Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2388 198: Entering Again (Part 2)

Wisdom None offered a subtle smile as well, his eyes gliding across the faces of a few people in the gathering, before he turned his attention to yet another topic:

"Furthermore, I humbly request that Layman Zhao show mercy to the Jade Pot Realm, considering this old monk's meager reputation."

"I wouldn't dare."

Ji Ying, positioned next to Zhao Feng, cast a look at Qiao Zhongxu whose face held a grave and inscrutable look, and quickly interjected:

"We had just a minor clash with Fellow Daoist Qiao before, but now that we're aware of your esteemed ties to the Jade Pot Realm, and since you've stepped in to mediate personally, we're naturally on good terms now, so please be at ease, senior."

Upon hearing those words, Wisdom None smiled and directed his gaze toward Qiao Zhongxu:

"What say you, Layman Qiao?"

Qiao Zhongxu gave a slight bow, a trace of irritation evident on his features, but he had little option except to respond in a subdued tone:

"Answering Martial Uncle Patriarch, I will comply with your directives without question."

Detecting the bitterness and fury laced in Qiao Zhongxu's response, Wisdom None kept his smile steady, offered a Buddhist benediction, and regarded Zhao Feng and the rest with approval:

"With Layman Ji's word, the old monk feels reassured."

Qiao Zhongxu's desire to wipe out the Little Cang World in a single strike was obvious, requiring no Telepathy to discern.

Yet Qiao Zhongxu remained unaware that Wisdom None harbored no fondness for the Jade Pot Realm, and from the Supreme True Buddha's viewpoint, preserving equilibrium among the various powers in the Sea of Chaos Realm was the preferred state.

He would not back the Jade Pot Realm in assaulting the Little Cang World.

In the same vein, backed by his assurance, regardless of how formidable the Little Cang World became, it wouldn't readily move against the Jade Pot Realm, thus securing a solid foothold in the Sea of Chaos Realm.

Of course, for him, seizing direct control over the Sea of Chaos Realm would prove far easier.

Still, the Sea of Chaos Realm brimmed with profound wickedness, and lingering there excessively would prove intolerable not just for him, but even for Bodhisattvas and Great Bodhisattvas.

Besides, slaughtering the goose that lays the golden eggs held no value.

Thus, over these years, apart from collecting promising talents here, he had devoted more effort to unsettling the balance of forces in the Sea of Chaos Realm.

"Oh, and there's that Gan Xiong as well..."

His eyes passed over the unremarkable form of the elderly man amid the throng, a subtle spark igniting deep within Wisdom None's gaze.

Once the persistent troubles of the Holy Desecration Realm were resolved, it could serve as a counterweight to the Little Cang World, with some elements revealed and others concealed.

This stemmed from his careful choices and arrangements spanning the last century.

His expression betrayed no hint of this, as he smiled warmly and remarked:

"If that's how it stands, the old monk will depart now. Farewell, everyone—the Realm Sea lies far away, but fate will bring us together again."

He lifted his hand in a formal palm gesture, offering a gentle bow to the assembly, displaying none of the typical haughtiness of a Tribulation Crossing Great Power, his modesty and politeness truly striking.

The cultivators he had chosen trailed him, replicating the motion by extending their palms outward.

Having paid their respects, Wisdom None delayed no further, swiftly waving his wide sleeve to shroud the immense emptiness in a flash.

By the time Zhao Feng and his companions recovered their wits, Wisdom None and the cultivators had vanished from sight.

Zhao Feng, Qiao Zhongxu, and Gan Xiong all bore somber looks, the air around them chilled to the bone.

That is, until Ji Ying spotted the shift in a Magic Tool tucked in his sleeve, at which point he murmured softly:

"Everyone, the Heavenly Observation Mirror shows he's departed, moving toward the side entrance of the Realm Sea whirlpool."

At those words, the strained faces of the group finally eased.

Gan Xiong, ever the most restless, turned to Qiao Zhongxu and shook his head with a light laugh:

"Fellow Daoist Qiao, it turns out your Martial Uncle Patriarch has taken an interest in me."

A wry grin crossed Qiao Zhongxu's face:

"Fellow Daoist Gan, you're pulling my leg. His nature has shifted completely, he pays no heed to the Jade Pot Realm anymore, and has grown distant from it entirely. All that was just empty show, and the title is only a polite nod. Since he's no longer part of the Jade Pot Realm, his actions bear no connection to us."

Gan Xiong chuckled:

"No need to dodge so hastily—I'm not holding it against you. It's simply fascinating how deeply entrenched your Jade Pot Realm is, with so many powerful elders beyond its borders."

Qiao Zhongxu, catching that, offered an even more rueful smile and shook his head:

"In the Sea of Chaos Realm, countless factions thrive amid brilliant geniuses, all caged and unable to spread their wings. It's not unique to the Jade Pot Realm—if your Holy Desecration Realm ventured forth, there might even be Mahayana Cultivators... but even in success, they're chained by those fiendish monks with their bizarre Dharmas, forever denied true freedom, which is no blessing."

"Well spoken, Fellow Daoist Qiao."

At his side, Zhao Feng gave a small nod and said gravely:

"Without Fellow Daoist Qiao's sharp insight and readiness to ally with us, sending this monk away wouldn't have been straightforward."

Qiao Zhongxu responded with a mere indifferent nod, letting out a sigh:

"If I could, I'd follow Martial Uncle Patriarch myself, but sadly..."

As he had mentioned earlier, this Martial Uncle Patriarch held no real attachment to the Jade Pot Realm, which implied the other side had already drifted apart from the Little Cang World too. Thus, choosing sides proved no challenge.

Something else occurred to him then, and he faced Zhao Feng, adding:

"Incidentally, Brother Daoist Taiyi, he..."

Zhao Feng and Ji Ying shared looks with a couple of others, then nodded and answered honestly:

"Taoist Master Taiyi has already crossed over. That said, our sect's Patriarchs remain here. Also, he asked me to tell Fellow Daoist Qiao that regarding your realm's Patriarchs, if an opportunity arises, he'll do his utmost to break their bonds and return them to their true forms. However, the challenge is immense, so he urges Fellow Daoist Qiao not to pin too many hopes on it."

Qiao Zhongxu paused briefly in surprise at this, then gave a slight nod:

"Then I'll entrust it to Brother Daoist Taiyi."

He grasped the underlying message in the other's stress on the Tribulation Crossing Ancestor still residing in the Sea of Chaos Realm, and a powerless smile tugged at his lips. Even absent those Tribulation Cultivators, the Jade Pot Realm already paled against the Little Cang World's foundation.

A wave of apathy washed over him right then, stirring an urge to leave.

He didn't waver, lifting his hand to say goodbye to the others.

As Qiao Zhongxu departed, Gan Xiong followed suit and bid his farewells.

With them gone, only Zhao Feng and the remaining Little Cang World cultivators hovered in the sky, trading anxious expressions.

"Junior Brother races ahead without pause, while we stand idle and helpless—it's really..."

Zhao Feng let out a soft sigh, and following Wisdom None's exit, the golden double pupil in his eyes stood revealed once more.

Ji Ying shook his head and replied:

"He's surged far beyond us, and we can no longer match his pace. Still, raising the spirit beasts he assigned us poses no issue."

"True salvation comes from one's own efforts."

Zhao Feng murmured:

"We must stop relying solely on Junior Brother. With the rule disruptions he've cleared and our Immortal Blood in hand, we can't sully the immortals' legacy. Upon our return, I intend to seclude myself and attempt a breakthrough."

The group showed clear astonishment at his declaration.

Zhao Feng's progress in cultivation had already outstripped all predictions, eclipsing everyone to claim the top spot among Inner World Cultivators, save for peers from the Cloud Sky Realm and figures like Yao Wudi who had ascended to Realm Spirits. In cultivation level, realm depth, and spellcasting prowess, he reigned supreme.

This pace, fueled by Immortal Blood, bordered on the absurd. Yet Zhao Feng's tireless dedication was equally vital. Now, under these conditions, he aimed once more for the Tribulation-Transcending Realm...

A surge of pressure gripped everyone's hearts in that instant.

"Let's head back!"

The cultivators soared off toward the Little Cang World.

Zhao Feng cast a final look toward the void's horizon, a flicker of concern in his gaze:

"Junior Brother..."

He pulled his eyes away at once, speeding into the distance...

...

Meanwhile.

In a secluded nook of the Sea of Chaos Realm.

Within the emptiness, a hidden whirlpool spun slowly, inch by inch.

Wisdom None hovered over the whirlpool, executing a hand seal, while the once-ordinary cultivators behind him now looked stiff and blank-faced.

They formed a line, stepping one after another into the vortex before them.

As he surveyed these cultivators, his eyes lingered on a youth clad in purple armor, prompting Wisdom None to nod approvingly with a pleased look.

Not letting his vigilance slip, he extended his hand and imprinted seals successively onto each one.

Sure enough, he quickly uncovered an exceedingly concealed Dharma Seal on one of them.

"My Martial Nephew certainly has plenty of tricks up his sleeve!"

Wisdom None sneered, showing no shock, and softly overlaid an '卍' mark upon that Dharma Seal.

After another thorough inspection, content at last, he gave a nod.

His thoughts turned to the roughly eight hundred cultivators arrayed ahead, stirring his intent.

Guided by his command, they advanced mutely into the Realm Sea vortex.

Only after every cultivator had passed through without incident did Wisdom None nod in approval and then plunge inside himself.

The moment he vanished within, the vortex gradually sealed shut without a sound.

And unbeknownst to him, a shadowy figure had trailed silently in his wake, vanishing alongside into the vortex...