you have a specific destination in mind, Taoist Friend?"

Wang Ba confirmed with a nod. "Indeed. I was curious if any regular Realm Sea vortexes manifest nearby. I hope to utilize one to reach a certain location."

"Regarding the nearby Realm Sea vortexes..." Tao Bingji trailed off, looking troubled. "I am honestly quite ignorant on the matter. Innate Divine Demons lack the skill to utilize Realm Sea vortexes, so I never bothered to track them in the past."

"I understand," Wang Ba replied. He wasn't particularly let down. Given his current Cultivation Base, even if he managed to return to the Sea of Chaos Realm by altering the laws of a Realm Sea vortex, he would still have to contend with the Wisdom Void Bodhisattva and that Buddha Kingdom to escape again.

He had no desire to repeat such a perilous encounter anytime soon.

After all, he couldn't rely on his Junior Brother to intervene on his behalf every single time.

Furthermore, the shifts in Wisdom Magic had made him suspicious of the Supreme True Buddha; that so-called Buddha Kingdom felt permeated by a disturbing, unnatural aura.

"It appears I must wait for my Junior Brother to arrive at Zhang's Ruins before I can inquire further," he decided, quickly mapping out his next steps.

He maintained a steady flight speed, refusing to linger in one spot for too long lest the Wisdom Magic Arhat track him down. As they traveled, he took the opportunity to provide guidance on Tao Bingji’s cultivation.

Wang Ba recognized the immense value of a 'local' like Tao Bingji, even if his current Nascent Soul stage Cultivation Base made him something of a liability.

Tao Bingji, however, was overwhelmed with joy to receive direct instruction from a master who was a mere step away from the Tribulation-Transcending Realm.

Despite being a reincarnated soul, his previous life as an Innate Divine Demon meant he was utterly clueless regarding the 'Dao'. Reincarnation had granted him more experience and better Talent than a commoner, but little else.

Under Wang Ba's tutelage, it felt as though the fog had lifted. He experienced a profound epiphany, as if the sun had finally broken through the clouds.

This guidance was perhaps the greatest stroke of luck in his entire journey of cultivation, sharpening his perception and fueling rapid advancement.

By the time Zhang's Ruins appeared on the horizon, Tao Bingji stood on the precipice of Immortal Ascension.

"While the environment beyond the realms is perfect for grasping Dao Intention, staying here too long invites trouble," Wang Ba cautioned. "Once you find a Domain or a sanctuary that nullifies external corruption, you must consolidate your foundation. If your Dao Domain is flawed upon reaching the Immortal Ascension stage, it will cause irreparable damage to your future Dao path."

Tao Bingji bowed his head with deep respect. "I understand. My gratitude for your wisdom, teacher."

Through their shared journey, Tao Bingji’s admiration for Wang Ba had grown so much that he had changed how he addressed him. Though Wang Ba initially resisted the closeness, he eventually yielded, tacitly accepting the man as a named disciple.

Wang Ba gave a slight nod in response to Tao Bingji's words before turning his gaze toward the distance.

The gray-blue speck in his vision finally expanded, revealing its true form with startling clarity.

It was shaped like a 'human'.

While fine details like fingers or facial features were blurred by time and scale, the silhouette of a head, torso, and limbs was undeniable.

Its sheer size exceeded that of Fanming, rivaling the Reclining Buddha he had once encountered.

The colossus lay flat within the void, surrounded by swirling ribbons of Chaos Origin Substance that drifted into its nose and mouth before exiting from below.

From his vantage point, Wang Ba could see various ships and flying treasures darting out of the giant's orifices and vanishing into the distance, while other Cultivators flew toward them from the opposite direction.

"So this is why it is called Zhang's Ruins? It truly resembles a massive corpse."

Observing the 'person', Wang Ba felt a surge of realization. The Realm Sea was often described as a place of infinite wonders, and Zhang's Ruins was a testament to that truth.

The sight of the many vessels arriving and departing filled him with a sense of hope. Zhang's Ruins was a hub for Rogue Cultivators who traveled the breadth of the Realm Sea; they would surely possess the latest intelligence.

Securing news about the Cloud Sky Realm and the Supreme True Buddha would be a simple task here.

He glanced at Tao Bingji, who, sensing he would only be an obstacle, took the initiative to shrink and fly into Wang Ba’s sleeve. Once his companion was safely tucked away, Wang Ba paused to leave a hidden imprint in the area.

Only then did he begin his descent toward the mouth and nose of the ruins.

The closer he drew, the more the massive scale of the place exerted a heavy, suffocating pressure upon him.

Looking down from above, he saw the mouth—a pair of lips like colossal mountain ranges. Between them lay a yawning, bottomless abyss that greedily inhaled the thick Chaos Origin Substance.