Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2239 - 148: Not So

True Man Taiyi departed with abrupt speed, vanishing so suddenly that his figure was instantly lost to the eye.

Before his departure, however, he had seized Jiu Futu of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace. He did so while completely disregarding the presence of three middle-stage Crossing Tribulation experts and more than twenty cultivators at the early-stage Crossing Tribulation realm.

The sheer boldness and suddenness of this decisive move stunned everyone. Even though True Man Taiyi had already exited the dark abyss, the gathered cultivators remained frozen in astonishment, feeling utterly adrift.

"Could such a person truly be an Achieve Dao immortal?"

"Coming and going as he pleases, acting with such fluid grace, achieving success wherever his heart leads him..."

Someone whispered in a low tone, their eyes brimming with a deep sense of longing.

Who among those on the path of Cultivation has not dreamed of such absolute freedom?

Regrettably, the journey of Cultivation is riddled with hurdles that eventually erode one’s spirit and twist one's original purpose. Under the weight of the world within Zhang’s Ruins, many eventually transform into the very things they once loathed.

Yin Tianzhi, the white-haired Elder, and the young woman also found themselves staring upward.

Their countenances were a tapestry of complex emotions.

In Yin Tianzhi’s eyes, there was an unshakeable sense of remorse:

"What a tragedy..."

He had realized the moment the man appeared that someone of his caliber could never be reduced to a mere sword in the Yin Family’s hand, a realization that only deepened his regret.

The white-haired Elder shared a similarly tangled sentiment. Though he detested the man for beheading his direct descendants and ruining years of careful effort, he could not help but secretly admire his peerless elegance. Like Yin Tianzhi, he let out an involuntary sigh:

"What a pity..."

The reasons for their lamentation, however, were worlds apart.

Yin Tianzhi mourned his inability to command such a talent, while the Elder regretted that fate had turned them into enemies, destroying any possibility of befriending such a figure.

The young woman appeared even more visibly fascinated. She did not speak her habitual Zen phrase, and her eerie grin had faded as she softly remarked:

"A truly fine Taoist."

Despite her brevity, there was a rare sincerity in her tone.

In contrast, the green-robed youth was consumed by fury and shock, staring into the heights where nothing remained to be seen.

After that figure had left, the turbulent Chaos Origin Substance became stagnant once more, trapped between the clashing Qi of the various Crossing Tribulation cultivators.

It acted as a barrier, sealing the interior off from the outside world.

He could see nothing of his foe, yet he knew instinctively that the man was long gone, vanishing like a bird into the vastness of the sky.

It was bad enough that the man had escaped, but he had also abducted Jiu Futu of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace for no apparent reason. This shattered the youth's composure. He suddenly turned a murderous glare toward the Yin Family members and roared:

"Yin Tianzhi! Your Tribute has kidnapped a Crossing Tribulation cultivator of my Demon Palace! Hand him over this instant!"

Yin Tianzhi’s brow furrowed at the demand. His expression darkened as he looked down at the green-robed youth, his voice freezing over:

"Tian Guiye, have you lost your mind?"

"True Man Taiyi has already broken all ties with the Yin Family. Whatever he does, or whoever he captures, has absolutely nothing to do with us!"

The green-robed youth let out a laugh born of pure rage:

"Fine! Excellent! You old dog, you certainly have a sharp tongue!"

He whipped around to face the white-haired Elder and the young woman, shouting at them:

"You two! True Man Taiyi is gone! Our odds of victory have surged! If we do not strike now, when will we ever get another chance?"

The white-haired Elder and the young woman both shuddered, looking at the green-robed youth with expressions of shock:

"Palace Lord Tian, but we have already reached an agreement."

The green-robed youth appeared both manic and chillingly focused as he spoke coldly:

"No oaths were sworn, which means no true agreement exists!"

"To hesitate now is to invite disaster! Today, True Man Taiyi retreated because of the circumstances. But once his Cultivation base is perfected and he joins forces with the Yin Family... he will not be restricted by their family laws!"

Hearing the green-robed youth’s words, the surrounding Ninth-Tier cultivators from Golden Water Pond, Longcong Prefecture, and other sects looked on in disbelief. They stared at him, convinced he had gone insane.

In the world of Cultivation, casual talk is often ignored.

However, for the leaders of three great powers to make a public pledge—even without a formal oath—and then break it immediately would set a dangerous precedent. From that day on, their word would be worthless!

Who could ensure their Sect would prosper forever? Who could be certain they wouldn't need others to keep their promises in the future?

Would the one who started this betrayal even have a future?

Nevertheless, the white-haired Elder and the young woman began to weigh the implications of his words, and hesitation crept into their eyes.

True Man Taiyi had braved immense peril to assist the Yin Family today; their bond was clearly strong. If they allowed the Yin Family to leave now, there was no telling what might happen once they were fully prepared...

Yin Tianzhi felt the shift in their resolve and grew anxious, quickly interjecting:

"The two of you, I solemnly swear I will never—"

Suddenly, the green-robed youth’s face twisted into a mask of cold ferocity. Demonic Qi surged around him as he pulled a blood-red iron awl from his sleeve. Infused with a Ninth-Tier Dao Domain and fused with the laws of the world, the treasure erupted, thrusting silently toward Yin Tianzhi and his followers!

He gave a chilling laugh:

"I shall make the choice for you!"

Yin Tianzhi’s face paled!

His white Ninth-Tier Dao Domain expanded instinctively, forming a shield to protect the Yin Family members behind him.

The white-haired Elder and the young woman cried out in alarm:

"This cannot be!"

"Palace Lord Tian, hold your hand!"

But the green-robed youth had clearly been planning this strike for some time. He attacked with total, murderous intent!

At that very moment.

Ding!

The sharp, resonant ring of a sword echoed clearly in everyone’s ears!