Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2362 - 189: Subjugation

Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...

The cultivators from the Three Sects and One Clan of the Little Cang World stood in awe as Wang Ba confirmed the identities of the founding Patriarchs, including Chongyuan and Qitian, who had long ascended to the Heavens. Relieved of formal kneeling, they saluted with excitement, their high cultivation levels puzzling the Cloud Sky Realm's Three Sects and astonishing the Patriarchs, who marveled at how these juniors rivaled or surpassed their own forces in top strength. Wang Ba then summoned slumbering elders and sect masters like Shao Yangzi, sparking tearful reunions and vows of loyalty before the Patriarchs. Amid the joy, Yao Wudi shared a rare tender moment with Wang Ba, acknowledging his solitary burdens and vowing to join future adventures.

"Teacher."

Beyond the gathered throng, Xun FuJun, clad in a robe of moon-white silk and bearing a frosty visage, quietly descended right before Hui Yunzi. As he gazed upon the one he held in utmost reverence, a subtle spark of suppressed delight, eagerness, and unease danced in his eyes.

Though their looks varied greatly, in this instant side by side, their bearing appeared forged from a single template.

Matching robes and similarly rigid countenances.

Hui Yunzi eyed the Xun FuJun standing there, scrutinizing him from head to toe, as traces of severity and regret crept across his otherwise impassive features:

"I instructed you repeatedly, do not move hastily without grasping an enemy's base, and once you strike, aim for utter victory, sealing off every chance for retaliation!"

"You dispatched Han Yanzi to seal the heavens, but overlooked his concealed incarnation... in the end, you merely threw his life away pointlessly, sparking endless troubles!"

Xun FuJun froze for a moment, then naturally lowered his head a bit, reminiscent of those distant days absorbing lessons from his master, though now laced with a touch of dashed hope and a faint sense of injustice he had never felt even during his banishment from the Sect amid a storm of condemnations from multitudes, murmuring softly:

"Yes, this disciple overlooked the check..."

"I ask you, do you feel unhappy?"

Hui Yunzi's tone stayed icy and stern.

Xun FuJun kept his gaze down, his face blank and stiff, merely giving a small shake of his head:

"The highest path discards feelings, those of Lianqing Peak forever focus on purging the seven emotions and six desires through cultivation, this disciple has never possessed such sentiments."

Still, deep within, an odd sensation of obstruction stirred, one he would normally have purified ages ago, yet right then, oddly, he allowed this feeling to gradually unfurl across his thoughts.

Then abruptly, he sensed a hand softly resting on his shoulder, followed by his master's voice, typically detached, now infused with rare, soft nuances:

"Purging emotions does not equate to lacking them entirely..."

"It's fine to feel unhappy."

"Rather than utter emotionlessness, I wish for you to experience, as any ordinary cultivator does, your personal delights, griefs, and joys, and not merely... serve the Sect."

Xun FuJun lifted his head in shock.

There, his perpetually stern and unyielding teacher displayed an unprecedented tender grin, akin to sunlight melting frost and snow.

Nearby, his master's words continued:

"Furthermore..."

"You've performed admirably, without shaming me."

In that instant, Xun FuJun remained rooted in place, lost as though caught in a reverie.

...

"The Supreme True Buddha will probably dispatch forces into the Sea of Chaos Realm once more in the near future. This round, it could involve an Arhat, a Bodhisattva, or perhaps a Great Bodhisattva, while the Immortal Pass remains unbroken. If the Supreme True Buddha's followers sense anything amiss, the Sea of Chaos Realm shall confront a calamity like none before!"

"Hence, our pressing task lies in devising countermeasures against the Supreme True Buddha."

Within the Taiyi Dojo, at the Wanxiang Sect's Chunyang Palace Grand Hall.

Unlike its former state, the Chunyang Palace Grand Hall had undergone significant enlargement and refurbishment.

Following a series of compromises, Wang Ba occupied the central throne in the hall, flanked left and right by Chongyuan Patriarch, Qitian Patriarch, and fellow Cloud Sky Realm experts. Seated alongside were Shao Yangzi, Yan Wenzheng... Zhao Feng, Ji Ying, Liang Wuji, and additional Little Cang World cultivators, plus guests like Gan Xiong, the Five Ghost Kings, Yun Qi, Yan Zhi, and more, positioned with Qiao Zhongxu and Taoist Master Yingyuan.

This gathering represented the pinnacle council of the Sea of Chaos Realm, pivotal to the destiny of every faction and practitioner inside.

As such, all present held themselves straight-backed just then, faces etched with gravity.

As Wang Ba and Chongyuan Patriarch took turns describing the external threats beyond the Sea of Chaos Realm, the assembled experts gained an initial grasp of the Supreme True Buddha's immense might and fully appreciated the gravity in Wang Ba's declarations.

Qiao Zhongxu broke the silence first, his countenance heavy:

"With Taoist Friend Taiyi absent, he might not realize how profoundly the Sea of Chaos Realm has transformed these years. Nearly all external Immortal Ascension, Void Refining, and Unification cultivators from most powers have integrated into your Sect's three primary divisions. A shift this profound makes concealing it from the Supreme True Buddha's agents scarcely feasible. Should they uncover the vast alterations in the Sea of Chaos Realm and discover Taoist Friend Taiyi's true nature, I'm fearful..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ba paused before responding, instead turning his eyes to Chongyuan Patriarch.

Catching Wang Ba's look, Chongyuan Patriarch lightly caressed his flowing beard, while shaking his head as he replied:

"Concealing it from the Supreme True Buddha's agents isn't out of reach; long ago, I acquired a Secret Technique known as the 'Heavenly Observation Mirror.' Provided we deploy the necessary Magic Tools across the Sea of Chaos Realm, the whole domain falls under surveillance. The moment they trigger the Realm Sea vortex, detection will be instant, making it straightforward to handle that intruder by then. That said..."

"The intent behind the Supreme True Buddha's forces invading the Sea of Chaos Realm centers on seizing elite cultivators and abundant resources. Falling short would surely provoke them."

"Excellent."

Wang Ba gave a nod, then shifted his attention to Shao Yangzi and the rest.

Both Shao Yangzi and Yao Wudi could qualify as extensions of the Realm Spirit, needing only a dose of Power of Creation to rouse them. Amid these chaotic days, gathering more voices for counsel proves advantageous.

Shao Yangzi pondered briefly before voicing his thoughts:

"Shao's knowledge is shallow, so he hesitates to speak rashly, yet in my view, tackling this crisis boils down to understanding oneself and the foe."

"What level is their cultivation, do they wield any Secret Techniques or treasures, is it a lone figure, a handful, or a horde? What drives their incursion this time?"

At Shao Yangzi's remarks, the faces of all grew even more grave.

Wang Ba nodded faintly too, aware that dilemmas like this thrive on collective insight, such as how his own narrow thinking had overlooked the chance of a large contingent arriving now. Considering the present circumstances, with the Sea Market vanished, the odds of the Supreme True Buddha unleashing a sizable force seem rather elevated.