Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2421: 209: The Attack Arrives (Part 2)

With a touch of surprise, he glanced back, catching a low, muffled voice drifting from deep within the main hall:

“It’s for you.”

Wang Ba accepted the Dao Treasure without hesitation, then cupped his fists toward the Master of Quiet Cave's direction before making a smooth exit.

As Wang Ba's figure faded into the distance, Xuan Yuanzi felt a pang of reluctance.

Such a fateful meeting in the immense Realm Sea was rare, yet after parting now, who could say when they might cross paths again—or if this goodbye might be forever...

This thought prompted him to pivot, bowing respectfully yet questioningly to the Master of Quiet Cave:

“Master, a clash between the Supreme True Buddha and our Quiet Cave looms unavoidable. Why not aid him at this juncture?”

From inside the main hall, the Master of Quiet Cave's voice replied:

“He lacks... enough influence right now.”

Xuan Yuanzi paused in surprise, then quieted down.

…

Zhang’s Ruins.

Across the colossal humanoid continent, streams of light rose into the air, upholding a glassy, translucent barrier.

Beyond this see-through barrier, monk silhouettes lingered in the emptiness, peering down at the array underneath, while inside, Zhang’s Ruins cultivators braced themselves with wariness, dread, and alarm.

Every monk's countenance was grave, radiating an air of unyielding justice.

These monks encircled Zhang’s Ruins entirely, subtly shaping a mysterious Array, though they held back from striking, as though anticipating some arrival.

Before Yin Ruins Arena.

Cheng Lianzi faced Yin Penglai, who stood in his path, his features taut with gravity, Dao Domain unleashed, and barked icily:

“Get out of my way at once—I need to meet the Ruins Master!”

Trailing Cheng Lianzi were heads of various factions, like the Yutang Mansion Master and Longcong Prefecture Master, all showing signs of urgency in that instant.

The Golden Water Port Master, Fan Fenglei, and Master of Illusion Sky Realm also positioned themselves rigidly nearby, not aligning with Cheng Lianzi but watching Yin Penglai intently.

Faced with the scrutiny of numerous mid-stage Crossing Tribulation experts, Yin Penglai's nerves frayed despite his efforts to stay composed, and he declared firmly:

“No entry to the Taoist Field without the Ruins Master’s permission!”

Cheng Lianzi retorted coldly:

“In times of crisis, rules bend! With the Supreme True Buddha right outside, you're still hung up on protocol? Move aside—I must see the Ruins Master! Else, Zhang’s Ruins falls!”

With those words, Cheng Lianzi could no longer hold back and reached out to seize Yin Penglai.

Right then, a form abruptly emerged from the Taoist Field, positioning itself protectively before Yin Penglai with a fierce glare, and growled softly:

“Cheng Lianzi, what do you think you're doing?!”

Cheng Lianzi pulled back his hand, his expression clouding over, and shot a glance at the interrupter, huffing lowly:

“Yin Tianzhi, perfect timing—lead me to the Ruins Master now!”

Yin Tianzhi offered no answer, choosing rebuke instead:

“Why would I? The Ruins Master knows what's happening outside; what use is a meeting now? Got some strategy to drive off the invaders?”

Cheng Lianzi's face tightened a bit:

“No strategy from me to push back the enemy, but with danger closing in, the Ruins Master—as Zhang’s Ruins' guiding force—stays absent. What will the lower cultivators make of that?”

“Morale crumbling like this, how do we hold against the Supreme True Buddha's onslaught? Besides, their push is relentless; holding them off is uncertain. If the Ruins Master steps up to confer with us now, and resistance fails, we can still escape. But delay, and when the Great Bodhisattvas of the Supreme True Buddha close in, flight becomes impossible.”

While he pressed on, the cultivators aligned with Cheng Lianzi chimed in:

“Right, Brother Yin, the Ruins Master's absence leaves us uneasy. We urge him to show himself soon to steady hearts—division means no battle strength.”

“Precisely, secluded cultivation or not, in this dire hour, shouldn't he at least appear?”

The group voiced agreement in waves.

Hearing them, Yin Tianzhi's look soured, his eyes flicking to the mute Fan Fenglei and the grave-faced Master of Illusion Sky Realm, a weight settling in his chest, though his tone stayed firm and resolute:

“The Ruins Master anticipated this very crisis. He's in cultivation now, and no issue, however pressing, can interrupt!”

At that, Cheng Lianzi's gaze sharpened, darting beyond Yin Tianzhi to the Yin Ruins Arena at his back, as if piecing together a hunch, and creased his brow.

The Longcong Prefecture Master and Yutang Mansion Master caught the hint too.

Their stares hardened as they fixed on Yin Tianzhi and uttered coldly:

“Lacking the Ruins Master, resisting the Supreme True Buddha is hopeless… Yin Tianzhi, are you a Supreme True Buddha agent, scheming to cut off the Ruins Master?”

Yin Tianzhi's features darkened abruptly, but he held his retort, glaring at the agitated cultivators ahead and snapped sharply:

“Enemy knocking, and you lot plan to force into the Taoist Field?”

The Longcong Prefecture Master's conviction deepened, his visage stern as he declared:

“If you won't yield, I'll smash through Yin Ruins Arena today! Meeting the Ruins Master, I'll beg his forgiveness!”

These words dropped like a spark on dry tinder, charging the air outside the Taoist Field with hostility, on the verge of erupting!

In that instant, a silver-haired form quietly stepped forth from the Taoist Field behind Yin Tianzhi.

Petite and slender, fur-clad, it was the Wu Monkey King.

Catching sight of this primate, the Longcong Prefecture Master—who had just challenged Yin Tianzhi—froze briefly, evidently taken aback.