Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2254: 52: Six Wicks_3

A sudden realization struck him, prompting an immediate and respectful bow toward the elder dressed in white.

“The world where this junior dwells has reached its peak and is currently unable to break through its shackles. I humbly implore the elder to grant me this Dharma. I am willing to swear an oath never to reveal its secrets!”

The white-robed elder listened, stroking his long beard with a gentle hand while observing Wang Ba with a look of deep contemplation.

Feeling a wave of anxiety, Wang Ba whispered tentatively:

“Is the elder troubled by some concern?”

Shaking off his thoughts, the elder in white offered a faint smile and shook his head.

“I have no concerns. This Dharma is typically useless to those who require it, while those capable of wielding it usually find it unnecessary. Granting it to you will not cause much of a disturbance...”

“Nevertheless, young friend, it is quite remarkable that someone from a common realm can produce five top-grade Innate Dao Treasures. Such items are incredibly scarce; even within my Canlong Realm, we possess only one. Furthermore, your Dao Domain is so exceptionally sturdy and unique that I have never encountered its equal in all my years. It is... truly astonishing.”

Wang Ba’s heart tightened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure upon sensing no greed from the elder regarding his treasures. He began to clarify:

“Elder, your perception is indeed sharp. My current Cultivation level and these treasures were obtained through unique opportunities and are not truly representative of my home realm.”

“Is that so?”

The elder in white showed a flicker of interest.

“If there is little connection, why not simply ascend to The Heavens? Why go through the arduous trouble of pushing your current realm to its absolute limits? It is a very taxing path to take.”

Wang Ba wavered for a second before deciding to reveal the plight of the Little Cang World, though he purposefully left out the broader context of the Sea of Chaos Realm.

The white-robed elder shook his head repeatedly, his voice filled with lamentation.

“You cannot bear to witness your Sect and companions face annihilation, so you refuse to ascend alone, choosing instead to wander with an entire realm in tow. Such a spirit is admirable, yet you must realize that not only Cultivators but even realms and this very Realm Sea have an inevitable conclusion. If one fails to reach The Heavens, all things eventually turn to nothingness. No matter how grand, everything returns to dust!”

“Why subject yourself to such suffering?”

Wang Ba could only manage a bitter smile in response.

“Every person has their own attachments; without them, the highest state of detachment is no different from the mindless plants growing here.”

“To this junior, seeking immortality is indeed the goal, but not a hollow, lonely existence. If all life around me falls silent while I alone move forward, how desolate would that be?”

The elder in white sighed, clearly disagreeing with Wang Ba’s perspective, and asked another question:

“Let me ask you this: the journey to immortality is fraught with danger, and you carry the weight of a realm. Should you perish along the way, what then?”

With a newfound sense of calm, Wang Ba answered with total sincerity:

“I would have nothing but a clear conscience.”

The elder in white knit his brows, staring at Wang Ba with a look of visible irritation.

“Is that truly what you believe in your heart?”

Even a minor frown from a Mahayana Cultivator carried an oppressive weight, making Wang Ba feel uneasy and alert.

Having traveled this far, his resolute Dao-heart was perhaps as unyielding as the Immortal Pass itself.

Understanding that one cannot deceive a True Man, he replied honestly:

“The elder may find it foolish, but this is indeed my conviction.”

The white-robed elder glared at him, his face a mask of anger or perhaps disappointment at Wang Ba’s perceived lack of grand ambition.

Wang Ba, however, did not flinch.

Suddenly, the elder in white burst into laughter.

As Wang Ba watched in confusion, the elder offered repeated praise.

“Excellent!”

“The character of this young friend is truly to my liking...”

Wang Ba was stunned by the sudden change in mood.

Turning his gaze toward the endless plains in the distance, the elder sighed softly.

“In truth, I find myself in a similar predicament. With my current realm, I could trigger the Ascension Tribulation and depart from this Realm Sea after a brief period of secluded meditation... But I simply cannot abandon the Canlong Realm.”

Light finally dawned on Wang Ba.

Before he could say a word, the elder suddenly made a request:

“Young friend, would you mind if I took a look at those two jade staves you wielded before?”

Wang Ba hesitated briefly but instinctively caught the jade staff the elder tossed his way. It felt cool to the touch. Looking closely, he saw the characters for “Silkworm Dragon” etched into its surface.

“Consider this an exchange. I shall show you my Dao Treasure, though I only possess this one, while you have many.”

The elder in white smiled warmly.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Wang Ba produced the Wind-Driving Staff and the Land-Parting Staff.

When the elder received the two jade staves, his eyes shimmered not with shock, but with a sense of fulfilled expectation. He held the Dao Treasures gently, and upon seeing the names “Wind Drive” and “Land Part” carved in the same calligraphy as his “Silkworm Dragon,” he couldn’t help but cry out:

“So, the legends are actually true!”

Wang Ba scrutinized the Silkworm Dragon Staff, though its true function remained hidden from him since he had not established a bond with it.

Intrigued by the elder's reaction, he asked:

“Legends? Does the elder know the history of these two Dao Treasures?”

The white-robed elder casually returned the Wind-Driving and Land-Parting Staffs, showing no desire to keep the treasures that others would kill for, and nodded slightly.

“I once heard a tale from the Eastern Luli Buddha Realm. It is said that a Mahayana Cultivator from that place returned to this Realm Sea alone, ignoring its fundamental laws for reasons unknown. In the end, he vanished, but two segments of the ‘Six Candle Stick of Tongyou’ found their way back. One fell into the Eastern Luli Buddha Realm, while the other merged with a massive deposit of Chaos Origin Substance nearby, eventually giving birth to a brand new realm...”