Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2299: 167: Bound and Helpless

“I surrender!”

The admission of defeat from the Red Bodhisattva echoed through the void, saturated with a deep sense of frustration.

This declaration sent shockwaves through the observers on both sides, though the reactions were vastly different.

The assembly of arhats and bodhisattvas gathered by the Supreme True Buddha wore masks of disbelief, looking as if they had lost their very souls.

“He actually lost…”

“Even the Wisdom Truth Bodhisattva was defeated.”

“In terms of magical combat, he was clearly not inferior to that Taoist!”

Suddenly, several monks erupted in fury:

“It was those divine beasts!”

“This was supposed to be a duel between two individuals, so why were so many divine beasts unleashed?”

“Winning by outnumbering the opponent—how dishonorable!”

“This result should be invalidated!”

The roar of the crowd was deafening!

Meanwhile, the Eastern Great Bodhisattva wore a dark expression, the mask of compassion on his face becoming difficult to sustain. His eyes were locked onto Wang Ba, seemingly weighing his options, calculating, or perhaps on the verge of intervening.

Within the Taoist Field of the Cloud Sky Realm, the situation was reversed.

The cultivators, who had been holding their breath while watching the fierce struggle between Wang Ba and the Red Bodhisattva, finally snapped out of their trance. They exhaled in relief, unable to contain their joy as they began to offer congratulations.

“Victory! I was certain Taoist Friend Taiyi would emerge triumphant in this bout!” True Man Ba declared, his voice booming with excitement.

True Man Nie gazed at the blue-robed figure reflected in the water curtain, her eyes shimmering with light.

Having reached such a high Realm of Cultivation, seeking a lifelong partner was no longer a priority, yet she felt that if one were to choose a cultivation partner, a man like him would be an excellent match. However, upon further reflection, she felt a sense of shame and quickly suppressed the thought.

Many others looked toward Wang Ba with admiration that was nearly overwhelming.

Some were merely at the Tribulation-Transcending Realm; though their insight and Realm were insufficient to grasp the profound techniques displayed by Wang Ba and the Red Bodhisattva, they understood the core truth. The Red Bodhisattva was the leader of the ten bodhisattvas of the Supreme True Buddha and the top figure in the Bodhisattva Realm. Since True Man Taiyi had forced such a person to cry "surrender," his superiority was undeniable.

Those who truly understood the art—mostly middle-stage Tribulation-Transcending Realm cultivators and a few experts like the purple-robed youth at the peak of Tribulation Crossing—were deeply moved.

Red Bodhisattva Wisdom Truth was by no means a weakling. Their exchange of magical combat had been brilliant and flawless, featuring exquisite spells and terrifying power. Whether in physical clashing or a duel of spells, any single technique they used would be considered a trump card by others. He was truly only a step away from the stage of a Great Bodhisattva.

Had they fought at the same stage, most of them would lack the confidence to defeat such an opponent. That such a figure still fell to the newly appeared Taiyi Taoist could only be attributed to fate.

In the midst of the crowd, the purple-robed youth allowed a rare smile to grace his face.

Taiyi Taoist’s decisive victory over Wisdom Truth had far surpassed his expectations. This meant the remaining two matches of this invitation duel were essentially decided, buying them precious time for the looming Great War. This realization brought him a small measure of relief.

Though he always appeared composed and graceful, the weight of his responsibilities created an indescribable pressure in his heart. While the emergence of the Taiyi Taoist couldn't flip the entire war, the boost to morale was significant.

His only regret was that Taiyi Taoist had no convenient way to slay Wisdom Truth. A figure of that caliber would likely become another Great Bodhisattva in the future. Thinking of this, he felt a surge of restlessness, barely able to stifle the urge to behead Wisdom Truth himself.

Out in the void of the Outer Realm, within the field of battle.

Wang Ba’s brow arched slightly as he slowly retracted his Dao Treasure, his heart free of any regret. Even without a Dao Treasure, killing such a person would take time—time enough for the enemy to flee or for the Eastern Great Bodhisattva to step in personally. Since a kill was impossible, he wouldn't waste his energy. He preferred to focus on how to handle the next two fights appropriately.

Opposite him, the Red Bodhisattva lingered. Instead of departing immediately, he looked at Wang Ba and spoke with gravity:

“My Buddha Treasures and divine beasts…”

Wang Ba’s expression remained indifferent: “They are mine now.”

The Red Bodhisattva’s face turned grim.

Six top-grade Buddha Treasures were no small loss. Even among the Supreme True Buddha’s ranks, such items were exceptionally rare, usually only obtainable by those at the Bodhisattva stage through the exchange of immense merit. He possessed so many because he was highly valued by the Great Bodhisattva and had accumulated significant merits; he could not simply stand by and watch Wang Ba seize them.

Yet, having been defeated, he had no confidence in his ability to take them back by force.

At that moment, a sudden chill ran down Wang Ba’s spine!

His vision blurred for a split second. When his sight cleared, he saw a colossal Buddha statue seated high above him. With hands joined and a face radiating compassion, it looked down at him with a benevolent gaze.

“Supreme True Buddha… Since the Layman relied on divine beasts to win, one could argue this match is void. We shall not dispute that point, but why does the Layman still persist in holding the treasures and guardian divine beasts of the Buddha Gate?”

Wang Ba’s heart hammered against his ribs!

He looked up in shock; the towering Buddha statue was none other than the Eastern Great Bodhisattva! The surrounding area had turned into a desolate, white void. The Cloud Sky Realm and the other monks had vanished, leaving only him and the massive Buddha.

“When did this happen…”

Wang Ba was deeply shaken. He realized he had likely been pulled into the opponent’s illusory realm without even noticing the transition.

Before he could respond, a voice suddenly vibrated from behind him—crisp and resonant, like the clashing of jade and metal.

“Eastern Grand Monk, you are violating the rules.”