Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2333 - 178: Outbreak

Yet, the risk involved matched precisely the chaos unfolding at this very moment.

Deep inside, he felt an overwhelming surge of joy:

"With this one's arrival, our chances for victory are real!"

Right then, though, he caught sight of True Man Taiyi up in the heavens, who bowed respectfully toward the Heavenly Monarch Chao beneath him and spoke in a voice that echoed from afar:

"Wang Ba, I have seen Master Chao."

"Gratitude to Master Chao for your swift aid."

"Master... Master Chao?!"

The skinny elder and the red-robed youth, along with the rest, were stunned upon hearing Wang Ba's way of addressing Heavenly Monarch Chao.

What stunned them further was the white-robed figure's somewhat resigned reply:

"I urged you to focus on cultivation, so why dive into this mess?"

They... actually know one another?

Confusion gripped the skinny elder's face, but soon, amid the astonishment, a wave of clarity washed over him.

True Man Taiyi and Heavenly Monarch Chao weren't just acquaintances; likely, every bit of True Man Taiyi's power stemmed from Heavenly Monarch Chao!

"Ah, that explains it, that explains everything..."

In that instant, he grasped why Wang Ba possessed such formidable might nowadays.

Under the guidance of a Mahayana Cultivator, it's no surprise that one's prowess would eclipse others of the same level.

This cleared up the mystery nagging at his mind.

After all, he knew the Little Cang World's conditions inside out. A talent like Wang Ba rising up seemed utterly impossible otherwise.

On the other side.

"Master Chao, what brings you here?"

High above the firmament, Wang Ba's form blurred before he descended next to Heavenly Monarch Chao. Noting the other's steady poise, Wang Ba's surprise mixed with delight as he inquired:

"Didn't they claim you were all outside the Domain?"

Heavenly Monarch Chao gazed at the Wang Ba before him with a grin, a flicker of pride in his gaze. Rather than reply right away, he offered praise unbidden:

"I've watched all your magical clashes with those phony monks these past days."

"Your grasp of them outpaces my expectations by far. The many Dharmas from our realm, you wield them smoothly and masterfully! My judgment was spot on; you're truly the perfect successor for my Canlong Realm."

Though accustomed to compliments, Wang Ba still fretted upon these words:

"Tianshang Buddha Lord hasn't emerged yet, and Master Chao has already stepped forward. Could this throw off our initial scheme?"

Hearing Wang Ba's concern, Heavenly Monarch Chao gave a faint shake of his head:

"That sneaky northern monk had you in his sights. Without my intervention, you could've been in real trouble, though it's hardly a crisis..."

Wang Ba had meant to mention his own hidden aces, perhaps not turning the tide but at least safeguarding himself. Yet, feeling the genuine worry from the other, he chose to stay silent.

At the same time, a youthful silhouette clad in purple robes materialized quietly from nothingness, bearing a divine aura. It was none other than the Cloud Sky Sect's leader, Bai Lechan.

Spotting Heavenly Monarch Chao, that striking visage betrayed a touch of exasperation too:

"Senior Chao, emerging now wasn't wise... Even without your move, if Taoist Friend Taiyi faced true peril, I'd have pulled him to safety first."

To this, Heavenly Monarch Chao stayed composed, merely tilting his head in mild denial:

"He's just a side matter."

"Truth is, your scheme won't draw him out much; Tianshang refuses to budge. Lacking proper lure, he'll stay concealed forever!"

Warmth bloomed in Wang Ba's chest.

Clearly, per the strategy, Master Chao ought to have lurked in shadows, yet he exposed himself ahead of time, fearing Wang Ba couldn't handle the Northern Great Bodhisattva. Despite calling it secondary, Wang Ba sensed it was the core motive.

The purple-robed youth, catching the underlying meaning, didn't take offense. He merely creased his brow and shot back promptly:

"Does Senior Chao plan to serve as the lure himself?"

A profound worry stirred in Wang Ba as well.

Heavenly Monarch Chao answered offhandedly:

"The big monk's no idiot. Wanting a trade means proving your resolve... You'll have to step up eventually, so I'll force their hand now!"

Meanwhile.

Up in the heavens, the Northern Great Bodhisattva, who had pulled back in alarm, pondered slipping away unnoticed, as eyes seemed elsewhere.

But the white-robed form detected it at once, his gaze sharpening as he fixed on the Northern Great Bodhisattva, his tone icing over:

"Little monk, we cross paths once more. You figure you can harm my disciple and just slink off?"

"When did I ever get injured..."

The Northern Great Bodhisattva's face paled, poised to protest, but memories flooded back of his form ripped apart by the foe's divine beast earlier. Dread gripped him, and without a second thought, he morphed into a streak of radiance, bolting toward the outer reaches!

From below, the Lion Beast vaulted skyward, its maw gaping like an infinite void, unleashing a tremendous pull that yanked the light beam straight toward it!

Just then, the Buddha beads encircling the Northern Great Bodhisattva's neck shimmered softly, conjuring a subtle '卍' silhouette that scattered glowing motes to fend off the drag, hovering uncertainly in the air!

Witnessing this, the white-robed figure let out a cold scoff:

"If Tianshang himself descended, I'd offer deference, but a simple Dao Treasure to halt me?"

The Lion Beast dug in its four paws, then rocketed upward in a flash!

Innumerable jaws surged ahead, swallowing the Northern Great Bodhisattva whole in an instant.

Dull cracks resounded as the Buddha beads shattered piece by piece!

Mere seconds from total annihilation of the beads.

But in that critical second, the enormous Buddha idol in the Outer Realm Void, as though alerted, gradually parted its long-shut eyes.

The hands, once forming the 'Fearless Seal' and 'With Wish Seal', now shifted into a unified gesture:

'Demon Suppression Seal'!

The very next instant, the Northern Great Bodhisattva, mauled by the horde of Demonic Beasts, burst into golden Buddha radiance and dropped safely into the waiting palm of the giant Buddha statue.

"Hmm?!"

Within the Cloud Sky Realm.

The battling monks appeared to detect the shift, all shoving back their foes before withdrawing with palms together and heads bowed, murmuring in unison:

"Supreme True Buddha."

"Hail to Tianshang Buddha Lord."

Their chants were soft, but carried an immense, echoing depth.

At that juncture, the sole Mahayana Cultivator baring his authentic presence, Heavenly Monarch Chao, sensed it too. His vision pierced the Realm Membrane, locking onto the Outer Realm's massive Buddha.

Weight settled in his chest, mingled with shock and uncertainty:

"Tianshang Buddha Lord, concealed right here?!"

"Is this his Dharma Aspect, or perhaps another trick?"

Ironically, despite countless encounters with the Supreme True Buddha, he'd never glimpsed Tianshang Buddha Lord's actual visage.

The foe, showing only thrice—during assaults on Canlong Realm, Void Demon Realm, and Cloud Sky Realm—had merely projected a ray of Buddha light, rendering resistance nearly futile.

The latest clash at Cloud Sky Realm saw three Mahayana unite, slaying numerous Bodhisattvas and Arhats in a do-or-die push, scarcely driving the enemy away.

It was this dread of the enigmatic, overwhelmingly potent Tianshang Buddha Lord that left him, even with allies assembled, devoid of full confidence.

Even at present, assurance eluded him, doubt growing stronger.

Still, he flashed a faint smile and addressed the purple-robed youth:

"See? My emergence draws him out too."

The purple-robed youth held his tongue, his thoughts racing over the scene, until resolve sparked in his eyes as he bellowed:

"All cultivators, hear my command!"

"Charge with me into the fray!"

Against overwhelming might, schemes crumble to nothing.

With the prime target hooked at last, though the moment wasn't ideal in his view, such concerns faded into irrelevance.

Only enduring the storm's fury paves the way to seizing the mighty prize!

Fail, and the barriers shatter, lives lost in the flood.

As the purple-robed youth issued his call, the horde of cultivators pinned down in the Cloud Sky Arena burst forth!

Myriad rays lit the skies!

Heavenly Monarch Chao kept his gentle smile, yet in his private transmission to Wang Ba, the burden in his soul surfaced at last:

"Victory in this clash means triumph... Defeat isn't final; keep in mind, should tides turn against us, withdraw without delay. It's no retreat, but safeguarding our true path forward."

"Understood..."

Wang Ba's heart quaked, drawn irresistibly to glance at the elder.

The white-haired elder, robes billowing and locks whipping in the wind, stared into the distant outer void, his gaze free of terror, brimming instead with calm resolve.

In the blink of an eye, this form had soared beyond the realm, confronting the towering Buddha in the Outer Realm Void...

The epic clash, at long last, ignited!