Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2270 - 158: Encirclement

"With so many Boundary Sea Vortices present, which path actually leads to the Cloud Sky Realm?"

Stepping forward from the rear of the group, True Man Nie—the sole female Cultivator among them—gracefully approached the void. Her brow furrowed slightly as she inspected the dozens of Boundary Sea Vortices spinning before her.

Stray rock fragments occasionally spat out from the swirling depths of the vortices, evidently carried by the Boundary Sea Vortex from incredibly distant regions.

True Man Ba also knit his brows, his eyes scanning the various portals. He spoke in a low, resonant voice:

"Wait here for a moment while I investigate."

The Boundary Sea Vortices were flickering in and out of existence, shifting constantly. Even though he had traversed this path once before, he still needed to identify the correct one with precision to ensure they found their way.

After speaking, he glided toward the anomalies.

At that moment, Wang Ba suddenly interjected:

"Taoist Brother Ba, I will go with you."

Though momentarily surprised by the offer, True Man Ba did not decline. He nodded and cautioned:

"Be careful, Taoist Friend. Do not get pulled into these Boundary Sea Vortices carelessly; they could strand you in a very perilous location."

Wang Ba gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

The two men moved forward, beginning a systematic observation of each vortex.

Since this was Wang Ba’s first encounter with such a high concentration of Boundary Sea Vortices, he studied them with great intensity.

Recalling the various characteristics of Boundary Sea Vortices described by Taoist Man, he rapidly integrated that knowledge into his own understanding. Simultaneously, he searched for a pattern resembling the Boundary Sea Vortex located near the Demon Capturing Path in the Chaotic Sea from his past.

However, after a thorough search, Wang Ba felt a pang of disappointment.

Not one of the dozens of Boundary Sea Vortices before them matched that specific pattern.

"It appears I will have to calculate and adjust the path myself... though that might be a time-consuming process."

Wang Ba’s eyes swept over the vortices once more, etching the entrance signatures into his memory as he attempted to mentally derive the necessary adjustments.

Just then, the sound of True Man Ba’s joyful voice broke his concentration:

"This is definitely the one!"

Wang Ba shifted his gaze and saw True Man Ba hovering over an unremarkable Boundary Sea Vortex. The man was calculating rapidly with his fingers, a look of relief on his face.

Upon hearing the call, True Man Nie and the other dozen early-stage Crossing Tribulation cultivators quickly assembled to look down at the vortex. True Man Nie remained somewhat hesitant:

"Taoist Friend Ba, are you certain this is the correct path?"

Despite the questioning, True Man Ba—who always maintained a polite demeanor toward fellow cultivators of his rank—smiled and replied:

"While there have been minor shifts in the area, I have traveled this route before. Out of all these Boundary Sea Vortices, only this one shares a close resemblance to the one outside the Cloud Sky Realm. I cannot say it is a hundred percent certain, but there is at least an eighty-eight percent probability!"

"With some minor adjustments later, we should be able to cross successfully."

Seeing True Man Ba’s confidence, True Man Nie stopped her questioning and nodded:

"In that case, shall we proceed?"

True Man Ba was about to agree when a thought struck him. He turned toward Wang Ba with an inquiring look in his eyes:

"Taoist Friend Taiyi, what are your thoughts?"

Wang Ba reflected for a moment before asking a question of his own:

"Do you know the distance between the exit of the Boundary Sea Vortex and the Cloud Sky Realm?"

True Man Ba had only asked out of courtesy, but sensing that Wang Ba had genuine concerns, his expression turned serious as he pondered the question:

"It isn't exactly close, but at our current speed, it would take fifteen minutes at most... Are you worried about something, Taoist Friend?"

Wang Ba nodded solemnly:

"The Supreme True Buddha has the Cloud Sky Realm under siege. Even if this Boundary Sea Vortex seems hidden, it might not escape the notice of those with hidden agendas. I am worried that the other side of this Boundary Sea Vortex might be under guard by the Supreme True Buddha’s forces."

A cold shiver ran through the hearts of the surrounding cultivators at those words.

Even the expressions of True Man Ba and True Man Nie shifted uncomfortably.

True Man Ba hesitated before saying:

"That... seems unlikely. That Boundary Sea Vortex is quite close to the Cloud Sky Realm. If even that location were being watched by the Supreme True Buddha's people, the crisis in the Cloud Sky Realm would be far worse than we anticipated. It shouldn't be that bad; besides, no such reports have reached us."

Wang Ba frowned but remained quiet.

In this Soul Falling region, the natural laws were in shambles, preventing outside news from entering. One could not afford to be complacent simply because of a lack of information.

True Man Nie spoke up at this point:

"Taoist Friend Ba makes a fair point. Since it is only a fifteen-minute journey from the vortex exit to the Cloud Sky Realm, even if we run into trouble, the divine senses of the three Mahayana Cultivators—True Man Gai, Heavenly Monarch Chao, and Demon Lord Xiahou—can reach us instantly. There is likely no need for excessive concern."

Only then did Wang Ba’s expression soften slightly as he nodded:

"Perhaps I was being overly paranoid."

True Man Nie shook her head in disagreement:

"Not at all. Being cautious is never a bad trait to have."

She turned her gaze back to True Man Ba:

"What do you think, Taoist Friend Ba?"

True Man Ba nodded in agreement:

"Taoist Friend Taiyi’s worries are valid. Prudence is a virtue, and if the situation is not as we hope, having extra preparations will only benefit us."

The other cultivators nearby nodded along.

To have survived long enough to reach their current level, most of them were naturally careful, regardless of their individual temperaments. Even if Wang Ba hadn't spoken up, many had already begun making their own mental preparations. Someone immediately proposed that they move out in a battle formation.

This time, True Man Ba did not object. Since it concerned their survival, no one was willing to take risks.

The cultivator who suggested the formation immediately produced the required array flags and began setting it up on the spot—a simple task for experts at the early-stage Crossing Tribulation realm.

After a brief rehearsal, each person held their respective array flags, creating an unnamed formation that hovered above the Boundary Sea Vortex.

True Man Ba looked at the group with a solemn expression and said:

"Everyone, once we enter this Boundary Sea Vortex, there is no turning back. If anyone is feeling hesitant, now is your last chance to withdraw."