Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2307: 70: On the Dao

“He is the Qitian Patriarch…”

The youth dressed in ocher robes caught Wang Ba's gaze. Even though he had suspected the man's identity earlier, a brief look still sent a wave of dizziness through him.

Back in the Great Jin of Fenglin Continent, the Three Sects and One Clan stood prominent. Both the Qin Clan and Youxian Temple paid homage to Ancestor Qinlin as their patriarch. The Wanxiang Sect owed its origins to the Chongyuan Patriarch, while the Longevity Sect's founder was precisely this ocher-robed youth standing before him—the Qitian Patriarch.

These three patriarchs shared bonds of mentorship and sibling-like ties among themselves, which kept the Three Sects and One Clan in the Little Cang World tightly united, fostering a rare peace amid the realm's other factions.

Within the Three Sects, the trio of patriarchs commanded immense reverence. Even in the Wanxiang Sect, the Qitian Patriarch inspired deep admiration.

Wang Ba had once viewed the Qitian Patriarch's portrait and offered his respects to it. Now, after traversing the immense Realm Sea to reach the Cloud Sky Realm, beholding the actual person stirred emotions too intricate to voice.

Yet his Dao-heart remained firm; composure returned swiftly as he lifted his hand in salute.

To his surprise, the ocher-robed youth had already extended his own hand in welcome:

“Greetings to True Man Taiyi, I am Qitian.”

A flicker of astonishment crossed Wang Ba's face, but he noticed the youth's eyes held a similar surprise, even as his expression stayed serene with a gentle smile.

Standing nearby, he had overheard Hui Yunzi's address to Wang Ba, piecing together the latter's identity. Yet before the gathered cultivators, he held back further words, opting instead to show proper deference.

Grasping the intent, Wang Ba smiled in return, raised his hand, and replied:

“I am Taiyi, greetings to True Man Qitian.”

His curiosity piqued, he scanned the surroundings and inquired:

“Why isn’t True Man Chongyuan present?”

Hui Yunzi paused, casting a quick look toward the Qitian Patriarch.

The Qitian Patriarch's mind raced, though his features stayed composed as he responded:

“My brother suffers from grave wounds that bar him from journeying, yet Brother Chen extended a personal invitation. This honor benefits our Three Sects greatly, so I led the sect disciples here ahead of time.”

“Personally invited?”

Wang Ba shifted his gaze to Chen Zhongqi at his side, grasping the situation at once. With genuine appreciation, he clasped his hands and expressed thanks:

“Thank you, Taoist Friend Chen.”

Chen Zhongqi quickly reciprocated the gesture:

“Taoist Brother Taiyi, no need for such formality. It's just a small gesture. Still, the banquet has begun. Can we discuss more afterward?”

Wang Ba paused briefly.

The Qitian Patriarch spoke up right away:

“Brother Chen speaks wisely, True Man Taiyi, please proceed.”

With that, Wang Ba could only nod faintly and offer a smile to the Qitian Patriarch and Hui Yunzi:

“Stay after the banquet ends.”

The Qitian Patriarch and Hui Yunzi both nodded in agreement.

At that point, the surrounding cultivators ushered Wang Ba toward the banquet area.

The Qitian Patriarch and Hui Yunzi remained where they stood, watching the figure recede into the throng, as if caught in a surreal haze.

After what felt like ages, the Qitian Patriarch faced Hui Yunzi, letting the incredulity in his heart show through a private transmission:

“Is he truly the young successor you described to me earlier?”

He tried to steady himself, yet the revelation that True Man Taiyi served as the Little Cang World's Wanxiang Sect Deputy Sect Master proved overwhelmingly startling, compelling him to seek confirmation despite his certainty.

Hui Yunzi nodded uncertainly. He had sought the Qitian Patriarch's aid multiple times before to save the Wanxiang Sect in the Little Cang World, sharing details of the crisis and Wang Ba's role, but now he wavered:

“It appears to be him—his bearing and poise match exactly, but…”

He struggled to align the Divinity Transformation cultivator from his recollections with the one now encircled by hosts of Unification and Crossing Tribulation experts, the images refusing to merge.

With the initial astonishment fading, a flood of queries surged within him.

By his calculations, merely two or three millennia had elapsed since his own Cultivation Ascension. How had the youthful Deputy Sect Master evolved into this True Man Taiyi, who claimed five bouts and five victories, leaving even the multitude of Buddhas at a loss?

He had assumed the man had Ascended, but deeper probes into True Man Taiyi's background revealed otherwise.

The figure seemed to materialize from nowhere, swiftly cutting down several Bodhisattvas and Arhats, sending ripples across the Cloud Sky Realm.

“But absent Cultivation Ascension, how exactly did he reach the Cloud Sky Realm?”

His mind swirled with bewilderment, awe, and perplexity.

As thoughts churned and insights sharpened, certain particulars began to emerge.

“Yes, the Taoist Field he established in the Little Cang World bore the name ‘Taiyi’… Thus, True Man Taiyi must truly be Wang Ba. Yet what extraordinary events transpired to spark such a profound change?”

He had encountered the title True Man Taiyi in passing without giving it weight. The boundless Realm Sea often recycled names, but who could have foreseen that this particular True Man Taiyi was the very sect junior he knew and esteemed?

With this in mind, he sent a curious transmission:

“Patriarch, why the excessive formality toward him just now? Wang Ba honors his elders and upholds decorum; he's not one to overlook customs lightly.”

The Qitian Patriarch processed the startling revelation with steady calm and replied, shaking his head lightly:

“I recognize his respect for elders—that's precisely why he set aside others' views upon seeing you… However, he has risen from seclusion without promptly declaring his lineage. He may have compelling motives; we lack insight into his present mindset or situation. Rushing to acknowledge him could interfere with his plans, and that wouldn't serve well.”